Top Ice Cave Tours South Iceland – When to Go & How to Prepare

Are you hoping to visit an ice cave when you’re in Iceland? It can be confusing as there are a number of options. We’ve put together a handy guide that talks you through the various ice cave tour experiences in South Iceland. We’ll explore which are seasonal and which can be entered year-round, explain what to expect during your visit and share some useful tips about how to prepare for your activity. Armed with this information, we’re confident that once you’ve browsed the activities on offer from Icelandia you’ll find the ice cave tour in South Iceland that’s just right for you.

Glaciers might look stationary but they are actually continuously creeping downhill under the influence of gravity. They do so at a snail’s pace, imperceptible tot the naked eye, but they move nevertheless. As they do so they bend; though they look solid and hard they actually have a plasticky quality which means that they can flex, stretch and split, creating large cracks called crevasses.

Glaciers are also dynamic environments. At the zone of accumulation at higher elevations, winter snowfalls top up the glacier, building it up as the snow is compressed into ice. At the opposite end, in the zone of ablation, temperatures are higher because this part of the ice sits at a lower level.

Meltwater therefore has more of an influence here, especially in summer when the ice melts and the glacier retreats. Up on the glacier’s surface, meltwater can also have an impact. Deep vertical shafts called moulins are formed when meltwater creates a hole and drains through the ice. Caverns can be created under and within the glacier and it’s these that we seek out when we tour an ice cave.

What constitutes the best time of year to visit an ice cave depends a lot on what kind of ice cave you’re hoping to enter and where it is. Broadly speaking, there are three categories. Langjökull ice cave is manmade and maintained to be stable year-round. Close to Vik, the Katla ice caves also tend to be suitable for curious tourists throughout the year – in fact this is your only option if you’ve come to Iceland in the summer and want to visit a natural cave.

When to visit ice caves in Iceland varies because those ice caves found further east under Vatnajökull are only safe to enter when temperatures are consistently low. There’s a much higher risk of collapses and cave-ins at other times when meltwater weakens structures within the glacier. In practice this usually means you can book a tour from late autumn until early spring each year, though the weather will have an impact on precise dates.

Because of glacial processes, no two seasons are exactly alike. Meltwater doesn’t follow precisely the same path from one year to the next, so existing ice caves collapse and new ones form elsewhere. Over the course of many months, the ice caves continue to change; arches, ceilings and walls might fall in, reworking shapes, sizes and panoramas. Access is adjusted accordingly: the priority must always be safety and no reputable tour guide will ever take a group into an environment they consider dangerous.

As glaciers are dangerous environments, you should never attempt to access them unless you are accompanied by a knowledgeable and suitably qualified local guide. It’s not just a case of checking what the current situation is with the weather and hoping for the best; changes over the preceding weeks and months will have an influence over the features of the ice and as a tourist who doesn’t live in Iceland it’s hard to be abreast of all the information you need.

Guides leading our South Iceland ice cave tours are trained to recognise any signs of weakness in the ice. They’ll be familiar with the cave system, enabling them to note anything that’s changed, such as the appearance of cracks or alterations to the appearance of the cave’s walls or ceilings.

During an ice cave tour your guide will share safety tips, but be on hand the whole time to make sure nothing untoward happens and you return to base with only good memories of your time on the ice. If they believe it’s unsafe to continue, they’ll instruct their group to leave. Without them, as an individual your decision-making would be far less informed and leave you vulnerable.

Licensed tour operators running ice cave tours within Vatnajökull National Park must adhere to a code of conduct which regulates visits and ensures that the proper safety checks and procedures are in place. Outside this national park no such rules exist, but whether you book a Vatnajökull ice cave tour or do such an activity somewhere else it’s imperative that you choose a responsible and reliable operator. That way you can trust they’ll have your safety as their top priority.

As you shouldn’t be considering entering an ice cave without a guide, you’ll need to consider a tour. With plenty of satisfied customers under our belt, Icelandia offers four different options, which we’ll now summarise so that you can see how they vary and which suits you best.

Langjökull Ice Cave Experience

If you want to book an activity that’s easily accessible from Reykjavik and more predictable than most ice cave tours, then the Langjökull Ice Cave Experience is a savvy choice. An artificial ice cave has been carved out of Iceland’s second largest glacier and visitors are invited to step inside to see what it’s like to be surrounded by ice on all sides.

Because this ice cave is manmade, it’s possible to enter it throughout the year. The activity is considered suitable for a child from the age of six upwards, so if you’re travelling with youngsters this is a good family-friendly option. Transportation from Reykjavik is included; you’ll travel the last leg of the journey in a specially modified glacier vehicle capable of driving up onto the ice.

South Coast and Ice Cave Offbeat Adventure

Glaciers dominate the south coast, forming a backdrop to any excursion along this portion of the ring road. On our South Coast and Ice Cave Offbeat Adventure, we capitalise on this extraordinary location with a super jeep tour that combines breathtaking waterfalls, a volcanic black sand desert and a magnificent ice cave.

This tour can operate year-round as it focuses on the Katla area and by utilising the super jeep we can rein in the physical aspects to a more universally manageable level. This means that all the family can participate, even kids as young as six. If you’re looking for a tour that showcases the diversity of Iceland’s remarkable landscapes, this is it.

Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike and Ice Cave Exploration

On this exhilarating glacier hike and ice cave tour, the icy ridges and plunging crevasses of Sólheimajökull come into sharp focus as you hike up onto this South Iceland glacier. Later, you’ll enter a magical blue ice tunnel that nature has carved out of the glacier before retracing your steps.

The Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike and Ice Cave Exploration tour is moderately challenging but accessible to anyone aged at least ten years with a sense of adventure and a reasonable level of fitness. During this seasonal excursion, bookable from autumn through until spring, your guide will explain the processes that have combined to create this striking environment.

Ice Cave and Glacier Hike in Skaftafell

Our Skaftafell excursion combines an ice cave visit and glacier hike, enabling you to appreciate what it’s like both on and within the ice. This part of Iceland lies within the boundary of Vatnajökull National Park and so it is a seasonal activity to comply with the regulations covering this region.

Combining a glacier hike with a spell inside an ice cave, this tour is an irresistible opportunity to appreciate the detail in the patterns, textures and features of the glacier from different perspectives. Suitable for children aged ten and over, this tour is moderately challenging but totally rewarding.

Equipment

To a certain extent, you don’t need to do anything significantly different than if you were embarking on any other Iceland hike. The specialist gear you need to be able to safely enter an ice cave is all provided at the beginning of the tour. Often, that means you’ll need to be present up to half an hour prior to the start time of the tour so that everyone in the group can get ready, so check the joining instructions carefully so you don’t arrive too late.

Firstly, you’ll be issued with a helmet. Although the ice cave will have been checked over to make sure it appears stable, everyone will need a hard hat as a precautionary measure, just in case. You’ll have a head torch too, so that you can see clearly once inside; due to their dynamic nature, ice caves aren’t permanently fitted out with electricity like permanently accessible lava caves are.

Depending on the cave, it’s sometimes necessary for everyone to have their own harness and ice axe, though often these are carried by the guide only. Most crucially during your Iceland ice cave tour preparation – given that you’ll be walking on ice – are the crampons which will pull over your own hiking boots. These metal spikes dig into the smooth and slippery surface of the ice, giving you extra grip as you walk over it.

Clothing

Getting it right when it comes to what to wear on a glacier or ice cave tour is important. Your hiking boots need to be sturdy and have proper ankle support and a thick tread; woollen socks or something equally warm are also a must. Of course you’ll need to check the weather forecast to make sure the rest of your body is dressed accordingly. As always, layers are crucial; performance garments next to the skin need to be able to trap heat but wick away sweat while you hike up to the ice cave.

On top, you need wind- and waterproof gear, but make sure you don’t end up wearing items that are so bulky they impair movement as you’ll need to be mobile. As you could be doing your ice cave tour in the depths of winter or during midsummer, conditions will potentially vary considerably. Factor in not only temperature but wind chill too; mitigate glare from the ice on a sunny day with a pair of decent quality sunglasses.

Finally, let’s talk about extremities. When selecting your hat, make sure it’s going to fit comfortably under your helmet. You’ll also need gloves, particularly if you plan on touching the surface of the ice walls within the cave or holding onto what’s likely to be a cold rope. If you’re intending to take photos – and you will take loads – then either buy a pair that has touchscreen-sensitive fingertips or be prepared to keep pulling them on and off.

Arranging an ice cave tour in South Iceland is a must for any itinerary at any time of year. Though glacial environments can be challenging, with the right guide and thorough preparation this can be one of the most enjoyable activities you do during your holiday here. Why not take a closer look at the ice cave tours we offer and lock in your reservation today so you don’t miss out on this incredible experience? This is, after all, Iceland.