How to Photograph a Blue Ice Cave in Iceland (Phone + Camera)
A natural blue ice cave is one of the most striking places you can photograph in Iceland. The colour is real, the shapes are made by the glacier itself, and no two visits look exactly the same. This guide explains, in general terms, how to photograph inside one on a guided tour — without promising a particular cave, colour or shot.
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, and a camera is on the bring list for our tours.
First, understand what you are photographing
Glacier Travel only visits natural ice caves — caves formed by the glacier itself, not built or drilled. Meltwater and air shape the ice over time, and the glacier keeps changing it. A cave that looks one way this winter may look different, or be gone, next season.
That matters for photography. You are not photographing a permanent set, but dense glacier ice, sculpted walls, and light passing through ice of different thicknesses. Some ice is deep blue, some clear or white, and some darker where ash or gravel is mixed in. The colour is in the ice itself, not in coloured lights.
For more on this, read our guide to natural ice caves in Iceland and how they form.
What to look for inside the cave
Start wide, then look closer. A wide view can show the shape of the cave — an arch, a tunnel or a larger chamber. Then look for details: layers, bubbles, cracks, smooth curves, and places where bright and dark ice meet.
Look towards the light as well as away from it. Ice looks very different when light comes through it, reflects off it, or falls into shadow. Move slowly, look back towards the entrance, and look up.
Do not chase only one famous shot. Because the cave changes, the best photograph may be a texture, a curve of blue ice or a shaft of light that did not exist last season.
Phone or camera: what Glacier Travel guests should bring
A camera is included in the bring list for Glacier Travel tours. Bring warm clothing, headwear, gloves, good hiking shoes and your camera. Helmets, crampons and head lights are included on the Crystal Blue Ice Cave Adventure; on the Extreme Blue Ice Cave Tour & Glacier Hike, helmets, crampons, head lights, harness, ice axes and carabiners are included.
Whether you use a phone or a dedicated camera is your choice. What matters is that you are comfortable using it, it is charged, and you can handle it safely while following your guide.
General habits that help in a cold, wet cave
These are general habits, not Glacier Travel rules. Keep your device in a warm, dry inside pocket when not using it, because cold drains batteries faster. Use a strap where you can, because gloves and ice make drops more likely. Charge devices fully before the tour.
Above all, follow your guide on where it is safe to stand and stop. The best position for a photograph is never more important than the safe position.
For clothing, read what to wear and bring on an ice cave tour in Iceland.
Which tour suits photographers?
Both tours visit natural ice caves, meet at the Jökulsárlón parking lot, and run from October to the end of April. Please arrive 20 minutes early.
Crystal takes about 3 hours and costs 23,900 ISK. It departs at 10:45 and 14:00, maximum 14 per guide, minimum age 6. It is the focused ice cave trip if the cave itself is the main part of your day.
Extreme takes 4.5–6 hours and costs 36,900 ISK. It departs at 09:30, maximum 10 per guide, minimum age 14. It combines a glacier hike with the cave, for travellers who want a longer, more physical day.
Compare both side by side in Crystal vs Extreme: which should you book?, or see our comparison of the best ice cave tours in Iceland.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring a camera on a Glacier Travel ice cave tour?
Yes. A camera is on the bring list. Bring warm clothing, headwear, gloves, good hiking shoes and your camera. Helmets, crampons and head lights are included; Extreme also includes harness, ice axes and carabiners.
When is the ice cave photography season?
Glacier Travel tours run from October to the end of April. We only visit natural ice caves on Vatnajökull, and the cave visited is chosen for the conditions on the day, so the exact cave and its shapes can vary.
Which tour should I choose for photography?
Choose Crystal for about 3 hours (23,900 ISK, departing 10:45 and 14:00) focused on the cave. Choose Extreme for 4.5–6 hours (36,900 ISK, departing 09:30) combining a glacier hike with the cave. Both meet at the Jökulsárlón parking lot; arrive 20 minutes early.
Ready to photograph a natural blue ice cave?
If you would like to stand inside blue ice formed by the glacier itself, we would be glad to guide you.
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