Skaftafell National Park

In Skaftafell National Park in southeastern Iceland, the ice cave in the Svínafellsjökull glacier absorbs almost all visible light, reflecting only brilliant blue to the human eye. Outfitter Luxury Adventures equips visitors with axes, crampons, and helmets to explore the cave, but only in winter, when temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius freeze the ice safely solid. Loud cracking sounds echo through the cave as the glacier crawls along the uneven terrain. To book a custom tour of Iceland’s natural wonders, contact AFAR Travel Advisory Council member Malaka Hilton at (941) 951-1801 or malaka.hilton@afar.com.

Glacier hike in Skaftafell National Park with our amazing guides. We had to use crampons and pick-axes to make our way to the top. It was one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever taken. We stopped at one point to take a sip of the freshest Icelandic glacial water that I have ever tasted. At the top of the glacier was the most perfect rainbow...the most amazing reward for climbing to the top!!!

Deep blue ceilings of ice, with huge icicle stalactites surround you as climb into these caves at the base of a huge glacier in Iceland. The loud creaking noises are the sounds of the cave moving with glacier, though the ice caves can be unstable and collapse at any time (so you need a guide that knows the caves). The caves disappear each spring, and new ones form each fall, so they are only accesible November through March, and you never know ahead of time which ones will be accessible... A remarkable experience...