This time we decided to invite one of our guide to give us her own perspective on the whole ice cave hunting idea when in Iceland. Happy reading!

Can I visit the ice cave on my own?

I know how it feels when your inner Indiana Jones wants to go to the deepest parts of Iceland with NO OTHER people.

I understand but let me tell you how it really is with all ice caves.

Long time ago, someone saw how blue and magnetic glaciers are and since the first post on Instagram, we are dealing with a syndrome called: “NeedToGoOnTheGlacierItIsSoBeautiful”.

Wanting to share the beauty of Icelandic nature and trying to have less rescue missions, we started tours to dangerous but beautiful places, making them look so easy.

But they aren’t.

Why would you like to go on your own?

I guess it is because you want to see how far you can get on a rental car, avoid big groups in the cave and maybe save a bit of money (hey if there is any other reason, let me know, that could be a great talk)?

Let’s start with a car.

Getting to any ice cave is a challenge. We are going to the most beautiful and probably easiest to reach and still we are using super jeeps. Which are fun and necessary – unless you can drive very precisely, however that won’t help if there is snow and ice on the road….

Money?

If ANYTHING happens to your rental car on a road like that, your trip becomes MUCH more expensive than a tour. You also have a teeny-tiny chance that any super jeep will help since there are some insurance issues. You would be on your own (as you wanted).

Avoiding big groups.

Honestly, the cave is popular, this is why you are reading this article, and I’m not surprised! It is amazing! 

Are there any less popular but awesome caves? Yes, there are but first of all we don’t know about them or it takes forever to get near them (for some you need a helicopter ride).

But if you book a tour with a small operator like us, I can guarantee you, we will do everything to give you some alone time in the cave. I’m a guide, trust me I also don’t like crowds.

“Hey! I have seen this huge cave, I could see it from the road! Let’s go!”

Well if there is no one going, there is a reason for it.

It is not easy to find a good cave – a lot of them are not blue (plenty are just black because of how much ash and rocks we can have on the glaciers). So if you think you found a holy grail of ice caves just for yourself – don’t go (especially if you have never done things like that before). You also need plenty of equipment too..

Many of them are not safe. The structure of the ice is different depending on: movement of glacier, level of water inside, where the cave is situated.

Approaching the cave might be a problem, in general approaching glaciers you need to be aware of rock falls, ice falls, sinkholes, quicksands – no, I’m not joking. Some of the caves are not safe due to volcanic activities in the area like possible earthquakes (just now one of the ice caves got closed for that reason!). 

Basically getting on the glacier or into the glacier needs preparation and I mean more than watching a series of youtube videos.

I could go on and on about glaciers and how much respect they need from us.

But instead let’s talk about solutions. If you want to see a cool ice cave just book a tour.

Guides know the area, we know how to get there and when it is not safe to go. The Ice Cave you will see is safe because we take care of it, we know it well and we see the changes.

Don’t be silly, take a guide!

The Icelandic Civil Protection is strongly advising to not visit glaciers on your own.

To be aware.

We believe in Iceland that people have equal rights to nature (unless it is private land, then no). Rather relying on stiff rules we believe in natural selection.

While driving around Iceland, you will meet some other people. That makes everyone feel like you are gonna be ok even if something will happen. There are all topless vikings waiting to come to you on jet boats or other helicopters.

You are right BUT you need to let them know – many places and especially glaciers, don’t have reception.

Even if they know where you are it will take hours and I mean HOURS. We are doing our best but Iceland is the place with more sheep than people – resources are limited.

Weather wise? Don’t do silly things. ALWAYS check road.is and vedur.is to make sure it is safe to drive.