Crystal Ice Cave 2016/2017
Iceland has many natural wonders you can explore. One of those which is very popular is visiting our Ice Caves
Of course, here at Glacier Adventure, we visit the natural ice caves. Truly wonderful and memorable experience during your time in Iceland.
Ice Caving is a great activity for everyone to enjoy and photograph.
For easy smartphone photos please find below tutorial material
Blog: Taking good ice cave photos with a smartphone
YouTube: How to take Ice cave photos with mobile phone
Waterfall Cave in 2015/2016 – from our Blue Ice Cave Adventure
The glacier and its ice caves
Ice caves, also known as glacier caves are formed within the ice of a glacier. However, they are only temporary structures.
Did you know that glaciers are constantly moving? Each day the Vatnajökull glacier (the largest glacier in Europe) can move up to 30 cm.
Huge blocks of ice constantly break off Breiðamekurjökull glacier into the Glacier Lagoon
The Vatnajökull glacier is one of the fastest retreating glaciers. Up to 130 meters each year. So with that in mind ice caves are not a permanent feature in Iceland. And their location can change each year.
As soon as the weather starts to warm up the caves become unstable and are likely to collapse. This is the reason you are only able to visit them during winter months (November to March).
How do ice caves form?
The majority of caves start to form when water runs through or under the glacier which creates the caves.
Some ice caves can also be formed due to the geothermal heat.
In winter, the temperatures become cold enough to strengthen the ice. Meaning it’s safe to explore.
The great thing is that new caves are formed each year. So even if you’ve been on one of our tours before you can experience something new.
Waterfall Cave in 2015/2016 – from our Blue Ice Cave Adventure
Where are the ice caves located?
The majority of Iceland’s ice caves are found in the Vatnajökull glacier which covers nearly 8% of Iceland.
This glacier is located in the South East of Iceland. About 350 km from the capital Reykjavik. And is part of Vatnajökull National Park.
During the winter months, driving around Iceland can take considerably longer than you might think.
All our experiences start from Hali, only 15 minutes away from the Glacier Lagoon – Jökulsárlón. For our morning tours, we would recommend staying close to Hali. This ensures a relaxing start to your day, especially when road conditions can vary. And for the afternoon tours again, we would recommend not being further away than Vik.
To help you plan your visit, please click here for accommodation options. This also includes other useful information on driving and weather in Iceland.
Visiting an ice cave
Due to the nature and unpredictability of the ice caves. The best option is to book a tour with an experienced guide. We offer two options at Glacier Adventure to cater for different abilities.
In our Ice Cave Adventure tour, we visit the stunning Crystal Cave which is very popular with numerous tour companies. Therefore the cave can be a bit crowded, but still, it’s a wonderful experience to be inside and enjoy this spectacular wonder of nature.
In the Blue Ice Cave Adventure tour, we visit a more isolated cave that includes a hike. Although you will have a more personal experience. It does require more effort and a higher fitness level to reach the cave.
Learn how to take amazing photos in an ice cave:
Blog post: Smartphone photos ice caves
Blog post: Tripod photos in ice caves
You can read more about them here: Ice Cave in Iceland – all you need to know
We hope to see you in one of our tours this winter
Team Glacier Adventure
