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Original poster

Iceland- ice cave/ glacier

58 replies

2025istheyeari · 08/02/2025 17:55

Hiya
We’re off to Iceland with our 16 yo son in half term.
We will have a car but very aware that trips will be weather dependent! We’ve booked a northern lights trip and also a trip to the glacier lagoon which is the one I’m rethinking. My son would love to see an ice cave, are they safe this time of year and can anyone recommend a day trip from Rekyavik, ideally with a glacier included?
we are planning to drive the golden circle, and possibly the south coast/ snaefelness. We’d also love to go to Hvammasik, can’t wait!

thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
2025istheyeari · 08/02/2025 18:43

I’ve just realised I didn’t mean Snaefelsness, I’d looked at that for a summer trip! Any other thoughts on what we could do would be fab, ( realising weather permitting!) thanks!

OP posts:
Gloriainextremis · 08/02/2025 18:46

@Puffinshop lives in Iceland and could probably help you with this one.

fireplacetiles · 08/02/2025 18:54

We did Iceland in February, be prepared it is freezing! We went up a glacier, was an amazing experience but we went with a guide in a small group, I wouldn't have risked it alone, he knew exactly where was/wasn't safe to walk. We had booked a hire car but we cancelled it when we saw how tricky the driving was, lots of closed roads due to snow. Don’t expect to see the Northern Lights then it will be a big plus if you do! It's a beautiful place but have to say I wouldn't go back in the winter.

Original poster
2025istheyeari · 08/02/2025 19:12

fireplacetiles · 08/02/2025 18:54

We did Iceland in February, be prepared it is freezing! We went up a glacier, was an amazing experience but we went with a guide in a small group, I wouldn't have risked it alone, he knew exactly where was/wasn't safe to walk. We had booked a hire car but we cancelled it when we saw how tricky the driving was, lots of closed roads due to snow. Don’t expect to see the Northern Lights then it will be a big plus if you do! It's a beautiful place but have to say I wouldn't go back in the winter.

Thanks, yep all prepared, lots of thermals, layers and crampons at the ready! Absolutely wouldn’t do this without a guide, just wondering who would be recommended, and whether as someone who is partially sighted it’s a sensible thing!! Not the best time I know, it was just what we could manage to fit in, and I always think you need to leave something to go back , maybe next time
in summer 😄

OP posts:
dizzydizzydizzy · 08/02/2025 19:20

I read in the lonely Planet the other day that it is a 4 hour journey from Reykjavik to the starting point for ice cave tours. I'm going for a long weekend soon and have crossed that off my list.

Original poster
2025istheyeari · 08/02/2025 21:00

dizzydizzydizzy · 08/02/2025 19:20

I read in the lonely Planet the other day that it is a 4 hour journey from Reykjavik to the starting point for ice cave tours. I'm going for a long weekend soon and have crossed that off my list.

Eek, a good reason not to go then, thanks, think we’ll cross it off ours then!

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Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 08/02/2025 21:03

We went to one and yes it was pretty much a whole day trip from Reykjavik. Was great though. We went to a man made cave system - into the glacier was the name of the tour with arctic adventues.

Was a great trip though. Getting to it was part of it. The last part of the journey was in some sort of massive army truck thing.

Leviezra · 09/02/2025 16:05

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ouch44 · 09/02/2025 16:11

We went on an Ice Cave Tour in October. We stayed one night near the Diamond beach/glacier lagoon which was where our Ice Cave Tour was. I think we went with Local Guide.

If the weather is bad enough not to drive then the Tour would be likely to be cancelled anyway. But it is a long drive from Reykjavik!

Cattenberg · 09/02/2025 16:28

I once went on a three day Golden Circle and ice caves coach tour in March. We were picked up in Rekjavik, then stayed near Vik.

We were one of the last groups that year to see the ice cave we went to. I loved it, but apparently it was more impressive earlier in the season. Our tour also included Seljalandsfoss, but we were less lucky with our timing there, as the path behind the waterfall was closed due to melting ice.

The landscapes in Iceland were amazing and I think they lived up to the hype. I loved the glacier lagoon and nearby beach, by the way. I could have spent all day there taking photos.

I suspect there’s no ideal time of year to see and do everything as the sights and available activities change with the weather.

whiteroseredrose · 09/02/2025 19:44

I might be wrong but I don't think that the glacier lagoon boat trips start until April or May. However February is definitely winter so prime time for ice cave tours.

We did a glacier hike which was an amazing experience. It was in a small group and felt very safe. You walk in a close knit crocodile so nobody walk where it is risky. That was in August.

As others have said, we self-drove in the summer, but would not have done in the winter.

Glitterbaby17 · 09/02/2025 20:06

I would recommend the into the glacier tour - it's a couple of hours from Reykjavik and you can either book a bus transfer from there or drive yourself up. You ride a converted UN missile launcher up the glacier then spend about an hour inside the ice cave. It is a man made one but that means it's very safe, especially if you are partially sighted. We took our 4 and 7 year olds.

Binglebong · 09/02/2025 20:21

Try going to The Lava Tunnel - it's amazing! This time if year there will be snow and ice in it. My favourite memory from our trip last year. The lava show where they melt some magna is good too.

Bjorkdidit · 10/02/2025 16:32

I suspect there’s no ideal time of year to see and do everything as the sights and available activities change with the weather

This. I also get the impression that people seem to think that they can see everything of interest in one visit, which is far from the case. Unless it's really not your thing, you could visit several times and still be finding new things to see and do.

Original poster
2025istheyeari · 12/02/2025 16:45

Thanks everyone and yes there are so many things to do that we are definitely limiting ourselves. I think ice caves will
need to wait for this trip! I am looking at the lava tunnel near Reykjavik though, thanks for the tip!

OP posts:
Puffinshop · 12/02/2025 20:10

If you go to Perlan I think they have a replica ice cave there which could be fun. February is a safe(er) time of year to visit glaciers and ice tunnels etc as it's fully winter, but it would depend on the weather.

The person who got crushed to death by falling ice was on a tour in July, which I wouldn't recommend to anyone!

Puffinshop · 12/02/2025 20:14

I don't know when exactly half term is by the way, but generally I'd expect mild temps and rain rather than snow and ice if it's within the next two weeks.

It's a warm February so far. Bring your waterproofs.

CaptainMyCaptain · 12/02/2025 20:16

We went to Iceland 10 years ago in February. We did a glacier walk with a group and it was the scariest thing I've ever done. First I couldn't get my crampons to stick hard enough to grip in the ice and did a dramatic slide which was thankfully stopped by a bank of snow. Then the unseasonably melting snow started a landslide and we had to cut short the walk and come back by a different boggy route. Even the guides, who all looked like Thor, were worried. I'm sure that doesn't happen every time though. 😖

Original poster
2025istheyeari · 14/02/2025 18:45

Puffinshop · 12/02/2025 20:14

I don't know when exactly half term is by the way, but generally I'd expect mild temps and rain rather than snow and ice if it's within the next two weeks.

It's a warm February so far. Bring your waterproofs.

Thank you! It’s next week and yes it looks soggy doesn’t it 🫣. Thanks for the Perlman tip.

OP posts:
Original poster
2025istheyeari · 14/02/2025 18:46

CaptainMyCaptain · 12/02/2025 20:16

We went to Iceland 10 years ago in February. We did a glacier walk with a group and it was the scariest thing I've ever done. First I couldn't get my crampons to stick hard enough to grip in the ice and did a dramatic slide which was thankfully stopped by a bank of snow. Then the unseasonably melting snow started a landslide and we had to cut short the walk and come back by a different boggy route. Even the guides, who all looked like Thor, were worried. I'm sure that doesn't happen every time though. 😖

Oh goodness, that sounds so scary. The more I think about it, the more I think it would be reckless of me, I have very limited peripheral vision and struggle with contrast. Glad you were ok, I’ll definitely give it a miss I think!

OP posts:
Rainingalldayonmyhead · 14/02/2025 20:45

We went to the ice caves and rented a house about 30 minutes north of Reykjavik and it wasn’t hours to get there - maybe two? Everything in Iceland takes hours - even the Blue Lagoon is at least and hour away. We have been in April (Easter) when we went last time to the caves and it was freezing on the mountain.

Do the golden triangle but again it’s hours. Dont do a tour or bus - horrific amounts of tourists piling off then all at once. You can easily drive.

Roads are geothermal so the weather shouldn’t be a problem.

Puffinshop · 14/02/2025 20:52

Roads are geothermal so the weather shouldn’t be a problem.

Huh? Do you mean like all roads are heated? No they're not!

WonderingWanda · 14/02/2025 21:01

Hvammsvik is lovely! Perlan is actually really interesting and their ice cave is great if you don't fancy the long drive. The lava tunnel is good but it will be freezing, I went in July and there was ice in it then. If you can get the ferry over to the Westerman Isles there's a great museum there. Also the glacier hikes are great.

Binglebong · 14/02/2025 22:52

Yeah, the lava tunnel is definitely chilly but worth it!

Binglebong · 14/02/2025 22:56

Not a good photo but the lava tunnel last February. Very chilly!

Iceland- ice cave/ glacier