Debate Over Five- Or Six-Month Summer Halt On Ice Cave Tours

A professional advisory board representing companies that offer ice cave tours in Vatnajökull National Park has proposed ending tours in mid-April due to the risk of collapse, effectively suspending them for half the year, reports RÚV.

In August last year, a foreign tourist died on Breiðamerkurjökull when an ice formation collapsed, narrowly avoiding further casualties. The accident sparked a debate on safety in ice cave tours, with criticism directed at certain companies that continued offering summer tours despite unstable ice conditions. In response, Vatnajökull National Park tightened regulations on ice cave tour operators.

Increased monitoring

“When rangers conduct active surveillance, they monitor the area and also carry out structured inspections of tour operators. They assess various factors to ensure safety and quality standards. Additionally, a professional advisory board, appointed by the national park’s southern regional council, meets weekly to review safety conditions. They maintain an online platform to share information with guides. Sometimes caves are marked as off-limits, and when that happens, tour companies must cancel their trips and avoid using restricted caves,” says Anna Ragnarsdóttir Pedersen, deputy park warden for the southern region of Vatnajökull National Park.

Ice cave tour operators must now sign agreements with the park, committing to follow the advisory board’s recommendations. The board has proposed ending ice cave tours in mid-April and resuming them in mid-October. Tour companies are currently discussing the proposed closure period for this year, but the final decision rests with the national park authorities. If these recommendations are implemented, there will be no mass tourism in ice caves this summer.

Glacier hikes, which are easier to operate in summer, will remain permitted. However, guidelines need to be established for how groups should interact with ice formations and caves. “Glacier hikes have always been allowed in summer. The current focus is on standardising procedures so that all operators follow the same guidelines and are on the same page,” Anna explains.

Tour operators split on duration of seasonal closure

Tour operators are divided over whether the summer halt on ice cave tours should last five or six months. The advisory board has proposed a standard closure period from April 15 to October 15.

Haukur Ingi Einarsson, who has been running ice cave tours for 12 years, sits on an assessment group that regularly reviews safety conditions and decides whether certain caves should be closed. He attended a consultation meeting with tour operators about the proposed seasonal pause.

“There were differing opinions on whether the closure should be from October 15 to April 15 or from October 1 to May 1. However, there was general agreement on having a summer break,” Haukur Ingi says.

The national park will make the final decision on the exact closure dates, though Haukur Ingi notes that adjustments may be made based on glacier conditions. He welcomes the fact that companies are reaching a consensus on the matter.

“Safety failures could have severe negative consequences for the future earnings of these businesses. That’s why it’s crucial to make the right decisions about when ice cave tours should be permitted and when they should not,” he concludes.