![[Translate to Englisch:] Eisrienwelt Höhlen-Guide steht in einer Eisformation mit einer Karbidlampe](/fileadmin/user_upload/blog-hoehlen-guide-header.jpg)
Sometimes it's not just the largest ice halls that take our breath away – it's the people who guide us there.
Our guides not only open the doors to the cave, they also open our eyes and ears: to the soft crunching, to the shadows, to the stories of the ice giants' world and to these magical moments.
Here, our guides Micha(el) and Johannes take you through their working day – from filling the lamps for the first time to the last echo – and provide exciting insights.
Short profiles of our Eisriesenwelt guides
Michael – from newspaper advert to cave guide
Michael has been working at Eisriesenwelt since 2023. He found his way to the cave through an advert in the local Salzburg press – and stayed. Since then, Michael has been guiding several groups through Eisriesenwelt every day – driven by his own fascination, his enjoyment of working with people and lots of coffee.
Johannes – ‘I work in the darkest place in the world’
Johannes has been part of the team since 2025. As a mountain and nature lover, he is attracted to working in the cool cave during the summer months, which are actually too warm for him, and its very special character: ‘I work in the darkest place in the world.’
![[Translate to Englisch:] Eingangsportal Eisiesenwelt mit wartenden Besuchern und Karbidlampen im Vordergrund](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/0/csm_blog-hoehlen-guide-01_334f80a997.jpg)
Here's what a day as a guide looks like
Early start & preparation: filling lamps, checking magnesium & checking guest flow
The day starts early: Micha's alarm clock rings at 6:15 a.m., two cups of coffee give him the boost he needs to get started, then he ‘slowly gets ready for work’ and heads up to the entrance portal.
Upstairs, he fills the carbide lamps, packs ‘plenty of magnesium’ (our torches) and checks on the computer ‘how many guests will be visiting us and, above all, when’. Then he has a quick breakfast before setting off on his first tour.
Johannes has a similarly tight schedule: At 8:00 a.m., he fills the lamps, packs the magnesium, and everything is ready for the arrival of the first guests.
Welcome at the entrance gate & first tour: 9:00/9:30 a.m.
Shortly before the start, the guides introduce themselves to ‘their’ guests at the entrance gate – in good spirits and warmed up from the climb. To be honest, however, it is a blessing that Austria's steepest cable car to the Eisriesenwelt is available, especially in the early morning. This saves around 500 metres in altitude...
At 9:00 a.m., Johanneswelcomesthe guests and at 9:30 a.m. the first tour begins. This sets the pace and the groups flow smoothly.
Three to four tours – and then: cleaning, tidying up, Ödlhaus
Depending on how busy it is, there are three to four guided tours per day. Afterwards, the lamps are tidied away and cleaned so that they are ready for their next use the following day. Johannes usually ends his shift with a trip to the Ödlhaus – a fitting end to several tours through ice and darkness.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Höhlen-Guide unter Eisformation in der Eisriesenwelt](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/3/csm_blog-hoehlen-guide-02_a7f199ddc7.jpg)
The guides' favourite spot in the ice
Hymir Castle: Giant in the ice – ‘Reward after the steepest staircase’
For both guides, Hymir Castle is the most impressive moment of every tour. Micha calls it ‘definitely’ his favourite formation – its sheer size alone is impressive.
Johannes describes it as the perfect ‘reward after the steepest staircase’ – or as he says with a laugh: ‘No effort, no ice!’
Light and shadow: Why we use carbide lamps and magnesium
Carbide lamps and magnesium torches are used to guide visitors – for Michael, these are standard equipment for tours. It is no coincidence that the question ‘Why do we use old cave lamps and magnesium to guide visitors through the cave?’ is one of the classic questions he is asked time and time again.
The combination of constant carbide light and selective magnesium light moments makes the cave world particularly impressive: the warm, directional lamp light models edges and structures, makes the ice formations appear three-dimensional and preserves the calm, mysterious atmosphere. Magnesium is used selectively to highlight areas where ribbed surfaces, shimmering walls or vast halls best reveal their magic.
Memories that last
“No effort, no ice” – small efforts, big moments
This phrase is often heard after climbing the steepest staircase – as a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of visitors' efforts. For Johannes, this moment is part of the magic: Hymir Castle acts as a “reward after the steepest staircase. Because, as we all know, no pain, no ice cream.”
When sight becomes secondary: a blind guest at the front of the group
Johannes will never forget one visitor who walked right at the front of the group – even though he was blind. ‘Although he couldn't see anything, he enjoyed the tour more than anyone else,’ he says. The atmosphere, the echo and the coolness of the cave had more of an effect than any view could have done.
Collegiality & views: what makes the job extraordinary
It's not just the ice cream: Johannes enjoys chatting with his fellow cave guides during breaks – and the view from the entrance portal, which frames every working day. This combination of team spirit and natural scenery is what makes the job special for him.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Höhlenguide und Besucher in der Eisriesenwelt](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/d/csm_blog-hoehlen-guide-03_6f63471166.jpg)
Questions from the cave (and good answers)
Is it cold in the cave?
Yes – even in summer it is cool. But Johannes appreciates that about his work in the cave. So, layering and sturdy shoes pay off, ensuring that the tour remains relaxed.
‘Why isn't the path icy?’ – Physics explained in passing
Michael gets this question all the time. The short answer, without giving away the live explanation in the tour: the route is designed and maintained in such a way that it remains passable – details can be found on site, where the guides demonstrate this clearly.
Is there Wi-Fi in the cave?
Not really – but the echo has full reception. That means less scrolling and more marvelling. If you want to know more, come and visit. Johannes is often asked if he is single. Why is that?
Why the Eisriesenwelt would be only half as lively without guides
Between the glow of carbide lamps and magnesium light, the guides turn ice and rock into a story:
they prepare lamps, check the flow of guests, set specific lighting accents and answer the classic questions along the way – from ‘Is it cold?’ to in-depth questions about history to ‘Why isn't the path icy?’. Between announcements and intuition, they set the pace, keep an eye on distances and give little hints that make all the difference in the dark.
Only with the help of expert guides is it possible to visit this natural wonder.
And special encounters – such as the blind guest at the front of the group – show that the atmosphere is much more than just a visual impression. Without the voices, instructions and timing of the guides, the silence would be great, but the experience would be only half as vivid.
Curious? More stories are waiting behind the scenes
If you want to see the Hymir Castle and other natural wonders of the Eisriesenwelt with your own eyes, hear the echo, and experience the carefully placed moments of light:
Beyond the entrance, it’s not only the ice formations that await – but guides who make the Eisriesenwelt speak through their words, captivating stories, and a touch of humor.