Caves of Hella Tour: Uncover Iceland's Ancient Man-made Landmark

Uncover the ancient man-made caves of Hella in Iceland, believed to predate the Viking settlement. Explore the mysteries, hidden secrets, and untold stories of this historic landmark site.

Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Caves of Hella - At this location, called Ægissíða, there are 12 ancient man made caves. In this tour your local guide will take you to four of them.
What's Included
  • Guided tour
Additional Information

Twelve ancient, human-made caves have been uncovered on the land of Ægissíða near Hella on Iceland’s southern coast. Currently, five of these caves are accessible to the public through our guided tours. This historical site represents Iceland’s oldest surviving archaeological remains, with some suggesting the caves predate the Nordic Viking settlement….

Location
Caves of Hella
You should find the exact location by typing "Caves of Hella" in Google maps. If you dont use that the location should be easy to find, just west of the town of Hella, market with big signs and flags.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(182 Ratings)
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Ian
Oct 30, 2025
Excellent Guided Tour! - Fantastic guided tour, led by Hannah, telling us about the vital evidence these caves provided to unlocking the story of Iceland’s earliest settlement. Hannah had really impressive depth of knowledge of the archaeology and genetics of Iceland and surrounding countries. Kids and adults alike were transfixed. A “must do” for anyone interested in the human settlement of Iceland.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M9747srpaulm
Oct 29, 2025
Ancient site brought to life by the guide - A fascinating and unexpected tour of ancient manmade caves in Hella - elevated by excellent narration blending history, academic debates (and politics!) and a good dose of comedy.
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Evie-p33
Oct 27, 2025
Excellent tour in incredible caves - Really enjoyed our tour (sorry can’t remember the name of our guide but he really was excellent and had such a great sense of humour) we were lucky enough to get a private tour as it was quiet the day we went and really enjoyed learning about the history of the caves and Iceland, it was so informative but in a really fun way and the caves are so interesting to go in to! Great place to stop off.
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Paulaf1450eg
Oct 24, 2025
Great local find - Great tour explaining the history of the caves, why the are used, and talking about local history. Our guide was Devin was very personable.
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Ian
Oct 24, 2025
Amazing! - Such an interesting site. Human-carved caves that pre-date Norse settlers means historians will have it re-think Icelandic history. The caves were very interesting, our guide was knowledgeable and we had a great visit. Would definitely recommend. The attraction is fairly new so it may not show up in guide books and/or group tours but worth a look.
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Enriquemg1304ro
Oct 23, 2025
Caves of Hella Experience - Wonderful experience, this was not planned and just looked for things to do in Hella while staying at the Panorama Glass Lodge, It was surprisingly wonderful, our Guide Alex, was VERY knowledgeable and fun to tour with. Had lots of history to offer as well, all around, was a Great Experience, a must do! :)
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Duna109
Oct 13, 2025
Very interesting - very interesting experience. The guide was excellent with good humour. perfect activity for a rainy day!Very interesting
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Lori
Oct 9, 2025
Make this one of your stops! - If you have an hour and a half make this stop. Our guide, Stephan, is from Hella and had a wealth of knowledge delivering it in a very entertaining way. The caves are interesting spaces in their own right plus learning what is known about them and what is speculation is fascinating.
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Kimex7544rr
Oct 8, 2025
What a great tour!!!!!! - A Must-See Hidden Gem in Iceland! Visiting the Caves of Hella was one of the most fascinating experiences of our entire trip to Iceland! This tour is an absolute must-do for anyone who loves history, mystery, and authentic Icelandic culture. The caves themselves are unlike anything else you’ll see in Iceland — ancient, mysterious, and full of stories that bring the country’s past to life. Our guide was absolutely wonderful. She was so warm, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. You could tell she was truly passionate about sharing Iceland’s rich history and legends, making every moment both educational and entertaining. It’s rare to find a place that feels so personal and authentic. The Caves of Hella aren’t just a tourist stop — they’re a window into Iceland’s early settlers and centuries-old traditions. If you’re exploring South Iceland, do not miss this experience! It’s a five-star tour that will leave you with a deeper appreciation of the land and its people. I booked this last minute and I'm so glad i did! I highly recommend this tour!
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Barbara
Oct 26, 2025
Skip it! Not worth it. - Way too expensive for what it was. We went into three caves. Nothing extraordinary. What we heard from the guide was more his thoughts as to what could have happened, theories and stories that he found funny. Nothing cultural about it. Waste of money.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $53
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).