• Duration: 10 hours
  • Moderate
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  • Meet on location or pick up

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We also have a volcano tour which includes The Blue Lagoon instead of Reykjanes Peninsula sightseeing.

Description

Our Volcano hike and Geothermal tour is a great introduction to the influence volcanic activity has had on the landscape of iceland. This tour explores the Reykjanes Peninsula which is located a short drive from the capital Reykjavík. The peninsula is situated on the fissure line of the mid-Atlantic ridge which is the cause of all the eruptions, earthquakes and other seismic activity in the region.

The highlight of the tour is of course the visit to the eruption sites at Fagradalsfjall and Meradlir volcanoes situated in the Geldingadalir valley. This is Iceland´s most recently active volcano. This is a rare opportunity indeed as there have been very few easily accessible and safe to visit active volcanoes in Iceland in living memory. This tour offers a chance to experience geothermal wonders, natural phenomena, and places of stunning beauty.

Along with this magnificent volcano, our experienced and knowledgeable guides will take you to some of the other highlights that Reykjanes Peninsula has to offer. These include the boiling waters and sulphuric steamy air at the Seltún and Gunnuhver hot-springs, a walk between the American and Euroasian continental plates at the Bridge between Continents, a wonderful photo opportunity at Reykjanesviti lighthouse and the black sand beaches of Kleifarvatn Lake. The compact nature of the peninsula means that you fit an awful lot into this 10 hour day tour.

Highlights

  • Kleifarvatn late (Not a guaranteed stop)
  • Seltun Geothermal area (Not a guaranteed stop)
  • Fagradalsfjall volcano eruption site
  • Meradalir Volcano
  • Gunnuhver hot-springs
  • Reykjanesviti Lighthouse and coastal features
  • The Bridge Between Continents

 

Itinerary

The guided tour starts with our fast and efficient pick-up service, where we will come to pick you up from either one of the hotels in the center of Reykjavik or one of the designated pick-up stops across the city. With everyone on board our comfortable minibus we will then depart from the capital, and begin our exciting road trip with an experienced, knowledgeable tour guide.
 

Lake Kleifarvatn

Lake and Black Beaches at Kleifarvatn

Depending on the duration of the volcano hike, we may skip this stop.

Our first stop of the day is at Lake Kleifarvatn, the biggest lake in the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula. The lake is surrounded by fascinating geological features such as palagonite and sandstone mountains, formed in ancient subglacial volcanic eruptions.  
The lake is rimmed with black basalt beaches and beautiful rock formations sculpted by the weather elements throughout the centuries. Kleifarvatn has been severely affected by seismic activity in recent years which led to the lake partially draining. This activity also created a new hot-spring in one corner of the lake. The Lake’s folklore gives this stunning place an extra mysterious feeling.
 

Seltún Geothermal Area

Depending on the duration of the volcano hike, we may skip this stop.

Our next stop is at Seltún, where you can view the effect that geothermal waters can have on an environment. Here one can walk along wooden paths winding between boiling and hissing mud pools and streams of natural hot water flowing over the colorful ground and rock. The air is thick with the smell of sulphur emitted from these hot-springs. Beneath the surface, the hot water dissolves minerals such as sulphur from the rocks and ground soil, leading to this distinctive stench. Two viewing platforms overhang the area allowing you a 360 degree point of view over the area.

Meradalir Volcano

 

We now reach the main event! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with a volcano eruption site. Normally volcanic eruptions in Iceland occur in very remote and difficult to reach locations. In the same area as the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption, the tour includes a hike of 3-4 hours and a total distance of 6-12km. 

Crusted lava Iceland


Your guide will take you to the nearest viewing point for the best view of the newly made lava field. During the height of the eruption, lava shot many hundreds of metres in the air and was visible over the mountains in Reykjavík, 50 kms to the north. Once expelled from the crater, the lava flowed down the valley adding to the immense mass of the newly formed lava fields. On the drive to the volcano you will have seen moss covered lava fields formed many thousands of years ago. The new and rapidly cooling lava fields will no doubt resemble them in years to come.
Even if you happen to visit on a less active day, you cannot fail to be impressed by the sheer scale and landscape changing power of this eruption.
 

Gunnuhver Hot-springs

We proceed to Gunnuhver hot-springs, the centerpiece of the UNESCO Global Geopark. This protected geothermal area is highly active, with steam vents and mud-pools dotting the landscape.

In myth, the mischievous ghost of Gúðrun or Gúnna was trapped here in the mud-pools. Perhaps the violent, barely repressed nature of the area can be explained by the presence of this angry ghost!. Hver is the Icelandic word for hot-spring. So this is the hot-spring of Gunna or Gunnuhver.

Iceland's largest mud-pool is located here and measures 20m in diameter. Like at Seltun, the smelly sulphuric steam lingers over the area.

Geothermal power plants are common in Iceland and Iceland is a world leader in harnessing this raw geothermal energy as well as in renewable energy. The nearby Reykjanes Power Station use this thermal water for electricity generation and district heating for the locality.

Reykjanesviti Lighthouse and Coastal Features

We continue to the majestic Reykjanesviti lighthouse. Dating from the early 20th century, this popular lighthouse has guided ships for over a century with its light a shining beacon at a height of 63m above sea-level. Situated on Bæjarfell hill, the lighthouse is popular with amateur photographers and is also a good place to take in the breathtaking coastal features. 
Here you can also admire Valhnúkamöl boulder ridge, sea-cliffs, sea-stacks, and skerries which are a haven and nesting ground for sea-birds of all description. Eldey Island in the distance is home to the world´s largest Northern Gannet colony, with over 16,000 breeding pairs.These coastal features are under constant attack by the furious waves of the North Atlantic Ocean.

The Bridge between Continents

Our last stop of the day is the Bridge between Continents. After witnessing the effects of seismic activity over the course of this day, here is an opportunity to visualise the root cause of all the wonders you have seen.

Reykjanes peninsula lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where two major tectonic plates are moving apart from one another, the gap increasing by a few centimeters each year. This location is one of the few locations on earth in which this ridge is above sea level.The bridge between continents is a 15-meter footbridge that gives you a unique opportunity to walk between the two tectonic plates where North America and Europe drift apart.

We get back on the bus and begin our drive back to the city which will take just under 1 hour and will see moss covered lava fields, the remains of past volcanic eruptions in this region scarred and built from seismic activity.

 

What's included

  • Experienced guide for the tour and hike.
  • Wi-fi on board.
  • Hike to Fagradalsfjall & Meradalir Volcanoes.
  • Parking and admission fees.
  • Headlamp

What's excluded

  • Meals and drinks

What do I need to bring

  • Warm first layer of clothing and a waterproof second layer. 
  • Good sturdy walking shoes or boots, preferably with good ankle support
  • Jeans are a bad idea as if it rains they will stay wet for hours and you risk hypothermia.
  • Water and snacks
  • Hiking poles are recommended, they can also be rented from BusTravel Iceland.

Important information

  • The duration of the tour is around 11 hours. The hike to the volcano takes 1.5-2 hours and is of moderate difficulty.
  • Tour duration is estimated. Difficult conditions on the volcano trail can lead to tour overruns
  • We reserve the right to alter the hiking route taken depending on the conditions on the day.
  • Volcanoes are a natural phenomenon and the level of volcanic activity at the site varies from day to day. Even if the volcano is not erupting during your visit, visiting the area is still fascinating.

Cancellation policy

  • Cancellation fee of 100% if cancelled 1 day or less before departure

Guided Language

  • English

Reviews!

Thank you for submitting your review

Way better than expected

We previously had a bad experience which such tours but it was amazing. Our guide, Siggi, made us feel like a group of friends exploring nature together. We did a few spots that weren’t planned. The tour itself is great, beautiful nature ! But Siggi is really exceptional! His sense of humour and his capability to bring everyone together, talking to you as if you’d known him forever; he really goes above and beyond a classic tour guide. He is really a free spirit, goes with the flow but is very knowledgeable about the area. He managed to tell us stories and fun facts throughout the tour; he is very passionate! Would 100% recommend :) -Mathis & Eric

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By Mathis on 2023-05-15

Just wow!

Thank you Siggy you really made my day! Keep your good mood, sens of humour and your passion for your work!

By Valentin on 2023-03-27

Thank you Chiara

Thanks for everything, Chiara you were so happy and you gave as an amazing experience in this hiking !

By Dimitri on 2022-12-14

Long travel, but very nice experience

I was not aware that people in the bus were going to different destinations. We made many many stops for Blue Lagoon, toilets, buy lunch, .... From Reykjavik to the parking for the start of the hike, it took 2h40 (instead of 45 minutes if it was direct). And we did only 1 of the stops of the program more than the volcano. Either way, it was worth the wait. The hike to the volcano was difficult, but totally fine for people used to walking a bit. The spectacle of molten lava gushing from the forming crater is truly incredible and well worth it! It's a real chance to be able to attend once in your life.

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By Régis on 2022-08-10

So many souvenirs & clean Water

Very cool and informative tour! Our guide Omar was awesome! Our first stop was at a lake where the water was so clean and tasty that I filled up both my bottles. One of the highlights of the tour was definitely the visit to the lava fields at the Fagradalsfjall Volcano (My pockets were full of cool lava stones!). I was a bit sad that we couldn't see the volcano erupting but that was fine. The coastal tour was also very cool to see. It felt like we were on a different planet everytime we stepped out of the bus. Highly recommend this tour and Omar, he was really informative and helpful!! (By the way if you guys have the chance to eat at Papa's Restaurant go for it the fish and chips were great)

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By Kevin Ngo on 2022-03-31

Great fun!

Our tour guide HBO was great! The bus was really comfy and warm (big plus) didn't feel rushed at all at any of the stops and hbo was very friendly and knowledgeable always happy to answer any questions and have a chat. The place we stopped at for lunch although not included in the cost was really good too! Highly recommend any tours with this company

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By Natasha on 2022-01-17

Fantastic!

We had a fantastic day with our tour guide Iga. She told us many of Icelandic folkloristic stories and even sang a song for us. It was a very fun day. We greatly enjoyed the volcano hike, the geothermal stops and the panoramic views, and we learned about traditions, habits and culture of Icelandic people. Iga made sure we walked safely towards the volcano and brought lots of positive energy to the tour. Five stars. Highly recommended!

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By Flavia on 2022-01-03

Tommy A+ guide

From pick up to drop off Tommy was fun, loads of info,,, most of it which Iceland gave the world disco music to mention one. Every place we went Tommy gave us time to enjoy,, the fish n chip places was very nice but with Iceland being so hot,,, ask for a visit the the wave Kettle,,, one of the high-lights of a full day out. The volcano hike, you gotta be fit, but views from the top are worth it.

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By Ian Robson on 2021-11-12

Amazing!

This was an AMAZING experience! This tour was the highlight of our trip. Our guide - Simon - was incredible. He was friendly, informative and approachable. He ensured that everyone had a good time and he was very knowledgeable. The sights were stunning. I couldn’t recommend this trip enough.

By Sam on 2021-11-10

Amazing tour guide

Pick up place was far and a little crazy (bus stop 12 - 15 mins walk from our hotel in downtown Reykjavik). We got on the bus that dropped us to get on another bus. However, the tour was amazing. Our tour guide, Simon, was excellent. He’s very knowledgable and patient since I was super slow on the volcano hike. We didn’t see lava or the eruption but still worth the hike. We got to see many places other than the volcano. I would recommend this!

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By Natnisha on 2021-09-10

Lava worth the trip

The weather did not cooperate so didn’t see the volcano, but the lava field was enough of a ‘wow’ to make it worthwhile anyway. I enjoyed it all even though I was completely soaked throughout. The guide Asgear (Asgear, I remembered your name!) was great. Trudging around in wet weather must get old, but his spirit was lively throughout. I would do it again, but only if weather was better.

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By Mo on 2021-08-23

Active Volcano and Reykjanes Sightseeing tour

Loved our tour guide, Aisgarr (hopefully I remembered his name correctly!) The sights were exquisite.

By Fonde Taylor on 2021-08-05

Active Volcano and Reykjanes Sightseeing tour

The tour was great and our guide was fantastic. We had a nice hike up to see the crater, were we had our lunch, and also some time to spent at the lava-field. Then a part of the group was dropped off at the Blue Lagoon and we went on to visit some other sites. A great day!

By Sofieke Van der Velde on 2021-08-04

Active Volcano and Reykjanes Sightseeing tour

The volcano tour is well organized. Both, the driver and the guide are very professional. I totally recommend this tour.

By Cristina Urbina Pons on 2021-08-01

Active Volcano and Reykjanes Sightseeing tour

Very nice tour ! After some hot springs, we went for the Volcano. The hike is rather steep and especially the descent was quite demanding but the view on the volcano was great ! Unfortunately the volcano was rather in a lazy mode :-(. Our guide Asgeir was very enthusiastic and full of humour but he also gave us lots of useful & relevant information. A very nice day which we recommend !

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By Bart Desplenter on 2021-07-27

Active Volcano and Reykjanes Sightseeing tour

Great experience. Our guide, Àsgeir, was excellent - funny, knowledgeable, experience, practical and had just the right balance of talking and allowing periods of quiet just to enjoy the awe of the scenery, etc. The stop for lunch at a fish restaurant was unexpected; I had brought a packed lunch and was surprised at this additional expense (although it was optional - I could have said no - but actually well worth the money in the end!) Overall, the tour was superb and very well presented. I'd have no hesitation in recommending the quality and value of the trip.

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By Fraser Boyd on 2021-07-27

Active Volcano and Reykjanes Sightseeing tour

Great experience. Our guide, Àsgeir, was excellent - funny, knowledgeable, experience, practical and had just the right balance of talking and allowing periods of quiet just to enjoy the awe of the scenery, etc. The stop for lunch at a fish restaurant was unexpected; I had brought a packed lunch and was surprised at this additional expense (although it was optional - I could have said no - but actually well worth the money in the end!) Overall, the tour was superb and very well presented. I'd have no hesitation in recommending the quality and value of the trip.

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By Keerthivasan Ambigapathy on 2021-07-25

Active Volcano and Reykjanes Sightseeing tour

Exploring the volcano and the Reykjanes peninsula was a great experience. The tour guide was knowledgeable, humorous, and engaged the group well. They followed the pace and pulse of the big group and reacted well to any exigency that came up. Highly recommended and a good value for money.

By Keerthivasan Ambigapathy on 2021-07-25

Active Volcano and Reykjanes Sightseeing tour

A very helpful staff. Your bus driver went way out of his was to assist us and I greatly appreciate his service.

By George Bemis on 2021-07-26

Active Volcano and Reykjanes Sightseeing tour

The trip was lovely! We made a lot of little stops that weren't on the posted itinerary but they were all very pleasant surprises that enriched the experience. The tour guide, Simon, was very cognizant of the group's needs and desires and did a great job accommodating everyone and ensuring everyone's safety and comfort. He was also friendly and knowledgeable; I felt welcomed to his homeland and learned something about the culture and history from his stories.

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By Amy Werner on 2021-07-21

Active Volcano and Reykjanes Sightseeing tour

Excellent… our guide was lovely

By Susan Parker-Leavy on 2021-07-23

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10 hours

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