Katla Ice Cave, Super Jeep & South Coast Waterfalls Day Trip from Reykjavik

Katla Ice Cave

The Katla Ice Cave is a natural ice cave in the Kötlujökull outlet of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which covers the Katla volcano. Meltwater carves tunnels under the ice, and inside you see rippled walls of glacial ice in shades of blue and white, streaked with black bands of volcanic ash from previous eruptions. The contrast makes it one of the most photographed ice caves in Iceland.

Ice caves change constantly with temperature and ice movement, so the cave you visit will not be exactly like one seen a week earlier. Your guides choose the safest and most beautiful area on the day. If you want to know whether the Katla ice cave is worth visiting, the answer is yes if you like dramatic natural scenery. Caves are visited in the cold season, so check the dates shown in the booking panel.

Mýrdalsjökull and the super jeep ride from Vík

The road ends at the edge of the glacier, so the last part of the trip is by a specially modified 4x4 super jeep. The vehicles have large tyres and drive off-road across black volcanic sand and rough tracks toward the ice. It is an adventure in itself, and the views of Mýrdalsjökull open up as you drive.

Katla is one of Iceland's most closely watched volcanoes, and its last major eruption was in 1918. The guide explains the geology, the ash layers in the ice and the reasons that the glacier looks the way it does. On the walk to the cave you use crampons, which are provided together with a helmet.

Skógafoss waterfall

Skógafoss is one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland, about sixty metres high and twenty-five metres wide, and it drops from the old sea cliff into a pool with a constant cloud of spray. On sunny days a rainbow appears at its base, and in some conditions a double one.

According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area hid a chest of gold behind the falls. A staircase leads to a viewpoint at the top, and a trail continues to the river above. On this day trip you stop for around thirty minutes, enough for photographs and a short walk.

Seljalandsfoss and the south coast

On the way back you stop at Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall of about sixty metres known for the path behind the water. When conditions permit, you can walk behind the falls and see the landscape through the curtain of water. It can be wet, so wear a waterproof jacket, and in winter the path may be closed because of ice.

The drive itself is part of the experience: farms, lava fields, glaciers and coast. There is a break in Hvolsvöllur and a stop in Vík, a village with a black sand beach and views of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Food and drinks are not included, so bring a snack or money for meals.