Lofthellir Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour

A frozen floor waits beneath North Iceland. Lofthellir is a rare permafrost ice cave inside a lava tube, reached by super jeep across the Búrfellshraun lava fields near Lake Mývatn. Inside, the floor holds ice estimated to be 2,000 to 3,000 years old, with some formations possibly around 500 years old.

I like the small-group format and the care taken to protect the cave. Only one group is allowed inside each day, and the tour limits time underground so human breath does not upset the cave’s delicate cold-air balance. I also like the adventurous route, which combines a 45 to 50-minute jeep ride, a short walk, and hands-on exploration rather than a simple roadside stop.

The main drawback is the physical nature of the visit. You must crawl through a roughly 1-meter entrance, bend, slide, and possibly sit on wet ice. At $401 per person, this is a costly four-hour outing, so it makes the most sense if Lofthellir is a major reason for visiting the Mývatn area.

Five things to know before booking

• Lofthellir is a frozen lava tube: Its ice survives inside a lava cave because of a delicate airflow balance, a rare natural combination.

• The cave is protected by strict access: Only one group enters per day, with about 1 to 1.5 hours allowed underground.

• The super jeep is part of the attraction: The ride heads from Lake Mývatn toward Mt. Hverfjall and through the Búrfellshraun lava fields.

• You will crawl at the entrance: The passage is short, but this is not a walk-in cave with smooth paths and handrails.

• Your ticket helps conservation: Part of the price supports research and protection work carried out with the landowners.

Why Lofthellir is different from an ordinary ice cave

Iceland has many caves, but Lofthellir combines two very different natural features. It began as a lava tube, formed when flowing lava cooled around a molten interior. Later, permanent ice developed inside the tube and remained there because of the cave’s unusual air movement.

That makes Lofthellir more than a cave with a few seasonal icicles. The floor itself is made of old ice, and the formations vary in age and size. You might see small young shapes beside larger pieces that have been growing for centuries.

The cave’s cold is also part of the story. The ice remains because warm air and cold air move through the cave in a carefully balanced pattern. That is why access is tightly controlled. One group per day and limited time inside are not needless restrictions. They help keep the cave frozen.

The lack of fixed lighting adds to the feeling of discovery. You explore with a helmet and headlamp, so each person controls a small pool of light. The darkness is real, not a theatrical effect. Your guide helps you understand what you are seeing, but the cave is not lit like a visitor center or a show cave.

That arrangement has a tradeoff. It feels more like a real expedition, but you may need to point your lamp carefully to see the ice. The experience depends on your guide and on your willingness to move slowly through a cramped space.

Leaving Lake Mývatn by super jeep

The tour begins in front of Berjaya Iceland Hotels at Mývatn. Parking is provided, and the guide may meet you beside the super jeep or in the hotel lobby.

The modified jeep matters here. Lofthellir lies about 30 kilometers from Lake Mývatn, far out in the lava fields, and ordinary cars cannot simply carry you to the cave entrance. The ride takes you past Mt. Hverfjall and into Búrfellshraun, with scenic stops often made along the route when the weather and conditions allow.

You should expect roughly 45 to 50 minutes of driving to reach the walking point. The itinerary includes a sightseeing stop around Ludentshaedhir, giving you a chance to look across the surrounding lava country before the cave portion begins.

I like this opening because it gives the outing a sense of place. You are not being delivered to a constructed attraction. The route through the lava fields explains why the cave is remote and why a specialized vehicle is needed.

The ride can also be the least predictable part of the day. Weather and road conditions affect the timing, and the rough setting is part of the reason for using a super jeep. If you want a polished, smooth ride from start to finish, this may not be your ideal excursion. If you enjoy reaching unusual places by an unusual route, the vehicle adds real value.

The 800-meter walk across old lava

When the road ends, you walk about 800 meters to Lofthellir. This is not a long hike, but it is a walk over lava terrain rather than a paved trail.

That short approach gives you time to prepare for the change from open air to darkness. You also need to pay attention to your footing. The tour description does not present the walk as a major trek, but the overall activity is not designed for people with mobility impairments or back problems.

The cave entrance is the first serious test. Everyone must crawl about one meter through a small opening. It is brief, yet it sets the tone for everything inside. This is a natural cave, not a modified attraction built for easy access.

The supplied guidance notes that people who are comfortable in an elevator will generally be fine with the entrance, but anyone with claustrophobia should think carefully before booking. That comparison is useful, though personal comfort varies. You should be ready for darkness, close walls, and a short crawl with no promise of standing upright immediately afterward.

Boots, helmets, and the first steps on ice

At the cave, Geo Travel supplies studded rubber boots, a helmet, and a headlamp. The boot studs are designed to give grip without damaging the ice.

The equipment is included in the $401 price, which saves you from bringing specialized footwear. You still need proper outdoor clothing, and waterproof or water-resistant pants are strongly recommended. The cave may involve wet ice, sitting, sliding, and bending, so ordinary jeans are a poor choice.

The helmet and lamp are practical rather than decorative. The helmet protects your head in a low-ceiling environment, while the lamp lets you see the ice formations without installing permanent lights. Bring clothing you can move in, and expect the possibility of getting damp at the knees or seat.

The guide gives a safety briefing before the cave exploration. English is the tour language, and the group can include up to 10 participants. The daily access limit means the cave itself feels more private than a busy public attraction, though the departure group can still include several people.

Inside Lofthellir for 60 to 90 minutes

You spend about one to one and a half hours inside the cave. That may sound short for a $401 tour, but the limit protects the ice and prevents the group’s breathing from changing the cave’s temperature balance.

The movement is slow and physical. You may crawl on ice, bend under low sections, and sit briefly on a wet surface. The tour is not described as technically difficult, but it does demand flexibility and comfort with awkward positions.

This is where the experience earns its special character. You are not simply walking down a lit passage while listening to a short explanation. You use your own headlamp to inspect the ice and move through the cave with the group. The absence of preset lights keeps the focus on the natural darkness and makes each visit slightly different.

Guide quality is important here. A local guide explains the cave’s formation, the ice, and the rules that protect it. One especially useful name to know is Pirkir, who has guided the visit in a personal and attentive way. The guide’s role is not just to point at formations. It is also to keep the group moving safely, help with the difficult sections, and explain why you cannot treat the cave like a playground.

The best part of the cave is the contrast between its age and its fragile condition. The ice may be thousands of years old, but the cave can still be affected by a few people spending too long inside. That makes the time limit feel meaningful rather than arbitrary.

Some people will find the darkness and crawling more memorable than the ice itself. Others may focus on the strange shapes formed where ice meets black lava rock. You should not expect a giant chamber filled with bright blue ice. This is a raw, dark environment where the details appear gradually in the beam of your lamp.

The ride back to Mývatn

After the cave visit and the walk back to the vehicle, you return toward Lake Mývatn by super jeep. The listed return drive takes about 40 minutes, with the full activity lasting about four hours.

The ride gives you a chance to warm up and process what you have seen. The return route is also a practical reason to book this from Mývatn rather than trying to reach the cave independently. Geo Travel handles the vehicle, access, equipment, and guide, while you concentrate on the outing.

The schedule can vary with weather, road conditions, and stops. Keep that in mind when planning another activity immediately afterward. The experience is advertised as four hours, but the driving and cave timing may shift slightly in the field.

Is $401 per person a fair price?

$401 is a lot for four hours. You should not book Lofthellir expecting a cheap add-on to a Mývatn sightseeing day.

The price includes the super jeep transport, entrance to the cave, guide service, boots, helmet, and headlamp. It also supports research and protection work carried out with the landowners. Most important, you are paying for access to a place that is deliberately kept out of normal public circulation.

I see the value in three parts. First, the cave is genuinely unusual because it is a permafrost ice cave inside a lava tube. Second, the access is limited, so you are not sharing a constantly open attraction with large crowds. Third, the remote route requires a specialized vehicle and local handling.

Still, the value depends on your priorities. If you mainly want a comfortable scenic drive or a broad selection of Icelandic sights, the price will feel steep. If you want a rare geological experience and are happy to pay for controlled access and conservation, it is easier to justify.

The perfect small group may not happen every day, but the maximum is 10 people. One booking described a visit with only two participants, which allowed plenty of time to look around. You should not count on having the cave to yourself, but the strict daily limit gives this outing a quieter feel than many popular Iceland activities.

Who should book this cave trip?

I would recommend Lofthellir to you if you enjoy unusual natural sites, small groups, and a little physical discomfort in exchange for access to something rare. It suits people who are curious about geology and who want a more active outing than a bus ride to a viewpoint.

You should also be comfortable with uncertainty. The light comes from your headlamp, the route can involve crawling, and the timing depends on conditions. That makes the trip exciting for some people and stressful for others.

This is not suitable for people with back problems, mobility impairments, claustrophobia, or those over 70 according to the tour guidance. You should also think twice if you dislike wet clothing, low ceilings, or moving over ice.

Wear outdoor clothing and waterproof or resistant trousers. The provided boots handle the cave, but your clothing still needs to cope with bending and contact with wet surfaces. Personal insurance is not included, so arrange your own cover if you want it.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and allows you to reserve now and pay later. Those policies are useful if your Mývatn schedule depends on weather, but they do not change the physical demands of the cave.

My verdict on Lofthellir Ice Cave

Book Lofthellir if you want one rare, tightly managed adventure near Lake Mývatn and you are physically comfortable crawling through a small entrance. The ancient ice, dark lava tube, super jeep route, and very limited access make this far more distinctive than a standard cave walk.

Skip it if the price strains your budget, if you need an easy path, or if enclosed spaces make you uneasy. For the right person, this is the kind of Iceland outing that stays in your memory because it feels difficult to replicate anywhere else. Just arrive ready to bend, crawl, get a little wet, and let the darkness do some of the storytelling.

FAQ

Where does the Lofthellir tour begin?

The meeting point is in front of Berjaya Iceland Hotels at Mývatn. Parking is provided, and the guide may be beside the super jeep or in the hotel lobby.

How long does the tour last?

The tour duration is about four hours. Driving times and stops can vary with weather and road conditions.

How far is Lofthellir from Lake Mývatn?

The cave is about 30 kilometers from Lake Mývatn, across the Búrfellshraun lava fields.

How do you reach the cave?

You travel by modified super jeep and then walk about 800 meters from the end of the road to the cave entrance.

How long do you spend inside Lofthellir?

Time inside the cave is limited to about one to one and a half hours. The limit helps protect the cave’s delicate temperature balance.

Do I need to bring cave equipment?

No. The tour provides studded rubber boots, a helmet, and a headlamp. You should bring suitable outdoor clothing.

Do I have to crawl into the cave?

Yes. Everyone must crawl a short distance, about one meter, through the entrance.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

No. The tour is not suitable for people with back problems or mobility impairments. It is also not recommended for people with claustrophobia.

How many people can join the tour?

The group is limited to 10 participants, and only one group is allowed into the cave each day.

What language is the tour in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English.

Is the entrance fee included?

Yes. Entrance to Lofthellir and the cave equipment are included in the tour price.

Is personal insurance included?

No. Personal insurance is not included.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.