Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel, Golden Circle

4.5 (4 reviews)
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Courtney
Courtney R.
Aug 26, 2023
My son’s (5yo) favorite activity of the entire trip. The guide was the best guide of any tour we took in Iceland.
Kristin
Kristin T.
Jan 03, 2023
Tour guide, Soleil, was informative and charming. Lava tunnel was impressive. A unique experience.
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Overview

Just about 30 minutes from Reykjavík is Iceland's famed LavaTunnel, known as Raufarhólshellir. The tunnel is a result of the Leitahraun eruption, which occurred east of the Bláfjöll Mountains about 5,200 years ago. Although you won't walk through its entirety, the tube stretches 4500 ft (1360 m), with the main tunnel (it has three sections) covering about 3,000 feet (900 m).

A tour through the lava tunnel is a great way better to understand the inner workings of a volcanic eruption. Lava tunnels (or tubes) form after volcanic eruptions as the lava on the surface begins to sool, creating a hard crust that slowly thickens as more lava moves underneath. Once the lava is fully drained, the top and crust remain while the inside is hollow.

The tunnel is lit by impressive lighting, and you'll enjoy an easy walk over several footbridges built over the roughest terrain, making the tour accessible to most people. If you plan to visit Iceland in the winter, you can see unique and beautiful ice formations inside the tunnel.

Discover other unique volcanic activities in Iceland.

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Traveler reviews

4 total ratings, 3 with reviews
4.5
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.5
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.8
Transport
4.5
Courtney
Courtney R.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Aug 26, 2023
My son’s (5yo) favorite activity of the entire trip. The guide was the best guide of any tour we took in Iceland. Read more

My son’s (5yo) favorite activity of the entire trip. The guide was the best guide of any tour we took in Iceland.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Kristin
Kristin T.
Canada | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
Tour guide, Soleil, was informative and charming. Lava tunnel was impressive. A unique experience. Read more

Tour guide, Soleil, was informative and charming. Lava tunnel was impressive. A unique experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
John
John F.
Columbus, IN | Reviewed on Oct 17, 2022
This was an interesting and fun stop. Anyone who has gone on a cave tour will recognize this, however unlike a "normal" cave, the geology of the lava tunnel is very different. For example there are no stalagmites or stalactites, but there are basalt formations and colors created by the minerals deposited by the lava as it flowed through. I would say that this tunnel is not as visually dramatic as a lot of traditional limestone caves, but I found that the reality of what it is, a tube that... Read more

This was an interesting and fun stop. Anyone who has gone on a cave tour will recognize this, however unlike a "normal" cave, the geology of the lava tunnel is very different. For example there are no stalagmites or stalactites, but there are basalt formations and colors created by the minerals deposited by the lava as it flowed through. I would say that this tunnel is not as visually dramatic as a lot of traditional limestone caves, but I found that the reality of what it is, a tube that lava flowed through and formed, was really special.

Tips for future travelers

The location is not far from the ring road, making this a relatively easy stop along the way. Depending on how busy they are, their schedule may allow you to join a different group. Due to some changes in our schedule, we arrived two hours early for our tour and they gladly added us to the next one going out, which in turn gave us extra time for activities later in the day.

Quality of Experience
Different, educational, unusual type of cave to see and experience.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a great personality. The staff was very friendly and extremely helpful, even accommodating a change in tour times for us.
Transport
We drove there ourselves. It was easy to find the location, there was adequate parking, and the ticket office is right at the entrance to the lava tunnel.

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