Last updated on April 9th, 2026 at 02:09 am
Review: Into the Glacier — an excursion in Iceland
A monster truck ride across Langjökull and a walk into the world’s longest man-made ice tunnel — deep inside the blue heart of Iceland’s second-largest glacier.
As the ice gets older the color changes from white to a striking deep blue. You’re walking through something ancient — and something that may not exist in this form for the generations that follow.
If you’re an outdoors person, you’ll love Iceland. Tour guides can take you to those well-known spots for pictures of snow-capped glaciers and sweeping, volcanic valleys, under eerily odd light conditions.
You can visit almost anytime for outdoor adventures: ice fishing, snowmobiling, SCUBA diving, or monster truck riding into the vast expanse.
The machines that make it possible
Given the rough and tough countryside, it’s not surprising to find industrial-grade vehicles across this country. Some tour operators hauling visitors into the valleys and peaks of the interior drive 3500-class diesel-powered monster trucks. These behemoths feature onboard air compressors, special suspensions, oversize tires, and van cabs welded onto the pickup truck chassis. They buy these muscular oafs — usually Fords and other brands from the United States — and modify them in country. The current fleet includes specially modified eight-wheel-drive vehicles built specifically for glacier travel.
The journey to Langjökull
Many stop by this country via a transoceanic flight to or from Europe. For us, an eastbound cruise liner in July 2016 was our gateway to the country for about a week. We signed up for an excursion to go into the Langjökull Glacier (Long Glacier) for the day.
At the port, our driver and truck awaited our arrival. Once all were on board, we headed out to the majestic hinterlands of Iceland with our expert driver-guide. The knobby tires sang their dissonant tune with the road as our truck lumbered along the paved highways of Reykjavík. But once we moved onto the dirt roads, the truck found its element. It was happy.
A drive along the dramatic Cold Valley to the Langjökull Glacier — sitting at roughly 4,460 feet above sea level — is a visually stunning experience. The glacier spans an area of about 366 square miles, making it Iceland’s second largest.
Maroon lava rocks, not grass or snow, adorn the ground as far as the eye can see. Track vehicles bearing rubber tracks keep the roads free of lava rock.
Inside the ice
On arrival, it’s all action, as our guide-driver takes us into a once-in-a-lifetime journey over the ice and snow to the Ice Cave — a man-made attraction located on the flanks of Iceland’s second-largest glacier, operated by Into the Glacier.
The cave consists of a series of tunnels and open areas carved through solid ice deep into the glacier. Crevasses that pull the glacier apart, with sunlight penetrating the packed ice, are among the natural wonders you’ll see. Lighting throughout is LED — low powered to limit melting.
The tunnel leads into the icy underground. As the ice gets older the color changes from white to a striking deep blue. The cave is located about 100 feet below the glacier’s surface and stretches about 800 feet long.
It took four to eight workers every day for 14 months to dig out the cave. Excavations took place between March 2014 and May 2015. Roughly 5,500 cubic meters of ice was removed from the glacier to create this space. The tunnel is 500 meters long — the largest of its kind in the world. There would be no hint of the cave’s existence were it not for workers clearing ice from the entrance regularly.
During the guided glacier tour, visitors enjoy an introduction to glaciology and learn about the effect climate change has on glaciers. The briefing is more than academic — Langjökull is measurably shrinking, and the guides make clear that what visitors are walking through today may not exist in this form for future generations. The cave also provides glaciologists, meteorologists, and other scientists with an opportunity to study the glacier in new ways.
A more recent addition to the tunnel is a small glacier chapel carved into the ice, where guides sometimes pause the tour to sing traditional Icelandic lullabies — a moment that reviewers frequently describe as one of the most moving parts of the experience.
After the glacier
Following the cave tour, you go to the woodlands of Húsafell for lunch. After lunch, you will drive to the nearby Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls — two of Iceland’s most picturesque cascades.
The ride back to Reykjavík will take you through the Hvalförður Tunnel, along the coastline. Tours vary by operator and may include just the glacier tour or additional stops as cited here.
What you need to know before you go
Pricing and booking
The Into the Glacier Classic Tour from Húsafell or Klaki base camp starts at approximately €84 per person. Full-day tours from Reykjavík — including transport, waterfall stops, and lunch (at your own expense) — run from approximately €168 to €262 depending on the operator and season. Combination tours with snowmobiling are also available. Prices change seasonally, so check the official Into the Glacier website for current rates and availability. The tour is a TripAdvisor 2025 Travelers’ Choice winner.
What to bring
Warm clothing is essential, even in summer — this is a glacier at 4,000 feet. Waterproof shoes with warm socks are strongly recommended. Bring a waterproof outer layer, hat, gloves, and sunglasses (the glacier surface reflects intense sunlight). Crampons for walking inside the tunnels are provided by the tour operator. Raincoats and overshoes are available at check-in if needed.
Duration
The full-day tour from Reykjavík runs approximately 8 to 10 hours. The Classic Tour from Húsafell or Klaki takes roughly 2 to 3 hours. Weather and glacier conditions can extend the schedule — don’t book a tight evening commitment on the same day.
A final word
This is one of those experiences that stays with you long after you leave. The silence inside the glacier is total. The blue deepens around you until it feels like you’re standing inside something that was never meant to be seen — ancient ice, compressed over centuries, glowing from within. Langjökull is shrinking. What you walk through today may not be there tomorrow. If you get the chance, go. You won’t forget it.
