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Katla Ice Cave: Iceland’s Frozen Wonderland

28-10-2024

Katla Ice Cave

    In the Land of Fire and Ice, ice caves are some of the most incredible natural wonders to visit. However, exploring the ice caves in Iceland is usually a seasonal activity restricted to our winter season. That’s what makes Katla Ice Cave so special. Not only is it one of our most spectacular icy formations here on the island, but it’s also open to the public all year round!

    So, if you’ve got an upcoming trip to Iceland (or have Iceland as a bucket list travel destination) and feel these mesmerizing frozen landscapes calling, then read on. Katla Ice Cave is one icy adventure you don’t want to miss out on!

    Close-up of the stunning entrance to Katla Ice Cave in Iceland, showcasing textured blue ice layers

    What is Katla Ice Cave?

    As the name suggests, Katla is an ice cave. Ice caves are geological phenomena created by glaciers (more on this a little later) and are not just breathtaking icy formations but often act as time machines to the past. Their icy walls have remnants of the past (thousands and thousands of years’ worth) frozen in time, such as the black streaks, which are really ash from past volcanic eruptions.

    What makes Katla even more impressive is that it sits underneath one of the most famous volcanoes in Iceland; Katla Volcano. But don’t worry. Although Katla is still one of our active volcanoes here on the island, its last eruption was in 1918.

    How was Katla Ice Cave Formed?

    As we already touched on, Katla Ice Cave was formed by a glacier, or rather the meltwater of a glacier, to be exact. The meltwater carves its way through the glacier, creating little pathways. Over time, and with enough meltwater (especially after a glacial flood), these tiny pathways expand into full-blown tunnels and caverns.

    The interesting thing about ice caves is that they’re ever-evolving. Each year, whether it’s due to seasonal weather changes, global climate change, or volcanic activity, the cave and the glacier melt, things move and shift, and then freeze again as the cold sets in. This also makes Katla Ice Cave the one attraction here in Iceland that you can visit again and again and always see and experience something new.

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    Katla Ice Cave’s Location

    Katla Ice Cave sits within the Kötlujökull Glacier, which forms part of the bigger Myrdalsjökull Glacier (the glacier covering Katla Volcano). It is located on the south coast of Iceland, with the nearest town being Vik (only an hour’s drive away) and the nearest big city being the capital city of Reykjavik itself (roughly a 2.5-hour drive away).

    This means that most exploring the ice cave as a day outing do so from Vik, while most simply add it as a stop along their road trip around the country since it’s conveniently close to the popular Ring Road route.

    Getting to Katla Ice Cave in Iceland

    You have a few options for getting to Katla Ice Cave:

    By Booking a Spot on a Tour

    You’ll find many tour operators and guides operating here on the island that offer a variety of tours with Katla Ice Cave as a destination. These tours range from outing tours (where you spend 3-4 hours only exploring the cave) and combination day tours to multi-day holiday packages.  

    A Few Tour Options

    The below tour options are highly recommended:

    Departing From Reykjavik
    Departing From Vik

    By Driving Yourself

    Driving yourself will always be our go-to. This ensures you’re always at the helm of your own adventure with full control over your time and itinerary. And driving, especially if you’re road-tripping, allows you to see much more of the country and truly immerse yourself in the culture. Just keep in mind that, although you can drive yourself to Katla Ice Cave, the only way to explore the inside of the cave is via guided tour due to safety concerns.

    A hiker walking through the narrow icy passages of Katla Ice Cave, Iceland, surrounded by vibrant blue ice walls.

    When is the Best Time to Visit Katla Ice Cave?

    As mentioned, Katla is one of the few ice caves in Iceland that stays open to the public all year round, while most others are kept closed throughout the warmer months. This has both pros and cons. It allows those traveling to Iceland during the warmer months to still experience an ice cave.

    But those visiting Katla Ice Cave in the summer will also need to make peace with the fact that they will be exploring the cave with meltwater dripping onto their head (which can be annoying to some). When all is said and done, the best time to visit an ice cave will always be during the colder months (especially the winter) for obvious reasons.

    But if you’re planning on going on all sorts of other outdoor adventures here in Iceland, and you’re not a fan of the cold, a few droplets in an ice cave is not a bad trade-off, considering the nice weather you’ll have outside.

    Hiker standing on a glacier near Katla Ice Cave, Iceland, with a backdrop of rugged mountains and icy terrain.

    What to Pack for Your Visit to Katla Ice Cave

    Your tour operator or guide will provide you with all the necessary gear and equipment you will need on your tour inside the cave, but there are a few things that you may not think of that remains your responsibility. The cave is extremely cold. Especially when the weather outside is fairly warm, and the contrast is clearly felt. So, irrespective of season, please bring the following items of clothing:

    • Thermal underwear
    • Warm clothes you can layer (that way, you can always put something on or take something off as the situation calls for)
    • Warm gloves and hat (we recommend beanies)
    • Sturdy waterproof hiking boots with good grip (it’s an ice cave – things can get pretty slippery)
    • Waterproof clothing (especially when you’re planning on visiting during the warmer months) 

    Person in a yellow backpack exploring the heart of Katla Ice Cave, Iceland, illuminated by sunlight filtering through the icy archway.

    Katla Ice Cave: A Year-round Reminder of the Contrasting Landscapes in the Land of Fire and Ice

    When you travel to Iceland, you will see a wide variety of completely contrasting natural wonders due to the country’s unique geological makeup. Katla Ice Cave allows visitors to experience this extreme interplay between the elements all throughout the year. Where else can you walk through a winter wonderland in the middle of summer and take in thousands of years’ worth of history still lingering in its walls?

    With the site being so close to the Ring Road route, an easy and affordable way to explore the area is by renting an RV in Iceland and making Katla (both the ice cave and the volcano) stops along the way. But whatever you do, don’t come to Iceland and miss out on this extraordinary frozen paradise.  

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