Kötlujökull, the outlet glacier which is home to this unbelievably stunning ice cave, is part of the majestic and very famous Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The name, Kötlujökull, reminds us that the capricious volcano, Katla, has its home beneath this ice cap.
The twin elements of Mýrdalsjökulls ice and Katla´s infernal fire have combined to create a spectacular wonder of nature. On this fascinating Super Jeep tour, we take you to the biggest and the best Katla Ice Cave. Many people call this ‘Katla´s Ice Cave Dome.’ Stepping in through the glorious but natural entrance, you will understand why.
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Find out more details about the tour and its highlights.
This tour is offered either as a meet-on-location tour from Vik or with a pick-up from Reykjavik. Please specify which option you prefer in checkout.
You will pass through beautiful countryside and coastal areas. The road is threading a path between the mountains and the ocean, so you can expect spectacular views all the way to Vík!
In Vík, you'll change vehicles and jump in a giant Super Jeep, which will take you on rough roads toward the glacier! As your journey heads east, we will take a turn inland. Your Super Jeep adventure will take you over rugged terrain as mountain glacier landscapes loom around you. When you come to a halt, the dramatic Kötlujökull glacier will be standing right before you, with dense ice walls striped with black ash layers.
After the tour, you'll change vehicles, and we'll hit the road again back to the capital. When the length of the daylight allows us (from the 1st of February until the 15th of November), we'll make stops at two of Iceland's most famous waterfalls: Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss.
About 60 meters high (~200 ft) and 25 meters (~80ft) wide, Skógafoss has inspired dozens of folklore tales that your driver-guide will share with you. You can take the stairs and hike up the right side of the waterfall to see it from above. The view is majestic from there!
Please note: Due to limited daylight periods, we cannot stop at Skógafoss in wintertime (from the 16th of November until the 31st of January). From the 1st of February until the 15th of November, we stop at both of the waterfalls on this tour.
We will also stop (all year round) at the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall, the one you can walk behind. Seljalandsfoss is also 60 meters high (~200 ft). It's located on the Seljalands River, which flows down from the famous volcano, Eyjafjallajökull!
If you booked the "Meet on location" tour option, your tour starts in Vík (about 2.5 hours driving time from Reykjavík). There, you will meet everyone onboard the Super Jeep. To begin with, we travel in an easterly direction. Before long, we turn off Highway 1 for the fascinating journey to Kötlujökull.
Leaving signs of habitation far behind us, we traverse the roughest tracks, always heading for the root of the magnificent Kötlujökull glacier - this outback journey through mountain scenery is an exhilarating adventure in itself!
Please note that the "Meet on location" tour (from Vík) does not include any other stops but the ice cave.
Arriving at the foot of the glacier, we will take on our crampons and helmets and take a short walk to the ice cave's opening. We might need to climb a few steps on ladders to the cave entrance. As the natural ice cave constantly changes, conditions ...)
Arriving at the foot of the glacier, we will take on our crampons and helmets and take a short walk to the ice cave's opening. We might need to climb a few steps on ladders to the cave entrance. As the natural ice cave constantly changes, conditions can differ on each tour. However, the climb is not challenging at all, and anyone in an average physical condition should be able to climb these steps. It might look adventurous, but it is not demanding at all!
The kind of sights that will greet you when we stop at the base of the Kötlujökull glacier is not so easy to portray in words. Your first impression will be of stripe upon stripe of differently colored ice forming stunning layers in the glacial ice. This is a gorgeous and unearthly place. Visiting the Katla Ice Cave is a mesmerizing and also educational experience. Your guide will share the fascinating history of the ice cave with you and some interesting facts about the glacier and the surrounding area.
The drive back to Vík will give you a whole new vantage point on some incredible vistas. In winter, the sun will sink behind the mountains offering an astonishing sunset. On this tour, you should keep your camera to hand!
If you select the pickup from Reykjavik option, our tour guide will pick you up at your chosen meeting location at the time specified in the booking. If you choose to meet the tour in Vik, our tour guide will connect with you at The Ice Cave Bistro/...)
Warm clothing is absolutely essential! We cannot stress enough how important it is to bring warm and waterproof clothing, warm headwear, gloves, and sturdy shoes, as there is no opportunity to rent any clothing items for this tour.)
Warm clothing is absolutely essential! We cannot stress enough how important it is to bring warm and waterproof clothing, warm headwear, gloves, and sturdy shoes, as there is no opportunity to rent any clothing items for this tour.
Due to limited daylight periods, we cannot stop at Skógafoss in the wintertime (from mid-November until mid-February). Only from mid-February until mid-November do we stop at both of the waterfalls on this tour. The meet-on-location tour (from Vík)...)
Still got questions about the tour? Hopefully you will find the answer here.
The caves are in a constant change so they might look different from what you see in the picture. Air temperature, sunshine, precipitation, geothermal activity, and many other factors cause significant changes in the formation of the ice caves and this process is exclusively controlled by Mother Nature.
We will visit the best available naturally formed ice cave during this tour and the cave we visit is chosen based on conditions and safety each time.
Iceland is known for unforeseeable weather. It is likely that you can see all 4 seasons in one day.
Dressing for that kind sort of weather can always be demanding so we always suggest dressing in layers. 3 or 4 upper layers are highly recommended, for example, a light t-shirt (preferably wool) next to the skin, then a fleece or heavy wool garment topped off with a waterproof windbreaker.
Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they are not suitable for the weather conditions, they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.
Lightweight hiking pants, track pants or long cotton pants are convenient and wear wind/waterproof pants over. There is high UV and sunlight reflecting off on the glacier so we highly recommend using sunglasses and sunscreen even if it is cloudy.
You will need sturdy hiking shoes that fit crampons for the glacier hiking tours. If you do not own a pair then we rent out suitable hiking boots as well as a waterproof raincoat and trousers.
It is good to bring your own backpack on our full day or half day tours. It’s the best carry-on for a small lunch, extra clothes and other necessary items.
The scenery on the tour is full of stunning, scenic views that are photographable so you should definitely bring your camera along.
This is surely a personal choice, we do not deny pregnant women on our glacier trips but we highly recommend you to take a closer look at our trip description and difficulty ratings, they will hopefully give you a better idea. We also recommend you to contact your physician, as pregnant women’s health can be quite different. If you have any further questions or concerns then feel free to contact us.
Lunch is not provided on any of our trips, therefore we recommend you to bring your own lunch especially for the longer trips, snacks and a bottle of water (you can refill it on the trip).
Crampons make you enable to walk on the glacier ice without slipping. They are metal spikes that we attach to the soles of your hiking shoes.
Yes, we have specially trained and certified glacier guide on every glacier tour that we offer. And for our 3rd party tours we only partner with operators that meet our quality and safety standards.
Yes, we provide you with all the necessary glacier gear for our glacier hiking tours. Ice axe, crampons, harness, and helmets are provided. This will help you to complete the tour safely. The minimum shoe size to attach crampons is EU 35.
Iceland is known to have a lot of snow and when the snow stays long enough in one place than it turns to ice. Over long periods of time, the ice layers up becoming huge blocks called glaciers. It forms to create ginormous glaciers that sweep across huge masses of land. Iceland is home of the largest glacier in Europe that is called Vatnajökull. The Glacier Guides can tell you more about and everything you need to know about the Glaciers.
Rain is common in Iceland but we never let the rain be in our way to go forward with our tours.
That’s why we highly recommend appropriate clothing so you can be warm and dry on the tours.
Nature is out of our control and therefore we need to adapt to the weather. Your safety is our first priority so if your safety is compromised by going on the tour then we will cancel it and you will get full reimbursement.
The guide on your Glacier Hiking tour will provide you with all the information you might need when preparing for a glacier hike.
