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Vatnshellir Cave Tour: Explore Underworlds of Snæfellsnes Peninsula & Lava Tube Formations
4.7
39 Ratings
Snæfellsbær
Explore the hidden depths of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Gain a deeper understanding of how lava tubes, striking natural features, are formed. Witness a diverse array of appearances, hues, and structures such as lava stalactites, lava pustules, and lava stalagmites.
Explore the hidden depths of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Gain a deeper understanding of how lava tubes, striking natural features, are formed. Witness a diverse array of appearances, hues, and structures such as lava stalactites, lava pustules, and lava stalagmites.
Duration:
45 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
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Vatnshellir Cave - Join us on a 45 minute guided tour of Vatnshellir Lava Cave. The lava cave is located on the slopes of a volcano that erupted 8000 years ago and created this beautiful natural formation. Explore different formations, textures and colors of lava rock.
On this tour you will learn about the geology of Iceland, its volcanoes and lava…
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Vatnshellir Cave - Join us on a 45 minute guided tour of Vatnshellir Lava Cave. The lava cave is located on the slopes of a volcano that erupted 8000 years ago and created this beautiful natural formation. Explore different formations, textures and colors of lava rock.
On this tour you will learn about the geology of Iceland, its volcanoes and lava tubes.
The cave is right next to Snfellsjkull, the stratovolcano that was made famous by Jules Verne and his story “A Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Join us on a tour in Vatnshellir Cave to take the first steps in the Journey!
What's Included
- Helmet and flashlight provided
- Helmet and flashlight provided
Additional Information
- Participants need to be reasonably fit to walk up and down the two spiral staircases in the cave.
- Participants need to be able to walk on uneven ground.
- Participants need to be reasonably fit to walk up and down the two spiral staircases in the cave.
- Participants need to be able to walk on uneven ground.
Location
Vatnshellir Cave
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(39 Ratings)
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Brenna_m
Sep 28, 2024
I would recommend this not just for people interested in volcanos. - The tour was informative and interesting. The drive there is also beautiful so give yourself some time to stop and enjoy.
Our tour guide was great. He answered all of our questions.
Review provided by Viator
218christinai
Sep 9, 2024
Don't miss it! - Fantastic experience in the lava tube! Beautiful and informative, and our guide was wonderful. I was concerned about feeling claustrophobic, but the chambers are big and everyone has their own light. Be prepared to experience full darkness!
There are 2 staircases to climb down, and then up to leave. They are very skinny, so the steps are small, and the metal is cold and slippery. Be careful!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Simoweb
Aug 29, 2024
Beautiful experience - Beautiful experience. Prepared Guide who explained everything well. Hooking on an old review of those who gave a low rating because of the children screaming.... what's the fault of those who organize?!
Even when we went there was an Asian family with two children who did not stand still and lit torches in the moment of darkness and silence. The Guide reprimanded them, but if the parents do not say anything you what the fault are those of the.tour!??!
Anyway rude children aside, it was a wonderful experience that I would recommend to everyone!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristin_d
Aug 25, 2024
Great experience! - Great experience!! It is perfectly positioned along the route around the peninsula. The kids loved it! It was a fun and interesting experience. It’s a truly amazing natural phenomenon!
Review provided by Viator
849jillv
Aug 2, 2024
Breathtaking and educational activity with guide Anita - A unique experience a lava cave with good guidance from guide Anita. In a small group you descend at a leisurely pace and get extensive information about the origin of the caves etc. Anita also takes pictures into account and she lights up where necessary. The most unique part of this activity was the ‘black moment’, literally breathtaking. In short, highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennymg8937xm
Jul 16, 2024
Interesting place to visit - Our guide Anita was very knowledgeable and excellent. She explained how the caves were made very well. There are 2 spiral staircases but fairly easy to manage. We visited 3 lava chambers and each was interesting. We arrived early for our booked tour and she was very helpful in changing our booking to an earlier time. One lady struggled with the uneven surface and Anita took her time and helped the lady as needed. Her enthusiasm rubbed off on all of us. I would recommend this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michellebw3380ml
Jun 25, 2024
Caves made from magma - Great guide! She was very informative and seemed to really enjoy what she was doing. Lots of steps on a spiral staircase but worth it if your knees can handle it. Would recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adeliopereira
Jun 18, 2024
The cave “tells” the geological history of the place! - Very safe and informative tour. The cave tells the story of local geology. Very knowledgeable and attentive guide. The cave walk is very easy. Very interesting geological formations. It is worth it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rucksackleisti
Sep 7, 2024
Phone support not working!! - In and of itself, the tour was very good.
Unfortunately, there is no phone support if you have a Booking Referral problem.
Although a number is given, an automatic answering machine comes in Icelandic...
On site we were able to explain our late arrival and got a later appointment.
That was very nice!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cicia333
Sep 21, 2024
Utterly Unprofessional and Unaccommodating - Vatnshellir Cave's at 5 PM was the very first tour our family booked when making our Iceland itinerary. We had been very excited to visit what had been marketed as "the journey to the center of the earth from Jules Verne's story." However, our experience ended up being completely marred by unprofessionalism and a lack of basic customer service from the staff.
After booking, we received an email advising us to use the WC at another location, as there was no WC at the meeting point building. We reached the Malarrif Visitor Center WC around 4:50 PM, only to be met with two single-stall bathrooms, resulting in a line outside. Concerned about being late, we called Summit Adventure's number BEFORE 5 PM, but no one answered—unusual for a supposedly reputable tour operator with posted working hours until 5 PM.
By the time all members of our family had finished using the WC, it was 5 PM. We rushed to the meeting point and arrived just minutes past 5 PM, NO LATER than 5:05 PM. To our shock, the woman at the building ignored us initially when we walked up, then immediately started SHOUTING at us even before we said anything. She claimed that the tour group had left after waiting for 5 minutes, with was not true since we were there before 5:05 PM. When we stayed calm and asked her for help in our situation, she just continued to scold and insult us, clearly already having no intention to help us.
During our trip to Iceland, we had booked two other tours where the operators demonstrated flexibility and understanding. Although we managed to arrive on time for those tours, we still witnessed the basic customer service shown by the people to their customers who were running slightly late. For instance, during the Inside the Volcano experience at Þríhnúkagígur, the team waited about 15 minutes past the start time to address everyone. Similarly, at the Jökulsárlón Ice Cave tour with Arctic Adventures, our guide went around the parking lot looking for another family and only started the tour 10 minutes after the scheduled time. As these tour operators knew that they had a responsibility to their customers after receiving our money, they showed patience and professionalism, understanding that unforeseen delays can happen.
To be clear, we DID NOT cancel our tour, as we had tried our best to arrive at the meeting location as soon as we could. Due to the female staff's refusal to accommodate or assist us, we had no choice but to leave. We then requested a full refund via both a feedback form and email, as the company has clearly failed to provide a service for the money we have paid, only to be met with an outright refusal and no reply after our response back to them (again, this lack of response further reflects poor customer service).
This experience was incredibly disappointing. I strongly advise future visitors to reconsider booking with this operator, as their behavior was unacceptable and they failed to uphold even the most basic standards of customer service. In contrast to the many other nice Icelanders we met, who were genuine and straightforward, this company was exceptionally unfriendly. Their behavior suggested a lack of concern for customer satisfaction. As mentioned above, there are many other much better tours in Iceland—DO NOT waste your money on Summit Adventures.
Review provided by Tripadvisor