Traveling to Iceland with kids means doing advance research to determine whether or not a specific activity is a viable option. Thankfully, Catherine’s experience at the Lava Tunnel was so outstanding, that I knew it was a “must do” activity one mu own trip to Iceland with kids.
The drive from Reykjavik to the Lava Tunnel Raufarhólshellir was approximately 30 minutes and was every bit as beautiful as the drive down to Vik.
Catherine and her family toured the Lava Tunnel in June 2017, and this was something I absolutely wanted to experience. When planning our Icelandic adventure, I had really wanted to experience a glacier cave, but unfortunately, found that late May is too late for most ice cave experiences.
Fortunately for us, the Lava Tunnel ended up scratching that itch and then some!
The experience begins with a debriefing and a warning as to what is permitted and what is not permitted. We were told that helmets must stay on at all times and to please refrain from disturbing the ice. The main guide traveled ahead of the group and narrated, while another Lava Tunnel employee followed at the end of the group, presumably to make sure that no one got lost in the shuffle.
The opening to the Lava Tunnel.
The Lava Tunnel formed 5000+ years ago and, we learned, travels the road leading from Reykjavik to Raudfarholshellir. Prior to embarking on our tour, we were told the experience is like “walking inside a leaky refrigerator and staying there for one hour.” This ended up being spot on as the heavy rains from the preceding days had created a very damp and moist environment. I was surprised to see the three openings up to the sky (I didn’t expect openings) and loved when we reached the furthest part of the tunnel that our tour was permitted to travel. We turned off all our lights and spent a moment in complete darkness. There we were told that no matter how long you stayed in the dark, your eyes would not adjust and there was simply no light to reflect.
Along the way, we were thrilled to see the ice formations and were told by the guide that the ice was rapidly melting and would not be there in two weeks time.
Although there was ice on the ground for some portions of the tour, it was perfectly manageable. My son and I wore sneakers and had no problems. Per the guide, it can be extremely slippery if visiting in the winter, so proper hiking shoes may be needed.
My son absolutely loved the Lava Tunnel experience and this may have been the highlight of his entire trip. The Lava Tunnel offers a 3-4 hour “extreme tour,” which takes guests further into the tunnel. Unfortunately, the minimum age recommended is 12, so we are still a few years shy from qualifying. Our one hour standard tour of the Lava Tunnel cost $64 (kids free!), which was a real bargain and I highly recommend this experience. Catherine’s two year old daughter was happy to ride in a carrier last summer when they visited, but I was happy that my 3.5 year old was not with us on this adventure as he would not have been satisfied in the carrier and there was just enough rocky climbing that I would have nervous the whole time. My almost nine year old had no issues.
Pro Tip:
Although there is a sign for the Lava Tunnel on the road about 10 minutes prior to arrival, there is no Lava Tunnel sign at the actual pull out. I managed to drive past it and had to flip a tight u-turn, so keep your eyes peeled for the Raudfarholshellir sign, which will indicate that it’s time to pull off for the Lava Tunnel.
Planning your own trip to Iceland with kids? Stay tuned for Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: The Blue Lagoon, and be sure to check out our listing of all Iceland posts or join our Facebook group We Go To Iceland With Kids, a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland.
