Most ice caves are blue. Katla's is striped. Its walls are layered with black ash from the Katla volcano sandwiched between blue and white ice, thousands of years of history filed away like pages in a book. It is a strange thing to stand inside.

Arctic Adventures turns it into a full day from Reykjavík: minibus along the South Coast, Super Jeep across the black sand to the glacier, and two famous waterfalls on the way.

What you'll do on the Katla Ice Cave tour

You are picked up from a designated spot in Reykjavík and head east on the Ring Road, with a short stop in Hvolsvöllur for the facilities and snacks. First waterfall of the day is Skógafoss, dropping 60 metres into a misty pool.

In Vík you swap the minibus for a modified Super Jeep and leave the road for the black sand plains below Mýrdalsjökull, out to Kötlujökull. There you put on crampons and a helmet, and your certified glacier guide leads a short glacier walk to the ice cave, explaining the geology and folklore of this active volcanic area.

Back in Vík you rejoin the minibus and stop at Seljalandsfoss on the way home, where a footpath lets you walk behind the water. The aim is to be back in Reykjavík around 8 pm.

What's included

• Round-trip transport from Reykjavík and selected pickup points, with Wi-Fi on the minibus
• Stops at Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss
• Super Jeep transport from Vík to the glacier
• Guided glacier and ice cave tour with an English-speaking certified glacier guide
• Glacier safety gear: crampons and helmet

Food and drinks are not included but can be bought at the service station stop.

Good to know before you go

Wear warm clothing, a waterproof jacket and trousers, hiking boots and gloves; sturdy footwear is required. The ice cave changes with the seasons and meltwater, so it may not look like the photos, and its size and shape cannot be guaranteed. The tour depends on weather and conditions, and may be changed or cancelled if it is not safe.

Pro tip: bring lunch or snacks from Reykjavík as backup. It is a 12-hour day and the service station is your only listed food stop.