Lofthellir Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour

Ice and lava share one roof. Lofthellir is a rare permafrost ice cave inside North Iceland’s largest lava tube, reached by Super Jeep across the Búrfellshraun lava fields. I like the strict limit of one group per day, which helps protect the cave, and I like the small group size of up to 10 people. The ride into the wilderness is part of the adventure, not just a way to reach the entrance.

The main drawback is physical: everyone must crawl through a roughly 1-meter entrance, then bend, slide, and sometimes sit on wet ice. At $401 per person, this is a costly four-hour outing, so you need to be comfortable with both the price and the cave conditions.

Key points about the Lofthellir Ice Cave tour

• Ancient ice inside a lava tube: The cave floor contains ice estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 years old, with some formations possibly around 500 years old.
• One group per day: Limited access helps preserve Lofthellir’s delicate balance of cold air and frozen ice.
• Super Jeep access: The trip crosses the Mývatn area and Búrfellshraun, with scenic stops near Mt. Hverfjall and Ludentshaedhir.
• A real cave adventure: You use a small entrance, crawl on ice, and explore by headlamp rather than walking through a lit attraction.
• Small, personal guiding: English-speaking guides lead groups of no more than 10. Guide Pirkir has been praised for personal, attentive guidance.
• Practical equipment included: Studded rubber boots, a helmet, and a headlamp are provided, but you should bring warm outdoor clothing and waterproof trousers.

Why Lofthellir is unlike an ordinary ice cave

Iceland has many caves, but Lofthellir combines two very different natural features. It is a lava tube formed long ago by volcanic activity, yet it also holds permanent ice. That frozen interior survives because of a delicate flow of air that keeps the cave cold enough year-round.

The floor is not simply a thin seasonal coating. It contains ice estimated to be 2,000 to 3,000 years old. Some ice formations may be as much as 500 years old. You are seeing a slow record of cold, moisture, and volcanic rock, not a temporary winter display.

Lofthellir is also the largest lava tube cave in North Iceland. Its appeal comes from the contrast: black volcanic surroundings outside, then a cold underground world of ice and darkness inside. The cave has no permanent lights, so your headlamp reveals only what is immediately in front of you.

That darkness matters. You do not walk into a brightly lit attraction with every feature presented in advance. The cave reveals itself in small pieces as the guide leads you through it. Turn off your headlamp, and the darkness becomes part of the experience.

The Super Jeep ride from Lake Mývatn

The tour begins in front of Berjaya Hotel Mývatn, where your guide will be near the Super Jeep or waiting in the hotel lobby. Parking is provided, which makes the meeting point simple if you are staying in the Mývatn area.

The cave lies about 30 kilometers from Lake Mývatn, but the route takes time because the road gives way to rougher ground. The modified Super Jeep carries you toward the lava fields of Búrfellshraun, passing Mt. Hverfjall along the way. The drive usually takes about 45 to 50 minutes, though weather and ground conditions can change the timing.

This ride is a real part of the outing. You are not being dropped at a roadside cave entrance. You travel into a remote volcanic area, often stopping to look at the views. The planned route includes Ludentshaedhir, with about 15 minutes for scenic viewing, before another roughly 20-minute drive toward the cave.

I like this format because it gives the tour a sense of place. Lofthellir is not an isolated attraction you can treat as a quick photo stop. Its location in the lava fields explains why access is limited and why a Super Jeep is needed.

The trade-off is that the ride can be bumpy or slower in poor conditions. The total tour is advertised as four hours, but the listed segments add up to roughly four hours and 25 minutes when the sightseeing and cave time are counted separately. Treat the schedule as an estimate, not a promise that you will be back at exactly four hours.

The 800-meter walk across the lava fields

When the vehicle can go no farther, you walk about 800 meters to the cave. This is not a long hike for most active visitors, but the surface is volcanic and uneven. You should wear outdoor clothing and shoes suited to rough ground, even though special boots are supplied for the cave itself.

The walk adds useful context. Lofthellir sits in a field of ancient lava, and the route makes the cave feel like part of the wilderness rather than a separate attraction. You can look back across the dark volcanic ground and understand why the Super Jeep is necessary.

Weather remains a factor. The tour operates in a remote area, and the drive or walk can be affected by conditions. Keep your clothing practical rather than stylish. Iceland rewards layers, and Lofthellir adds cold, wet surfaces to the usual Mývatn weather challenge.

Getting ready at the cave entrance

Before entering, each person receives studded rubber boots, a helmet, and a headlamp. The boot spikes are designed to grip the ice without damaging the formations. This equipment is included in the ticket price, so you do not need to bring your own cave gear.

The entrance requires a short crawl of about 1 meter. That detail is easy to underestimate. You are not simply stepping through a doorway. You need to lower yourself and move through a tight opening before the cave opens up inside.

The operator’s guidance says that people who are comfortable in an elevator will generally manage the entrance, but anyone with claustrophobia should think carefully. The issue is not only the entrance. Inside, the cave is dark, the surfaces are icy, and parts of the route involve crouching or crawling.

Bring warm outdoor clothing, with waterproof or water-resistant trousers strongly recommended. You may sit or slide on wet ice, and ordinary trousers can become uncomfortable quickly. A waterproof outer layer is a small investment compared with the cost of the tour.

Inside Lofthellir: ice, darkness, and careful movement

You spend about one to one and a half hours inside the cave. That may not sound long, but the slow movement and cold conditions make it enough time to see the ice formations without putting extra strain on the cave.

The route involves bending down, crawling over ice, and possibly sitting on wet surfaces. The experience is not technically described as difficult, but it is active. The challenge comes from the awkward positions and slippery ground rather than from a long walk.

Your headlamp provides the only regular light. Since there are no permanent lights inside Lofthellir, each group sees the cave in its own way. The guide can point out ice formations and explain the cave’s unusual frozen condition, but you still need to pay attention to where you place your feet and hands.

The one-group-per-day policy is particularly important here. Human breath can affect the temperature balance inside the cave, so time underground is limited. The restriction is not just a marketing device. It is part of the protection plan for the ice.

Geo Travel works with the landowners to protect Lofthellir, and part of every ticket supports research and conservation. That does not make the $401 price small, but it does give the fee a purpose beyond transport and guiding.

What makes the guiding valuable

This is not a self-guided walk. An English-speaking local guide handles the safety briefing, leads you through the cave, and explains what you are seeing. The group limit of 10 allows for a more personal pace than a large coach excursion.

Guide Pirkir has earned particular praise for giving a personal, well-paced visit. That quality matters in Lofthellir because the cave has no fixed lighting and no broad, obvious path through the ice. You want someone who can manage the group while leaving time to appreciate the formations.

The best guiding here is not about rushing from one photo spot to another. It is about helping you understand why the cave remains frozen, how the lava tube formed, and why visitors must follow strict limits. A good guide also helps you move safely through the tight entrance and over the ice.

A small group does not remove every inconvenience. You may still wait while another person crawls through a narrow section. But with only up to 10 people, the cave is less likely to feel crowded, and the guide can respond to individual concerns.

Is the $401 price worth it?

At $401 per person, Lofthellir is one of the more expensive short activities in the Mývatn area. The price includes the Super Jeep transport, cave entrance, guide, helmet, headlamp, and studded boots, but not personal insurance.

You are paying for more than a cave visit. The cost covers access to a place closed to ordinary public entry, specialized transport into the lava fields, a small group, safety equipment, local guiding, and conservation support. The one-group-per-day rule also means the operator cannot spread large numbers of visitors across many departures.

Still, value depends on your priorities. If you want a cheap, easy stop with a paved path and a large viewing area, this is the wrong choice. If you want a rare natural feature and accept that the visit requires crawling, wet clothing, and careful conservation rules, the price becomes easier to defend.

The strongest reason to book is the combination of features. You get a Super Jeep trip through the Mývatn wilderness, a walk across volcanic terrain, and an ancient ice cave that few people can enter. The weakest reason is convenience: this is not the easiest or most accessible way to see ice in Iceland.

Who should book this cave trip?

I would recommend Lofthellir to active visitors who enjoy unusual natural sites more than polished attractions. It suits people who are happy to trade comfort for access and who like the idea of exploring with a headlamp rather than following a lit path.

It can also work well for photographers, provided you understand that the cave has no installed lighting and that the group must follow the guide’s instructions. The darkness, ice, and lava create a setting unlike the usual above-ground viewpoints around Mývatn.

You should think twice if you have back problems, mobility impairments, or claustrophobia. The operator also lists the tour as unsuitable for people over 70. That age guidance is not a judgment about fitness. It reflects the crawling, bending, slippery ice, and tight entrance.

The tour is also not ideal if your Iceland schedule is packed tightly. Weather and road conditions can affect timing, and the stated four-hour duration is approximate. Leave room before your next fixed booking.

Practical details before you reserve

The tour runs with an English-speaking live guide and a maximum of 10 participants. You meet at Berjaya Hotel Mývatn, with the guide either beside the Super Jeep or in the lobby.

Bring warm outdoor clothing, especially waterproof or water-resistant trousers. You receive boots, a helmet, and a headlamp, but you should still arrive dressed for an exposed walk across lava fields and cold conditions underground.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if weather conditions may affect your wider Iceland plans.

The most important preparation is mental: expect a real cave entrance, not a doorway. Everyone must crawl a short distance, and the tour may involve sliding or sitting on wet ice. If that sounds fun rather than alarming, you are probably considering the experience for the right reason.

Should you book Lofthellir?

Book this tour if you want a rare, carefully protected natural experience and you are comfortable paying for access, transport, and conservation. The ancient ice, unlit passages, small group, and Super Jeep ride make it far more distinctive than a standard sightseeing stop around Lake Mývatn.

Skip it if you need an accessible route, dislike tight spaces, or want a predictable four-hour schedule. For the right person, Lofthellir is memorable precisely because it is cold, dark, awkward, and limited. That is also why you should reserve only if the physical demands sound manageable.

FAQ

Where does the Lofthellir tour begin?

The meeting point is in front of Berjaya Hotel Mývatn. The guide will be near the Super Jeep or in the hotel lobby, and parking is provided.

How long does the Lofthellir tour last?

The advertised duration is four hours. The schedule can vary with weather and conditions, and the listed driving, sightseeing, walking, and cave times suggest you should allow some flexibility.

How many people are in each group?

The group is limited to 10 participants. Only one group is allowed into Lofthellir per day to help protect the cave’s delicate frozen conditions.

What equipment is included?

The tour provides studded rubber boots, a helmet, and a headlamp. Personal insurance is not included.

Do I need to crawl inside the cave?

Yes. Everyone must crawl through a short entrance of about 1 meter. The cave also involves some bending, crawling, sliding, and possibly sitting on wet ice.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

No. The tour is listed as unsuitable for people with back problems or mobility impairments. It is also not suitable for people with claustrophobia or people over 70.

What should I bring?

Bring warm outdoor clothing. Waterproof or water-resistant trousers are recommended because parts of the cave can be wet, and you may sit or slide on ice.