Ice Cave – “a must” while exploring Iceland in winter!
If you happen to chose to travel to Iceland in winter time visiting Ice Cave is an absolute must.
Vatnajökull National Park
First things first, in order to visit such a magnificent place, you will have to travel around 350 km east from Reykjavik to Vatnajökull National Park which protects (same named) largest glacier in Europe. Renting a car is highly recommended althoug driving conditions can be quite challenging. The other thing is tht you will need a guide in order to safely pay a visit in Ice Castle. We chose Local Guide of Vatnajökull. We were really satisfied with our choice.
Unique experience, every single year!
The meeting point looks abandoned at the first glimpse but later on it turns out to be very cosy and welcoming facility. Our guide was living in this neigbourhood his entire life, just like his father and grandfather before. He had a genuine passion for mountains and had a lot of experience with the Ice Caves. The thing is they are created during the summer when glacier retreats and the water resulting from melting carves tunnels and halls through Ice. So each year new Ice Caves are created and old ones are destroyed. So each year it is a different, unique experience. In autumn months guides task is to locate and asses newly created caves.
Inside the Ice Cave
We continued our journey in a group of 8 in 4-wheel drive monster. Path leaded throught frozen deserted arctic tundra to the tip of a Vatnajökull Glacier. After a short walk we entered the cave.
It was suprisingly warm and quiet after experiencing the wind roarming outside felt almost like a sanctuary.
30 minutes in a deep blue paradise!
After that we were droped off in the same location and we continued east to famous glacier lagoon – Jökulsárlón.
Regular trip vs Photography trip
Do not forget to check out our short movie from this adventure.
See you in the Ice Halls!
