Reykjavik: Katla Ice Cave & South Coast Waterfalls Super Jeep Tour

Inside Iceland's Blue Ice Cave: Katla Glacier Day Trip from Reykjavik

You get hotel pickup from Reykjavik, stops at two major South Coast waterfalls with time to walk behind Seljalandsfoss, a Super Jeep ride across volcanic plains, and a guided visit inside the Katla Ice Cave with all safety equipment and a certified glacier guide. The whole day runs roughly 12 hours, and you return to Reykjavik in the evening. Book this if you want to see the glacier without renting a car and arranging your own guide: the fixed itinerary and transport take the logistics off your hands.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Skógafoss30m · entry included
2. Mýrdalsjökull Glacier3h · entry included
3. Seljalandsfoss25m · entry included

South Coast and Katla Ice Cave Tour

• Morning pick-up in Reykjavík
• Travel along scenic South Coast
• Stop at Skógafoss waterfall
• Visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall
• Arrive in Vík and transfer to Super Jeep
• Off-road ride to Katla Glacier
• Gear up and explore Katla Ice Cave
• Return to Reykjavík in the evening

The experience

The Super Jeep doesn't show up at the minibus stop in Vík, or at least not the one you're standing at. Your guide texts to say it's parked two hundred meters down the road, and suddenly the whole group is walking across gravel with crampons already in hand, laughing a little nervously because this is the moment it stops being a tour and starts being real. That's when you realize the ice cave isn't going to look like the photos. It's going to look like whatever the glacier decided to carve out this week, and that's the whole point.

The day starts early from Reykjavik with a minibus ride along the South Coast, and the first two hours are mostly driving and talking, which is fine, because the landscape does most of the talking for you. Skógafoss hits you first: 60 meters of water dropping straight down a cliff into a pool of mist, and on a clear day there's a rainbow sitting in the spray like it's been waiting for you. You stop long enough to walk up close, feel the cold air coming off the water, and take the photo everyone takes. Then it's back in the bus toward Vík, where Seljalandsfoss does something different. You can actually walk behind the waterfall, which sounds simple until you're standing in the spray with the whole landscape framed through a curtain of falling water. Both stops take maybe 45 minutes each, so you're not rushed, but you're not lingering either.

At Vík you swap the minibus for the Super Jeep, and that's when the road stops being a road. The drive across the volcanic plains to Mýrdalsjökull takes about 30 minutes, and the landscape gets stranger the closer you get: black sand, no trees, just the glacier sitting there like something from another planet. Once you're geared up with crampons and a helmet, your certified glacier guide takes you onto the ice. The Katla Ice Cave itself is the reason you came, and it's blue in a way that doesn't quite translate in photos: layers of volcanic ash run through it like dark veins, and the whole thing shifts and changes depending on light and weather and how much melt has happened since last week. You're inside for maybe an hour, moving carefully, listening to the guide explain how the cave forms and reforms, how the ice is actually moving. It's not comfortable, exactly, but it's real in a way that matters.

The return to Reykjavik takes the evening, so you're back in the city by around 9 or 10 p.m., depending on traffic and how many photo stops the group needs. Bring warm layers, waterproof jacket and pants, sturdy hiking boots, and gloves: the weather on the South Coast changes fast, and you'll be grateful for the gear. Food and drinks are available to buy along the route if you didn't pack enough. The tour works for anyone over 6 years old and any fitness level, though you do need to be comfortable walking on ice with crampons and climbing in and out of a cave.

What’s included

Roundtrip transportation from Reykjavik with hotel pickup, sightseeing stops at Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss with time to explore, Super Jeep transport from Vík across volcanic plains to the glacier, guided visit to the Katla Ice Cave with a certified glacier guide, all glacier safety gear including crampons, helmet, and headlamp if required, and WiFi on the minibus during the drive.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 to 80 years) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 26 pickup points.

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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Arctic Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Katla Ice Cave and South Coast waterfalls without arranging your own transport, renting a car, or hiring a separate glacier guide: the fixed schedule and included gear mean you show up and the day unfolds around you.

Traveler reviews

4.49★★★★★★★★★★

343 verified traveler reviews

5 ★266

4 ★24

3 ★27

2 ★6

1 ★20

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years). Children under 6 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's the difference between Katla Ice Cave and other ice caves in Iceland?

Katla is an outlet of Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and is known for its striking blue ice streaked with layers of volcanic ash. The cave is dynamic and changes constantly, so the exact formation you see depends on current conditions.

Do I need my own car for this tour?

No. The tour includes roundtrip transportation from Reykjavik by minibus, plus a specially modified Super Jeep from Vík to the glacier.

How long is the ice cave visit?

You spend roughly an hour on the glacier and inside the ice cave, including time to gear up and walk with your guide.

What happens if the ice cave is unsafe or inaccessible?

Ice caves are natural formations that change with weather and temperature. Your guide selects the best accessible cave available on the day of your tour based on current safety conditions.

What should I wear?

Bring warm clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, sturdy hiking boots, a hat, and gloves. All glacier safety gear (crampons, helmet, headlamp if needed) is provided.

Are meals included?

No, but food and drinks are available to purchase at stops along the South Coast route.

What time do I get picked up?

Pickup is in the morning from select locations in Reykjavik. Exact times depend on your hotel or pickup point.