From Húsafell: Into the Glacier Ice Cave Adventure

Overview

Into the Glacier is not a natural cave at all — it is a tunnel bored deep into Langjökull, Iceland's second-largest ice cap, and that is precisely why it is worth knowing about. Natural caves melt shut every spring. This one is engineered and maintained, so it can be walked in July as easily as in January.

Starting from Húsafell rather than Reykjavik is the cheaper and shorter way in. The trip runs about four hours instead of a full day, and transfer from Reykjavik to Húsafell is included for anyone coming from the capital, roughly two hours away.

The ride up is an event in itself: an eight-wheel-drive truck built for glacier driving climbs onto the ice cap to the tunnel entrance. Inside, the guide leads the group through lit corridors and chambers, pointing out decades of compressed snow layers and the bands of volcanic ash that record old eruptions.

It is the most family-friendly of the ice cave options. Children under twelve go free, teenagers pay half, and the operator will tow small children on sleds. Crampons, a snowsuit, a jacket and waterproof boot covers are all supplied.

How the day runs

• Meet at Húsafell — Check in at the Húsafell Activity Centre, about two hours from Reykjavik, and get fitted with a snowsuit.
• Board the glacier truck — Climb into the modified 8x8 truck built to handle the ice cap. In summer a mountain bus covers the first leg to the glacier edge first.
• Drive onto Langjökull — The truck climbs onto the ice cap itself, with views across the glacier that cannot be reached without a guide.
• Enter the ice tunnel — Walk into the tunnel and along its lit corridors and chambers, roughly an hour inside.
• Ice, ash and geology — The guide explains how the glacier formed, how it moves, and what the ash layers in the walls record.
• Return to Húsafell — Back down the glacier by truck to the activity centre.

What's included

Meeting point & logistics

The meeting point is the Húsafell Activity Centre in west Iceland, about a two-hour drive from Reykjavik. Transfer from Reykjavik to Húsafell is included in the price, so a car is not essential.

In summer the route changes slightly: a mountain bus carries visitors from Húsafell to the edge of the glacier, and the monster truck takes over from there.

Children of all ages are welcome with an adult, and sleds are available to tow the smallest ones. The tunnel is not suitable for anyone with mobility impairments. Food and drinks are not included, so bring something for the drive.

What travellers say

Read all reviews on the booking page →