Reykjavik: Lava Cave, Hot Springs, Horses & Waterfalls Tour

The most memorable part of this 10-hour trip is the walk through Viðgelmir Lava Cave, a nearly 1,600-meter volcanic tunnel with strange colors, rough lava shapes, and seasonal ice formations. You also get a strong mix of scenery and culture, from Hraunfossar’s long line of waterfalls to Reykholt and its old bathing pool, Snorralaug.

I like the small group size, capped at 19 people, and the friendly, often funny guides. I also like the human touch at Sturlureykir Horse Farm, where you meet Icelandic horses and try warm spring-baked rye bread. The main drawback is the price, $222 per person, plus the day is long and the cave can be cold, wet, and slippery.

Key points to know before booking

• Viðgelmir is the star attraction: Expect about 1.5 hours underground with a specialist cave guide.
• Hraunfossar is a wide, unusual waterfall sight: Water appears to stream out of a lava field across roughly 900 meters.
• Sturlureykir adds a local touch: You can meet Icelandic horses and taste homemade rugbrauð, a dark rye bread baked with geothermal heat.
• This is a full western Iceland day: Glanni, hot springs, Reykholt, waterfalls, horses, and the cave make for a varied schedule.
• Bring more warmth than you think you need: The cave stays cold, and wooden paths may be wet.
• The group is limited to 19 people: That gives you a better chance to hear the guide and ask questions than on a large coach tour.

Why this western Iceland route is worth your day

Many first-time visitors stay close to Reykjavík and focus on the famous southern routes. This trip points the bus west, into Borgarfjörður, an area tied closely to Iceland’s medieval sagas and volcanic past.

The route works because it does not rely on one type of attraction. You get a waterfall stop, a geothermal area, a historic site, a farm visit, and a serious cave tour. The result feels more varied than a day spent driving from one viewpoint to another.

You leave Reykjavík between 8:30 and 9:00 in the morning and return after a day of roughly 10 hours. That is a lot of time on the road, but the stops break it up well. Guides such as Thor, Addi, Walter, Filip, and Cristina have been singled out for humor, clear explanations, and an ability to keep the bus ride lively. Guide quality can vary by departure, but the strongest part of the operation is plainly the personal guiding.

The vehicle has free Wi-Fi, which is useful during the longer stretches. Pickup is included within Reykjavík, though central streets have bus restrictions. You may be sent to the nearest designated bus stop rather than collected at your hotel door.

Glanni Waterfall starts the sightseeing

Glanni is a pleasant first stop in the Borgarfjörður region, with about 30 minutes for sightseeing. It gives you an early taste of western Iceland’s rivers and volcanic scenery without demanding a long walk.

A half-hour is enough for photographs and a quick look around, but not for a long hike. That is typical of this tour: you see many places, but the schedule is designed around several compact stops rather than one long stay at each site.

The value of Glanni is partly in the setting. It helps you shift from city sightseeing to the open country, and the guide can place the area within the broader story of Borgarfjörður. If you prefer slow walks and extended time at one place, this stop may feel brief.

Meet Icelandic horses at Sturlureykir

The visit to Sturlureykir Horse Farm lasts about 45 minutes and is one of the most personal stops of the day. Icelandic horses are smaller than many visitors expect, with a calm and friendly manner that makes the encounter easy to enjoy even if you are not an experienced rider.

You can get close to the horses, pet them, and learn about the farm. This is not presented as a riding excursion, so you should book it for contact with the animals rather than for time in the saddle.

The snack is a nice local detail. You are offered rugbrauð, a dark Icelandic rye bread made with geothermal heat, along with coffee or cold water. Food is not included as a full tour meal, so this bread is best viewed as a tasting rather than lunch.

The farm stop also gives the day a welcome change of pace. After waterfalls and before the longer cave visit, you get time outside, a chance to ask questions, and a look at a working Icelandic tradition. If you like encounters that connect scenery with daily life, this is one of the tour’s best additions.

Deildartunguhver shows Iceland’s geothermal power

At Deildartunguhver, you have about 20 minutes for photographs and sightseeing. This is one of Iceland’s major hot spring areas, where geothermal water rises with force from below the ground.

The stop is about seeing and understanding the heat, not bathing. That distinction matters because the title of this experience may suggest a hot spring soak. The scheduled visit is a photo stop at a geothermal area, followed later by a look at Snorralaug in Reykholt. It does not include a hot spring swimming session.

Deildartunguhver helps explain why geothermal heat matters in Iceland. At Sturlureykir, it is used for baking bread. At Deildartunguhver, you see the raw force of the heat close to the surface. Stay within the marked viewing areas and follow the guide’s directions, since hot spring zones are not places to wander freely.

Reykholt and Snorralaug connect the scenery to Icelandic history

Reykholt gives the day a cultural center. You have about 30 minutes to see the historic site and Snorralaug, a small hot spring associated with Snorri Sturluson, the medieval poet and politician.

Snorralaug was used by local people from the 12th century and appears in medieval writings connected with Snorri. The pool is modest, not a modern spa, but its importance comes from the people and stories linked to it. This is a useful stop if you want more than dramatic views.

The guide’s explanation makes a difference here. Without context, a small stone-lined pool can be easy to overlook. With the story of Snorri and medieval Iceland, it becomes a direct link to the country’s literary past.

Reykholt is also a good reminder that Iceland’s history is not separate from its natural setting. Water, volcanic ground, farming, and settlement all meet in this part of Borgarfjörður.

Hraunfossar is the day’s broadest view

You get about 90 minutes at Hraunfossar, including time for photographs, free time, and lunch. This is the stop where the schedule slows down enough for you to enjoy the view rather than simply collect a photograph.

Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls spread along roughly 900 meters. Instead of one single drop, countless streams appear to emerge from the edge of the Hallmundarhraun lava field before flowing into the river below.

The lava field formed about 1,000 years ago during a large eruption beneath Langjökull glacier. That origin explains the waterfall’s unusual shape. Water finds its way through porous lava and then spills out in many separate ribbons.

Only a few minutes away is Barnafoss, another waterfall with a more concentrated, forceful character. Seeing both together gives you a better sense of how water moves through Iceland’s volcanic ground.

The 90-minute break is useful for more than photographs. It gives you time to eat, use facilities, and take in several viewpoints without being rushed. Lunch is not included, so bring money for the planned stop. One past departure included a buffet lunch, but you should not assume that every trip includes one. The supplied information specifically says meals are excluded.

Winter can transform this stop. Snow and ice add another look to the falls, though poor weather may shorten walking time. Guides have handled difficult snowy conditions well, but you still need warm clothing and shoes that can manage wet ground.

Inside Viðgelmir Lava Cave

The main event is the guided visit to Viðgelmir Lava Cave, which takes about 1.5 hours. Admission is included, and the cave visit is led by a specialist guide rather than left to you to explore alone.

The cave is just under 1,600 meters long and formed from an ancient lava flow. Inside, you see the marks left behind as molten rock moved and cooled. The colors and formations vary along the route, and the scale helps you picture the power of the eruption that created the tunnel.

The entrance area is part of the lesson. Once you see the rough lava ground outside, the cave feels less like a decorative attraction and more like a record of an eruption. The guide can explain how the tunnel formed and point out features you might otherwise miss.

Conditions require some care. The cave is cold even in summer, and one section has been described as dangerously slippery. Wooden walkways and handrails help, but wet underground surfaces remain a real issue. Wear sturdy, closed shoes with good grip. Bring warm layers, even if Reykjavík feels mild when you leave.

In winter, ice may form inside the cave, including icicle-like shapes created by dripping water. Snowy conditions can make the visit especially striking, but winter also adds more need for proper clothing and careful footing.

This portion is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. Children under five cannot join the tour. A family group with an older person who had difficulty walking found the nearby cafe a useful place to wait, with views toward the lava area, but you should confirm your own needs with the operator before booking.

What the guide adds to the long bus ride

The guide is more than a driver on the best departures. Thor, Colin, Addi, Walter, Filip, Cristina, and others have been praised for humor, stories, local facts, and keeping people comfortable through a long day.

One guide, Filip, was remembered for a music playlist that added character to the drive. Another, Walter, used jokes and facts to keep the group relaxed. These details matter because the route involves several hours of travel between stops.

Still, the guiding style is not guaranteed to be the same every time. Some departures may feel more directed than conversational, with the guide telling you where to go and when to return. If you want a tour built around constant narration, ask about the guide style before booking. The specialist cave guide is a separate strength, with several cave guides praised for clear explanations of the geology.

The group limit of 19 is a practical advantage. You can hear instructions more easily, get answers without waiting behind a full coach, and move between stops with less fuss. It is described as a private group, but do not read that as a fully exclusive vehicle for just your party unless the operator confirms it.

Is $222 a fair price?

At $222 per person, this is not a cheap day out. The price makes more sense when you count what is bundled: transportation from Reykjavík, an English-speaking guide, the Viðgelmir admission fee, the Sturlureykir admission fee, and a full route through western Iceland.

You are also paying for convenience. Driving this circuit yourself requires a rental car, route planning, fuel, winter road awareness, and separate arrangements for the cave. The small group adds value compared with a large coach, especially when the guide is strong.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want waterfalls or a hot spring bath. The tour does not include meals, and the geothermal stops are for viewing rather than soaking. I would choose it for the combination of cave, waterfalls, horses, and history, not for a spa day.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the reserve-now, pay-later option make the booking less rigid. You still need to be ready at your pickup point from 8:30 in the morning.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to you if you want a full day beyond Reykjavík and enjoy variety. It suits people who like geology, waterfalls, local history, farm visits, and guided sightseeing in one outing.

It is also a good choice if you do not want to drive in Iceland, especially during winter. The route covers a lot of ground, and the guide handles the practical work while you watch the countryside through the bus window.

You should think twice if you dislike long days, short stops, or uneven and wet surfaces. The lava cave requires walking, and the day can feel demanding if you need a slow pace. It is also not suitable for children under five, wheelchair users, or people with mobility impairments.

Should you book the western Iceland cave tour?

Book it if Viðgelmir Lava Cave is high on your Iceland wish list and you want the cave paired with Hraunfossar, Reykholt, hot springs, and Icelandic horses. The cave is unusual enough to carry the day, while the other stops keep the route from feeling one-note.

Skip it if your priority is swimming in hot springs, eating included meals, or spending hours at one waterfall. At $222, the value depends on using most of the package: the small group, transport, horse farm, historic sites, and included cave admission.

Bring warm layers, cash for food, and shoes with a firm sole. Do that, and this is one of the more varied ways to see western Iceland in a single day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour takes up to 10 hours, including pickup from Reykjavík, the sightseeing stops, the cave visit, and the return journey.

What time does pickup take place?

Pickup takes place between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM. You should be ready at your assigned pickup location from 8:30 AM.

Is pickup from my Reykjavík hotel included?

Pickup and drop-off within Reykjavík are included. Because buses cannot use some central streets, you may be directed to the nearest bus stop instead of receiving pickup directly outside your accommodation.

Can I meet the tour instead of using hotel pickup?

Yes. You can meet at the Nicetravel office at Fiskislóð 45M, 101 Reykjavík. You need to notify Nicetravel and arrive before 8:20 AM.

Is admission to Viðgelmir Lava Cave included?

Yes. The admission fee and guided cave visit are included in the tour price.

Is the horse farm admission included?

Yes. Admission to Sturlureykir Horse Farm is included, along with the scheduled visit.

Are meals included?

No. Meals are not included. Bring cash for the lunch stop and the afternoon coffee break. At Sturlureykir, you can taste homemade rugbrauð with coffee or cold water.

Is the tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

No. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. It is also not suitable for children under five.