Ice Cave at Katla Volcano tour from Vik: Super Jeep & crampons

The ice cave sits inside an active volcano, carved by geothermal heat melting through the glacier from below.

A three-hour guided tour from Vik takes you by Super Jeep across Kötlujökull Glacier to a natural ice cave formed inside Mýrdalsjökull, where you walk inside wearing crampons and a helmet. The cave displays both blue and black ice, and your guide explains how geothermal activity from the Katla volcano beneath creates and shapes it. Children from age 8 are welcome. The tour includes all safety gear and the vehicle ride to the glacier.

The experience

The tour departs from Vik, a village 250 km from Reykjavik, and you'll need to arrange your own transport there (bus service number 51 from Mjodd in Reykjavik reaches Vik). Once the group assembles, you board a Super Jeep that climbs the glacier. At the ice cave entrance, you put on crampons and a helmet, then step inside with your guide to walk through passages where the ice shifts between deep blue and jet black depending on light, air pockets and mineral content.

Your guide walks you through the cave and explains how the Katla volcano underneath generates enough heat to melt channels through the glacier, creating and continuously reshaping the cave. The combination of fire beneath and ice above is what makes this cave rare: most ice caves form from meltwater flowing through glaciers, not from volcanic heat. The blue ice you see is compressed glacier ice. The black comes from volcanic ash trapped inside.

The whole experience runs about three hours from start to finish. Crampons, helmet and headlamps are all provided, so you only need to bring hiking or trekking shoes and dress for cold, wet conditions. The tour suits all fitness levels, though it does involve walking on uneven ice and the physical demands of wearing crampons.

What’s included

• All safety gear: crampons, helmet and headlamps.
• Super Jeep transport from Vik to the glacier.
• expert English-speaking guide who explains the glacier and how the ice cave forms.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 14:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (8 to 12 years) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Marina Travel

Is this one for you?The tour involves walking on ice with crampons and navigating uneven terrain inside the cave, so it suits travelers comfortable with that kind of footing and the physical effort of wearing specialized gear. The three-hour commitment includes travel time from Vik, so plan the rest of your day around a morning or afternoon slot.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 12 years). Under 8: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the ice cave inside Katla volcano actually like when you get there?

The Katla ice cave displays both blue and black ice, with the colors determined by how the ice is compressed and what volcanic ash is trapped inside it. Your guide explains how geothermal heat from the volcano underneath melts channels through the glacier, which is what creates and maintains the cave. A process most ice caves do not have.

Do I need to bring my own hiking boots, or are they provided?

Hiking or trekking shoes are not included, so you need to bring your own. Crampons, helmet and headlamps are all provided as part of the tour.

How do I get to Vik to start the tour?

You arrange your own transport to Vik, where the tour departs. Bus service number 51 from Mjodd in Reykjavik reaches Vik, or you can rent a car or book a separate transfer.

What does the Super Jeep ride involve?

The Super Jeep takes your group from Vik up across Kötlujökull Glacier to the ice cave entrance. The ride is included in the tour price.