Witness one of nature's greatest architectural masterpieces on this Sapphire Ice Cave tour on Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier from Jökulsárlón!
The Sapphire Ice Cave is located on Breiðamerkurjökull, one of the main outlet glaciers of the larger Vatnajökull, the largest ice cap in Iceland. On this guided tour to Breiðamerkurjökull, you'll discover Iceland's most famous ice cave!
The tour to Sapphire Ice Cave begins at the meeting point at Jökulsárlón, a stunning glacier lagoon located on the southeastern coast of Iceland, near Vatnajökull National Park. The certified guide will greet you and provide an overview of the itinerary. Then, you'll board a Land Rover truck and set off on a drive to Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier. You'll travel along part of the famous Ring Road, where you may encounter reindeer, and on a rocky path only suitable for big trucks.
Upon arrival at Breiðamerkurjökull, you'll receive a safety briefing and instructions. The guide will provide the glacier gear, including a helmet, harness, ice axe and crampons. You'll walk for approximately 20 minutes through flat, rocky terrain until you reach the Sapphire Ice Cave! The ice cave is located at the foot of Breiðamerkurjökull and gets its name from the translucent blue ice inside the cave. With the guide's instructions, your visit to Sapphire Ice Cave begins!
Using the safety equipment, you'll explore inside the cave, admiring the striking blue ice, and intricate textures and patterns formed by the glacier. The guide will share insights about the Icelandic glaciers and teach you everything you need to know about the formations of ice caves. You'll also be able to capture some breathtaking photos of this natural wonder. At the end of the Sapphire Ice Cave tour on Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, you'll return to the starting point at Jökulsárlón.
This guided excursion to the Sapphire Ice Cave on Breiðamerkurjökull is a must-do experience while visiting southern Iceland!
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Practical information
On this excursion, you'll depart from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and drive to the Sapphire Ice Cave at Breiðamerkurjökull.
- Arrive at the starting point at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- Meet the guide and board the Land Rover truck
- Drive on the Ring Road (approximately 10 minutes)
- Drive on a rocky road (approximately 25 minutes)
- Arrive at Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier
- Receive safety briefing and instructions
- Walk to the ice cave (approximately 20 minutes)
- Arrive at Sapphire Ice Cave
- The ice cave tour begins!
- Explore inside the ice cave (approximately 45 minutes)
- Return to the starting point at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Please note that the ice cave changes in appearance with the seasons. Therefore, the pictures may not be an accurate representation of how the ice cave looks year-on-year.
- Guide
- Glacier equipment (crampons, harness, ice axe)
- Helmet
- Warm layers of clothing
- Wind/rainproof jacket
- Hiking boots
- Gloves
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Water