Ice Cave Lofthellir exploration - A permafrost Cave inside a magma tunnel.
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
A protected cave, Only 1 group per day allowed
Lofthellir Lava tube , Ice Cave is a permafrost, Ice-Cave inside a Lava Tunnel, boosting incredible ice formations, some hundreds of years old.
The tour starts from Lake Mývatn area, the journey to the cave leads you through rugged tracks along incredible geology. You will be provided with a helmet, headlamp and studded boots for better grip, inside this Ice Cave.
We travel slowly and safely into the cave in a single line, guided by your cave guide, whom will help you to safely move through the cave. The entrance of the cave is the most narrow part of the cave and you will need to crawl through. How ever with every step you take into the cave it just get’s bigger!
A lost world of Ice and magic awaits, frozen in time, frozen in place
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Lofthellir Lava Cave
Frozen World, Ice Cave within a lava field. Experience a world of ice and darkness. Travel trough this incredible natural phenomenon in this Exclusive daily tour.
During our rugged offroad drive to lofthellir we travel trough the volcanic outback of Lúdendtarborgir, the Volcanos that created Mývatn
What‘s Included
Entrance / Conservation fee for Lofthellir Cave.
Helmets, Lights and Boots
Options
Ice Cave Lofthellir exploration - A permafrost Cave inside a magma tunnel.
Reviews
21 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A very nice experience
DuklaTrencin,,Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Please be aware that this is not a standard tourist tour with comfort, lighting, Service or similar. Access to this cave is not easy. You have to climb, slide and walk carefully during the tour. But it's a real experience. Our guide, Runnar, explained a lot and took good care of us. In the end you are also a bit proud to have made it.
Not to be missed!
Sue G,,Aug 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic tour given by an outstanding guide! Once in a lifetime experience inside a lava cave with a very small group. Octavio provided an enthusiastic and educational experience on the geological history of the area and a genuine appreciation of the Icelandic culture.
Unique and thrilling experience
Sunshine670723,,Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience, guided by Runar. The hole tour lasted arround 5 hours. We went to an unique ice cave where we had to crawl through narrow tunnels and got to see the ancient permafrost that covers the whole cave. It is something you will only do here, and this is the only company that will take you there. 100% recommended! Also special thanks to Runar, who kept the tour interesting, and thrilling with a lot of cool facts and information. Keep up the awesome work!
Ask for Alejandro!
S3787OZrudyb,,Jul 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00For me, exploring the ice cave was my most beautiful and fulfilling experience of our vacation. Alejandro is the perfect guide. Taking care of our comfort and safety while informing us on geology, wildlife and Iceland. I certainly appreciate his clarifying comparisons, his patience to answer all our questions and his enthusiasm to share his insights.
10/10
A9466JSchristophern,,May 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a very good experience! It was worth all the money to see the only real ice cave in Iceland. I have been in the ice caves by the glacier but this was much heavier! Alejandro as a guide can only be recommended. He had a lot of expertise and humor. 10/10 from here.
Great tour....but be aware of tight spaces and bringing stuff with you.
AJ M,,Mar 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a very interesting tour....however, it will be difficult for someone to doif they are claustrophobic or in bad shape/lack mobility. This tour requires squeezing through a couple of tight spaces and sliding on ice. It was really fun....but something that we were not fully aware of when signing up. I had taken an expensive camera and backpack with me....only to have to leave my backpack in the trailer and have the guide help me navigating the ropes and my camera. I would have brought a small bag to hold my camera while on this tour....if I knew in advance. You are on your back a number of times during this tour. However, with that said, it was one of the best experiences that we had on our Iceland adventure and would not have wanted to miss it!
Beautiful Cave!
srickman11,,Aug 24, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed this tour. Bo (for short?) was our tour guide and he was excellent. There is a 30-40 minutes ride in the Super Jeep followed by a short walk to the cave entrance. The walk to the cave was not difficult at all. Getting into the cave was a neat experience and also wasn't difficult. I was worried about pulling myself up a rope (not much upper body strength) but the ice makes it pretty easy. Make sure you wear rain pains/jacket as it is wet in the cave. We brought gloves, but didn't use them-it wasn't that cold in the cave. The ice formations were beautiful and much better than the other lava tunnels that we visited. The colors on the walls were very bright and colorful and the ceiling twinkled like stars from beginning ice formations. Absolutely wonderful! We had a great time and would easily do this tour again.
Lava cave review
Victoria S,,Aug 12, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Very unique experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable. Need to bring waterproof gloves, shell, wear wool socks. I was worried that I would not be able to do this due to several tight spaces but it was very short and then cave opens up.
Great thanks to Alejandro and not be missed
129laurencev,,Aug 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Unique exploration into iced cave with Alejandro. Very insightful explanation, incredible stalagmite views in un expected area, sufficiently challenging to get down to it, without being too difficult for anyone curious to see this amazing chamber of ice ! Plenty of tips during the tour, you cannot miss it if you are in Iceland !
A must do according to my teen daughter
andreadA8684RX,,Jul 9, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time with Bo! My teen daughter puts this at one the best things we have done during our 2 week trip around Iceland ( And we did the whole circuit including the West Fjords) This should be in the list of must do for people who want a little adventure and a unique experience!
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