Exploring the Leiðarendi lava caves is a popular adventure day trip from Reykjavik, with its rugged terrain requiring visitors to scramble, clamber, and crawl through the narrow passageways, using flashlights to light the way. The cave itself can only be accessed with a certified tour guide, and many full-day tours combine the caving experience with activities such as snorkeling at the Silfra fissure, a swim in the Reykjadalur hot springs, or a Jeep or ATV tour of the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Cave tours include helmets, safety equipment, and full instruction, but bring warm clothes, hiking boots, a waterproof jacket, and plenty of water.
Follow the rules and avoid touching or disturbing any of the cave’s natural structures in order to preserve the fragile rock formations.
There is no cell phone coverage or WiFi at the caves.
Due to the natural terrain, the site is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for children under 5.
The lava caves are located just southeast of Hafnarfjordur, about a 30-minute drive from Reykjavik, and close to the Blue Mountains in southwest Iceland. There is no public transportation to the caves, but most guided tours include round-trip transportation from Reykjavik.
The Leiðarendi lava tubes are open year-round, but the most popular time to visit is summer. Plan an early-morning tour if you want to avoid the crowds, and always book ahead to avoid disappointment. Visiting in the winter means you'll be at the mercy of the weather, but cancellations are rare.
The Leiðarendi tube caves are one of the most accessible lava tubes in Iceland. The natural phenomenon was formed more than 2,000 years ago, when hot magma flowed over already petrified lava. The cave network runs beneath the Stora-Holuhraun lava field for more than 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) and are renowned for their spectacular lava formations, including solid lava streams, lava flakes, stalagmites, and stalactites, as well as natural ice sculptures, which form in the winter.
