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Langjökull is Iceland's second-largest ice cap, covering 870 square kilometers of the western Highlands. It holds the world's largest man-made ice tunnel and sits directly above at least two active volcanic systems.
Langjökull is the second-largest ice cap in Iceland. It covers 870 square kilometers of the western Highlands, holding about 195 cubic kilometers of solid ice. The glacier sits 150 kilometers northeast of Reykjavík, making it the closest major ice cap to the capital. Meltwater from its edges feeds Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake, and powers the churning drops of Gullfoss waterfall to the south.
Visitors come here to drive on the ice and walk inside it. Specially modified trucks with massive deflated tires carry passengers up to 1,260 meters above sea level. This is the site of 'Into the Glacier,' a 550-meter man-made tunnel carved directly into the ice cap. Guided snowmobile tours also operate on the surface, navigating marked safe zones away from hidden crevasses.
You can't drive a standard rental car to the glacier. The gravel highland road (Route 550) leading to Klaki Base Camp opens only from June 1 to October 15, and it requires a 4x4. Outside those dates, operators run shuttles from the paved roads at Húsafell. Deep winter brings heavy snow and limited daylight, cutting total tour time but offering clearer air and better snowmobiling conditions. Summer provides easier access and long daylight hours for pairing the glacier with the Golden Circle. That's the season to self-drive.
Langjökull reached its largest recorded surface area around 1840. The ice cap has been steadily retreating ever since. Historically, Icelanders referred to the glacier's northern dome as Baldjökull, meaning round glacier. Beneath the ice lie two to three active volcanic systems. The last major eruption in the immediate Langjökull area occurred around 930 AD, shortly after the settlement of Iceland. That event produced the Hallmundarhraun lava field, which now filters the groundwater emerging at the nearby Hraunfossar waterfalls. Only about 32 eruptions have occurred in this specific volcanic system over the last 10,000 years.
Human interaction with the glacier's interior began in 2010. Icelandic adventure tour operators Baldvin Einarsson and Hallgrímur Örn Arngrímsson wanted to create a way for visitors to see the deep blue ice at the core, rather than just walking on the white surface. They initiated a massive excavation project at an elevation of 1,260 meters.
Construction crews removed approximately 5,500 cubic meters of ice to carve a network of corridors and chambers. The resulting 550-meter tunnel system officially opened to the public on June 1, 2015. It remains the world's largest man-made ice tunnel.
Today, the glacier continues to shrink. Measurements from 2017 recorded its area at 870 square kilometers, down from previous decades. Scientists monitor the retreat closely. The melting ice directly impacts the water levels of the Hvítá river and the geothermal systems in the surrounding Central Highlands.
Langjökull spans roughly 50 kilometers in length and 15 to 20 kilometers in width. The ice reaches a maximum thickness of 580 meters. The highest point, Baldjökull, rises 1,450 meters above sea level at the northern end. The glacier rests on a rugged highland plateau, flanked by steep mountains like Jarlhettur and Skríðufell, with the distinct outlying glacier Eiríksjökull visible to the northwest.
The 'Into the Glacier' tunnel cuts 550 meters through the solid ice cap. Inside, the temperature stays at a constant 0°C (32°F) regardless of the weather above ground. The walls reveal compressed layers of blue ice dating back over 1,000 years. Dark bands of volcanic ash stripe the tunnel walls, marking historic eruptions from various Icelandic volcanoes. The floor consists of slushy, uneven snow and ice. Visitors must wear crampons to walk the 500-meter guided route.
The surface terrain is a vast, white expanse heavily fractured by crevasses. These deep cracks form as the 195 cubic kilometers of ice slowly flow and deform over the uneven volcanic bedrock. Because snow bridges hide these drops, independent travel on the ice cap is highly dangerous. Tour operators stick to carefully mapped safe zones. They use specialized monster trucks with massive, low-pressure tires to distribute weight and grip the slick surface during the 30- to 75-minute drive from the base camp to the tunnel entrance.
Langjökull holds a quiet but constant presence in western Iceland's geography and daily life. Its meltwater drives the region's natural mechanics. The Hvítá river, which creates the famous Gullfoss waterfall, relies on glacial runoff from Langjökull. The water in Þingvallavatn — the lake at the heart of Iceland's ancient parliamentary site, Þingvellir — originates from the same ice cap, filtering through porous lava rock for decades before emerging crystal clear.
The glacier also fuels the area's geothermal activity. The volcanic systems beneath the ice heat the groundwater that supplies Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring. This boiling water heats homes in nearby towns like Borgarnes and Akranes.
In recent years, Langjökull has become a focal point for climate awareness. Because it sits at a lower elevation than Vatnajökull, it is losing mass at a faster rate. The 2015 opening of the ice tunnel shifted how Icelanders and tourists interact with the glacier. Instead of just viewing it from the Golden Circle or driving across its surface, people now walk through its historical timeline. They look directly at the ash layers of past eruptions trapped in the melting ice.
The 550-meter 'Into the Glacier' tunnel is the largest man-made ice structure on Earth.
Langjökull conceals two to three active volcanic systems beneath its 580-meter-thick ice.
Meltwater from the glacier supplies the Hvítá river, which creates the famous Gullfoss waterfall.
Visitors reach the tunnel by riding in specially modified trucks with massive tires that navigate the crevasses.
The glacier reached its maximum size in 1840 and has been retreating ever since.
The highest northern point of the ice cap was historically known as Baldjökull, meaning round glacier.
The interior of the ice tunnel stays at exactly 0°C (32°F) all year, even during summer heatwaves.
Drive Route 1 to Húsafell, then take gravel Route 518/550 to Klaki Base Camp. This takes about 2.5 hours. The gravel road requires a 4x4 and is only open from June 1 to October 15.
The Classic Tour from Húsafell or Klaki starts at 24,900 ISK per person. Full-day tours with transport from Reykjavík cost roughly $279 or more.
No. It is the second-largest ice cap in Iceland, behind Vatnajökull. It covers approximately 870 square kilometers.
You can drive a 4x4 to Klaki Base Camp at the glacier's edge during the summer. Regular cars can't make this trip. No private vehicles are allowed on the ice cap itself.
The tunnel remains at a constant 0°C (32°F) year-round. You need warm, layered, waterproof clothing even if you visit in July.
The ice tunnel tour has no minimum age limit, though toddlers should be in a baby carrier. Snowmobile tours require passengers to be at least 8 years old.
Summer offers the easiest self-drive access and long daylight hours. Winter provides reliable snow for snowmobiling and the chance to see the Northern Lights, though daylight is limited to 4-5 hours.
Two Icelandic tour operators began the project in 2010. Excavators removed 5,500 cubic meters of ice to carve the 550-meter tunnel, which opened in June 2015.
Yes, the ice cap covers at least two to three active volcanic systems. The last eruption in the immediate area occurred around 930 AD.
No. The glacier is constantly moving and contains deep, hidden crevasses. You should never walk or drive on the ice without a certified guide.
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