From Reykjavík: 2-Day South Coast, Jökulsárlón & Blue Ice Cave Tour in Vatnajökull

Natural blue ice caves form inside the outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull only in the cold months, and they are a long way from the capital: Jökulsárlón lies about 380 km east of Reykjavík along the Ring Road. This two-day small-group tour turns that distance into part of the trip. You see the South Coast's best-known waterfalls and beaches on the way out, spend a night in the countryside close to the ice cap, and reach the ice cave on the second morning, when the short winter daylight can be used in full.

Day one starts with a morning pickup in Reykjavík and a drive east through the farmland of the south. The first stop is Seljalandsfoss, which falls from the cliffs of an old coastline, with Gljúfrabúi hidden in a narrow gorge a short walk away. Next comes Skógafoss, a 60 m curtain of water that is 25 m wide, with a staircase of more than 500 steps climbing to a viewpoint at the top. After a stop at Reynisfjara, where basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rise from the black sand, and lunch in Vík, the road crosses the Eldhraun lava field and the wide Skeiðarársandur outwash plain to your hotel near Vatnajökull.

On day two you meet certified glacier guides near Jökulsárlón, transfer in a modified four-wheel-drive vehicle to the edge of Breiðamerkurjökull, and put on crampons and a helmet for the short walk to the cave. The ice glows deep blue because old, dense glacier ice absorbs the red end of the light spectrum. Caves are carved by summer meltwater and become safe to enter only once freezing weather stabilises them, so the cave you visit is new each season and is chosen on the day by the guides.

After the cave you walk along the shore of Jökulsárlón, where icebergs broken off Breiðamerkurjökull drift towards the sea and seals often gather at the outlet in winter. Across the road, chunks of ice wash up on the black sand of Diamond Beach. The minibus then heads back west, with a food stop on the way, reaching Reykjavík in the evening, usually around 21:00.

Visit Vatnajökull gives the ice-cave season as mid-November to mid-March, always depending on the weather, and this tour runs within that window from 15 November 2026 to 15 March 2027. Heavy rain, warm spells or storms can close a cave at short notice. When that happens the guides look for another safe cave or, where conditions allow, offer a glacier walk instead, and the ice-cave portion is refunded if no alternative is possible.

Wear sturdy, waterproof, ankle-high hiking boots, which are needed to fit crampons; trainers are not allowed in the ice cave. Dress in warm layers with a waterproof jacket and trousers, and bring a hat and gloves. If you do not have suitable boots, rent them when booking.

The ice cave involves a bumpy 4x4 ride and a walk on uneven, icy ground, sometimes over gravel and through low passages. A normal level of fitness is enough. The minimum age is 8 years, and the cave is not recommended for anyone with serious mobility problems.

Ice caves are natural and change with the weather. The glacier guides make the final call on safety on the morning of the visit, and the order of stops may change because of road conditions or daylight. Storms can close roads on Iceland's South Coast at short notice; if the whole tour cannot run, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Bring a small overnight bag only; larger luggage can usually be left at your Reykjavík hotel. Have cash or a card for lunches and dinner, a refillable water bottle and a fully charged phone. In December there are only about four to five hours of daylight, so much of the driving happens in the dark.

Solo travellers pay the single room supplement. If you book as a pair, tell us whether you prefer a twin or a double bed; rooms are allocated on availability.