Lava Tunnel, Reykjavík

Lava Tunnel Tours & Tickets

Did you know? Lava Tunnel

Iceland's lava tunnels were formed by flowing lava 1,000+ years ago during volcanic eruptions, creating hollow passages as the outer layer cooled while molten rock drained away inside.

Vatnshellir, the largest lava tunnel system in Iceland, sits beneath Snæfellsjökull glacier and was famously featured in Jules Verne's 1864 novel 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth'.

Some lava tunnels in Iceland stay at a constant 0–5°C year-round due to residual geothermal activity and ice formations, making them accessible even in summer without special gear.

The longest explored lava tunnel in Iceland, Surtshellir, stretches over 1,600 metres and contains underground rivers fed by glacier melt.

Icelandic lava tunnels are home to unique ecosystems, including endemic mosses, lichens, and rare invertebrates found nowhere else on Earth.

Lava Tunnel: frequently asked questions