Raufarhólshellir
Raufarhólshellir things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
IcelandRaufarhólshellir
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We really enjoyed our visit to the Lava caves! Sun, our guide, was amazing, funny and informative telling us all about the caves and giving us plenty of tips for our time in Iceland! Don't pay attention to the bad reviews, none of them read the website before attending otherwise they would have known what they were getting themselves into! The tour was short in distance, covering 500m of the tunnels, roughly a third, however the guide pointed out quite clearly that they do offer tours to the bottom for more experienced cavers due to the difficulty the climb poses- considering the terrain in there, it's no surprise! Yes it's pricey, but anyone visiting Iceland should know that already, considering how expensive EVERYTHING is in Iceland. In comparison to our £350 hour on snowmobiles or the £10 a pop parking in many areas, this is dirt cheap and worth every penny. Got some amazing pictures of the caves and a chance to experience true darkness, not many places in the UK that can compare. The guide also explained that the caves were shut permanently in 2016 due to the unbelievable miss-treatment of this natural beauty; it was only through petitions to the private owners that the caves were reopened, under the promise they would be properly looked after and conserved for years to come otherwise they would again be shut to the public. Tons of waste had to he drawn out, and walkways were constructed to enable comfortable viewing without further damage to the formations. Anyone who lives in the real world would understand this comes at a cost, and I'm presuming it was people like those that have complained in these reviews that caused this trouble in the first place. We definitely recommend booking in advance for your trip and adding this as part of your golden circle tour if you are planning to drive yourself like we did.
James LovelaceJames Lovelace
00
When planning our trip to Iceland I was hoping to fit The Lava Tunnel into our plans. Due to time constraints we kept it as a possibility and knew we'd have to play it by ear the day we were in the area. The day we were in the area we knew we had some time so looked up tour availability. We were able to book a time slot that worked for when we would be driving through and secure our spot. When we arrived we just checked in with our names and waited with our group for our guide. We were provided helmets with headlamps and offered walking sticks if we needed them. The first part of the tunnel is rockier but it does have a path. As you continue on in the tunnel you begin walking on platforms that include stairs, up and down. At different areas throughout the tunnel our guide would stop and give us information on the tunnel, the history and the volcano that created the tunnel. We walked about 500 meters in, to the end of the platform, where our tour wrapped up with photos and questions. We were able to walk back out at our leisure to take photos and observe the tunnel. Our guide followed along to answer questions or take pictures as requested. We had a small group, maybe 10-15 people, so the tour felt very personalized and not rushed. As we were leaving we passed another, much larger group, coming in and were so grateful for the small group we had. The inside of the tunnel is beautiful and the information provided was great. It was an easy walk for those without mobility issues and only took a little over an hour, start to finish.
Kayla SofferaKayla Soffera
00
What a fantastic finish to our trip! We did the 3-4 hour adventure tour. We had a group of four with myself, my mum and two lovely strangers. The tunnel is awesome. So many interesting rock formations, ice stalactites/mites in March and lava straws, entire lava rivers at the ends. The coolest place I have ever eaten a sandwich. It does exert you. You can take it slow but you need decent balance and good boots to enjoy the adventure tour - lots of scrambling over rocks. They're not slippery but you just be careful where you place your feet. It's 4 degrees in there but not windy. You'll get hot soon enough, so just a few layers under a waterproof shell will do plenty. They provide crampons, helmets/headlights, and gloves. What made it an unforgettable experience was our company. Our guide, Soleil was just the most friendly, kind, and wholesome person to take us through the tunnel and make sure we were all safe and happy throughout. We got on so well with our group and we were all on the same page for enjoying photo ops and enjoying the atmosphere that nature gifted us. Soleil even let our tour take over five hours so we could enjoy it to the fullest! This is more time than advertised; I think she liked our group as much as we liked her!
George KirkmanGeorge Kirkman
00
We booked the lava tunnel tour on a whim and we were so incredibly impressed. Transport to the BSI terminal, and then the lava tunnel itself was very convenient and quick, so I'd definitely recommend that if you don't have a car. Our group was comprised of 7 tourists + 1 guide. The small group feeling meant we had time for lots of questions and explanations, where we all learned about the lava tunnel. I also thought our guide was very well informed, and yet funny and approachable which is always a plus. The tour itself begins with a thorough safety briefing, some equipment (we were provided crampons and a helmet with a torch) and a staggered approach allowing people to go short distances, take photos, do some Q&A, then proceeding to the next section. While the terrain is a little rocky in parts, this version of the tour takes place on walkways and well-lit areas. I personally did the tour in sneakers and found it just fine. The lava tunnel itself is informative and really something of a 'one of a kind' experience that I haven't had anywhere else. My partner and I are actually planning on trying out their adventure/ extreme version for our next pass through Iceland and we couldn't be more excited!
Li YapLi Yap
00
This is a family friendly interesting tour to do on a windy, rainy. or hot day! Any time is good really but it's nice to have a venue where you are not exposed to the elements while still being technically 'outside'. There are stairs and possible slippery and uneven surfaces so it will be tricky/not possible for mobility challenged guests but perhaps the guides can suggest alternatives? Our guest was friendly and knowledgeable and did a professional job in keeping our very mixed group together during the tour. There were a huge variety in ages and a few different nationalities present. We came during May so it was Spring and their were flurries of snow outside and fascinating icicle structures inside the tube. Easy to locate directly off the main road and plenty of parking. Safety helmet, headlight and walking sticks provided. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes with good grip and a waterproof/repellant layer.
MN KimberleyMN Kimberley
00
One of the best tours I ever did was the Lava Falls Adventure Tour (the long tour). It was a great opportunity to explore the cave and their guide was very professional and provided us with lots of information about the cave and the volcanic system of Iceland. We didn't have to hurry, but still got to explore the whole cave system. It was only us and the guide on the tour, so it couldn't have been any better. Thanks a lot for this amazing experience! If you have decent physical skills you should definitely go for the adventure tour, but prepare to get sweaty, as it is quite challenging in some parts. Don't go there if you have claustrophobia.. It is really dark (like no light except the headlamp!) and some parts are really narrow, so you have to crawl. Best to visit a natural hot pot or a swimming pool afterwards! :)
LuisaLuisa
00
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
816, Iceland
Map
Phone
+354 760 1000
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Website
thelavatunnel.is
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Reviews
Overview
4.5
(1.4K reviews)
Ratings & Description
adventure
outdoor
family friendly
Description
Raufarhólshellir is the fourth-longest lava tube in Iceland. The cave's proximity to Reykjavík made it popular with visitors, who caused damage to the cave. In late 2016 the cave was closed to the public to clear accumulated garbage and install lighting and a walkway to part of the cave.
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