There are two iconic and naturally formed ice caves in Iceland that have taken social media by storm. The pictures and videos have people from all over the world flocking to Iceland during winter to winter their beauty.
Table of Contents:
Why are Katla Ice Cave and Crystal Ice Cave Different?
Katla Ice Cave and The Crystal Ice Cave are relatively close to each other (2.5 hour drive apart) but they provide much different experiences. In this episode I will give a little insight about when to see naturally forming ice caves in Iceland (meaning ones that are not man-made).
I will also share the temperature inside of an ice cave, how to dress for an ice cave tour, the pros and cons of each ice cave tour based on my personal experience. I thought it would also be helpful to share the cost as of January 2025 for each along with what will be included, and which one I preferred after taking both tours.
Please know that both are absolutely stunning and worth checking out. Time in the country, daylight hours, the season, and cost play a huge factor for most people so I did my best to take that into account.
Before I jump into that, I would like to thank the sponsor of this episode, Arctic Adventures. I partnered with them to recently see these ice caves in two days. So, one ice cave each day because of limited day light hours and it was such a fun experience. You can use my code ALLTHINGSICELAND10 to save 10% with Arctic Adventures on either of these ice cave tours, and use mu code Iceland10 to save 10% on glacier hikes, and northern lights tours with the same company.
Please be aware that this discount codes expires on April 1st, 2025. So if you hear this episode after that, feel free to reach out to me at jewells (at)allthingsiceland.com for the new discount code. In an effort to stop discount codes from getting on coupon sites, the company changes discount codes every few months, which I totally understand. If you do use my code, you get a % off and I get a small commission, which allows for me to keep making fun and helpful content like this.
When is the best time to See Naturally Formed Ice Caves in Iceland (Katla Ice Cave & Crystal Ice Cave)?
In terms of stability, safety, and stunning colors of the ice caves, winter is the best time to explore naturally formed ice caves. The ice cave season is usually from late November to March.
The time frame can change based on weather conditions for that year. Sometimes we have a cooler or warmer months, so the season might vary slightly from year to year for naturally formed ice caves.
I keep saying naturally formed because there are man-made ice caves here that pretty much keep the same shape and access throughout the year. I did an episode on the largest man-made Ice Tunnel in the world in 2024 called 7 Fascinating Facts I Learned Inside Iceland‘s Langjökull Glacier. Feel free to check that out if you are looking to explore a stable ice cave in a glacier anytime of year. As mentioned before, you can use my code Iceland10 to save 10% with Arctic Adventures for that experience too.
What is the Temperature inside of an Ice Cave?
The temperature inside ice caves typically hovers around 0°C (32°F) and remains relatively constant regardless of external weather conditions. That often shocks people because the expectation is that naturally formed ice caves will be extremely cold but during winter they can often be warmer than outside the cave.
What to wear on an Ice Cave Tour?
- Thermal Base Layer: Wear a moisture-wicking base layer made of materials like merino wool or synthetic fabrics to keep you dry and warm.
- Insulating Mid-Layer: Add a fleece or insulated jacket to provide additional warmth.
- Waterproof Outer Layer: Use a windproof and waterproof jacket and pants to protect against moisture and wind.
- Warm Hat and Gloves: Bring a hat that covers your ears and gloves to keep your hands warm.
- Water-Resistant Footwear: Choose sturdy, water-resistant boots with good traction to navigate slippery surfaces.
Additional Tips:
- Dress in Layers: This allows you to adjust your clothing to maintain comfort throughout the tour.
- Safety Gear: Some tour operators provide crampons, helmets, and headlights, so check with your provider for any specific recommendations or equipment they may supply.
The Ultimate Packing Checklist for Iceland
Be fully prepared for winter in Iceland with my free ultimate packing checklist that has all the essentials you need for winter and summer. There are two separate lists and some non-essentials you can pack, if you have the space.
Katla Ice Cave Tour
Katla Ice Cave Tour is located in Katla Volcano and glacier, which is near the town of Vík in South Iceland. Vík is about a 2 hour and 30 minute drive straight from Reykjavík. Of course that can vary a little due to the weather, especially during winter. If the roads are clear, you can expect to arrive to that small town in that time frame. In order to access Katla Ice Cave, the tour includes a ride in a modified car with gigantic tires and other special aspects so that the car can drive onto the glacier.
The duration of the tour is 3 hours, if you meet at the meetup point in Reykjavik or 11 hours if you are transported from the city. The drive from the meetup point in Vík to the start of the Katla ice cave tour is about 40 minutes. It is a gorgeous area away from crowds and the landscape covered in snow in incredible to see.
Price of the Katla Ice Cave Tour (as of 2025)
The cost for one person for the Katla Ice Cave Tour is $216. This price includes:
- A ride in a modified car (called a Super Jeep in Iceland)
- An English speaking guide that is certified to provide glacier tours.
- A visit to the ice cave, crampons to walk on the ice (which is absolutely needed)
- Any safetly equipment needed (like a helmet)
Pros of Going on the Katla Ice Cave Tour
- The guides are very informative and engaging.
- The ride to the glacier is beautiful because the landscape is breathtaking.
- It is a very easy hike and you get two different locations that look so different from each other.
- Saw awesome wid life like an Arctic Fox and a raven. Even though both are wild, the guides do bring little snacks for them so that seems to incentivize the arctic fox and raven to come around when there are tours. Hones
- Conveniently located near Reykjavík so it can easily be done in a day
- Not as many people at the glacier. At least there weren‘t when I went even though there were three vans in the parking area of the glacier entrance. The cool thing is that each group seem to be timed well so that we weren‘t on top of each other in the glacier.
- The guide goes above and beyond to take pictures of you in different locations. Mention tipping
- You have a lot more natural light flowing in that allows for better pictures.
Cons of Going on the Katla Ice Cave Tour
- The ice cave is changing all the time. The look of the ice cave you might have seen on the internet can be different depending on the year you visit. Due to the glacier melting throughout the year and shifting.
- The ride can be a little rough. The big tires help with it but it is still bumpy.
- You get packed into big modified vans.
- The size of the ice cave is small to medium sized. Compared to the next ice cave, I would consider the current cave to be small.
Crystal Ice Cave Tour
The Crystal Ice Cave is located in south east Iceland near Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Weather permitting, it is a 5 hour and 6 minute drive from Reykjavík without stops. In order to access the Crystal Ice Cave, you have to ride in a modified van because the road to Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is very rough and can not be done in a normal car. I woudn’t even try it in a regular 4×4 car. The duration of the tour is about 2-3 hours.
Price of The Crystal Ice Cave Tour (as of 2025)
The price of the Crystal Ice Cave tour for one person is $156. The price includes:
- A ride in a modified car (called a Super Jeep in Iceland)
- An English speaking guide that is certified to provide glacier tours.
- A visit to the ice cave, crampons to walk on the ice (when needed but it wasn‘t for the cave we went to)
- Any safetly equipment needed (like a helmet and light on the helmet)
Pros of Going on the Blue Crystal Ice Cave Tour
- Affordable for most people’s budgets
- You meet at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon or Diamond Beach, whichever your ticket says. The lovely part about that is the lagoon and beach are wonderful attractions to check out, so you get to check those out before or after your tour. I suggest being mindful of the daylight hours for your ice cave tour because.
- The guide is very friendly, informative, and engaging. He does take pictures of you inside the cave and is offering certain places that would be best to have a nice photo taken.
- It is only 20-25 minutes driving from the meetup point at the glacier lagoon to the Blue Crystal ice cave.
- The biggest naturally formed ice cave you can currently access in Iceland. It is 100 meters (328 feet). All the guides on the tour that I heard speaking said that this the biggest ice cave they have been. Many of them have been guiding for five years or more.
- Inside of the ice cave is huge and insanely gorgeous. If you look just from the outside, you would never know the incredible colors and world of ice that awaits you inside. I was a little skeptical when we first arrived but my mind was quickly changed once we were inside.
- Short walk from the parking area to the entrance to the ice cave. However, that can change if they go to a different ice cave that is on Breiðamerkurjökull.
Cons of Going on the Crystal Ice Cave Tour
- Lots of people from other tour companies.
- There was a line to wait to get into the ice cave. I think we waited 30 minutes outside of the ice cave because of the amount of people. I sort of felt like I was at an amusement park. While I was excited about going into the cave, the wait made me question if it was worth it.
- It is called the Crystal Ice Cave tour when you book BUT the guide might use a different name of the ice cave. The reason for this is that as new ice caves open up or appear, guides are coming up with different names. I remember our guide saying that this one might be called Blue Ocean or something along those lines.
- You get packed into big modified vans.
- Due to it being deeper inside the cave, it can sometimes be a little hard to see and take photos or videos.
- If you are tall, be prepared to duck down quite low sometimes due to the varying heights in the ice cave. Not a big deal but something to keep in mind. Having a helmet definitely keep me from hurting my head a few times.
Which Ice Cave do I prefer? – Katla Ice Cave Tour vs Crystal Ice Cave Tour
I thought long and hard about which one I prefer because I honestly enjoyed both of them so much. If seeing both fits in your budget and time while traveling in Iceland, I say go for it. Based on what I experienced this time around in November, Katla Ice Cave edged out Crystal Ice Cave.
Here are my reasons that tipped Katla Ice Cave over as the winner:
- The landscape on the way to the glacier was so gorgeous.
- The two spots the guide takes you to are different and yet totally worth it. The first spot has a cool
- Because there is a lot of natural light due to not being deep in an ice cave, it is much easier to navigate and take pictures.
- See an Arctic Fox and raven was so much fun! We all kept a safe distance but it is not an everyday occurrence that you see these creatures in Iceland because they normally avoid human interaction.
- Because it is only a 2.5 hour drive from Reykjavík, it can easily be a day trip if you are based in the city or an activity you do if you plan to stay out in the countryside.
As I mentioned, I truly enjoyed both ice cave tours and would do both again in a heartbeat, but I this is my honest opinion. Before I move onto the random fact of the episode, I want to thank Arctic Adventures again for this partnership and for them being open to me doing an ice cave tour showdown. To save 10% on each ice cave tour on their website, use my code ALLTHINGSICELAND10.
Random Fact of the Episode
Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is the name of the glacier where the crystal ice cave is located. While the location of the cave can vary on the glacier, the biggest ice cave that I was talking about in this episode is not technically on the glacier because it is in something called dead ice.
As a glacier recedes, it might leave behind big chunks of ice. In this case, those chunks of ice where along a mountain ridge and covered in gravel and ash from previous eruptions. The gravel and ash kept the ice from melting away during summer and warmer days. A huge mass of ice is considered a glacier if it is continuously accummulating over time from compacted snow and is slowly moving downhill due to its own weight and gravity. Dead ice is not moving downhill and is no longer connected to the glacier that it originally was formed with.
There are ice caves being found on actual Breiðamerkujökull but the one I visited this time was in dead ice. The name of the ice might not sound appealing but ice cave is otherworldly when it comes to beauty and scale.
Icelandic Word of the Episode
Breiðamerkurjökull – wide, woodland glacier
I hope the breakdown of the Katla and Crystal ice cave tour has been helpful.
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