The Lava Tunnel - Meet on Location
by Arctic Adventures · Lava caves · Volcanoes & lava · Reykjavík
- Fine on your own
- Eco-certified
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 The Lava Tunnel - Meet on Location
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Duration
1 hour
Difficulty
Very easy
Season
All year
Meeting
Meet on location
Languages
EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ZH, ES
Departs
09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30 …
Minimum age
3
Cancellation
Free until 24h before
Our take on this one
Raufarhólshellir is a lava tube in the Bláfjöll hills, half an hour from Reykjavík, and this is the meet-on-location ticket — you drive yourself, they supply the guide, the caving helmet and the head torch. An hour underground among the colours and broken ceilings a lava flow leaves behind, graded one out of five for difficulty and open to children from three. Twenty-one start times a day from 09:00 to 22:00, all year, which makes it one of the easiest things in Iceland to fit into a spare afternoon. It is cold and wet underground whatever the weather above, so bring gloves, a waterproof and proper shoes. €64 without transport is good value.
- Book it if
- Anyone with a hire car and two spare hours who wants something genuinely volcanic near the city, children included.
- Skip it if
- No transport is included, so without a car this is unreachable — and an hour in a cave is a short outing to build a day around.
Written by us, from the operator's own details and what we know of the route. We don't take a fee for a good word.
About this experience
Trip Difficulty: 1 out of 5 possible.
Tour Highlights:- Raufarhólshellir cave - Lava Caving
Meeting point: You can meet us at Raufarhólshellir (Google Maps)
Iceland is known for its catastrophic eruptions across the country. This is your chance to come and explore the underlying terrain of Iceland's lava field located in the Blue Mountains. Bring the whole family to enjoy a day discovering the hidden world beneath us that has shaped and defined this part of the landscape. With an endless multitude of colors and jagged rock formations, the Underworld caving tour is sure to deliver a unique and highly recommendable experience. This is a perfect opportunity to reach outside your comfort zone and discover something completely new. On your underworld adventure you will witness the amazing rock formations left behind in the previous eruptions.
In order to be comfortable, make sure to bring adequate gloves and shoes.This caving trip is only a 30 minutes drive from Reykjavik.
Disclaimer: All caving 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.
Included
Specialized cave guide, caving helmet and head torch.
Good to know
Warm outdoor clothing (especially in winter), waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good hiking shoes are recommended.
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 wind on the ridge or a change in eruption activity — civil protection decides, not the operator. 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 →
Why this one and not the cheaper one?
The nearest cheaper Vatnshellir Lava Cave Tour from Summit Adventure Guides is €42 — €21 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Arctic Adventures · €63 | Summit Adventure Guides · €42 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 1 hour | 0.8333333333333334 hours |
| Changing your mind | Free until 24 h before | Free until 4 h before |
| How hard it is | Very easy | Easy |
The €21 buys you 0.2 more hours out and free cancellation up to 24 h before. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.
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 3 cannot join this one.
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
- Lava tunnel or Into the Glacier — one is an hour from town, the other is a whole dayRaufarhólshellir lava tunnel vs the man-made ice tunnel inside Langjökull, compared on time, cost, what's underground and who each one suits.
- Reykjavík with kids works when every tour is under three hoursWhat actually holds a child's attention in Reykjavík — short boats, a lava tunnel, the city pools, a ferry — and the long tours to leave for another trip.
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.
Lava caves — questions people ask
Which lava cave near Reykjavík is the easiest to visit?
Raufarhólshellir, sold as The Lava Tunnel, thirty minutes east of the city. It has a lit walkway and a one-hour guided walk (/experience/32545/ meet on location, or /experience/222055/ with pickup), so no crawling and no head torches. It runs all year. Viðgelmir in West Iceland is longer and quieter, an hour and a half away, and Leiðarendi is a proper caving trip with helmets and scrambling.
What is the difference between a lava cave and an ice cave?
A lava cave is a tunnel left when a lava flow drained out thousands of years ago; it is rock, permanent and open all year. An ice cave is a meltwater tunnel in a glacier, usually only safe November to March, and rebuilt by nature every year. Lava caves show colours in the rock, ice stalactites in winter and total darkness. Ice caves show blue light. If you are here in summer and someone offers a natural ice cave, ask which one.
Is lava caving suitable for children and older people?
The Lava Tunnel, yes. The main walk is on a flat walkway with lights and handrails, and children of most ages manage it. Viðgelmir has a good path too. Leiðarendi and the caving combos (/experience/268/) involve crouching, uneven floors and some scrambling, so the operator sets a minimum age; check the tour page. Anyone with a bad back or knees should stick to the walkway caves.
What do I wear in a lava cave?
It is around zero to four degrees inside, whatever the weather outside, and floors drip. Wear a warm jacket, closed shoes with grip and long trousers. The operator provides a helmet with a head torch where needed. For caving trips, wear clothes you do not mind scraping on rock; gloves help. The Lava Tunnel is easier on clothing, but it is still a cold, wet cave, not a museum.
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.
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