Are Ice Cave Tours Safe? How a Guide Judges a Natural Ice Cave
It is a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer. A natural ice cave is a real glacier environment, not a built attraction. It can be visited in the right conditions, with a certified guide and the safety gear provided, under a clear rule: if the cave is not judged safe on the day, the tour does not go into it.
I am Vigfús Ásbjörnsson, owner and lead guide at Glacier Travel. I am local to this area, I have been guiding ice cave tours since 2015, and I am AIMG Hard Ice 1 & 2 and Ice Cave certified, and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certified. Glacier Travel only visits natural ice caves on Vatnajökull.
Why a natural cave needs judging at all
A natural ice cave is formed by the glacier itself, through meltwater and air flow. It is not built, drilled or made to stay fixed. The water that helped create it keeps changing it, the glacier moves slowly, and warm weather can melt, flood or close a cave.
That is why the cave visited can vary, and why a cave suitable one season may be unsuitable the next. No honest operator should promise one exact cave shape in advance. What we offer is a real, natural cave, chosen and judged for your tour day. Read more in our guide to natural ice caves in Iceland and how they form.
How safety is approached on a Glacier Travel tour
In general terms — and only using practices already stated on our site — safety on a Glacier Travel tour rests on four things.
First, a certified guide with AIMG Hard Ice 1 & 2 and Ice Cave certification and WFR training, local to this area and guiding here since 2015.
Second, provided safety gear. Helmets, crampons and head lights are included on every tour; Extreme also includes harness, ice axes and carabiners. Bring warm clothing, headwear, gloves, good hiking shoes and a camera.
Third, weather and conditions judgement on the day. Conditions on and inside the glacier are what matter, even if the weather at the parking lot looks fine.
Fourth, the willingness to cancel. If we cancel because of weather or safety, you can choose a full refund or reschedule. That decision is part of running the tour properly.
What this means for you as a guest
Arrive prepared, and follow your guide. Meet at the Jökulsárlón parking lot, 20 minutes early. Wear warm clothing, headwear and gloves, and good hiking shoes, and follow the guide's instructions on where to walk and stop and how to use the gear provided.
Crystal has a maximum of 14 per guide and a minimum age of 6. Extreme has a maximum of 10 per guide and a minimum age of 14, combining a glacier hike with the cave over 4.5–6 hours.
Do not treat the gear as optional, and do not wander away from the guided route for a photograph. If you are unsure about anything, ask your guide before you act.
For clothing in more detail, read what to wear and bring on an ice cave tour in Iceland.
Season, cancellation and flexibility
Glacier Travel tours run from October to the end of April, judged on conditions at the time. A cave is not entered simply because a tour was booked.
Build flexibility into your plans. Free cancellation with a full refund is available up to 24 hours before the tour start time. If we cancel because of weather or safety, you can choose a full refund or reschedule. Neither you nor we should treat a booking as a reason to enter a cave that is not right on the day. Compare our two ice cave tours, and read when ice cave season runs before you travel.
Choosing Crystal or Extreme
The Crystal Blue Ice Cave Adventure takes about 3 hours and costs 23,900 ISK, departing at 10:45 and 14:00. Helmets, crampons and head lights are included. It is the focused ice cave trip.
The Extreme Blue Ice Cave Tour & Glacier Hike takes 4.5–6 hours and costs 36,900 ISK, departing at 09:30. Helmets, crampons, head lights, harness, ice axes and carabiners are included, and the day combines a glacier hike with the cave.
Both meet at the Jökulsárlón parking lot; arrive 20 minutes early. See Crystal vs Extreme: which should you book? for the full comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Are ice cave tours safe?
A natural ice cave is a real glacier environment, so it is only visited in the right conditions, with a certified guide and the safety gear provided. If a cave is not judged safe on the day, the tour does not go into it. If we cancel because of weather or safety, you can choose a full refund or reschedule.
Who guides Glacier Travel ice cave tours?
Vigfús Ásbjörnsson, owner and lead guide. He is local to the area, has guided ice cave tours since 2015, and is AIMG Hard Ice 1 & 2 and Ice Cave certified, and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certified.
What safety gear is included?
Helmets, crampons and head lights are included on both tours. Extreme also includes harness, ice axes and carabiners. Bring warm clothing, headwear, gloves, good hiking shoes and a camera.
What happens if the cave is unsafe on the day?
A natural ice cave is only visited in the right conditions, with a certified guide and the safety gear provided. If a cave is not judged safe on the day, the tour does not go into it. Tours are subject to weather and ice conditions. If we cancel because of weather or safety, you can choose a full refund or reschedule.
Ready to visit a natural ice cave with a certified local guide?
Free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour start time. If we cancel because of weather or safety, you can choose a full refund or reschedule.
Comments