Ten minutes out of Vík the Ring Road disappears behind you, and the Super Jeep starts earning its tyres. Arctic Adventures run this 3-hour trip from Vík to the Katla ice cave on Kötlujökull, an outlet glacier of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap. The volcano Katla sits underneath.

What you'll do on the Katla ice cave tour

You meet in Vík, in the bus parking lot on the south side of the Icewear/Krónan building (the side facing the sea), and climb into a modified Super Jeep. The drive crosses black sand plains with green mountains on either side to the foot of the glacier, where walls of ice are streaked with black layers of volcanic ash from centuries of Katla eruptions.

After a safety briefing you strap on crampons and a helmet, and your guide leads a short walk across the glacier to the cave, a dome of ice carved out by meltwater. On the way the guide covers the geology of the area and some of the local folklore. Groups are capped at 14 guests per guide.

What's included

• Super Jeep ride from Vík to the ice cave and back
• Guided visit to Mýrdalsjökull and the Katla ice cave
• Safety gear: glacier crampons and helmet
• English-speaking certified glacier guide

Transfer from Reykjavík isn't included. You get yourself to Vík, which is roughly 2.5 hours' drive from the capital.

Good to know before you go

Ice caves change with the season and the meltwater. The cave you visit may not look like the photos, and the guides choose the safest accessible cave and route on the day. The tour depends on weather and conditions and can be changed or cancelled if things aren't safe. Check your email before you set off from wherever you're staying, because that's where a cancellation notice will land.

Arctic Adventures say the tour suits most travellers with a fair fitness level. Bring warm clothes, gloves, a waterproof jacket and trousers, and hiking boots. Sturdy footwear is required.

Pro tip: if you're driving from Reykjavík on the day, leave a generous buffer. It's a long drive on the south coast road, and the Super Jeep won't wait.