What to Wear for an Ice Cave Tour in Iceland: 5 Essential Winter Tips
Wondering what to wear for an ice cave tour in Iceland? Dress as you would for a winter hike: wear warm wool or synthetic layers, waterproof and windproof outer clothing, sturdy waterproof hiking boots, warm socks, gloves and a hat.
Avoid jeans and cotton. You do not need to buy specialist glacier equipment — on Local Guide tours, the technical safety equipment required for the glacier is provided.
The important thing is to dress for the whole winter glacier experience, not just the few moments you may spend inside a blue ice cave or feature. Tours from Jökulsárlón can include a 4×4 journey, walking over uneven terrain, glacier hiking and periods of standing still while exploring and taking photographs.
That means you need clothes that keep you warm while also allowing you to remove a layer when you start moving.
Quick Ice Cave Tour Checklist
What to wear
Thermal base layer made from wool or synthetic material
Fleece, wool jumper or light insulated mid-layer
Waterproof and windproof jacket
Waterproof hiking trousers or waterproof over-trousers
Warm wool or synthetic socks
Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support (rental available)
Warm gloves
Thin warm hat or beanie
Neck gaiter or Buff
Sunglasses when conditions are bright
What to bring in a small backpack
One extra warm layer
Spare gloves, particularly when rain or wet snow is forecast
Water & Snacks
Camera or phone
Lens cloth for your camera or phone
What to leave behind
Jeans
Cotton base layers
Soft, low-cut shoes
Bulky handbags
Umbrellas
Very loose scarves or clothing that can interfere with glacier equipment
Planning your whole Iceland trip? Our complete Iceland packing list covers what to pack beyond your day on the glacier.
The Best Way to Dress for an Ice Cave Tour: Use Three Layers
One enormous winter coat is not necessarily the best solution.
During a glacier tour, you may feel chilly while waiting at Jökulsárlón, warm up considerably during the hike and then cool down again when the group stops to explore blue ice.
A good layering system lets you adjust throughout the tour.
1. Base layer: keep moisture away from your skin
Start with a thin wool or synthetic thermal layer.
Merino wool is an excellent option, but a synthetic hiking or sports base layer works perfectly well too.
The important part is to avoid cotton.
Cotton absorbs moisture and dries slowly. If you become warm while hiking and your clothing becomes damp, you can feel considerably colder when you stop moving.
For your legs, thermal leggings underneath hiking trousers or waterproof trousers work well on colder winter days.
2. Mid-layer: add warmth
Your middle layer provides insulation.
A fleece, wool jumper or lightweight insulated jacket is usually a good option.
On particularly cold days, two thinner layers can be more practical than one very heavy one because you can adjust them as your activity level changes.
Local Guide tip: Do not put every warm layer you own on before the tour begins. Carrying one extra layer in your backpack is often more useful. If you become sweaty while hiking, you can feel colder later when the group stops.
3. Outer layer: protect yourself from Icelandic weather
Your outer layer should be windproof and waterproof.
This matters particularly in Southeast Iceland. Temperature alone does not tell you how the day will feel. Wind, rain, wet snow and damp conditions can completely change your comfort level.
Wear a waterproof shell jacket and waterproof outdoor trousers or over-trousers. If you are looking for an Icelandic brand we wear 66North ourselves every day out here.
One common mistake is investing in an excellent waterproof jacket but forgetting about the legs. Several hours in wet trousers is not much fun.
Before your tour, check the latest forecast from the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
What Shoes Should You Wear for an Ice Cave Tour?
Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with ankle support.
Your footwear may need to handle gravel, snow, wet ground, uneven terrain and glacier ice during the same tour. Your boots must also be suitable for the glacier equipment selected by your guide.
Can I wear sneakers on an ice cave tour?
We strongly recommend that you do not.
Even comfortable trainers usually provide less ankle support, are less waterproof and may not work well with glacier equipment.
What about winter or snow boots?
Some winter boots are excellent for travelling around Iceland, but very soft or unusually bulky snow boots may not be suitable for fitting crampons.
If you are unsure about your footwear, hiking boots are available for rental from Local Guide.
Gloves, Hats and Socks Matter More Than You Think
Bring warm gloves even if the forecast does not look extremely cold.
Hands cool quickly when you stop moving, particularly when you are taking photographs or spending time exploring an ice formation.
Water-resistant or waterproof gloves are useful in wet conditions.
For a longer tour, carrying a spare pair of gloves takes very little space and can make a big difference if your first pair becomes wet.
Choose a thin, warm hat that fits comfortably underneath a helmet. A huge woolly hat with a large pom-pom might look great in Reykjavík, but it is not particularly practical underneath glacier safety equipment.
For your feet, choose wool or synthetic hiking socks rather than cotton.
Should You Wear Jeans on an Ice Cave Tour?
No. Leave the jeans at your accommodation.
Denim absorbs water, dries slowly and can become very cold and uncomfortable when wet.
The same problem applies to many cotton sweatpants.
Instead, wear hiking trousers, soft-shell trousers or thermal leggings combined with waterproof trousers.
It is a simple change, but one that can make a major difference to your comfort during a winter glacier tour.
Dress for the Ice Cave Tour You Book
Not every winter experience from Jökulsárlón involves the same amount of hiking.
All our winter glacier tours explore the Vatnajökull area, but the amount of time spent hiking and outdoors varies between products and according to glacier conditions.
Ice Cave Tour
Our Ice Cave Tour is our classic winter experience from Jökulsárlón.
The exact route and blue ice feature visited depend on conditions. There can still be a considerable amount of walking over uneven terrain, so proper footwear and winter hiking clothing are important even when your main goal is to see an ice cave.
Blue Ice Discovery
Our Blue Ice Discovery places more emphasis on walking on the glacier and exploring its vivid blue features.
Because you are more active, good layering is particularly helpful. You need to stay warm without wearing so much clothing that you overheat as soon as the glacier hike begins.
Ice Cave Discovery
Our longer Ice Cave Discovery is designed for travelers looking for a more immersive glacier experience.
For a longer winter adventure, your small backpack becomes more important. Bring food, water, an extra insulating layer and ideally spare gloves.
Whichever tour you choose, remember that Vatnajökull determines the route. Ice caves and blue ice formations are natural and constantly changing, so access, walking distances and the exact experience can change throughout the winter.
What Glacier Equipment Does Local Guide Provide?
You do not need to buy your own specialist glacier equipment before travelling to Iceland.
Depending on the tour, route and conditions, Local Guide provides the necessary glacier safety equipment, including items such as:
Helmet
Microspikes or crampons
Harness or other glacier equipment when required
Your guide decides which equipment is appropriate for the route and conditions that day.
Our guides continuously assess the glacier because conditions change throughout the season. Weather, rainfall, snowfall, temperatures and natural glacier movement can all affect access.
You can see recent information and photographs on our regularly updated Vatnajökull ice cave conditions page.
Glacier travel should always be undertaken with appropriate knowledge, equipment and qualified guidance. What was accessible last week — or even yesterday — should never automatically be assumed safe today.
Check the Weather — Not Just the Temperature
One of the most useful things you can do is make your final clothing decision on the morning of the tour.
Look beyond the temperature.
Check:
Wind
Rain or snowfall
Temperature
Weather warnings
Road conditions
A day around freezing with strong wind and precipitation can feel very different from a calm, dry winter day at the same temperature.
For reliable information, use the Icelandic Meteorological Office for weather, SafeTravel Iceland for travel alerts and Iceland’s official road information before driving to Jökulsárlón.
Driving to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in winter
Remember that our winter glacier tours are meet-on-location experiences from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Winter driving can take longer than expected, particularly when conditions change.
If you have an early departure, staying in Southeast Iceland the night before your tour can make the morning considerably easier than trying to drive from Reykjavík on the same day.
Plan extra time to park, find our vehicles and check in before departure.
What to Wear for an Ice Cave Tour in Iceland: Remember These 5 Things
If the full checklist feels like too much to remember, focus on five essentials:
Wear wool or synthetic layers.
Bring a waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers.
Wear sturdy waterproof hiking boots.
Bring warm gloves and a hat.
Do not wear jeans or rely on cotton clothing.
You do not need an expensive collection of mountaineering clothing to join an ice cave tour. You simply need sensible layers, weather protection and suitable footwear.
We provide the technical glacier equipment, while your guide assesses the conditions and chooses the appropriate route for the day.
If you are still deciding which experience is right for you, read our complete guide to ice cave tours in Iceland or compare the Ice Cave Tour, Blue Ice Discovery and Ice Cave Discovery.
FAQ
There is no single temperature you should prepare for. Winter conditions around Vatnajökull change throughout the season, and wind, precipitation and your activity level can affect how cold you feel as much as the air temperature itself.
Dress in adjustable layers and carry one extra warm layer in your backpack.
Glacier conditions determine whether crampons, microspikes or other equipment are required. Local Guide provides the necessary technical glacier equipment for your tour.
You do not need to buy your own crampons before travelling.
Sturdy waterproof hiking boots with ankle support are the best option.
They provide better stability on uneven terrain and are suitable for fitting the glacier equipment used during the tour. If you do not have appropriate footwear, hiking boots are available for rental.
We strongly recommend against it.
Denim absorbs water and dries slowly, which can make you cold and uncomfortable in wet winter conditions. Hiking trousers combined with waterproof outer protection are a much better option.
Yes, we recommend both.
Winter glacier tours can involve rain, snow, wet ground and wind. Waterproof trousers are one of the easiest pieces of equipment to overlook when packing for Iceland.
Bring a small backpack with water, enough food for the tour, an additional warm layer and ideally spare gloves.
Because the experience involves more time outdoors and more hiking than a shorter winter tour, being able to add or remove layers is particularly useful.
No.
Regular good-quality winter hiking clothing is sufficient for most visitors. Focus on wool or synthetic layers, waterproof outer clothing and suitable hiking boots. Local Guide provides the technical glacier safety equipment required for your tour.
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