Why the Langjökull Ice Tunnel Is Iceland’s Most Unusual Glacier Experience
A 10-hour day tour from Reykjavik into the world’s largest man-made ice tunnel inside Langjökull — Iceland’s second-largest glacier. Five stops: Deildartunguhver (Europe’s highest-flow hot spring), Barnafoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls, Sturlureykir horse farm, and 4 hours at the glacier (1 hour in the tunnel in a monster truck, 1 hour exploring, 1 hour back). Wi-Fi, air-conditioned vehicle, crampons and snowsuits available. Max 15 travelers. 4.5/5 across 81 reviews. From $297.65 per person.
About This Activity
Up to 24h, full refund
Book today, pay nothing until later
Pickup 8AM — long day, plan accordingly
~600m tunnel inside Langjökull glacier
Specially designed glacier vehicle
Feed and pet Icelandic horses en route
What Makes the Langjökull Ice Tunnel Different from Iceland’s Natural Ice Caves
Iceland has natural ice caves — the Katla ice cave in the south (carved by geothermal activity under the glacier), the blue ice caves of Vatnajökull in the east (formed by glacial meltwater). The Langjökull tunnel is different: it’s man-made. Engineers drilled and excavated approximately 600 meters of tunnel directly into Iceland’s second-largest glacier, creating a permanent structure that can be visited year-round regardless of natural cave conditions.
This means several things. The tunnel doesn’t change from year to year like natural caves do. The lighting is controlled and dramatic — blue illumination highlights the ice formations in ways that natural cave lighting can’t replicate. And the access method is spectacular: you board a purpose-built monster truck with enormous tires that drives across the snow and ice of the glacier itself to reach the tunnel entrance, rather than hiking up on crampons.
Ralph R. (February 2026): “The entire day was amazing. Went to the largest geothermal heating source in Europe, an incredible visit to the horse stable, a 4-wheel drive up to the top of a huge glacier, culminating into touring an ice cave deep into the glacier. No knowing what to expect, this was a fascinating look into nature. Our drivers were outstanding and our tour guide was entertaining and friendly.”
The honest caveat: this is a long day dominated by bus travel. Jeanne L. (January 2024) describes the structure clearly: “It is a really long drive from Reykjavik — we made one stop to look at a waterfall and have lunch but the rest of the time was on the bus. Once we got to the tour — it was an hour to the tunnel in the special vehicle, an hour in the tunnel, and then an hour back — the rest of the time was on the tour bus.” Plan for this. The glacier experience itself is extraordinary; the getting-there is significant.
The Five Stops
Deildartunguhver Thermal Spring
20 min · Admission included
The highest-flow hot spring in Europe — water emerges at 97°C and flows at approximately 180 liters per second. The steam visible from the road is substantial; standing near it feels like standing next to a natural boiler. The water is piped 34km to Borgarnes and 64km to Akranes for heating — a working piece of Iceland’s geothermal infrastructure rather than a tourist attraction converted from something else. The guide covers Iceland’s geothermal energy system here — the country gets approximately 66% of its primary energy from geothermal sources.
Barnafoss — Children’s Falls
20 min · Admission included
A powerful waterfall in western Iceland on the river Hvítá. The name (“Children’s Falls”) comes from an old legend of two children who fell from a natural stone arch that once crossed the waterfall — the arch was subsequently destroyed by the children’s mother to prevent further accidents. The waterfall itself is distinctive: violent, constrained, and blue-turquoise from the glacial water source.
Hraunfossar — Lava Falls
20 min · Admission included
One of Iceland’s most unusual waterfall formations — instead of water falling from above, Hraunfossar emerges from beneath a lava field over approximately 900 meters of riverside cliff face. Spring water seeps through the Hallmundarhraun lava field (formed by an eruption under Langjökull glacier) and emerges as a series of rivulets along the cliff. The visual effect is unlike any other waterfall in Iceland: a curtain of water appearing from solid rock across nearly a kilometer of cliff face.
Sturlureykir Horse Farm
40 min · Admission included
A working Icelandic horse farm. Icelandic horses are a unique breed — brought to Iceland by Viking settlers in the 9th century and isolated from all outside breeding since, producing a genetically distinct horse with a fifth gait (the tölt) not found in other breeds. At the farm you can feed and pet the horses at close range. Eunice F. (February 2026): “We got to see the beautiful Icelandic horses up close — feeding and petting them was such a special experience. They were so gentle and stunning.”
Into the Glacier — Langjökull
4 hours total · Admission included
The main event. After arriving at the base camp, you transfer to a purpose-built glacier monster truck — a specially modified vehicle with enormous tires that can drive across the snow and ice of the glacier surface. The drive to the tunnel entrance takes approximately one hour. At the tunnel entrance, you enter the approximately 600-meter man-made ice tunnel illuminated by blue and white lighting that highlights the ice formations, crevasses, and geological layers of the glacier. A guide explains the glacier’s formation, movement, and how the tunnel was built. You spend approximately one hour inside before the hour-long return drive. Martin P. (December 2025): “To see this ice cave was an unforgettable moment. The guide was excellent and gave us some interesting insights about the glacier and the ice cave. You definitely need to experience this!”
What’s Included
- Wi-Fi on board the air-conditioned vehicle from Reykjavik
- Guided tour throughout the day
- Crampons/ice spikes for walking inside the glacier
- Snowsuits and boot covers available to borrow at the glacier base camp
- Sightseeing stops — Deildartunguhver, Barnafoss, Hraunfossar, horse farm
- Monster truck ride to and from the tunnel entrance
- Discounted rates for children
Not included: Food — there is a lunch stop en route. Waterproof boots strongly recommended (snowsuits available to borrow). Known issue: pickup logistics. Multiple reviews from 2022–2024 describe missed pickups due to subcontracted drivers and communication failures. More recent reviews (2025–2026) are consistently positive. The operator recommends going directly to the bus station as an alternative to hotel pickup. Read pickup instructions carefully after booking. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
⚠️ Critical Pickup Warning — Read Before Booking
This tour has a documented pattern of pickup problems in its review history: Carter M. (March 2024), Sarahmarie H. (February 2024), Deborah C. (September 2024), Hasan K. (October 2022), and Daisy S. (May 2023) all describe missed pickups due to subcontracted pickup drivers, communication failures, or drivers not checking for guests. Several lost full days of their trips as a result.
The 2025–2026 reviews are almost entirely positive, suggesting the operator may have addressed these issues. However, the risk is real. Mitigate it by: going directly to the bus station at Bus Stop #12 Höfðatorg (Þórunnartún 6, 105 Reykjavík) rather than relying on hotel pickup; being ready at least 20–30 minutes before your pickup time; calling the operator proactively if the driver hasn’t appeared at the scheduled time; confirming your booking details by phone the day before.
How the Day Unfolds
| Season | Upsides | Downsides | Book Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year-round | Ice tunnel is permanent — same experience regardless of season | Long day regardless of season — plan for exhaustion | Book 75 days ahead on average |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Snow-covered glacier adds drama, snowsuits available | Shortest days — return drive in darkness | 3–4 weeks |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Longest days, glacier surface lit naturally | Busiest Iceland season | 4–6 weeks |
What Travelers Said
⭐ 4.5/5 based on 81 reviews — Read all reviews on Viator
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ralph R, United States — February 2026
The entire day was amazing. Went to the largest geothermal heating source in Europe, an incredible visit to the horse stable, a 4-wheel drive up to the top of a huge glacier, culminating in touring an ice cave deep into the glacier. Our drivers were outstanding and our tour guide was entertaining and friendly. Highly recommend this tour if you have a day in Iceland.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Eunice F, United States — February 2026
I had such a fun and unforgettable tour! We got to see the beautiful Icelandic horses up close — feeding and petting them was such a special experience. They were so gentle and stunning. Then came the highlight — exploring the ice cave and driving up onto the glacier itself. Standing on top of the glacier and taking in the incredible views was something I will never forget.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Blidar F, traveler — October 2025
We loved how friendly and professional the team was, especially Mati, Oli and Paul. They made the experience fun and informative, in a safe and professional way. I would highly recommend them.
⭐⭐⭐ Nathalie C, traveler — June 2025
The hour spent in the glacier was interesting. It’s about getting there — a long bus ride, a transfer for another 49 minutes to the base camp, then the famous monster truck for 30 minutes in diesel fumes to arrive at the tunnel entrance with a headache. The guide was interesting. High cost for an average experience.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jeanne L, United States — January 2024
Great tour! Very unusual tour — driving out on the glacier was amazing. The guide in the tunnel was great — very fun and informative. The only downside is that it’s a really long drive from Reykjavik. Once we got to the tour — it was an hour to the tunnel in the special vehicle, an hour in the tunnel, and then an hour back — the rest of the time was on the tour bus.
⭐ Carter M, United States — March 2024
Do Not Make My Mistake — I ignored the pickup reviews. We were at the pickup site 20 mins early and called the company before and during our pickup window. They told me to be patient and then said I needed to rebook. They made no effort to get my family on the tour. To their credit, they did refund the cost. Go directly to the bus station to avoid this issue.
Book the Into the Glacier Langjökull Tour
10 hours, the world’s largest man-made ice tunnel, monster truck across the glacier, Icelandic horse farm, two unusual waterfalls, and Europe’s highest-flow hot spring. From $297.65 per person with free cancellation. Go to Bus Stop #12 rather than relying on hotel pickup.
Looking for more Iceland ice cave experiences? Browse all tours at Iceland Volcano Tour or compare with the natural Katla Ice Cave Super Jeep tours from Vík.