A real mix of fire and ice. And danger. Unsuitable for children, or those with claustrophobia, the caves are found below Iceland's lava fields. Carved from a volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago, they trail underground and make for one surreal experience of ethereal icicles in cavernous chambers. As you can see from the images, the natural formations are astounding.
As someone with a borderline obsessive fascination for caves and secrets of the underground, WANT.
I've been advised by Off The Map Travel, a tour company that arranges the expedition, this isn't a walk in the park. The route is slicked with ice, and you'll need to slide down precarious slopes, squeeze through gaps of 50cm, clamber up slippery ridges and slither down ropes draped in frost. And that's just to literally enter the caves.
The caves themselves have ice and water on the floor and maintain a pretty constant 0°C – so not too chilly. Waterproofs and thermals are definitely worth it though.
Adventurers are given all the safety equipment you'd expect, including helmets with headlights and studded ice boots, and each walk is led by an experienced guide. It's an hour's drive to the ice fields, another hour across them, a brisk mile or two walk, and then on to the caves themselves.
Prices start from £599 per person and includes 4 nights accommodation as well as a whale watching tour in summer or Northern Lights tour in winter.
This is definitely on my bucket list. Slippery slides and all.
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