Vik: Katla Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour & Glacier Hike

Summary

Super Jeep ride from Vik to Katla’s wild glacier caves with local guides

You’ll ride a Super Jeep from Vik across surreal volcanic landscapes to reach Katla’s ever-changing ice cave with a local guide leading the way. Feel glacier air on your face, hear stories about volcanoes and shifting ice, and walk inside shimmering blue-and-black tunnels — it’s not what you expect, in all the best ways.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I almost skipped this Katla Ice Cave tour because “ice cave” sounded like something I’d seen in too many travel feeds. But standing behind the Ice Cave Bistro in Vik, boots squelching in that weird volcanic slush, I realized how wrong I was. Our guide, Jón (who looked like he’d been living on glaciers since birth), grinned and waved us into this monster of a Super Jeep. The thing rumbled like an old washing machine as we left town — you could smell the sea behind us, all briny and sharp, and then suddenly it was just black sand stretching out forever.

The drive itself was wild. We bounced over rocks and little rivers until the glacier finally appeared — not white at all, but streaked with deep black ash from Katla volcano. Jón handed out crampons and showed me how to strap them on (I definitely put mine on backwards at first). The air up there is so clean it almost stings your nose. Walking on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier felt like stepping onto another planet. There was this quiet except for our boots crunching and someone far ahead laughing about their frozen fingers. Then we reached the ice cave — blue light filtering through layers of ash and ice, colder than I expected but not uncomfortable. Jón told us how these caves change every year, sometimes every week; he shrugged like it was just another Tuesday for him.

I tried to pronounce “Kötlujökull” correctly — Li laughed at my attempt (I still have no idea if I got close). Inside, the walls were slick and oddly smooth, rippled with black lines from old eruptions. You could hear tiny drips echoing somewhere deeper inside. It’s strange: being inside something so ancient and knowing it might look totally different next month. We took photos but honestly they don’t really catch how weirdly alive the place feels.

On the way back down toward Vik, my gloves were damp and my cheeks tingled from the cold wind. Jón pointed out where the glacier had shifted since last winter — he seemed proud but also a little sad about how fast things change here. I kept thinking about that blue light in the cave long after we left; even now it pops into my head when things get too noisy back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Super Jeep tour to Katla Ice Cave

• Meet guide at Ice Cave Bistro parking
• Drive off-road to Kötlujökull glacier
• Hike on Mýrdalsjökull glacier
• Explore the Katla Ice Cave

Top questions

Where does the Katla Ice Cave tour start?

The tour starts in Vik í Mýrdal behind the Ice Cave Bistro parking lot facing the ocean.

Is transportation from Reykjavik included?

No, you need to make your own way to Vik for this tour.

How do we get to the Katla Ice Cave?

You’ll take a modified Super Jeep off-road from Vik up to Kötlujökull glacier.

Is hiking experience required for this glacier tour?

No special experience is needed; it’s suitable for all fitness levels.

Are safety equipment and crampons provided?

Yes, all required safety gear including crampons is included in your tour.

What should I bring for the Katla Ice Cave hike?

Bring warm clothing, waterproof jacket and pants, hiking boots, headwear and gloves.

How old do you have to be for this tour?

The minimum age is 6 years old.

Will we always visit the same ice cave?

No; each tour visits the best accessible natural ice cave based on current conditions for safety reasons.

What’s included

Your day includes meeting your small group in Vik town before riding a Super Jeep up toward Kötlujökull glacier with an English-speaking local guide. All safety equipment is provided — crampons included — so you can safely hike on Mýrdalsjökull’s shifting surface before exploring whichever natural ice cave is accessible that day. No lunch or hotel pickup included; just bring your sense of adventure (and warm clothes).