Sometimes it feels like every traveler goes to the same scenic spots in Iceland. And sure, the Blue Lagoon is nice and all, but you might be in search of novel wonders.
A newly discovered natural ice cave on Langjökull glacier in the island nation’s western interior should satisfy that craving.
The luminously blue ice chamber was only found in October. The glacier, Langjökull, is Iceland’s second-largest and the closest to capital city Reykjavík, located a roughly 2.5-hour drive west.
It’s not unusual for new ice formations to develop as the glacier melts and shifts. But this find is especially impressive, according to a press release from Arctic Adventures—the tour company whose guides made the discovery—because the cave is “spacious” and of a “high-clarity blue” that’s “streaked with delicate layers of volcanic ash.”
The cavern has been christened Neptune Ice Cave.
“The name came to us immediately,” said Hekla Tang, Arctic Adventures operations manager, in a statement. “Under certain light, the ice mirrors pure Neptune topaz. Everyone agreed the moment we stepped inside.”
And now you can step inside, too.
Arctic Adventures is offering snowmobile rides to the site and tours of the cave through April 2026.
How to tour Neptune Ice Cave in Iceland
Those who book the tour will be picked up either in Reykjavík or at Skjól Basecamp near Gullfoss waterfall. After a ride by Super Jeep through the Icelandic Highlands, you’ll board a snowmobile to journey across the white expanse of Langjökull to reach the cave.
Then a guide will take you inside and show you around.
The company has worked in partnership with Sleipnir Tours to secure the entrance to the cave and “install subtle lighting to enhance visibility without disturbing the cave’s natural structure,” per Arctic Adventures.
The tour operator promises that the cave’s interior is monitored daily to ensure it can be visited safely.
The seasonal formation’s appearance will change as winter progresses, before melting in spring.
The Neptune Ice Cave Tour lasts 4 to 10 hours, depending on your starting point. You can tack on a guided northern lights hunt for further Icelandic exploration (and complimentary cocoa).
Arctic Adventures classifies the Neptune Ice Cave Tour as “moderate” with regard to difficulty level, requiring “basic” fitness. The experience is suitable for children aged 8 and older, according to the company.
The tour starts at US$310 per person and includes round-trip transportation and all necessary safety gear.
For more information, go to the Arctic Adventures website.
Frommer’s Iceland
Comprehensive and completely up-to-date, Frommer’s Iceland takes you from world-famous waterfalls to hopping nightclubs and everywhere in between. Frommer’s expert Katie Featherstone, is an Iceland specialist, knows every inch of the country and is not afraid to tell the truth. With her reliable, st…
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Frommer’s Iceland
Comprehensive and completely up-to-date, Frommer’s Iceland takes you from world-famous waterfalls to hopping nightclubs and everywhere in between. Frommer’s expert Katie Featherstone, is an Iceland specialist, knows every inch of the country and is not afraid to tell the truth. With her reliable, st…
