If you’ve landed on this blog, you’re probably asking the same question many winter travellers are asking right now:

What are the crystal blue ice cave conditions in Iceland at the start of 2026?

Ice caves in Iceland change every single year — and often multiple times within the same season. Winter 2025–2026 is no exception. Some information online is already outdated, so this is an honest, up-to-date January 2026 overview of current ice cave conditions near Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.

Why You Can Trust This Ice Cave Update

We are local glacier guides on Vatnajökull and the first company to offer regular ice cave tours in Iceland. Today, around 30 companies hold permits to operate ice cave tours, and from the outside many of them look very similar.

What sets us apart is simple:

• We adapt daily to glacier conditions to access the best crystal blue ice available

• We keep our website and Instagram updated with recent photos

• Safety always comes first

On Vatnajökull, flexibility is everything — which is why we always operate with Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C.

Ice Cave Conditions in Iceland – January 2026

Are There Big Cathedral-Style Blue Ice Caves Right Now?

At the moment, there are no safely accessible large cathedral-style blue ice caves near Jökulsárlón. However — and this is important — this is not a downside.

Current Ice Cave Tour Plans on Vatnajökull

Plan A: Smaller Ice Cave and Crystal Blue Glacier Features

Instead of one large cave, we are currently visiting:

• One smaller but stunning ice cave

• One to two crystal blue glacier features higher up on the glacier

To reach them, we include a glacier hike, making this experience more adventurous than a typical winter ice cave tour.

Why This Is Actually Better

• More intense crystal blue ice

• Brighter and cleaner ice than many deep caves

• Lower guide-to-client ratio

• Requires experienced glacier guides

• Far less foot traffic than standard ice cave routes

Many other companies cannot access these locations, resulting in a quieter and more exclusive experience.

Plan B: Edge-of-Glacier Ice Cave (Storm Backup)

Winter weather on Vatnajökull can be unpredictable. When storms move in, we may switch to a smaller ice cave located at the edge of the glacier.

This area is used by most tour operators, so it is busier, but it still delivers:

• A genuine ice cave experience

• A very short walk on the glacier

• That classic “Iceland ice cave” bucket-list moment

Plan C: Glacier Adventure on Falljökull

So far this winter, we haven’t needed Plan C. If ice cave access becomes impossible due to conditions, we may offer a glacier experience on Falljökull, closer to Skaftafell National Park.

This area often experiences a different weather system and can sometimes allow safe glacier activities when conditions near Jökulsárlón are unsafe.

Why Winter 2025–2026 Is Still an Excellent Ice Cave Season

Even without massive caves, the quality of crystal blue ice this season has been exceptional. On our full-day Ice Cave Discovery tours in previous years, we often combined ice caves with glacier features — and many guests preferred the features.

Why Guests Love Crystal Blue Glacier Features

• Brighter blue tones

• More natural light

• Fewer people

• A more raw and authentic glacier experience

Ice caves can sometimes be dark. Crystal blue glacier features are where Vatnajökull truly shines.

Ice Cave History in Iceland: Winter 2025–2026 So Far

While our focus has been on crystal blue features, here is a short overview of ice cave developments this season on shorter tours.

October 2025

Some larger companies briefly visited a black ice cave. It melted quickly and was only accessible for a short time.

October–November 2025

The Atlantis Ice Cave was discovered. At around 70 metres long, it was visually impressive but quite dark in colour, which is why we continued focusing on crystal blue glacier features.
The Baby Blue Ice Cave was also discovered — smaller in size, but with good crystal blue ice.

December 2025

Heavy rain filled the Atlantis Ice Cave with glacier debris, leading most operators to switch to the Baby Blue Ice Cave.

Is an Ice Cave Tour in Iceland Still Worth It in 2026?

Absolutely — if you choose the right operator. Local Guide is definitely the most experienced ice cave tour operator in the area for this type of experience.

This ice cave season rewards:

• Flexibility

• Local glacier knowledge

• A focus on ice quality rather than cave size

If you want to experience the best crystal blue ice Vatnajökull has to offer right now, we’d love to show you what makes this winter special.

Check out our Ice Cave Tour and the availability for the upcoming weeks. The timings tends to sell out and may not be available last minute, secure your spot now.