Svínafellsjökull
National Park, Glaciers, Hikings
Svínafellsjökull, Skaftafell, South Iceland
Into the Glacier is a unique man-made tunnel system drilled into the heart of Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest ice cap. The tunnel was excavated specifically for visitors and stretches hundreds of metres inside the glacier at around 1,200 metres above sea level, revealing chamber after chamber of ancient blue ice, ice walls bearing thousands of years of compressed history, and an on-site chapel carved entirely from the glacier itself.
Tours depart year-round from the Langjökull base camp and drive to the glacier in modified super-jeeps. Once inside the tunnel the temperature is a constant −2°C to −3°C, so warm layers are essential even in summer. Expert guides explain how glaciers form, move, and respond to climate change, giving the experience an educational depth that goes beyond spectacle.
The tour takes approximately 3.5 hours including travel from the base camp. Comfortable walking boots are sufficient as the tunnels are maintained with good footing. Reservations are strongly recommended year-round — the site is popular and departures are limited. A combined snowmobile-plus-tunnel package is also available. The base camp is roughly 100 km from Reykjavík near Húsafell.
