Lofthellir Ice Cave Tour from Lake Mývatn: Frozen Lava Tunnel

Crawl into an ice cave that opens up as you go deeper

A guided tour of Lofthellir, a protected ice cave within a lava tunnel near Lake Mývatn in North Iceland, where only one group per day is allowed entry. You travel by vehicle through the volcanic outback of Lúdendtarborgir, then descend into the cave in single file, equipped with helmet, headlamp and studded boots. The entrance is the narrowest point. With each step inward, the passage widens into a frozen world of ice formations built over centuries.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lofthellir Ice Cave and surroundings

• Travel from Lake Mývatn area
• Drive offroad through volcanic outback
• Receive helmet, headlamp, and studded boots
• Enter Lofthellir Ice Cave crawling
• Explore ice formations inside cave
• Return from cave safely

The experience

What makes Lofthellir different from other Icelandic caves is the restriction itself: only one group per day enters, which means you're moving through a protected space without crowds. The tour starts from the Lake Mývatn area and takes 4.5 hours total. The drive crosses rugged volcanic terrain (you'll pass through Lúdendtarborgir, the volcanic field that shaped Mývatn) before you reach the cave entrance. This approach gives you a sense of the geology that created the lava tunnel in the first place.

The cave entrance is deliberately tight. You'll need to crawl through to get inside. Once you're past that narrow opening, the passage expands with every step. Your guide leads the group slowly and safely in single file, and you're fitted with a helmet, headlamp and studded boots before you descend. The ice formations inside are hundreds of years old, frozen in place. The guide handles the route and timing. Your job is to move carefully and take in what's in front of you.

Children from age 7 are welcome on the tour. The operator notes that the cave is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular concerns, and moderate physical fitness is needed. The entrance fee and cave conservation charge are included, as are all the gear you'll wear underground.

What’s included

• Entrance and conservation fee for Lofthellir Cave.
• helmet, headlamp and studded boots for use inside the cave.
• guide-led descent through the lava tunnel at a safe, measured pace.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 10:32

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (14 to 80 years) · Child (7 to 13 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Geo Travel ehf

Is this one for you?This is a guided tour where your guide controls the route and pace, so it suits anyone who wants to explore the cave safely without making route decisions underground. The single-group-per-day limit means you're not navigating crowds, which makes the frozen world feel less like a tourist attraction and more like a discovery. Moderate fitness is required because you're crawling, descending and moving over ice, so come ready to move your body, not just observe.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 13 years). Children under 7 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 entrance to Lofthellir actually like?

The entrance is the narrowest part of the entire cave, and you have to crawl through it to get inside. Once you're past that tight opening, the passage widens significantly as you move deeper into the lava tunnel.

How long does the actual time inside the cave take?

The full tour is 4.5 hours from start to finish, which includes the drive from Lake Mývatn through the volcanic terrain and the time spent moving through the cave itself. Your guide sets a slow, safe pace underground.

What gear do I wear inside the cave?

You'll wear a helmet, headlamp and studded boots. The boots give you grip on the ice and frozen surfaces, and the headlamp lights the passage ahead. All three are provided as part of the tour.

Is this cave open every day?

Lofthellir is a protected cave with strict limits: only one group per day is allowed inside. Tours run regularly, but the single-group-per-day policy means the cave stays preserved and uncrowded.

How do I get to the cave from Lake Mývatn?

You travel by vehicle from the Lake Mývatn area across rugged offroad tracks through Lúdendtarborgir, the volcanic outback that created the landscape. The drive is part of the tour experience, showing you the geology that formed the lava tunnel.