Why an Ice Cave Tour should be on everyone’s bucket list
Why an Ice Cave Tour should be on everyone’s bucket list Chances are you chose to visit Iceland in the wintertime because of Northern Lights. As beautiful as they are they can be quite unpredictable and there is another natural phenomenon you should not miss: ice caves. Formed by the rivers running underneath our glaciers, most ice caves are only accessible in the wintertime. When the rivers change their paths and temperatures drop Local Guides head out scouting on the outlet glaciers of Iceland’s biggest glacier Vatnajökull. Ice caves come in all shapes and sizes. Some are big and have very blue ice, others are twisty and you can see layers of volcanic ash or trapped air bubbles in the crystal-clear ice. When the caves are safe to explore, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a great meeting point to start off on the glacier. You will get all suited up with safety equipment and jump into a super jeep. These cars are modified with extra big tires getting you as close as possible to the glacier. The ride might be bumpy but for sure an experience on its own. You will get to travel through a landscape shaped by the glacier that is not easy to access otherwise. All tours with Local Guide are carbon neutralized by planting trees. Ice cave tour – what to expect? After a short hike through the old glacier bed where you can see firsthand how the glacier is retreating you will approach the glacier. What looks just like a deep black hole from afar is your door into another world. Ice caves change every year and even during the season. A famous Ice cave that you get to visit on the Ice Cave Tour with a Local Guide is the Sapphire ice cave. You will get to learn about the glacier and explore the different features a cave has to offer. Opportunities for beautiful photos are all around and you can take your time enjoying this special moment. Ice caves deserve a place on everyone’s Iceland road trip bucket list. But that can mean the caves get busy during some periods in the winter. We at Local Guide have many years of experience and schedule our ice cave tours to depart at less busy times. We can never promise you to be alone in an ice cave during the ice cave tour, but we will always make sure to give you the best possible experience. When your cameras and hearts are full, we start heading back to another adventurous super jeep right back to our meeting location. Don’t forget to have a look around the glacier lagoon and diamond beach and if you are lucky, you might even see Northern Lights in this area without any light pollution. And if you can’t get enough of ice caves there are also full day adventures that include glacier hikes and more remote ice caves like the Ice Cave Discovery! Why is it worth to join the ice cave with Local Guide? An ice cave tour in Iceland is one of the most unforgettable adventures you can add to your travel bucket list. Hidden beneath Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, these natural wonders showcase vivid blue ice formations sculpted by time and seasonal change. Each winter, new caves are formed, making every ice cave tour a completely unique experience. Joining an ice cave tour allows you to explore safely with experienced local guides who know the terrain and conditions intimately. The journey itself—often beginning near Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon—is as breathtaking as the destination, with snow-covered landscapes and the chance to walk inside a living glacier. Whether you’re a photographer, thrill-seeker, or nature lover, an ice cave tour offers awe-inspiring beauty, fascinating geology, and memories that last a lifetime. Don’t miss the chance to witness one of Iceland’s most magical sights—an ice cave tour is truly a must for any adventurer. OUR RECENT POSTS
Best Blue Ice Cave in Iceland
Best Blue Ice Cave in Iceland What pops up when you research a winter activity in Iceland? Blue Ice Caves! Ice Cave photography has gained huge popularity during the last years and there are so many breathtaking photos of ice caves out there that it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to go and what to expect. Let ‘s start at the beginning. Ice caves in Iceland are mostly formed by rivers underneath the glacier that leave beautiful formed caves, tunnel systems or canyons in the ice. This means ice caves always change and never look the same. Some are bigger than others and not all are blue. Sometimes you can see layers of volcanic ash or air bubbles trapped in the old crystal-clear ice. What brings us to the next question: When can I visit the Ice Caves? Most natural ice caves are only available in the wintertime, usually from the beginning of October until the end of March. The rivers get smaller, and the Ice is the most beautiful with the colder temperatures. This also means you should never visit an ice cave without a professional guide and safety equipment. The local guides know the caves very well and are trained to spot any areas that are not safe. Also, if something happens you need someone with the right training to rescue you out of any situation. And glacier guides can tell you all about the secret spots and favorite glacier knowledge. But what is the best Ice Cave in Iceland? With the caves changing every year it is hard to determine on one favorite ice cave. Even though some glacier outlets have the prettiest caves year after year. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is not just a famous sight on its own, it is also an ideal location to get to a natural ice cave on Iceland’s biggest glacier. Some famous ice caves you might have found online from this little corner of the world were the Crystal Ice Cave or Treasure Island Ice Cave. In recent years the Sapphire Ice Cave has made an appearance year after year and is a beautiful big blue ice cave in the Southeast of Iceland. To make sure you will get to see the best ice cave out there, local guides head out in the autumn for ice cave scouting. They cover many kilometers of glacier and jump into every black hole they see. So we can be sure the best ice cave tours are starting on the south side of Vatnajökull Glacier. Superjeeps transport small groups closer to the glacier. You can choose the adventure that suits you the best: ice Cave tours are for families, professional and hobby photographers or you and your friends. There are public ice cave tours or private options. Some are specific photography tours, others you can try ice climbing and combine it all with a glacier hike. This winter activity in Iceland is one you should not miss. OUR RECENT POSTS
Ice Caves: What? Where? How?
Ice Caves: What? Where? How? The chances are, if you have stumbled across our website it is because you are looking for an ice cave tour and perhaps you would like to know a bit more about where the caves are and how they are formed. What are they? Ice caves are chambers that form in the ice within the outlet glaciers. How are they formed? Ice caves are formed during the summer months when rivers and channels run through the ice, they carve tunnels and chambers among other formations within the dense glacier ice. Once the colder winter weather arrives and the rivers retreat we can access the caves and explore the icy blue underworld of the glaciers. Where can I find them? Ice caves can be found within any glacier in Iceland, there are many that will never be discovered in the more remote parts of the country.The most popular place to visit the caves is in the South East of Iceland in the outlets of the Vatnajokull glacier. Here there are caves that are often accessible within 1 hour from the main Route 1 making them a popular attraction with tourists in Iceland. When can I visit them? Ice caves are normally accessible from late October to late March however the weather conditions play a big part in this and we have to monitor the caves constantly, perhaps we can visit them a bit earlier or perhaps we have to end the season early. How can I get to them? You can visit Ice caves on organised tours. At Local Guide we offer daily tours both short accessible yours and longer tours aimed at the fitter more adventurous client. We use specially modified superjeeps to access the caves and highly experienced guides from the local area. Our meeting point is at the main parking area next to the Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón. It is very easy to see our big black van with the Local Guide logo on. Can I go alone? No. It is very important that you visit the cave with a trained guide. They use their years of experience to monitor the conditions of the cave, know which areas are safe/unsafe to visit and they carry safety equipment with them at all times. Weather can change very quickly in Iceland and can lead to unpredictable and uncomfortable conditions if you do not have the correct vehicle to access the caves. OUR RECENT POSTS
WHAT SHOUD I BRING?
WHAT SHOULD I BRING? You’ve booked a tour with us but you want to know what’s included and what you should bring with you. Safety Equipment: With all of our tours the safety equipment is included. We have helmets, harnesses, ice axes and crampons that we give to you for the tour. We also have larger harnesses and crampons and smaller harnesses and crampons for those that need them. Shoes. We suggest that you wear good hiking boots, ideally with ankle support for these tours. We have boots to rent should you need them for 1000isk. These can be booked in advance or on location. Clothing. We always recommend warm and waterproof clothing no matter which season you are traveling with us. Weather in Iceland can be unpredictable and can change quickly. We recommend hats, gloves, and scarves to cover the extremities. We do have some waterproof clothing that can be rented on location however there is a limited number. Food and drink. If you are taking a half day tour with us, we recommend bringing water and snacks. If you are taking a full day tour with us we recommend bringing water too. Both of our meeting locations are in the vicinity of food outlets, however they sometimes open after the tour would have departed so we suggest getting something the night before. OUR RECENT POSTS