Visiting an ice cave is on the bucket list of many, and Iceland is one of the best places to do so. There is nothing like experiencing ice firsthand in Iceland. Wonderful, colorful ice caves (blue, black and white), crystal caves, and ice tunnels. There are also man-made ice caves, and even indoor ice caves.
In a Cozy Camper, you can go to all of those places.
Natural Ice Caves
Natural ice caves in Iceland are generally only accessible during the winter months because they are formed by melting water in the summer. What makes them unique is that you can come year after year, and the look and position of the caves keep changing! The location of the caves might even vary within the winter season.
The most famous ice caves to visit are in Europe’s biggest glacier, Vatnajökull. It is not possible to access these caves on your own. You will have to book a tour with a tourism company to visit them. Many different companies offer tours, and in all of them, you will be loaned crampons and other safety gear. You will have to bring sturdy shoes and good winter clothes.
Let’s not Forget the Glacier Lagoon
The awe-inspiring Glacier Lagoon is also not to be missed when traveling in Iceland. There you might even see locals taking a swim in the ice-cold lagoon (not recommended!). A few of the glaciers even stretch down to the Ring Road and are easily accessible for the self-driving traveler.
Langjökull Ice Cave
Almost at the top of Europe’s second-largest glacier, Langjökull is a man-made ice cave. Despite it being man-made, it is the only one of its kind in the world and is a sight to see. Unlike natural ice caves, which are mostly formed by the ground, this one allows you to literally walk inside a glacier.
You will see blue ice, centuries-old ice, ice ravines and there’s even a cave within the cave which gives excellent acoustics! Unlike the natural ice caves, this one is open all year round.
You can either take a tour from Reykjavík or drive up to Húsafell and join them there for a trip in a monster truck up onto the glacier.
Perlan Ice Cave
If you do not feel like hiking on a glacier, that is quite all right because you can visit a first of its kind man-made ice cave inside Perlan, Reykjavík. The cave is 100m long and made from over 350 tonnes of snow from Iceland’s nature.
And there is so much more to see there. Augmented reality, get to know the underworld of Iceland, visit the planetarium, go on the 360° viewing deck to see the capital area of Iceland in all its glory. Then you can end your visit with having a bite to eat in the Perlan restaurant, with its rotating floor.Bonus item: On Reykjavík’s shopping street Laugavegur is an ice bar and ice gallery, Magic Ice Reykjavík. It’s a great way to top off your ice cave experience in Iceland.
Always Be Careful When Entering Ice Caves
We do not recommend anyone going on or into a glacier on their own. For the sake of your safety and the preservation of the glacier environment, please take extra caution and go with professionals.
The glaciers change shape, even in winter, making them tricky to navigate. Our advice is therefore to choose a professional tour operator specializing in ice caves. Luckily, there are many to choose from.
Choosing Natural Ice Cave Tours
Tour guides operate the natural ice cave tours from November to March. That’s when the glaciers are most stable due to the sustained cold temperatures. All ice cave guides know their glaciers well. Every fall they start hunting for new caves, as the old ones often break down during summer or become unsafe.
It is so much more fun to explore the caves with someone who knows the glacier. Because they are all very different and offer various colors, shapes, and structures.
To sum up everything you need to know about ice caves: if you play it safe, and choose a professionally guided glacier tour, you are in for a truly magnificent experience.
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