Langjökull Glacier Grotto

Into The Glacier

Useful Information

Location:	Langjökull Glacier. Meeting point: Húsafelli, 320 Reykholti Borgarfirði (64.69928819120169, -20.86865499449014)
Open:	Into the Glacier classic tour: All year daily 9:30, 12:30. [2020]
Fee:	Into the Glacier classic tour: Adults ISK 20,900, Children ISK 10,450. [2020]
Classification:	glacier grotto
Light:	LED Lighting
Dimension:	L=500 m, A=1,260 m asl.
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Into the Glacier ehf., Skutuvogur 2, 104 Reykjavík, Tel: +354 578-2550. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2010	ice tunnels invented and planned.
2015	ice tunnel opened to the public.

Description

Langjökull Glacier Grotto is a man-made tunnel in the ice. It was dug into the Langjökull (Long Glacier) which is the second largest in Iceland, covering an area of about 950 km². The glacier surface is between 1,200 and 1,300 m above sea level. The ice tunnel was an idea of Baldvin Einarsson and Hallgrimur Örn Arngrímsson. They wanted to show the inside of the glacier to tourists. It was constructed by the renowned geo physicist Ari Trausti Guðmundsson.

Obviously the tunnel allows access to the ice of the glacier. Guides explain the way how the ice froms from snow, how glaciers move and melt. There is also a natural cavern in the ice which was made accessible by the tunnel. And the tunnel even has a church inside, which is used for underground weddings. But the main difference to the natural caves is, that the tunnel is accessible year round. Most natural caves are accessible only during winter.

The tours to the glacier grotto requires some travelling. First you have to get to the meeting point at Húsafell, from here you are taken to the Klaki base camp on the glacier Langjökull, Iceland’s second largest glacier. On the glacier specially modified glacier vehicles are used to drive you to the top of the ice cap. That's quite comfortable, they even have free wifi. There are english speaking guides on any tour. Crampons / Spikes for walking on the ice inside the tunnels are provided upon entering the tunnels. There are also tours from Reykjavik, if you have no car.