Adventure awaits as we head over to Iceland for a visit to these awe-inspiring ice caves
Being surrounded by floor-to-ceiling, deep blue ice is a humbling experience. The ice, often centuries-old, tells stories of the past by encapsulating old particles and putting them on display, frozen in time for the world to see. Due to the nature of an ice cave, any given visit is a new experience. The glaciers are in constant movement and the caves come and go as the ice moves forward and eventually melts.
Winter is usually the best time to visit as the ice melts at a slower pace, lessening the flow of the outwash river. Regardless of when you visit, it is vital to go with an experienced guide. This is both for safety – you're dealing with slippery, unpredictable ice after all – but also because you'll need a massive jeep to traverse the roads that lead to the caves. A guide will kit you out with crampons and a helmet and, of course, lead you to the best cave for the day.
Katla Ice Cave
This cave gets its name from the Katla volcano under which it sits. Peering in the ice, you'll find black layers of volcanic ash from old eruptions. It’s the only ice cave in Iceland that is open all year round, making it a popular destination for many tourists. From Reykjavik, you can do a day tour to visit the Katla Ice caves and be back in town by dinner time.
To learn more and book your day tour, visit troll.is.
Katla ice caves. Photo: Ása Steinars
Sapphire Ice Cave
This is the glacier tongue that comes down and feeds icebergs into the famous glacier lagoon. The ice caves of Breiðamerkurjökull are known for their intense blue ice and extensive caves, with the best time to visit running from September through April. It’s a further drive from Reykjavik, but worth it as you will also get to see the glacier lagoon and the diamond beach.
To learn more and book your tour, visit localguide.is.
Photo: Ása Steinars
Sapphire Ice Cave. Photo: Ása Steinars
Perlan ice cave
A small but child-friendly artificial ice cave, Perlan is located in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, making it the perfect spot to visit if you don’t want to go on a long journey. It’s 100 meters long and built with 350 tons of snow. It’s part of a larger exhibition at Perlan Museum, which is well worth visiting even if you have already seen the other caves.
To learn more, visit Perlan.is.
Perlan ice cave. Photo: Ása Steinars
Langjökull
Just last autumn, a new ice cave was found in Langjökull. It’s unusually large and has quickly become very popular among visitors. Due to its significant size, it’s expected to last for up to three years, meaning that there is plenty of time to visit this one. The cave is located 800 meters up the glacier, so hop in a super jeep, drive up and enjoy.
To visit, book with Amazing tours.
