Arctic Adventures · Húsafell, west side of Langjökull
From Húsafell on the west side of Langjökull, a glacier truck takes you to the snowline, you ride a shared snowmobile across the ice cap, and then walk an hour through the man-made Into the Glacier tunnel. It's the only tour that puts you both on top of the glacier and inside it.
Into the Glacier is the ice tunnel that Arctic Adventures dug into Langjökull, opened in 2015: about 500 metres of corridors up to 25 metres under the surface, with a small chapel and LED light in the walls. It sits on the western side of the glacier, above Húsafell, far from Gullfoss. This combo adds a snowmobile ride on top, which makes it the one trip here that covers both.
Be clear about the ride. The tunnel operator's own page gives a ride of about 20 minutes each way, so roughly 40 minutes on the snowmobile, shared by two. That's shorter than the hour on the Gullfoss and Geysir tours. In exchange you get a full hour inside the ice with a guide, and a group of 17 at most on this listing. Guests still write about "lots of time on the snowmobile", and several mention tunnel guides singing in the chapel with the lights off.
You need a car: check-in is at the Húsafell Activity Centre, about two hours from Reykjavík, and the listing has no transfer. Two people share each snowmobile. If you want one to yourself, the single-rider option can only be booked on site, if a machine is free. Wear waterproof boots: the tunnel floor is wet and about 0°C all year, and crampons are handed out at the entrance.
Find the Húsafell Activity Centre next to the bistro and petrol station (N64 41.950 W20 52.118).
A bus takes you up to base camp, where snowmobile riders get their gear. Last proper toilets for a while.
Ride across the ice cap in a line behind your guide, two per machine, about 20 minutes each way.
Crampons on, then a guided walk through the tunnels, the blue ice and the chapel.
Back on the snowmobiles, then down to Húsafell. Guests report three and a half to four hours in total.
★★★★★Riding across the top of the glacier offered views you just can't get on foot. If you're debating the snowmobiling option, go for the snowmobiles!
★★★★★We did the snowmobiling and i was nervous but it was the best thing i did here this weekend! No experience but you felt very safe and secure with guides, and the location is incredible!!
★★★★★Omar was a great guide. Lots of time on the snowmobile, beautiful views, interesting facts about glacier, top trip.
★★★★★He sang a wonderful song for us with all the lights turned off allowing us to experience complete darkness with a harmonious Islandic tune.
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About 40 minutes in total: Into the Glacier gives roughly 20 minutes each way between base camp and the tunnel, shared by two riders who swap. Then you spend about an hour inside the ice.
No. Into the Glacier is a man-made tunnel, dug over 14 months and opened in 2015. It's lit, has a chapel, and is open all year. Natural blue ice caves only form in winter; the Snowmobile.is ice cave tour visits one on the east side.
At the Húsafell Activity Centre, next to the bistro and the petrol station in Húsafell, about two hours' drive from Reykjavík. Check in at least 15 minutes before your slot.
No. Into the Glacier says drivers must be 17 or older with a valid driver's licence. Younger teens, from 8, ride as passengers.
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About 40 minutes of snowmobiling on Langjökull and a walk through the 500-metre Into the Glacier ice tunnel, from Húsafell.
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