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The 7 Best Winter Activities and Tours in Iceland
Despite the cold and the few hours of daylight, visiting Iceland in Winter is a unique and wonderful experience. Plus, there are tons of things to see and do! In this article we tell you the best winter activities and tours in Iceland to add them to your route.
⪼ Don't forget to read: What to know before traveling to Iceland in winter
What to do in Iceland in winter
Visiting an ice cave, the best tour in Iceland in winter
Ice caves are a wonder of nature designed by rivers caused during melting of the Icelandic glaciers in the summer months. When the temperature is low enough the cave walls freeze and you can enter them to visit them. Most of the caves are located around the famous Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, although there are also caves in other areas of the same glacier and of course in other glaciers.
These caves are beginning to be able to be visited between the end of September and April, although if you want to be 100% sure of seeing them I would recommend going between October and March. There is one exception, the natural ice cave of the Katla glacier can be visited all year round. (Update: Katla has collapsed in 2024)
blue ice cave
This cave is one of the most beautiful in the entire country thanks to the intense blue tone of its ice. It is located on the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull, and excursions to visit it usually start in the glacial lagoon. There are different alternatives to visiting the blue ice cave depending on the time you have, the budget and the type of activity you want to do.
The first option is an excursion in which you only visit the glacier cave and it is the cheapest ice cave in the country. The activity lasts around 3 hours, first they take you in a super jeep to a nearby point and then you walk to the cave. Inside the cave you will spend between half an hour and 45 minutes and then you will return to the starting point.
The second option combine a visit to the ice cave with a short glacier walk. This activity is a very cool experience especially if you have never done anything like it before. The total duration is 4 to 5 hours and all equipment necessary to walk on the ice is included.
Katla Ice Cave
The Katla Ice Cave was very popular because It was the only natural cave accessible all year round.It was also a short distance from the town of Vík, one of the most important and touristic towns in southern Iceland.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, due to the melting of glaciers, The cave ended up collapsing in 2024 and the most famous part no longer exists. However, the activity is still offered, although we cannot give a personal opinion because we have not visited it, but we believe that it is no longer worth it.
The activity lasts 3 hours, starting in Vík where you will get on a super jeep and they will take you to the vicinity of the cave. During the journey you will be able to enjoy very special views of the entire wild environment that surrounds the Kotlujökull glacier. They will give you the necessary equipment and You will walk along the glacier to the ice caves while the guide tells you stories about the glacier and helps you take some photos.
This ice cave can also be visited with a excursion from the capital and it is a perfect option for those who do not have a vehicle and make excursions from Reykjavík.
Ice cave in Skaftafell
In the Skaftafell National Park there are a large number of glacial tongues of the Vatnajökull and in this area there are also some ice caves.
In this case, the excursion lasts 4 hours and begins at the facilities near the glacier of the Troll Expedition company, one of the most famous in the country. From there they will take you to the point where the walk and visit to this ice cave begins.
Langjökull Ice Cave
Finally we have the ice caves in the Langjökull glacier, the closest to Reykjavík. The peculiarity of these ice caves is that they are man-made, they can be visited throughout the year and are shaped like a long ice tunnel.
The excursion to this ice cave begins in the parking lot of the Husafell hotel from where they will take you with a huge bus adapted for that terrain to the entrance of the cave in the middle of the glacier. Then a guide accompanies the group into the depths of the glacier while explaining curiosities about the ice formations.
If you do not have transportation to get to Husafell you can also hire this activity with pickup in Reykjavík.
Go on a glacier trek
A very special activity for hiking lovers is to do trekking on a glacier. Also If you do it in winter you can book an excursion that includes a visit to an ice cave. Normally we recommend longer excursions to be able to spend as much time as possible on the glacier, but in winter it can be long and get cold soThe 3-hour activities seem enough to us, unless you have very good warm clothes and a lot of desire.
Please note that for these excursions technical equipment such as crampons is used which will be provided to you at the starting point, these crampons only work with mountain boots so it is better to bring your own, if you don't have them you can rent them right there.
Trekking on the Sólheimajökull glacier
This glacier is next to the town of Vik and is one of the closest to the capital. The activity begins in the Solheimajokull car park and includes all the necessary material and a good guide who will liven up the tour and help you with whatever you need. You walk approximately 1 hour and a half one way to a viewpoint over the glacier and half an hour back.
Glacier trekking in Skaftafell National Park
In Skaftafell National Park you can combine the experience of walking on the largest glacier in Europe and entering an ice cave. The excursion lasts 4 hours and begins at the tourist agency facilities.
Buscar Northern Lights independently or on a tour
This is one of the best winter activities in Iceland. Although it is not necessary to take a tour to see the auroras, it is recommended if you do not have private transportation and are based in Reykjavík.
This tour with pickup from central Reykjavík It is the cheapest you can hire online. The excursion takes you to areas where there are more possibilities of seeing them and during the tour different stops are made to photograph the auroras that appear.
A guide accompanies you at all times which explains curious facts about auroras and life in Iceland during winter to make the trip more entertaining. If you have questions about how to photograph the auroras, it will also help you prepare the settings of your camera or mobile phone to get the best photos.
Because auroras cannot be controlled and are difficult to predict If you do the tour and do not see any, you can repeat the activity for free the next day.
You may be interested in: Guide to See the Northern Lights in Iceland with Apps to hunt them and tips for photographing them.
If you want to make the most of the day, you can take an excursion with a pick-up in Reykjavík to visit the entire southern part of Iceland and once it gets dark the tour includes the search for auroras. Without a doubt a great option to spend a full day.
Bathe in one (or more) hot springs
This activity can be done all year round, but there is no better time than winter when it becomes the perfect plan to spend the afternoon once it gets dark.
All paid hot springs are open during the winter until at least 21pm, On the other hand, some natural ones empty them to better preserve them and the small changing rooms that exist are closed.
Below we leave you a list of the best and our opinions about them so you can choose your favorite.
Go snowmobiling
It is the perfect activity for lovers of speed and those who want to live a new experience.
This activity can be done in many different areas of the country but one of the best and with the best price is on the Langjökull glacier. The activity begins in the parking lot of the famous Gullfoss waterfall, in the Golden Circle, where you meet with the guide and the rest of the participants to get on a 4×4 truck that takes you to the base camp where the snowmobiles are kept.
You can go up to 2 passengers per motorcycle and you drive for about 1 hour with a break in the middle to take photos and change the driver if you want. The activity includes safety equipment and a coat, but it is recommended to bring good thermal clothing to avoid getting cold during the tour.
Watching whales in a fjord
Although it is much more typical to do so during the summer months when large numbers of whales migrate to the coasts of Iceland. There is also the possibility of doing this activity in winter.
Whale watching trips are available from Reykjavík throughout the year, also in winter. Wrap up warm and get ready to enjoy these enormous animals.
Most companies in the north of the country do not make departures during the winter but there are some that do as long as weather conditions allow it. An example is in the northern town of Dalvik, located in the best fjord in the country to see whales.
Ride a Monster Truck
This activity differstea and original It starts at the Gullfoss waterfall visitor car park, in the famous Golden Circle. The excursion is about see the Langjökull glacier aboard a gigantic truck prepared to drive on that terrain. The main attraction of the activity is the landscapes that you will see during the 3 hours that the tour lasts.
Also hot drinks and snacks are provided to tourists while the guide explains stories or listens to Icelandic music to make the journey more enjoyable. At several specific points on the glacier, stops are made to get off the monster truck and be able to walk a little on the glacier and take photos. You can also go sledding and if they have discovered an ice cave recently and it is easily accessible they will let you visit it.
I hope that this guide on the best winter activities in Iceland helps you tell you what excursions to do and enjoy this impressive country to the fullest. To read more about Iceland here you can access all articles, or see our featured stories from Instagram. Thanks for reading us!
