The Katla Ice Cave Honest Review: Risky But Worth It

The Katla Ice Cave in Iceland is a relatively new attraction that could also be gone tomorrow. It’s one of the best things I did, not only in Iceland, but quite possibly ever! And it’s also one of the most terrifying things we’ve done.

Needless to say, I was happy I did it, but in retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have… So here are some things I wish I knew before heading out on this crazy Iceland ice cave adventure!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

What Is The Katla Ice Cave?

The Katla ice cave is in the Kötlujökull glacier (which is from the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, fourth largest in Iceland!). And the Kötlujökull glacier conveniently sits ON TOP of the Katla volcano!

So, Katla is actually a subglacial volcano that used to erupt every 40-80 or so years. The last time it erupted though was in 1918… so let’s just say we’re over due for an eruption.

Because the glacier sits above an active volcano, the lava erupts into glacier ice and then turns into ash. The ash then falls and becomes compressed by ice giving you beautiful blue and black layers of ice.

As the glacier melts, it forms these intricate ice caves that are filled with layers of ice and ash.

Did you know: the Katla volcano is also why you get the black sand and dirt in the South of Iceland.

The Cave Is Constantly Changing – It’s Always A New Experience

Glaciers are always melting, which means, this Iceland ice cave is constantly changing. The Kötlujökull glacier recedes about 35 m a year. To put that into perspective, when they started this Iceland ice cave tour in 2019, the cave started at the parking lot. It’s about a 10 minute walk away when I visited in 2023.

The melting and changing ice cave makes every visit to the Katla ice cave a very unique and a completely different experience. My sister visited in May, and by the time I went in July, half of the cave she had seen was gone. I visited a much shorter cave, but I also saw the beginning of the new one starting to form (with a beautiful waterfall!).

My guide mentioned that by the end of the summer, my cave would no longer exist (I visited in mid July!). This cave was actually the 10th cave since they started taking tour group there 4 years ago!

Planning a trip to Iceland? Stay organized when planning a trip to Iceland with my printable Reykjavik travel guide. I included city checklists, road trip maps from Reykjavik, packing guides, food to try, and more!

Do You Need A Tour Group To Visit The Katla Ice Caves?

Technically you don’t need a tour to visit the Katla Ice Caves, they are completely open to the public and free to access. But should you go on an organized tour, yes.

It’s All Around Safer To Go On An Iceland Ice Cave Tour…

There are several benefits to going with a tour group, but it all boils down to safety.

First, they make sure the Katla ice cave is even safe to visit on the day of your tour. Remember, this is an active volcano and melting glacier after all. They remove any part of the cave that is deemed unsafe and change the path if they need to.

Then there’s the drive to the cave – which also isn’t simple. You will be driving on unmarked F roads and potentially through a river (we did!).

And then they also guide you through the ice cave itself – literally building us a new path and stairs on the way. I guess the old ones melted away before we got there!

And finally, they provide you with the necessary equipment you’ll need for a safe adventure, like crampons to walk on the ice. Plus as a bonus, you get all the information and history of the Katla volcano in Iceland.

All around, the Katla ice cave is already dangerous to visit, so make it a tad safer for yourself by taking an organized tour.

Organized Tours To Katla Ice Cave

Not to worry though, there are several organized tours that take you to the Katla Ice Cave, like these on Viator. Viator offers both options whether you’re leaving from Reykjavik, they offer full day tours. Or if you’re already in Vik, you can opt for a half day tour (which is what I did).

If You Still Decide To Go Without A Tour…

If you still decide to go on your own to the Katla Ice Cave, they ask that you give the tour companies a call in advance letting them know when you’re going and how many people you’re going to be.

Because this is a small, and very fickle environment, they want to ensure the safety of everyone going.

You might be interested in: 10 Important Tips You Should Know Before Driving In Iceland

What If The Katla Volcano Erupts When You’re There?

This is another one of the benefits of booking a tour group to the Katla ice caves. Tour tour company is tracking the volcano, so it’s most likely that they will know way before you’re going if the volcano is about to erupt.

For example, there tends to be earthquakes in the area before an eruption. And worst case, as our tour guide informed us, if it were to erupt while we were there, you would have about an hour to get out of the vicinity!

If it were to erupt, they’re actually most worried about a flooding over anything else. Because it’s a subglacial volcano, it would just melt all the ice and the water needs somewhere to go…

Glacier Tours In Iceland To The Katla Ice Cave

I booked my tour with Arctic Adventures a few weeks in advance. It’s the same tour as Southcoast Adventures, which I think is the main company. Would I recommend them, not necessarily. But I don’t know if another tour company would be any better…

The way our tour guide described it is that all the tour companies are affiliated. They all manage the cave together and then bring tour groups here. So, if you want to visit the Katla Ice Caves, you don’t have that many options.

And in the end, I actually really liked our guide. He knew what he was doing and entertained all my questions and fears about what we were doing!

You can also book your tour through Viator, which are with the same companies. They also offer tours combining different Iceland activities throughout the day, along with a tour of the ice cave.

Where Do The Tours Leave From?

Tours to the ice cave leave from both Reykjavik or Vik. If you choose to leave from Reykjavik, it will be a full day trip but most tours will also stop at Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls (timing permitting). Whereas a tour from Vik will be much shorter (a half day) and only include a tour of the cave. But of course, you have to find yourself in Vik first!

How Long Is The Ice Cave Tour?

The tour ranges between 3 and 11 hours (depending on if you’re leaving from Reykjavik or Vik).

From Vik though, it’s about a 45 minute drive (in the Super Jeep) to the ice cave. Once you’re there, you have an hour at the caves itself, and then you have the drive back.

If you’re leaving from Reykjavik, you have to add about 5 hours of driving alone just to get to Vik and back.

Read also: 10 Amazing Things To Do In Reykjavik Iceland Your First Time

Who Can Go To Katla Ice Cave?

I saw people of all ages at the Katla ice cave, from young to old. Technically though the minimum age is 6 years old to go on the tour. But just because the tour is open to all ages over 6, doesn’t mean all ages should actually go.

You are walking on small bridges, wearing crampons to walk on literal ice… I would say, if you’re traveling with young kids, this is NOT for you. And the same should be said if you’re older and not as mobile, this tour is also NOT for you.

Let’s just say I was scared doing this in my late twenties (yes, I am also more on the risk averse side as well)…

What To Know Before Booking The Katla Ice Cave Tour

These are some of the issues I encountered on my tour, and from talking with our guide. As I mentioned though, the safest way to visit the caves is still with a tour group. But it is good to know what you’re getting yourself into beforehand, so there are no surprises.

Overbooking Issues…

My tour did have an issue with our group that’s more common than I initially thought (after reading some more Google reviews…). They actually overbooked my tour and two people had to join a later group.

This can be a non issue if you’re spending the day in Vik. But if I was kicked off the tour time I booked, it would have destroyed the rest of my day. I later learn that it’s common to over book tours because they are used to people not actually making it on time.

To avoid being at risk of being put on a later tour, make sure to arrive early AND be one of the first people to get a seat on the Super Jeep!

Be Prepared For A Longer Tour

Perhaps the bigger problem with the tour (that they never mention when booking) is that it can easily be way longer than 3 hours. The timing of the tour is very weather dependant. If it’s snowing, or even if there’s a lot of wind, the tour can be a lot longer. Our guide was saying that tours can take upwards of 4, 5, even 8 hours… leaving from Vik (which is normally only 3 hours)!

Obviously, this can really affect any plans you might have for that day as well.

Read also: What To Know About Visiting Iceland In The Summer

Be Prepared To Never Even Make It To The Caves

As I said, the tour is very weather dependant but they rarely actually cancel tours. When talking with my guide, he mentioned that in the year and half that he’s been working, they’ve only had to cancel one tour.

Now here’s the caveat… They don’t cancel, but they also might never make it to the caves… and they don’t give you a refund.

Despite having bad weather, they would rather try to make it to the caves and fail than not try at all.

Our guide was telling me that they once went out in the winter and it ended up being an 8 hour day… stuck in the car. They just got stuck on the F Road and it took them 8 hours to get back to Vik…. never having made it to the cave.

Of course, I would like to remind you this is an extreme case, but it’s just so you know that that it can always happen! The weather in Iceland is definitely not known for it’s calm, warm, and predictability (yes, even in the summer!).

Also, Don’t Do What I Did…

As I said, tours leave from either Reykjavik or Vik. I was actually staying in Reykjavik for my entire stay trip to Iceland, and doing day trips from the city. But instead of booking the tour that left from Reykjavik, I booked the tour from Vik… which meant I had to find my own way to Vik.

I made this decision because the tour is cheaper leaving, and I felt we had more control over my day this way. I could take my time getting to Vik, stopping where I wanted to, and seeing a bit of Vik before or after the tour as well.

But at the time of booking, I didn’t realize how fickle the Katla ice cave tour actually was… So in retrospect, this was a terrible plan. It was also an EXHAUSTING day! At least if you book the tour from Reykjavik, you can sleep a bit on the drive there and back. Otherwise, I would suggest staying one night in Vik if you want the flexibility of planning your own day.

P.S. Need A Place To Stay In Vik!? My sister stayed at The Barn (I just love the name!). It’s a hostel just outside the city of Vik with shared rooms, bathrooms, and even a kitchen! If you’re interested in a more typical hotel, and staying in the city itself, check out Hótel Kría. I highly recommend booking a room with the mountain view with those floor to ceiling windows! Or see more hotel options in Vik, Iceland.

What To Expect On The Tour

Here are some extra things to know about the Katla Ice Cave tour!

It’s A Bumpy Ride To The Cave

The reason the tour doesn’t meet at the ice caves is because the drive isn’t exactly easy to access. They take you in a Super Jeep, which is an insane Jeep with crazy high ground clearance that could drive through anything… and I mean anything!

The ride to the Katla Ice Cave is an adventure and an experience on it’s own, even during the summer months. On a good summer day the drive is about 45 minutes from Vik to the caves, that’s two thirds of the tour! And in worse weather conditions, it can be even longer.

The drive starts on the main highway, but then you quickly diverge onto the old ring road (that they used until 1996!)… which is a simple dirt path. That’s no problem, until you then turn off of that road and end up on no road at all… It’s just dirt all around you. And the crazy bumpy ride begins!

There’s no markings, and zero defined path. You would definitely get lost if you were driving here alone. At one point, we even had to drive through a little river.

Read also: 5 Reasons Why I Didn’t Drive Iceland’s Ring Road

There Are NO Bathrooms At The Cave

There are no bathrooms at the caves… well, unless you consider that nature is your bathroom, in which case it’s all around you! If not, there’s nothing you can use the entire duration of the tour. There’s not even an outhouse in the parking lot.

If you’re leaving from Vik, make sure to go to the bathroom at the meeting point (the Ice Cave Bistro has public washrooms).

This Is One Of The Most Terrifying Things I’ve Done…

I went on this cave tour as a recommendation from my sister. As I mentioned, I am probably the least risk seeking person, especially while travelling. While I do enjoy adventures and new experiences, I don’t like being in dangerous situations.

I was not expecting the caves to be what they were…. I guess I trusted my sister too much so I didn’t look into it any more (now I’ve learned my lesson!). You’re walking on ice, granted with crampons, but it’s still slippery, and it’s also not a very wide path. And at least when I were there, it was quite a drop into the water below.

Then you have to cross from one ice island to another via a thin wood bridge… with no railing. There was a wet rope you can grab onto… although I’m not sure how much it will actually do if you fall… The bridges are also sopping wet from the melting ice above, and destroyed from people walking on them with crampons. Let’s just say, some of the bridges we walked on definitely sagged a bit… I was not happy.

And, when you successfully make it to the other side of the cave, you still have to walk back the same way you came from…

And all this while the volcano might erupt underneath you! Woohoo!

But It’s Also One Of The Most Incredible Things I’ve Done…

I’m sorry to say that it was also one of the most incredible things I’ve done, possibly ever. I’m so happy I did it (but I’m also so happy I made it back and I don’t have to ever do it again!).

This doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world and it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. Where else would you have an ash layered ice cave that you can walk through!?

P.S. See my full list of travel bucket list things to do!

Secret Option Visiting The Ice Cave: Enjoy It From Far!

If you’re on the edge of booking the Katla Ice Cave tour because you’re scared, there might be another option for you. Now, this might not work for the cave you’ll be visiting (remember they change every few months!), but it would have worked for ours.

You were able to see our entire cave without walking on any sketchy bridge. Maybe you had to walk on a bit of ice, but it wasn’t nearly as narrow as it gets.

So, technically, if you’re scared, you can walk right up to the entrance and then not go any further. This way you get to see the beauty of the ice cave, have the fun of driving on an F road in Iceland, and not risk too much!

What To Bring To The Ice Caves?

They recommend bringing warm and waterproof clothes (you are going to an ice cave after all!).

When I visited, I had very good weather and they said it was pretty dry. I did wear my rain jackets (and I’m happy I did)! But I didn’t need to put on my rain pants (I still brought them just in case). I also recommend waterproof hiking boots, I LOVE my Columbia Newton Ridge. They offer good walking support, and kept my feet completely dry!

Extras To Bring To The Ice Cave!

Some other items that can be overlooked but you might want to bring are a hat, gloves, and a waterproof phone bag.

A hat is good to stay warm but also to wear under the helmet they give you. Make sure it’s thin enough though so it will fit! I love this thin merino wool hat from Decathlon. I also bought the matching gloves (no longer in stock, but these are similar from Smartwool) as well (which are great for travel). But, for the ice cave I wish I had waterproof gloves. Although these gloves gave me a better grip, and kept my hands warm and clean, the ropes are WET. So it might be worth bringing these water resistant gloves instead.

The waterproof phone bag actually serves two purposes here. First, it will come in handy to protect your phone from the dripping water. But, the better reason is that it keeps your phone attached to you at all times. Let’s just say you’ll want to take photos, but if you drop your phone it’s most likely gone forever!

P.S. I’ve included all these Iceland must-haves in my packing guide checklist for Reykjavik which you can buy on Etsy.

Remember! Your Experience Can Be Completely Different From Mine

Remember, the cave itself changes every few months. So sot only will the cave look different, but depending on when you visit in the progression of the cave, you can also get a different experience.

I was walking on bridges high above a stream of water that was carving out the ice below. But, apparently, the ice islands started off even higher. They keep having to lower the bridges as the ice melts. So perhaps you are walking higher up or even lower down than I was.

Visiting In The Winter Is Also A Different Experience

Visiting the Katla Ice Cave in the winter is also a completely different experience from visiting in the summer (from what I’m told anyway).

For starters, there’s way less sunlight. My guide was telling us that they come every morning to put up little fairy lights for people to see. He said this makes the cave really quite magical! He also mentioned that you can also walk on the ground in the winter because the water is frozen (so no sketchy bridges needed!).

But as I mentioned, the tours usually last a lot longer in the winter as well. You’re usually spending a lot longer driving to get to the cave. And because the weather tends to be worse, there’s a risk that you don’t make it to the caves at all.

My Katla Amazon Essentials

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Last update on 2026-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API