Lava tube · Reykjanes & Blue Lagoon

Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel)

Also written Lava Tunnel — we keep the Icelandic spelling.

A 1,360-metre lava tube half an hour from Reykjavík, lit and fitted with walkways. Around 6°C inside all year, so it is one of the few things the weather cannot spoil.

prices and departures checked 13 Sept 2026

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The short version

  • 22 tours in our catalogue stop at Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel) — 6 of them day tours from a single base, 16 as part of a longer package.
  • A seat on a day tour here typically costs €179, from €60 at the cheapest. Private tours are priced per vehicle and sit outside that figure.
  • 2 different operators run here, so a cancellation rarely means the day is lost.
  • Departures in our next 360 days fall in September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August.
  • Seasonal here: Midnight sun (May–July), Lupine in bloom (June–July).

The facts

Type
Lava tube
Region
Reykjanes & Blue Lagoon
Tours that stop here
226 day tours · 16 multi-day
Day tour, cheapest
€60
Day tour, typical
€179median of 6 per-person fares
Operators
2
From Reykjavík
35 km (22 mi)straight line — the road is longer
Coordinates
63.9399, -21.3956

Daylight through the year

Iceland's daylight swings further than almost anywhere people holiday, and it decides what a tour can actually show you. Times are for the 15th of each month at this spot.

MonthSunriseSunsetDaylight
January10:5316:165 h 23 min
March07:4819:2211 h 34 min
June03:0123:5120 h 50 min
September06:4519:5613 h 11 min
December11:1015:324 h 22 min

What is seasonal here

None of these have fixed dates, so each one says what its real dates depend on.

Midnight sun

May–July

True midnight sun only above the Arctic Circle — Grímsey. The mainland gets civil twilight all night, which looks much the same.

Lupine in bloom

June–July

Introduced, controversial and impossible to miss when it flowers. Peaks a fortnight later in the north than the south.

What people do here

Getting here without a car

The 6 tours we sell that stop at Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel) leave from Reykjavík and Selfoss. Most of them start in Reykjavík, so for anyone based in the capital there is nothing to arrange beforehand.

5 of the 6 collect you from your accommodation or a designated stop, so the tour is the transport — there is nothing else to arrange and no timetable to read.

A seat on a day tour here starts at €161 and typically runs €186, per person, private charters excluded because those are priced per vehicle and would flatter the figure. There is no scheduled bus we can sell you to Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel), so a guided day is the practical way in without a car.

The days themselves run from about 3 h to 10 h door to door, so check the length as carefully as the price — the cheapest seat is often the longest coach day. 2 different operators run here, which matters more without a car than with one: if the weather cancels your day, there is usually another departure rather than a lost trip.

Being driven is the easy answer here: enough operators run it that a cancellation rarely loses you the day, and you get to look out of the window instead of at the road.

Cheapest way in without a car: a guided day tour from Reykjavík, from €161 per person.

We have done the sums on this properly: what a rental car actually costs against guided tours.

Tours that stop at Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel)

Taken from each operator's own itinerary, not from marketing copy — these are tours whose agenda names Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel) as a stop.

Black & Blue - Lava Tunnel + Silfra Snorkeling5 hours

Arctic Adventures

Black & Blue - Lava Tunnel + Silfra Snorkeling

4.60· 5,129 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Selfoss

  • Age 12+
  • Gear included
  • Free cancellation 24 h

The ultimate geological adventure. Explore the lava tunnel & snorkel between tectonic plates in the crystal-clear waters of Silfra. Join both unforgettable experiences with this value-packed combo.

from

€161 per person

13% below the €185 typical

or book on its own →
Lava Tunnel Tour (Back to Back)3 hours

Iceland Panorama Tours

Lava Tunnel Tour (Back to Back)

5.0· 2 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Reykjavík

  • Hotel pickup
  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h

Explore the magnificent Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel, walking in the path of ancient lava with stunning colors, rock formations, and seasonal ice sculptures.

from

€60 per vehicle

68% below the €185 typical

or book on its own →
Spring 4-Days Package4-day packageSep – Apr

Iceland Panorama Tours

Spring 4-Days Package

5.0· 2 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Reykjavík

  • Hotel pickup
  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h

This extended trip covers the Golden Circle, South Coast, and Northern Lights, plus a visit to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach, culminating in a stop at Friðheimar Tomato Farm.

from

€560 per vehicle

or book on its own →
Golden Circle & Caving10 hours

Arctic Adventures

Golden Circle & Caving

4.60· 5,129 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Reykjavík

  • Hotel pickup
  • Gear included
  • Family friendly

A Golden Circle and lava caving adventure not to be missed

from

€186 per person

about the usual price

or book on its own →
Horse Riding & Caving From Reykjavík7 hours

Arctic Adventures

Horse Riding & Caving From Reykjavík

4.60· 5,129 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Reykjavík

  • Hotel pickup
  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h

Combination Day Tour in Iceland. Visit the fourth-longest lava tube in Iceland and go Horse Riding through the lava fields of Hafnafjörður.

from

€236 per person

28% above the €185 typical

or book on its own →
Black & Blue - Lava Tunnel + Silfra Snorkeling from Reykjavík10 hours

Arctic Adventures

Black & Blue - Lava Tunnel + Silfra Snorkeling from Reykjavík

4.60· 5,129 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Reykjavík

  • Age 12+
  • Hotel pickup
  • Gear included

The ultimate geological adventure. Explore the lava tunnel & snorkel between tectonic plates in the crystal-clear waters of Silfra. Join both unforgettable experiences with this value-packed combo.

from

€240 per person

30% above the €185 typical

or book on its own →
Summer 4-Days Package4-day packageMay – Sep

Iceland Panorama Tours

Summer 4-Days Package

5.0· 2 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Reykjavík

  • Hotel pickup
  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h

Maximize your summer break with major attractions like the Golden Circle, Glacier Lagoon, and the unique hiking trails of Þórsmörk.

from

€560 per vehicle

or book on its own →
Autumn 4-Days Package4-day packageSep – Apr

Iceland Panorama Tours

Autumn 4-Days Package

5.0· 2 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Reykjavík

  • Hotel pickup
  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h

This package balances the main natural wonders—the Golden Circle and Glacier Lagoon—with a Northern Lights search and a scenic tour of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

from

€560 per vehicle

or book on its own →
Winter 4-Days Package4-day packageSep – Apr

Iceland Panorama Tours

Winter 4-Days Package

5.0· 2 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Reykjavík

  • Hotel pickup
  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h

Enjoy the magical winter scenery with a visit to the Glacier Lagoon, a half-day Whale Watching Tour, and the chance to see the Aurora Borealis.

from

€560 per vehicle

or book on its own →
Spring 5-Days Package5-day packageSep – Apr

Iceland Panorama Tours

Spring 5-Days Package

5.0· 2 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Reykjavík

  • Hotel pickup
  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h

Unpack once and explore with this comprehensive package including the Golden Circle, South Coast, Northern Lights, and a relaxing visit to the world-famous Blue Lagoon.

from

€700 per vehicle

or book on its own →
Summer 5-Days Package5-day packageMay – Sep

Iceland Panorama Tours

Summer 5-Days Package

5.0· 2 Google reviews of the operator

Leaves from Reykjavík

  • Hotel pickup
  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h

Enjoy a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure, from a half-day at the Blue Lagoon to exploring the Glacier Lagoon and a full day of Þórsmörk hiking.

from

€700 per vehicle

or book on its own →

Showing 12 of 22. Browse everything or build a day around it.

Who runs them

2 operators, all of whom we hold a contract with. We do not list every company in Iceland, on purpose.

Arctic Adventures · Iceland Panorama Tours

Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel): questions people ask

How many tours go to Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel)?

We list 22 — 6 day tours and 16 multi-day packages, from 2 operators. That is what we currently have contracts for, not everything that exists in Iceland.

How much does it cost to visit Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel)?

The place itself is usually free to enter; what you pay for is getting there. A day tour seat runs from €60, with a typical price of €179. Some sites charge separately for parking or admission — check the individual tour.

When can you visit Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel)?

Looking at the next 360 days of live availability, departures fall in September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August. That is a rolling window rather than the full year, so a month missing here is not necessarily a month with nothing running.

How much daylight is there at Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel)?

January: 5 h 23 min · March: 11 h 34 min · June: 20 h 50 min · September: 13 h 11 min · December: 4 h 22 min. Iceland stays on UTC all year, so there is no clock change to allow for.

Do you need a tour, or can you drive to Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel) yourself?

Both work. Driving gives you the stops you want and the time you want them; a tour removes the winter road decisions and lets everyone look out of the window. We sell the tours and say so — if self-driving suits you better, it suits you better.

Can you get to Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel) without a car?

Yes — 6 guided day tours in our catalogue stop here. 5 of the tours pick you up from your accommodation, so no onward transport is needed.

What is the cheapest way to get to Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel)?

A guided day tour from Reykjavík, from €161 per person, with €186 the more typical fare. Private tours cost more because they are priced per vehicle rather than per seat.

Put it in a day

Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel) is rarely a whole day on its own. The planner knows how long each tour takes and how far apart the start points are, so it can build the rest of the day around it.

Plan a day around Raufarhólshellir (the Lava Tunnel)