Into Ice and Lava

Iceland is well-known for its glaciers, mountains, and hot springs. The Langjökull glacier was featured in the 1999 animated film, The Iron Giant. Situated in the west of the ‘Highlands of Iceland’, this is the second largest ice cap in the country. It covers a whopping 953 square kilometer area. The ice is about 580 meters thick and the glacier is in a state of perpetual motion. An ice tunnel was bored into the glacier to access some of the mysterious formations below the surface of Langjökull.

The Víðgelmir lava cave is filled with awe-inspiring stalactites and stalagmites. The ice reflects and refracts the light that enters the cave in interesting ways, leading to a charming display of colors inside the cave.

The bus leaves for the Langjökull Glacier early in the morning. You can put your headphones on and listen to the audio guide in various languages on the bus. Earphones can also be bought on board in case you have forgotten to bring your own. Once you reach the glacier, a modified truck will take you up the precarious icy slope. You will then descend into the ice cave and catch amazing sights of the strangely alluring blue ice and glacier formations inside. You will also learn about how the cave and the glacier are being adversely affected by global warming.

Shortly after the ice tour, you will head to Húsafell for a leisurely lunch. You can take a look around the church estate before leaving for the Víðgelmir lava cave. You will be given standard caving equipment before you venture inside. The guide will tell you about the formation of the stalactites and stalagmites inside. The remotely operated lighting will make it easy to navigate inside the cave. The tour is safe for kids of all ages.

On your way back to Reykjavik, the bus will take a scenic route on which you can witness Iceland’s picturesque landscape.