Recently Viewed
The Lava Tunnel: Raufarhólshellir Exploration
4.8
2,321 Ratings
Raufarhólshellir
Explore the bewitching beauty of Raufarhólshellir, Iceland’s famous lava tube. Experience the inner workings of a volcanic eruption and walk along the path where lava flowed. Book your tour now!
Explore the bewitching beauty of Raufarhólshellir, Iceland’s famous lava tube. Experience the inner workings of a volcanic eruption and walk along the path where lava flowed. Book your tour now!
Duration:
1 hour
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Raufarhólshellir - Explore the magnificent lava tunnel Raufarhólshellir, one of the longest and best-known lava tubes in Iceland. Discover the inner workings of a volcanic eruption and walk along the path where lava flowed underground during the Leitahraun eruption over 5000 years ago. Our tour is approximately one hour whereas platforms and…
- Raufarhólshellir - Explore the magnificent lava tunnel Raufarhólshellir, one of the longest and best-known lava tubes in Iceland. Discover the inner workings of a volcanic eruption and walk along the path where lava flowed underground during the Leitahraun eruption over 5000 years ago. Our tour is approximately one hour whereas platforms and lights have been incorporated - making the experience of visiting the cave simply breathtaking. The tour difficulty is rated as easy, although guests need to walk over uneven surfaces and up and down stairs. Helmets and headlamps are provided and the guests go in a group with an English speaking guide who provides information about the unique geological features inside the Tunnel.
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Lights
- Helmets
- Professional guide
- Lights
- Helmets
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
Journey through the renowned Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel, among Iceland’s largest and most famous lava tubes. Situated a short 30-40 minutes away from Reykjavík, it can be visited at any time of the year. Unravel the mysteries of a volcanic eruption as you traverse the route once followed by molten lava during the Leitahraun eruption 5200 years ago….
Journey through the renowned Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel, among Iceland’s largest and most famous lava tubes. Situated a short 30-40 minutes away from Reykjavík, it can be visited at any time of the year. Unravel the mysteries of a volcanic eruption as you traverse the route once followed by molten lava during the Leitahraun eruption 5200 years ago. The hour-long tour is enhanced with platforms and illuminations, making the visit to the cave an awe-inspiring experience. The tour provides all the necessary gear. Select your desired tour start time when you book. Please be aware that this tour does not offer pick up service and is intended for those self-driving.
- Not recommend for children under the age of 3
- Not recommended for people with back, knee or other health issues
- Sturdy shoes are important and it is recommend that you bring rain coat / jacket.
- Bathrooms are available on location.
Location
Raufarhólshellir
The tunnel is very easily accessed about 30 minutes drive from Reykjavik. Head east on road no. 1 and drive for about 18 km. Turn right onto road no. 39 (Þorlákshöfn) and drive for another 12 km. You will see our service building and parking lot on the left (if coming from Reykjavik).
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
4.8
(2321 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Odyssey02542100201
Dec 7, 2025
Driving the entire ring road in snow, white-outs, ice, rain, fog, one-lane bridges..... - The staff was great. From the guide to the ladies checking everyone in. The tunnel was amazing and our guide was extremely knowledgeable. THe coolest part is when he turned off the lights. Total darkness. The explained how some girls fell into the tunnel . Cant imagine being stuck that long without light.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Travelnotesellaerik
Dec 7, 2025
Raufarhólshellir - Walking Where Fire Once Flowed - 5,200 years ago, lava streamed through this tunnel. Today, we walked in its path.
Raufarhólshellir is one of Iceland's longest and most accessible lava tubes, located just 30 minutes from Reykjavik. The total length is 1,360 meters, with the main tunnel stretching 900 meters. In places, it's 30 meters wide and 10 meters high - vast enough to feel small inside.
The tunnel formed during the Leitahraun eruption when flowing lava developed a hard crust that became the roof. The lava beneath continued flowing, leaving this hollow tube behind. Near the entrance, the ceiling has collapsed in three places, creating dramatic columns of light that illuminate the darkness inside.
What struck us most wasn't the scale - though that's impressive - but the silence. Absolute, ancient quiet. The kind that makes you whisper. At the end of the tunnel, it branches into three smaller paths where frozen lava falls hang suspended, caught mid-flow 5,000 years ago.
A sobering note: Until the 1950s, this tunnel was full of delicate lava stalactites. As tourism increased, people touched them, took them. Today, almost none remain - a reminder that natural wonders are more fragile than they appear.
Practical details: Tours run year-round. In winter, ice sculptures form at the entrance, adding another layer of beauty. The pathway is well-maintained with lighting. Wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes. Tours last about 45-60 minutes.
We ended our walk with a kiss in the quiet. Some places deserve that kind of moment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
898estelat
Dec 2, 2025
Highly recommend to visit! - Alex is the best tour guide - We were very unlucky to experienced the worst snow storm in Oct. in 100 years on the day we visited the laval tunnel. However, our tour guide Alex was so engaging and so funny with the tour group that lighted up our day! We had 3 different tours in Iceland within a week and Alex was the best one!
Highly recommend to everyone to see the amazing formation of the tunnel and stories told by the guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Camille_h
Dec 2, 2025
Great, night time exploration - Wonderful trip into the Lava Tunnel. I am amazed at the way Lava flows and the caves then created. I recommend this.
Review provided by Viator
Dzub2018
Dec 1, 2025
Education and Interesting Experience - Very interesting and educational experience. The tour was not long, so very doable/easy with kids or people who don't want to have a strenuous activity. The ending was very unique and special. If you pair with the Lava Show you can get a bit of a discount.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tracey_g
Dec 1, 2025
Brilliant experience - This was a great experience with the family, a huge lava tunnel with very informative guide. Helmets with torches provided.
Review provided by Viator
Zsoltc804
Nov 30, 2025
Evening tour - When we visited Iceland in November sunset was at 4:30 pm. Fortunately there is an evening tour in the lava tunnel, so we organised our first day to finish here and go to a hotel nearby. The tunnel is very nice and our guide shared many interesting facts with us. We enjoyed it and highly recommend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01NePLYn2dw&list=PL5L6cB9QhS7lQRxhGlMDYG9zhc11Grw25&index=1
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B9179indianef
Nov 30, 2025
Have fun and learn about lava - Great experience wandering thru this lava cave. The colors are amazing and you get a bit of a geology lesson from the guide along the way. The walk is pretty accessible but an older guy in our group said his knees weren’t happy. The highlight was at the end of the tunnel when the lights are turned out and you experience true pitch black.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leigh_t
Dec 5, 2025
Magical - I have read some negative comments about this experience, especially on Google, but, personally, I really enjoyed it. Luckily, it was a quiet day so there were only 5 total in the group. The guide was very informative and explained things without being patronising and with good humour. We had the full hour, and more, giving us time to take photos. I’m more annoyed that I am not a good enough photographer to give the photos justice to the beauty of the tunnel. I’ve only not given it 5 stars as it is quite expensive but then again, it’s probably reasonably priced for Iceland.
Review provided by Viator
Pdmnyc
Nov 30, 2025
Unique walk back 5,200 years - An excellent experience, worth the price. The hour long explanation, including short trek inside the lava tube, covered the formation and chemical composition of the cave. Our guide, from Catalan, was a geologist, so very knowledgeable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
More activities from this operator
