Iceland Winter Tours: 5-Day & 3-Day Ice Cave Packages
The full Ring Road tours stop running at the end of September. From October, Nicetravel switches to shorter winter packages that stay in the South and West, where roads are kept open and daylight is used as well as possible. Their main draw is a visit to a natural blue ice cave in Vatnajökull, reached by super jeep, combined with waterfalls, black beaches, the glacier lagoon and, on some packages, hot spring bathing.
This guide compares the three winter packages of three and five days. If you only have a weekend, see our separate page on 2- and 3-day South Coast tours from Reykjavík.
The three winter packages compared
| 5-Day Winter Wonderland | 5-Day Winter Package | 3-Day Winter Wonderland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from (per adult) | ISK 224,900 (roughly €1,550) | ISK 204,900 (roughly €1,400) | ISK 119,900 (roughly €850) |
| Season | October to April | November to March | October to April |
| Nights | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Blue ice cave by super jeep | included | included | included |
| Lava cave (Víðgelmir) | included | included, or Canyon Ride & Baths instead | no |
| Hot spring spa | Hvammsvík included | only with the Canyon Baths option | Hvammsvík optional (ISK 129,900 version) |
| Golden Circle | yes | yes | yes |
| Snæfellsnes | yes | yes | no |
| Minimum age | 10 | 8 | 10 |
Prices checked October 2026. All three include breakfast and a double or twin room with private bathroom. Lunch and dinner are not included. Solo travellers pay a mandatory single room supplement.
5-Day Winter Wonderland Package
This is the most complete of the three, and the one with the most bathing time.
- Day 1: South Coast waterfalls (Gljúfrabúi, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss) and Reynisfjara black beach. Overnight in the countryside in Suðursveit.
- Day 2: Diamond Beach, Jökulsárlón and the blue ice cave by super jeep, then the Hofskirkja turf church, the Eldhraun lava field and Vík. Overnight in Hveragerði, where a public pool a short walk from the hotel can be visited at your own cost.
- Day 3: Geothermal park and bakery, Kerið crater, Gullfoss, Geysir and Strokkur, Þingvellir, and an evening at the Hvammsvík Hot Spring spa on the Hvalfjörður fjord, with your first drink and towel rental included. Overnight in Reykjavík.
- Day 4: The Silver Circle: Glanni waterfall at Bifröst, Deildartunguhver, Reykholt, Hraunfossar and the Víðgelmir lava cave. Overnight in Borgarnes.
- Day 5: Snæfellsnes with the Ytri-Tunga seal beach, Búðakirkja, Arnarstapi, Lóndrangar, Djúpalónssandur and Kirkjufell. Back in Reykjavík around 20:00.
The operator advertises "two evenings" of geothermal bathing. Be aware that only Hvammsvík is included; the pool in Hveragerði is paid on the spot. See the 5-Day Winter Wonderland Package for current dates.
5-Day Winter Package: Golden Circle, South and West Coast
Similar ground in a different order, and a little cheaper. Day 1 is the Golden Circle with Kerið (overnight in Hveragerði), Day 2 the South Coast to Suðursveit, Day 3 the ice cave and glacier lagoon with a night in Reykjavík, Day 4 the Silver Circle to Borgarnes, and Day 5 Snæfellsnes.
The main difference is a choice you make when booking: either the Víðgelmir lava cave or a Canyon Ride & Baths visit instead. If you pick the baths, bring your own towel and swimwear. A visit to the Sturlureykir horse farm is included either way. The season is a little shorter, November to March. Details on the 5-Day Winter Package page.
3-Day Winter Wonderland
The compact version: South Coast on Day 1 (overnight in Suðursveit), glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach and the ice cave on Day 2 (overnight in Hveragerði), and the Golden Circle with Kerið on Day 3. The standard tour is back in Reykjavík around 17:00. If you book the version with the Hvammsvík spa (from ISK 129,900, roughly €900), you return around 20:00. Have a look at the 3-Day Winter Wonderland tour.
About the blue ice cave
Ice caves in Vatnajökull are natural. They form in the cold months and change shape from year to year, so nobody can tell you in advance exactly what yours will look like. On these packages you transfer to a super jeep with specialist glacier guides, and safety equipment is provided.
Two practical points:
- Hiking boots are mandatory on all winter ice cave tours. The operator states that guests without suitable footwear (solid shoes reaching above the ankle) can be refused on the glacier. You can rent boots during booking.
- The ice cave season depends on conditions. Nicetravel lists some packages from October to April and others from November to March. Early and late in the season, ask what happens if the cave visit cannot go ahead.
Northern lights: possible, never promised
All three packages spend nights in the countryside, away from city light, and on request the hotels will wake you if the aurora appears. That gives you a fair chance on a clear night with enough solar activity. It does not give you a guarantee. You need darkness, clear skies and an active aurora at the same time, and Iceland's winter weather often brings cloud for days. Treat any sighting as a bonus, not as the reason the trip was worth it.
What winter touring is really like
- Short days. In December Reykjavík gets only about four to five hours of daylight. Tours start and end in darkness, and the operator plans stops so that the main sights are reached in daylight or at dusk.
- Weather decides. Tours run in all weather, but storm warnings from the Icelandic Meteorological Office or closed roads can cancel or change a day. The operator will email you; check your inbox before pickup.
- Icy ground. Paths at waterfalls can be slippery. The walkway behind Seljalandsfoss is closed when it is icy.
- Group size. A maximum of 19 guests in a minibus, as in summer.
For clothing and gear, use our packing list for a guided Iceland tour, which has a separate winter section. And if you are still deciding between summer and winter, compare daylight and conditions in our guide to the best time for an Iceland tour.
Which winter package to choose
- Want the most variety and a proper spa evening? The 5-Day Winter Wonderland.
- Want five days for a bit less, or prefer canyon baths to a lava cave? The 5-Day Winter Package.
- Only have three days but want the ice cave? The 3-Day Winter Wonderland, ideally with the Hvammsvík option if you want the hot spring.
Prices checked October 2026; euro amounts are rough conversions at about 145 ISK per euro. Tour links are affiliate links.