Katla Ice Cave & Super Jeep from Vík
by Arctic Adventures · Glacier hiking · Ice caves · Super jeeps · Highlands
- Beginners welcome
- Fine on your own
- Good with teenagers
Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Arctic Adventures's own price and take our commission from them, not from you. What you get here is one checkout across operators, one confirmation, and one place to change or cancel it. If you ever find it cheaper on their own site, tell us and we will match it or explain why we cannot.
More photos of Katla Ice Cave & Super Jeep from Vík
25 photos from Arctic Adventures. Tap any one for the full-size original.
Duration
3 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Vik
Meeting
Meet on location
Languages
EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ZH, ES
Departs
08:30, 10:00, 11:30, 12:00 …
Minimum age
6
Cancellation
Free until 24h before
About this experience
Prepare to witness the raw power of Icelandic nature on this Super Jeep and short hiking tour. Departing from Vík, this tour takes you off the beaten path and into the magical world of the Kötlujökull glacier, an outlet of the massive Mýrdalsjökull ice cap.
Highlights:- Super Jeep Experience: thrilling off-road transport capable of handling rough arctic terrain.
- Unique Geology: See the distinct black-and-blue ice and volcanic ash formations unique to Katla.
- Small Group: Group size is limited to 14 guests per guide, making for a more personal experience with expert local guides.
- Accessible Adventure: Conveniently located right off the ring road ~2.5 hours from Reykjavík, and suitable for most travellers with a fair fitness level.
Your adventure begins as we leave the Ring Road behind and shift our Super Jeep into gear for a rugged drive through "no-man's-land." You will travel across sweeping black sand plains surrounded by emerald mountains, a landscape shaped by centuries of volcanic activity.
Upon reaching the base of the glacier, the view is breathtaking. You will see high walls of ice streaked with layers of black volcanic ash—a visual history book revealing thousands of years of eruptions from the famous Katla volcano lying beneath the ice.
After a short safety briefing and gearing up with crampons and helmets, your expert guide will lead a walk across the glacier to the ice cave. Inside, you will explore a mesmerizing majestic dome of ice, carved naturally by meltwater. Your guide will share the geology and folklore of the region, making this an experience that is as educational as it is adrenaline-inducing.
Learn more about the Katla Ice Cave tour here
Disclaimer: All day trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Arctic Adventures does not assume any responsibility for accidents which are caused by its customers or can be traced to there own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherent risk.
Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Vík
- Mýrdalsjökull
- Katla Ice Cave
- Vík
Included
Super Jeep ride from Vík to the ice cave and back
Guided visit to Mýrdalsjökull and the Katla Ice Cave
Safety gear (glacier crampons, helmet)
English-speaking certified glacier guide
Not included
Transfer from Reykjavík is not included - guests must transport themselves to the meeting point in Vík
Good to know
Warm clothing, gloves
Waterproof jacket and pants
Hiking boots
- Glaciers are constantly changing. The Katla Ice Cave evolves with seasonal weather and meltwater fluctuations, making each visit unique. The cave visited may differ from photographs and may change or be inaccessible depending on conditions. The exact appearance and size of the cave cannot be guaranteed. Guides will choose the safest accessible cave and route on the day of the tour.
- This tour is dependent on weather and natural conditions. Tours may be altered or cancelled if conditions are deemed unsafe. Please check your email before you hit the road to ensure the tour is running as scheduled. In the event of unfavourable weather conditions, we will send out a cancellation e-mail. On occasion, late cancellations or itinerary adjustments may be unavoidable.
- Please dress appropriately and note that sturdy footwear is required
Cancellation for this tour
Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.
If the weather cancels this tour
Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is high wind or rain on the ice — the guide decides at the meeting point, sometimes after you have set off. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1Arctic Adventures decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
- 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
- 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.
What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Who this is not for
- Children under 6 cannot join this one.
- Not available in summer; the operator runs it roughly September to April.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
Arctic Adventures is one of 154 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →
What travellers say about Arctic Adventures
Read all 5,129 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
This was a phenomenal trip with AMAZING sights. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and easy to listen to. You will learn a lot and see nature at its greatest. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone. The car ride is comfortable and there is wifi as well! Shout out to our tour guide, Magnus (I hope I’m spelling his name correctly), who told us some hilarious stories.
★★★★★ · a month ago
I spent six days on a bus tour around Iceland with a professional guide. It was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of Iceland's breathtaking nature while also learning about the country's history and the everyday lives of its people. Iceland's landscape and animals are truly unique, featuring magnificent waterfalls, geysers, whales, seals, puffins, volcanoes, glaciers, and mountains. Every day brought new and unforgettable experiences. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our guide, Viko. He not only drove the bus safely but also shared fascinating stories about Icelandic history, culture, and way of life. He was willing to tailor the itinerary to our group's interests and wishes, making the experience even more enjoyable. I am very grateful for his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm in interpreting Iceland's natural and cultural heritage. He played a key role in making this tour such a memorable experience.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I did the Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik. Such an amazing tour and one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland! Our guide, Erik, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information about Iceland throughout the day. We visited some of the country’s most beautiful sights, including stunning waterfalls, Vik, black sand beaches, and other breathtaking stops along the South Coast. The pickup process was simple and organized, making the day completely stress-free. The scenery was incredible from start to finish, and Erik helped make the experience even better with his knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. If you’re visiting Iceland, the South Coast is a must-do, and I highly recommend taking this tour with Erik as your guide!
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
A Fantastic Trip: Review of 3-Day Golden Circle, Ice Cave and Glacier Lagoon Absolutely incredible experience with Arctic Adventures and the guide Hjalti Bjornsson. The pick up from the bus stop was easy and the instructions were super clear. Be aware that they are extremely punctual at every stop. Do not be late by even a minute. We saw so many sites and the weather was perfect for most of the days. Our guide even took us on some stops that were not in the itinerary, but ones he thought were interesting and on the way, like the power plants and some other glaciers. The bus ride was very smooth with plenty of room and the seats were comfortable. The itinerary was well thought out with a great mix of light walking about 3 - 6 miles per day depending on how much you wanted to walk to each site. Some sites like the glacier Skaftafellsjokull (optional) were further away (4 ish miles), while others were much closer (1000ft). The hotel was situated in a beautiful location with sheep everywhere and interesting rock formations. The hotel was very comfortable with hot water and plenty of space to spread out. Our guide was extremely friendly and knowledgable. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone between the ages 10 - 70. However, this might not be the best experience for those with mobility issues as there is walking to some of the best sites.
Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026
Read before you book
- Katla's ice cave is the practical pick; the crystal caves are the prettier oneKatla ice cave near Vík versus the Vatnajökull crystal caves at Jökulsárlón. Season, how you get in, what the ice looks like, and which suits your trip.
- Boat tours in Iceland sort into five kinds, and only two of them are sightseeingWhale boats, aurora cruises, glacier-lagoon zodiacs, island ferries and sea angling. What each one actually is, what it costs, and which are worth a slot.
- Five days in Iceland works better from a Reykjavík base than behind the wheelWith five days you can base in Reykjavík and take three day tours, or rent a car and move every night. We explain why we'd usually stay put.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
No reviews yet from our travellers on this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
Glacier hiking — questions people ask
Which glacier is best for a first glacier hike?
Sólheimajökull on the South Coast, about two and a half hours from Reykjavík. It is the most accessible glacier tongue, the walk from the car park is short and the three-to-four-hour tours (/experience/6853/ or /experience/914990/) suit beginners. Skaftafell in the southeast has bigger ice and fewer people, with tours like Glacier Wonders (/experience/17340/), but it is a five-hour drive each way, so it only works if you are staying out there.
Can you hike on a glacier in Iceland in summer?
Yes. Glacier hiking runs all year. In June to August the ice is grey and gritty on the surface with blue crevasses and meltwater channels, and the weather is milder. In November to March the ice is whiter and you may see ice formations, but daylight is short and the wind bites. Neither is better; summer is easier, winter is prettier. The one thing you cannot do in summer is visit a natural blue ice cave.
How fit do I need to be for a glacier hike?
Moderately. You walk two to three hours on uneven ice in crampons, with some short steep sections. Anyone who can manage a hilly day walk will be fine; the pace is slow because the guide is checking the route. It is not for anyone with knee or balance problems, and most operators set a minimum age of eight to ten. Check the tour page. Longer tours like Glacier Explorer (/experience/17338/) push further onto the ice and need more stamina.
What do I need to bring on a glacier hike?
Sturdy boots with ankle support, waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, gloves and a hat, plus water and a snack. The operator provides crampons, a harness, a helmet and an ice axe. Jeans and trainers are not allowed on the ice, and guides do turn people away. Most meeting points rent boots and rain gear for a small fee; check the tour page and book them in advance in summer.
One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
153 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it
Pairs well with
Everything here goes into the same basket and the same single payment, however many operators it comes from.
2-day packageSep – AprArctic Adventures
2 Day - South Coast, Ice Cave, Skaftafell & Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon
Leaves from Reykjavík
- Hotel pickup
- Wi-fi on board
- Free cancellation 24 h
from
€573 per person
3-day packageSep – AprArctic Adventures
3 Day - Golden Circle, South Coast, Jökulsárlón & Ice Cave
Leaves from Reykjavík
- Age 8+
- Hotel pickup
- Family friendly
from
€931 per person
3 hoursSep – AprGravel Travel
Vik to Katla Ice Cave Adventure: Explore Iceland's Frozen Wonders
Leaves from Vík í Mýrdal
- Age 8+
- Gear included
- Family friendly
from
€214 per person
15% below the €252 typical
3 hoursSep – AprGravel Travel
Private Vik to Katla Ice Cave Adventure
Leaves from Vík í Mýrdal
- Age 8+
- Gear included
- Family friendly
from
€1,253 per vehicle
11 hoursSep – AprBusTravel Iceland
South Coast & Katla Ice Cave
Leaves from Reykjavík
- Hotel pickup
- Wi-fi on board
- Free cancellation 2 days ahead
from
€258 per person
about the usual price
5 hoursProtour.is
Private transfer to from Keflavík Airport/Reykjavík to Vík í Mýrdal
Leaves from Reykjavík
- Free cancellation 24 h
- Meet on location
- Private
from
€947 per vehicle