Lofthellir Ice Cave & Lava Tube
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Availability
All Year
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DURATION
4 - 5 Hours
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Difficulty
Challenging
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Pickup
No
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Minimum Age
8 Years
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Price
ISK 49.900
Tour Highlights:
- Explore the unique Lofthellir Ice Cave
- Discover a permafrost ice cave inside an ancient lava tube
- See remarkable ice formations deep beneath the volcanic landscape
- Travel by Super Jeep through the Lake Mývatn area
- Hike across a lava field with an experienced guide
- Experience one of North Iceland’s most unusual underground adventures
Included:
- Fully guided Lofthellir Ice Cave tour
- Transportation during the tour
- Experienced cave guide
- Entrance to Lofthellir
- Helmet
- Headlamp
- Studded boots for better grip inside the cave
- Guided hike across the lava field
Lofthellir Ice Cave Tour
Journey beneath the volcanic landscape of North Iceland on the Lofthellir Ice Cave Tour. This unique adventure combines a Super Jeep journey, lava field hike and underground cave exploration near Lake Mývatn.
Unlike Iceland’s famous glacier caves, Lofthellir is a permafrost ice cave inside an ancient lava tube. Deep underground, you’ll discover remarkable frozen formations. Some of them are believed to be hundreds of years old.
The tour lasts approximately 4.5 hours. Along the way, you’ll experience some of North Iceland’s fascinating volcanic landscapes before entering a hidden world of ice and darkness.
Super Jeep Adventure from Lake Mývatn
First, travel from the Lake Mývatn area along rugged tracks through an impressive volcanic landscape.
Along the way, you’ll pass Mt. Hverfjall and the Lúdentarborgir crater row. Eventually, you’ll reach the foothills of Mt. Hvannfell.
From here, leave the vehicle behind and follow your guide across the lava field. The hike to the entrance of Lofthellir takes approximately 30 minutes.
Explore a Permafrost Lava Cave
At the cave entrance, your guide provides the necessary equipment. This includes a helmet, headlamp and studded boots for better grip on the ice.
Entering Lofthellir is an adventure in itself. First, you must pass through a narrow section of approximately 1.5 metres. Here, you’ll need to crawl on all fours.
However, the cave becomes much larger as you continue inside.
Your guide will lead the group slowly and safely through the lava tube. Along the way, you’ll discover extraordinary ice formations frozen within the volcanic cave.
A Frozen World Beneath Iceland
Inside Lofthellir, the temperature stays around 0°C. There may also be ice and water on the cave floor.
Most importantly, Lofthellir is very different from Iceland’s glacier ice caves. Here, ancient volcanic rock and permanent ice come together beneath the landscape of North Iceland.
This is a challenging adventure. Therefore, it is not suitable for guests with claustrophobia or those who are not in reasonable physical condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lofthellir is a permafrost ice cave inside an ancient lava tube near Lake Mývatn. It contains remarkable ice formations, some of which are hundreds of years old.
The tour is rated challenging. It includes a 30-minute hike across a lava field and a short, narrow cave entrance that requires crawling on all fours.
No. The entrance to Lofthellir is narrow, so the tour is not suitable for guests with claustrophobia.
The temperature inside the cave stays around 0°C (32°F). Warm and waterproof clothing is therefore essential.
The minimum age is 8 years. Participants should also be in reasonable physical condition and comfortable crawling through the narrow entrance.
Important Information
- Duration: Approximately 4 hours 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Minimum age: 8 years
- The tour starts in the Lake Mývatn area
- Reaching Lofthellir requires an approximately 30-minute hike across a lava field
- The cave entrance has a narrow section of approximately 1.5 metres
- Guests must be able to crawl on all fours through the narrow entrance
- This tour is not suitable for guests with claustrophobia
- Participants should be in reasonable physical condition
- The temperature inside Lofthellir is approximately 0°C
- Expect both ice and water on the cave floor
- Weather and road conditions can affect the journey and may cause delays or cancellation
- Food and drinks are not included
- Reservation in advance is required
What to Bring
- Warm clothing
- Waterproof clothing
- Gloves
- Good walking shoes
- Water bottle
Cancellation Policy
- 100% cancellation fee if cancelled 1 day or less before departure
- Free cancellation when cancelled more than 1 day before departure
Meeting point for the Lofthellir Ice Cave & Lava Tube Tour:
The meeting point for this tour is at the Mývatn Information Centre in Reykjahlíð.
It takes about 1,5 hours to drive to the meeting point from Akureyri. From Egilsstaðir, the drive will take you about 2 hours. From the town of Húsavík, it takes about 45 minutes.
Please note that you must be on location 20 minutes before the start of the tour.
