About
Surtshellir is a lava cave located in western Iceland, around 60 km from the settlement of Borgarnes. Approximately a mile in length, it is one of the longest such caves in the country.
Bring a light and watch the shadows play on ancient rock walls. Iceland from the inside.
Approximately a mile in length, it is one of the longest such caves in the country. It was the first known lava tube in the world, at least by modern speleologists, and remained the longest known lava tube until the end of the 19th century. While mentioned in the medieval historical-geographical work Landnámabók, Eggert Ólafsson was the first to give a thorough documentation of the cave in his 1750 travels of the region.
Some caves require booking tours in advance. Check before driving out to remote locations.
Map of Surtshellir
64.7815°N, 20.7237°W · West Iceland
Plan your visit
Getting there
- Road 578 (Arnvh:Kalm-Surtshellir)
Off the main road
- 23.7 km from Route 1
Nearest town
- Reykholt — 30.2 km away
Distance from Reykjavík
- 92 km in a straight line
What else is close
- 94 mapped places within 20 km
Tours near Surtshellir
Krauma nature baths - Admission feefrom 7.900 ISK · 1 h
Cave Explorerfrom 9.000 ISK · 1 h 30 min
Snowmobile on Langjökull Glacier - Meet us in Husafellfrom 33.490 ISK · 2 h
Into The Glacier - With Snowmobiling From Húsafellfrom 36.900 ISK · 4 h 30 min
ATV Quad Adventure in Húsafell: Rivers & Mountain Viewsfrom 17.990 ISK · 1 h
Into The Glacier - From Húsafellfrom 27.900 ISK · 4 h
Husafell Canyon Bathsfrom 10.900 ISK · 1 h 45 min
Into The Glacier - With Snowmobiling From Klaki Base Campfrom 36.900 ISK · 2 h 30 min
Red Glacier Monster Truck Tour - Unique Langjökull Glacier Tour from Gullfossfrom 22.900 ISK · 4 hSurtshellir weather and conditions
Last updated

Cars & campers
Photos & videos
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Nearby
km column = your drive
- 1Surtshellir< 1 km
- 2Stefánshellir1 km
- 3
Víðgelmir5 km - 4
Þvottahellir51 km - 5
Tintron63 km
Hot springs
- 1Selgil11 km
- 2Geothermal hot spring near Borgarbyggð12 km
- 3Englandshverir24 km
Fuel
- 1Húsafell11 km · 308.6 kr/L
- 2
Reykholt30 km · 310.9 kr/L - 3Hreðavatnsskáli39 km · 303.6 kr/L
Tours
Day Trek to Akrafjall: The Troll's Mountainfrom 17.656 ISK · 6 hours 30 minutes
From Grundarfjörður Port: Private Snaefellsness Tourfrom 269.900 ISK · 8 hours
Grundarfjörður Cruise Tour: Snæfellsnes Peninsula from the portfrom 24.500 ISK · 5 hours 30 minutes
Frequently
asked
questions
Can I visit Surtshellir without a guide?
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What should I bring to Surtshellir?
Does Surtshellir cost anything to visit?
Data & sources
Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.
VegagerðinVisitor access & practical facts
VegagerðinLive road status & cameras · Icelandic Road Administration
Open-MeteoWeather forecast · CC BY 4.0
NOAA SWPCAurora (planetary Kp) forecast · public domain
OpenStreetMapInteractive-map data · ODbL
Esri, Maxar & Earthstar GeographicsSatellite imagery for the 3D terrain render · GIS User Community
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