You will meet your guide at the Glacier Lagoon parking lot in  Vatnajokull National  Park. The official address for this location is: í Hornafirði, Jökulsárlón, Glacier Lagoon, 781 Höfn or you can simply type in ‘Ice Pic Journeys’ in Google Maps and we will come up. It  is important to be aware that this is a 5-hour drive from Reykjavik so  it is always recommended to stay at an accommodation closer to this  meeting point.

It is best to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour so you can  use the restrooms since there will be none at the glacier. Your guide  will be right across from the restrooms in the bus parking lot. You can  look for the ‘Ice Pic Journeys’ logo on our 4×4 vehicle amongst the  other companies.

Drive in 4×4 to Vatnajokull Glacier

From the Glacier Lagoon parking lot, you will hop aboard one of our  4×4 vehicles and head towards the glacier. About 10 minutes into your  journey, you will turn off onto an F-Road and make the bumpy journey  toward the glacier. From the road to the glacier parking lot, this will  take roughly 20-30 minutes to reach. As you drive, your guide will teach  you the history of the surrounding area as you enjoy a scenic ride  through an ancient glacier plain.

Hike to the Ice Cave

Once you arrive at the glacier parking lot, your guide will begin  handing out your gear for the tour. This includes crampons, an ice axe, a  harness, a helmet with a headlamp, and hiking boots if you rented them.  Once everyone has their gear, you will take a 30-minute hike to the  edge of the glacier. The hike is relatively easy for most and will have  you walking on flat, yet slightly rocky ground the entire way. We will  always go at the pace of our guests so you can take your time and enjoy  the walk as your guide leads the way.

Arriving at the Crystal Ice Cave

Upon arriving at the edge of the glacier, you will be greeted with a  massive cavern in front of you with a river running underneath it. You  have finally reached our Crystal Ice Cave! Also regarded as the Sapphire  Ice Cave, this cave varies each year in its shape, location, and size.  This is because the cave is always melting away and reforming naturally  during the summertime. That is why you will always get a unique  experience when going into it because it will never be the same as it  was on that day.

Before entering the cave, your guide will help you put on your  crampons. After your guide instructs you on how to put them on, your  guide will go over a safety briefing about walking on the glacier and  exploring the cave. It’s important to understand and follow these rules  and to ask any questions that you may have before stepping foot on the  ice.

Exploring the Crystal Ice Cave

Entering the ice cave will be an unreal and otherworldly experience  for most people. Your eyes will slowly adjust to the crystal blue walls  of the cave and showcase its hidden beauty. As your guide leads you  deeper into the ice cave, they will take their camera and photograph you  in the best locations and angles. Having explored and photographed  these caves hundreds of times, they will have the best insight at  getting you amazing photos while you relax and enjoy the cave without  worry.

As you are enjoying the ice cave, your guide will teach you about its  formation and composition. You will spend roughly an hour inside the  cave, exploring all of the different areas. Normally, these caves will  have multiple chambers that you will be able to explore as you go deeper  into the cave, however, this can vary from year to year. After everyone  is happy with their photos and experience inside the cave, we will exit  and make our way onto the glacier.

Glacier Hike

Next, you will put your crampons into the ice and make your way onto  Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier. Hiking on the ice is definitely a unique  feeling and may take some getting used to but by the end of the tour,  you won’t want to take your crampons off! As you hear the crunch below  you, you will march forward and follow your guide up the glacier toward  the direction of our beautiful crystal crevasses. Throughout this, your  guide will show you different formations on the glacier known as moulins  or deep glacial holes. All while admiring the barren landscape around  you, you will feel like you are in a different world.

Exploring our Crystal Crevasses

From seemingly out of nowhere, you will come upon a slope in the ice  leading down into a massive ice canyon. This is where you will find out  crystal crevasses. You will soon understand why it is called this as you  make your way into the deep icy labyrinth. The best part is that the  deeper you go into it, the more crystal blue it gets until you get to a  point where you are in a world entirely made of blue. This is a major  highlight of the tour and you will need a good amount of time to take it  all in.

After about an hour of exploring the crevasse formations, you will  head back up the slope and off the glacier knowing that you are one of  the few that got to experience something so special here in Iceland.

Return to the Glacier Lagoon

You will finish the tour with a hike back to the glacier parking lot  and a 30-minute drive back to the Glacier Lagoon where you will say  goodbye to your guide and have memories of an amazing day inside of  Vatnajokull National Park.

✓ Water Bottle (Recommended) – You will have many spots to fill it up with glacier water.

✓ Proper Seasonal Clothing – Warm layers for freezing or wet conditions. Warm hat and gloves.

✓ Waterproof Jacket – Rentals are available under extras.

✓ Waterproof Pants – Rentals are available under extras.

✓ Hiking Boots – Water resistant is preferred. Rentals are available under extras.