Why We Find New Ice Caves Every Year
Every winter, we take our guests into new ice caves. The natural ice caves we used last winter melt away over the summer, and new ones form in Vatnajökull. We never know which caves will be good to go in until the end of summer, because nature controls it, not us.
That is the honest truth about natural blue ice caves, and for us it is also the beauty of them. Here is how it works, and what it means for your ice cave tour from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Why last winter's ice caves are gone
A natural ice cave is not a building. It is a hollow in the glacier, carved by water, and it only lasts for a while.
In summer, meltwater runs over and through the glacier and slowly reshapes the ice. By the end of the season, the caves we walked through last winter have melted away, fallen in or changed beyond recognition.
Global warming makes this even clearer. Like most glaciers in Iceland, the outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull are retreating as the climate warms. We see the glacier change with our own eyes, year after year.
How new ice caves form each summer
The good news is that the glacier keeps making new caves. The same meltwater that takes the old caves away carves new channels and caves somewhere else in the ice.
When the cold comes back, the water slows down, the ice firms up, and some of these new caves become stable enough to visit with a guide. Every cave is unique. The shape, the entrance and the shades of blue ice are different each time.
If you want to know more about why the ice glows blue, read Natural Ice Caves in Iceland: How They Form.
Bigger some years, smaller others
No two seasons are the same. Some years the caves are bigger, some years they are smaller. We cannot plan it, and we would not want to fake it.
Glacier Travel only visits natural ice caves, never man-made ice tunnels. So the caves of the season are the ones the glacier gives us, and we think that is worth the wait.
Why we wait until the end of summer
People often ask us which cave they will see next winter. The honest answer is: we don't know yet.
Until the end of summer, the meltwater is still at work. Only when it gets colder can we see which caves are good to go in and which are not. Safety always comes first.
Our guide has been guiding ice cave tours since 2015 and has AIMG and first-responder training. Knowing the glacier helps us read the new caves, but nature always has the final word.
What this means for your ice cave tour
For you, it means the ice cave you visit is new. It did not look like this last year, and it will not be here in the same form next year. Photos from past winters show what natural ice caves can look like, not the exact cave you will see.
The way we get there stays the same. Everyone meets at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon parking lot. Please arrive 20 minutes early, as there is no pick-up. From there, we ride about 35 minutes by super truck to the caves. Our tours run from October to the end of April, and you get a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the tour.
For the best time to visit, see Ice Cave Season in Iceland: When to Go.
Frequently asked questions
Do you visit the same ice cave every year?
No. Natural ice caves melt away over the summer, and new ones form. We find new ice caves in Vatnajökull every year.
Why do the ice caves melt away?
In summer, meltwater flows through the glacier and reshapes the ice, so last winter's caves melt, fall in or change. Global warming and glacier retreat are part of this.
When do you know which ice caves you will visit?
Not until the end of summer. Once it gets colder, we can see which new caves are good to go in and which are not.
Are your ice caves natural?
Yes. Glacier Travel only visits natural ice caves, never man-made ice tunnels.
Where do the ice cave tours start?
At the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon parking lot. Please arrive 20 minutes early, as there is no pick-up. A super truck then takes you about 35 minutes to the caves.
Every winter's ice caves are one of a kind. If you want to see the blue ice that Vatnajökull has made this season, come with us:
Crystal Blue Ice Cave Adventure: about 3 hours, 23,900 ISK, departs 10:45 and 14:00, max 14 per guide, age 6+.
Extreme Blue Ice Cave Tour: 4.5–6 hours, 36,900 ISK, departs 09:30, max 10, age 14+.
We look forward to showing you what nature made this year.
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