Lofthellir Lava Cave
Lofthellir Lava Cave
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
138 reviews
Excellent
108
Very good
19
Average
5
Poor
3
Terrible
3
Sightseer55471710461
1 contribution
May 2023 • Couples
Little bit climbing on the ice and million dollar view after that in the cave. Local tripguide was very funny and intresting person.
Written 30 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thebruckers
San Diego, CA116 contributions
Sep 2022
This tour was great. We were picked up at our hotel and after a 1 hour bumpy ride and a walk across a lava field we arrived at their trailer. They give you boots for walking on the ice & a helmet. You must wear waterproof pants, jacket and gloves. We were told these were optional, but they were very much needed. You will be sliding alone and sitting on wet ice & it is very cold in the cave. You need to be reasonably agile as you move about in the cave. You'll learn a lot on the excursion and will have plenty of time to take everything in at your own pace.
Written 10 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark W
8 contributions
Jul 2022
We had a great time in the Lofthellir Ice Cave with Pirkir. He was clearly an experienced guide who was very conscious of safety measures and preservation of the natural features of the cave. I would definitely recommend this to any visitors to Iceland, however due to some physically challenging features, probably most suitable for ages 10-60.
Written 28 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca
1 contribution
May 2022 • Friends
We did the cave tour together with our guide Martha and it was an incredible experience. We met at the hike and bike activity center Myvatn and it turned out that we would get a private tour because we were the only bookings in the beginning of the season. Martha was supernice and explained lots of interesting things about Iceland and the geology around us. She gave us many tips what to do in the area of Myvatn and even showed us where we could get the famous Myvatn bread which is baked in the earth.
After a drive with the jeep and a short hike across a lava field we came to the cave. Going in was a little adventourus because there is a very narrow part you have to squeeze through. But inside it is very beautiful. The ice scultures are breathtaking and the frost at the roof of the cave glittered like stars. Definetly recommended!
After a drive with the jeep and a short hike across a lava field we came to the cave. Going in was a little adventourus because there is a very narrow part you have to squeeze through. But inside it is very beautiful. The ice scultures are breathtaking and the frost at the roof of the cave glittered like stars. Definetly recommended!
Written 27 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel-1-Facts
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada280 contributions
Aug 2019
The Lava Center has a film, and then large rooms with exhibits. They also have a cafeteria with good food and drinks, including liquor of various types.
The gift shop was one of the best we saw in Iceland, after making many tourist stops around the country.
The gift shop was one of the best we saw in Iceland, after making many tourist stops around the country.
Written 5 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gil Z
5 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
The cave was amazing and fascinating.
We took a tour that started with a van drive from Myvatn to the cave.
Please note that the approx. 50 minutes drive was bumpy and that the tour in the cave itself was pretty challenging.
If you're in a reasonable shape I would totally recommend you doing that tour!
We took a tour that started with a van drive from Myvatn to the cave.
Please note that the approx. 50 minutes drive was bumpy and that the tour in the cave itself was pretty challenging.
If you're in a reasonable shape I would totally recommend you doing that tour!
Written 28 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Florence M
22 contributions
Aug 2019
Thanks to our guide Inga ! She really wanted to share with all of us her passion for this cave and the area in general. And she was really helpful and considerate. But take care, this visit is not for you if you are claustrophobic or if you are in bad physical condition.
Written 21 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
frogspawns
2 contributions
Jul 2019
We went to this ice cave with Geo travel. The guide Anton was great -- got everyone talking to each other and told us more about Iceland in 4 hours than we found out in the rest of our 2 weeks.
The trip involved sliding through some quite narrow gaps -- the cave has an ice floor and rocky ceiling. But it is all well-prepared with mats and ropes to help you where needed. Inside there are ice stalagmites formed by centuries of dripping and freezing water. It was more like 'real caving' than I'd expected but then it felt good to have achieved that.
The trip involved sliding through some quite narrow gaps -- the cave has an ice floor and rocky ceiling. But it is all well-prepared with mats and ropes to help you where needed. Inside there are ice stalagmites formed by centuries of dripping and freezing water. It was more like 'real caving' than I'd expected but then it felt good to have achieved that.
Written 12 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Belle
Lincolnshire, UK19 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
Myself and my friend booked this tour with geotravel and had an amazing time. We had a fantastic tour guide called Inga who made the trip especially interesting and magical. I would definitely recommend including this in your trip to Iceland, but be prepared to squeeze through small spaces and dont forget your waterproofs!
Written 16 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Loes_lucy
Reykjavik, Iceland10 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
The tour starts off on a bumpy, but extremely beautiful road towards the cave. The views are stunning and our guide Inga was telling us all about the area. The walk to the cave was even more beautiful, but it has to be said that we were very lucky with the weather.
Clambering and exploring the cave was a lot of fun. Try to enjoy the surrounding from moment one and you will not be dissapointed. So many colours in the rocks and ice formations. To have this experience in a unique place (Inga told us there are only around 3 ice caves around the world) was amazing.
Clambering and exploring the cave was a lot of fun. Try to enjoy the surrounding from moment one and you will not be dissapointed. So many colours in the rocks and ice formations. To have this experience in a unique place (Inga told us there are only around 3 ice caves around the world) was amazing.
Written 29 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HopeAbounds
Los Osos, CA141 contributions
I’ll be in Myvatm 22-25 September. Would like single for 23 or 24 September. I see sign up for 2 but not for 1. Can I join a group?
rosa Maria C
1 contribution
Hola a todos,
En agosto nos gustaria visitar la cueva. Somos un grupo de 7 pers., 1 persona tiene problema en las lumbares y no se si el camino a la cueva que he leido tiene muchos baches,puede q no sea aconsejable. Que tiempo de recorrido es hasta la cueva.
Muchas gracias,
Rosa M
SaevarFreyr
Akureyri, Iceland
Hola Rosa
The the travel time from Lake Mývatn is 45 minurtes on rough mud track to where we park the truck. Then we take easy 20 minutes mud trail walk over quite flat lava. We spend then about 1.5 hours inside the cave before returing.
- The track is quite rough
- The walk is by mud trail and is quiet easy
- The cave has 100% ice floor and. The enterance is tight and partly you have to be on you knees. But most ot the time you stand straight.
The tour is not difficult but both crawling and the bending has to be done
Eirikur_4
Zurich, Switzerland348 contributions
Hallo. Kann diese Cave auch auf "eigene Faust" besucht werden, d.h. ich fahre mit dem eigenen PW zum Parkplatz und laufe hoch. Gibt es ein Kassenhaus, wo ich bezahlen und die Ausrüstung übernehmen kann? Oder geht es nur mit einem Touroperator wie Saga Travel oder auch einem isländischen Anbieter?
Danke für die Hilfe.
Grüessli Eirikur
BaldvinE
12 contributions
Hallo. Danke für die Frage.
Leider ist es nicht möglich die Höhle auf eigene Faust zu besuchen, sowohl aus Sicherheitsgründen als auch zum Schutz der Höhle.
Es geht also nur mit Saga Travel auf einer geführten Tour.
mattovey
Stoke-on-Trent, UK1 contribution
Can we go there by ourselves without the tour? Just drive/hike up and go in?
BaldvinE
12 contributions
Hi Mattovey1000
You can not go to Lofthellir Cave by yourself. The cave is private property. The reason for this is that the cave is very delicate. The stalagmites and ice sculptures inside the dark cave are very fragile and a trained guide is required for entry, in order to protect this delicate location.
The road is as well an unofficial trail, and your car rental company will probably not allow you driving on it.
best
Baldvin
All the best
Janet S.
Wales, WI7 contributions
What is the difference between the two tours? And is it possible to meet at Lake Myvatn instead of Aukreyri?
Joann T
Midland, Michigan, United States6 contributions
I am guessing there is not much difference between the tours other than driving time. Lake Myvatn is where the offroad portion to get to the Cave starts. Aukreyi is quite some distance from Laka Myvatn.
AlanjN
5 contributions
How much physical exertion, bending over and fitting in tight spaces is involved in the ice cave tour?
Joann T
Midland, Michigan, United States6 contributions
The van parks a distance away from the entrance of the cave. You walk about 20 minutes over rough ground to get to the cave. Then you change into cave gear - spiked boots and hard hats. Then you walk to the cave entrance, climb into a hole in the ground, walk through the cave a distance to get to the actual entrance. From there you squeeze into a tight space to get in the cave using a rope to pull yourself. After that you are in the cave and must crab walk, crawl, and slide to get to different spots.
This cave is very beautiful and is worth it but be prepared. My husband was 68 and did fine but he is very active. I am 58 and had no trouble either other than freezing because i got wet from sliding around on the ice.
The most treacherous part was going down the stairs in the hole in the ground. There was no handrail and it seemed very unsteady.
Preeti K
San Francisco, CA
Are there tours in the winter. Specifically, on March 22 or 23rd 2015? Who can I contact to look into this?
Völundur J
Akureyri, Iceland3 contributions
Hi! yes, the tours to Lofthellir run all year. You can contact Saga Travel in Akureyri for further information.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Lofthellir Lava Cave
- Hotels near Lofthellir Lava Cave:
- (0.19 km) Mývatn - Berjaya Iceland Hotels
- (0.18 km) Hlid Camping
- (0.20 km) Elda Guest House
- (0.22 km) Ferdatjonustan Bjarg
- (0.21 km) Eldá Guesthouse
- Restaurants near Lofthellir Lava Cave:
- (0.10 km) Fish And Chips Lake Mývatn
- (0.32 km) Gamli Bistro
- (0.26 km) Hotel Reykjahlid Restaurant
- (0.33 km) Gamli Baerinn
- (0.40 km) Mylla Restaurant