On the trail of fire and ice in the Katla Ice Cave on Vik Island

How do you move around in an ice cave? What is there to see? And how do you even get there?
AGE ™ has Katla Ice Cave with Tröll Expeditions and will be happy to take you on this exciting tour.

Visiting an ice cave in Iceland is even possible in summer and without a helicopter. The Katla Dragon Glass Ice Cave is located on the edge of the glacier and is therefore surprisingly accessible. It is located in South Iceland near Vik. In summer the drive to the cave is very relaxed on a small gravel road. In winter, the super jeep deserves its use. On the way, our guide entertains us with exciting information about the country and its people. Our host Katla is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes and always worth a story.

A bizarre world of ice and ashes welcomes us. Black rubble covers the layer of ice at the entrance, because the active Katla volcano has also left its footprints here. Over some wooden boards we get to the entrance of the cave, next to which a black and white striped wall stretches impressively towards the sky. Our guide “Siggi” has known the glacier for more than 25 years and provides us with all kinds of interesting background information. Then it's time to put on your helmets, crampons and get into the ice.

With small steps and crampons on our shoes, we feel our way over the hard ice floor for the first few meters. Melt water drips down on us at the entrance to the cave and then we dive in and let the glacier embrace us. Layers of ash and ice alternate and tell the age-old story of changeability in the land of fire and ice. For some, the way with the crampons is a little adventure in itself, because it goes about 150m deep into the cave over ice surfaces and wooden bridges. If there were any uncertainties, our guide was happy to help over one or the other bottleneck and in some places ropes also make it easier to deal with the icy ground, which was initially unfamiliar.

Arrived at the end of the Ice Cave, we enjoy the feeling of standing IN the middle of a glacier again and everyone will find their personal favorite photo motif. Is it the ice sheet towering high above us? The small waterfall that was formed by the meltwater? Or the selfie in front of the massive block of ice on the cave wall? Finally we go back the same way and since we are now used to walking with crampons, our eyes can now concentrate fully on the beauty of the ice cave.

to Iceland • Katla Dragon Glass ice cave • Ice cave tour