South Coast & Katla Ice Cave
by BusTravel Iceland · Ice caves · Glacier hiking · cruise-excursion · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón
- Beginners welcome
- Fine on your own
- Couples
- Suits older travellers
- Good with teenagers
- Eco-certified
Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at BusTravel Iceland'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 South Coast & Katla Ice Cave
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Duration
11 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Reykjavík
Languages
EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ZH
Departs
08:00
Minimum age
6
Cancellation
Free until 2 days before
About this experience
Experience the wonders of Iceland in a single day on our action-packed tour, starting and ending in the vibrant city of Reykjavík. Brace yourself for a day of natural marvels, from the mysterious depths of Katla Ice Cave to the thundering cascades of Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls.
Departing from Reykjavík, our journey takes us southeast towards the charming village of Vík. Admire the diverse landscapes, from lava fields to coastal cliffs. Arriving in Vík, we'll embark on a thrilling Katla Ice Cave tour. Venture into the heart of the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, where a world of shimmering ice formations awaits. Our expert guides will lead you through the cave, sharing fascinating insights into the glacial environment and its geological history. Marvel at the crystal blue hues and intricate ice sculptures that make this cave a natural masterpiece.
Returning to Reykjavík, we'll make two unforgettable stops at two of Iceland's most famous waterfalls.
Skógafoss Waterfall: Witness the sheer power of Skógafoss as it plunges 60 meters over a rocky cliff. Feel the mist on your face and ascend the staircase for a panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall: Conclude the day with a visit to Seljalandsfoss, a picturesque waterfall with a unique feature – a walking path that takes you behind the curtain of falling water. Immerse yourself in the beauty and capture the perfect shot of this natural spectacle.
As the day draws to a close, we'll return to Reykjavík, leaving you with memories of Iceland's diverse landscapes, a mesmerizing ice cave adventure, and the powerful allure of its cascading waterfalls. This one-day tour promises a whirlwind of natural beauty and excitement in the land of fire and ice.
Description from the operator, BusTravel Iceland. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Reykjavík
- Hvolsvöllur
- Katla Ice Cave
- Vík
- Skógafoss Waterfall
- Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
- Reykjavík
Included
Air-conditioned vehicle
WiFi on board
Restroom on board
Katla Ice Cave tour
All Fees and Taxes
Not included
Good to know
- Warm clothing and good shoes
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not stroller accessible
- Not suitable for pets
- Infants must not sit on laps
- Infant seats unavailable
Cancellation for this tour
Free cancellation until 2 days 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 melt-water or unstable ice after a warm spell — the guide decides on the morning, and a cave can close for days. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1BusTravel Iceland 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 2 days 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 Perlan Ice Cave, Northern Lights Planetarium & Golden Circle Tour from BusTravel Iceland is €107 — €150 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| BusTravel Iceland · €257 | BusTravel Iceland · €107 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 11 hours | 10 hours |
| Getting there | You make your own way | Picks you up |
| Changing your mind | Free until 48 h before | Free until 24 h before |
| How hard it is | Easy | Very easy |
The €150 buys you 1 more hour out and free cancellation up to 48 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 6 cannot join this one.
- Not a good fit if you want a relaxed day: 11 hours is a long time on the road, most of it spent getting there and back.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
BusTravel Iceland 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 BusTravel Iceland
Read all 2,918 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.7/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
We had a wonderful tour to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula today. It was amazing!! Our guide, Vjeran, was exceptional. His knowledge and experience made our tour even more memorable. He even worked in a couple of additional stops to our itinerary which further enhanced our experience. I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in experiencing the majesty of nature in Iceland.
★★★★★ · a month ago
An amazing experience! It was our first time in Iceland, and we couldn’t have asked for a better trip. For six unforgettable days, we travelled along the famous Ring Road with our guide, Vjeran, who was friendly, knowledgeable, and highly professional throughout the entire journey. He made every day enjoyable while showing us Iceland’s most spectacular attractions. The trip was truly unforgettable. Some of the accommodations were also lovely, with welcoming and helpful staff that made us feel at home. There is so much to see in Iceland, and six days go by very quickly, so the itinerary was quite busy. Even so, we had the opportunity to enjoy every activity and appreciate the incredible landscapes along the way. Overall, the experience exceeded all our expectations, helped even more by the fantastic weather we were lucky enough to enjoy throughout the trip. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Iceland!
★★★★★ · a month ago
We had an amazing Golden Circle tour with Darren and Mikki! Darren is a fantastic guide — knowledgeable, friendly, and with a great sense of humor. He told us so many fascinating things about Iceland along the way, but in such a natural and entertaining way that it never felt like a lecture. Darren and Mikki also showed us some wonderful places and made the whole day feel special. The atmosphere was relaxed, fun, and very personal. You can really feel that they love Iceland and enjoy sharing it with people. Highly recommend this tour! If you get the chance to explore Iceland with Darren and Mikki, take it — you won’t regret it! ❤️🇮🇸
★★★★★ · a month ago
During our Iceland vacation, we took two tours with Bus Travel Iceland: the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon; and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. On the exceptional Golden Circle tour with a relaxing conclusion at the enchanting Blue Lagoon, we visited the iconic sites along the way, following a fairly packed itinerary but with adequate time for each stop. The guide was knowledgeable in driving the bus and engaging in providing information and telling stories about the places we visited. Higly recommended the fascinating tour to discover the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Departing from Reykjavik, we visited the main towns and iconic sites from the north to the south coast of the peninsula. The excellent Axel guided us, providing interesting details about the places to visit. His expert bus driving skills and precise planning allowed us to see everything in the allotted time, without excessive pressure or fatigue.
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.
Ice caves — questions people ask
When can you visit an ice cave in Iceland?
Natural blue ice caves open from around November to March, when the glacier is cold enough for the meltwater tunnels to be safe. They form under Vatnajökull near Jökulsárlón, and the caves change every year. Two exceptions run all year: the Katla ice cave near Vík, which is dark ice striped with ash, and Into the Glacier at Langjökull, a man-made tunnel. If you want the glowing blue photos, come between November and March.
Can I do an ice cave tour as a day trip from Reykjavík?
Only the Katla cave. The South Coast and Katla ice cave tour (/experience/22559/) is about twelve hours from Reykjavík and back. The blue caves at Vatnajökull are five hours' drive each way, too far for a day, so operators sell them as two- or three-day tours (/experience/6131/, /experience/7358/) with a night near Jökulsárlón. If you are self-driving, stay in the Höfn or Skaftafell area and book the Crystal Ice Cave tour (/experience/17337/) from there.
Is the Katla ice cave as good as the blue ice caves?
Different, not worse. Katla's cave under Mýrdalsjökull is black and white, layered with volcanic ash, and open all year. It will not give you the glowing blue tunnel photos from Instagram; those are the Vatnajökull caves, November to March only. What Katla gives you is a shorter super-jeep drive from Vík (/experience/22558/) and availability in summer. If you are here between November and March and can reach Jökulsárlón, choose blue. Otherwise choose Katla.
Are ice caves safe?
With a guide, yes. Operators inspect the caves daily and cancel when meltwater, warm weather or ice movement makes them unsafe, which happens most often in November and March at the edges of the season. You wear a helmet and crampons and stay with the group. Never enter a glacier cave on your own. If your tour is cancelled for safety, you get a full refund or another date, and most operators try to substitute another cave first.
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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