Meet the Icelandic cave people

Smári Stefánsson is one of those great innovators in the Icelandic travel industry. He is one of the people behind the Cave People of Iceland which you will find between Thingvellir and the Laugarvatn Fontana baths on the Golden Circle.

The ‘modern’ Icelandic cave people moved in 100 years ago

In 1910 a young couple moved into two man-made caves and lived there for a year. Eight years later, another young couple moved in and lived there for four years. These people were hard-working and resourceful. They had a few sheep, a cow, and horses. They grew potatoes and hunted ptarmigan and sold them to Reykjavik. Travelers on the Golden Circle could buy refreshments from them.

And what is the story of those caves? They are man-made, but nobody knows who made them and why. They were used throughout history as shelters for sheep and shepherds. But the shepherds had episodes where they thought they were being assailed by ghosts. Sheep and then young couples were left to contend with the alleged cave spirits.

As usual, people theorize that the caves were made by the Irish hermits known as Papar. The Papar is mentioned in the sagas as a group of monks who the Norse settlers drove away when they settled in Iceland. Man-made caves at Hellnar and on the south coast are plentiful, but their makers are lost in the mists of time.

Hey Smári, thank you for taking the time for the interview. Can you give my readers a little background information on you?

I am a father of three, a PE teacher, and a mountain guide. I love being in nature so I and my family are outside a lot, skiing, mountain biking, paddling a SUP board, or some other activity.

Can you tell me why you and your colleagues created the Cave People of Iceland?

We knew the story of the caves and were fascinated by it so we decided to bring it to life and tell it to people.
What were the main challenges you faced when recreating the cave-dwelling?
We didn´t have any big challenges when recreating it. Everything just fell in place, kind of like we had some help from i.e. the hidden people.

What can people who visit the Cave People of Iceland expect to experience?

We take our visitors in a travel 100 years back in time and show how it was to live on a farm in Iceland. We tell the story of the last cave dwellers in Iceland i.e. why they lived here, about their struggles, their happiness and their relation with the hidden people.

There are many attractions nearby, what is your favourite?

A cave tour in a lava tube is a great adventure. I also love to soak in a “hot pot” in Fontana and nothing beats an ice cream in Efstidalur.

What advice would you give to people who are visiting Iceland for the first time?

Take your time! Don´t try to explore the whole Island in a week. If you only have a few days choose an area and travel around in it, you can always come back for the rest 🙂

Terms and conditions

Please remember that you are booking a ticket with Cave People of Iceland. Their terms and conditions apply. The promo codes expires on the 30th of September 2020.