Caves in Iceland

Caves in Iceland

There are plenty of adventures that we can try whenever we are travelling to make it more fun and exciting. You can either hike a mountain, go underwater, try heart-pumping activities such as Sky Diving, Bungee Jumping, or zip-lining. But have you ever wondered going under the surface of the Earth or going inside to the deep-freezing body of a glacier? It is absolutely thrilling!

When we heard the word Iceland, the first thing that comes in our mind is the country where we can see the famous northern lights, glaciers, thundering waterfalls, most active volcanoes. Sometimes we literally think that it is a country that is full of ice, due to the name, which is somehow correct, since 11% of that country is still covered with a permanent ice in form of glaciers. Aside from that, did you know that Iceland is home to numerous caves as well? It is the country where you can find a variety of caves, such as lava caves, and natural and man-made ice caves.

Why you should try caving?

• Caving will bring you to the hidden World
• It will let you discover the rare environment and interact with the surroundings
• Once in a lifetime experience
• To have fun!

Get ready and unleash the adventurous side in you and let us enter into the a few Caves that you must see in Iceland.

Crystal Ice Cave

It can be found in the Vatnajökull glacier, which is located in Vatnajökull National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Vatnajökull means, “the water glacier” which is the largest icecap in Europe and covers approximately 8% of Iceland’s surface. The Crystal ice cave is one of the world’s most extraordinary caves and famed for its mystic blue colour, amazing ice sculptures and unrealistic beauty. Its ice is comparable to crystal, like the name suggests, and a very popular spot where you can witness amazing ice formations and jewel-like ice. It attracts thousands of tourists every year and the photographer’s favourite spot to capture its undeniable stunning features. The ice cave tour is a weather and season dependent activity. The best time to visit is during winter months from approximately mid-November until about mid-March. We do not visit natural ice caves during summer.

Note:  To ensure everyone’s safety, caves should only be visited with professional guides who know the environment and conditions.

Ice Tunnel

It is a man-made ice tunnel that can be found on Europe’s second-largest glacier, Langjökull glacier, or often called as “Long Glacier” because it’s surprisingly long. It is the largest ice tunnel in the World with 550 meters in lengths and located 1,260 meters above sea level. Unlike the natural ice caves, it is open all year round, even in summer. Before you reach the mouth of the ice tunnel, you have to ride the 8-wheel-drive monster truck which is an ex-NATO cruise missile launcher and indeed a pretty unique experience that every traveller must try. The creation of the tunnel took 14 months before it was opened to the public and it is remarkable for its wonderful glacier formations and cloud-like ice colour. One of the most unique and interesting features about this cave is that it has a chapel inside, where people can get married. Therefore, it’s often called a tunnel of love. Can you imagine a wedding surrounded by ice? What an experience!

Katla Ice Cave

An ice cave under a volcano? Yes! It exists in Iceland. Katla ice cave is a natural ice cave underneath Katla volcano which is known as the shooting location of the multi-awarded series such as Star Wars and Game of Thrones. It is located in the Kötlujökull glacier which is part of the famous Mýrdalsjökull glacier – the fourth largest glacier in Iceland. It is an ice cave where you can witness a black ice wall that is caused by the ash from different volcanic eruptions of Katla volcano and stunning layers of dark blue glacial ice. Unlike another natural ice cave, Katla is open all year round and what’s good about its location is, it is surrounded by other tourist spots such as black sand beaches, magnificent landscapes, and scenic waterfalls.

Ice caves change every time due to climate change. A warmer temperature causes the ice surface to melt while cold weather causes the ice to be more compact and solid frozen. This process happens every season which creates new and exciting shapes inside the cave.

Raufarholshellir

Since Iceland is home the world’s most active volcanoes, a number of lava caves can be found scattered around the country including Raufarholshellir. It is one of Iceland’s longest cave at 1,360 meters long that is formed during the Leitahraun eruption 5600 years ago. Since it is located just 30 minutes from Reykjavík and can easily be accessed all year-round, it becomes one of the most visited caves in the country and it also becomes one of filming sites in Iceland such as the 2014 film Noah and the series Sense8. Raufarholshellir is one of the best caves to see and witness impressive stalactites, moss-covered lava, amazing rock formation, and admirable lava falls.

Note: Appropriate safety gear is required and provided before entering any caves in Iceland.

Vatnshellir

It is an 8000 old cave located in Snaefellsjökull National Park. It is created through the volcanic eruption of the nearby crater. This cave is 35 meters beneath the surface of the earth and 200 meters long. It is recently open to the public due to preservation and research purposes. Vatnshellir is easier to enter compare to other caves since it has a spiral staircase going down. Inside, you can see unique lava formations, stalagmites, stalactites, and a wall covered by iron and locally referred to as the chocolate wall. It is the place where you can witness total darkness and see unique and rare shining bacteria that make it looks like a sky full of stars.

Caves of Hella

Caves of Hella are man-made sandstone caves with an unknown story behind them. Did the Vikings that settle here build them or where they here before the Viking Settlement?  There are twelve caves, but only four are open to the public.

There are some indications that the caves were made by the Celtic, who inhabited the country before the official Norse settlement in the late 9th century. One the caves walls are ancient carvings, beautiful crosses, runes and a Viking mask. The carvings tell us the stories of our forefathers and Iceland’s history. These caves have been used throughout history as storage, dwellings and sheep sheds. There is even an indication of a chapel inside on of them, with a cross carved on the wall.

When going on a tour of the caves, a tour guide tells you stories about the mysterious caves and the settlement before the arrival of the Vikings.