Hike to Volcanic Eruption Sites & Reykjanes Tour

Itinerary

The erupting volcano in Icelands' Fagradalsfjall is ongoing for the first time in 7000 years and now is the time to come see nature wonder happening before our eyes. This true geothermal wonderland starts with a very scenic drive through fairy-like lava fields covered in a thick layer of green moss stopping by the scenic Lake Kleifarvatn before we hike into Geldingadalur Valley to see the live volcanic activity all around. You will be able to enjoy your packed lunch in the hike while seeing lava flowing from the volcano. On the way back from this unique experience seeing moss and land in the making we will drive through the Reykjanes Peninsula where previous volcanos have formed now rock hard formations and soft lava moss. The next stop is Gunnuhver hot springs where you will witness boiling spewing waters and feel the steam coming from the ground beneath you. A few minutes away is photogenic Reykjanes Lighthouse and the Valhnúkamöl boulder ridge where we breathe in the pure ocean air and admire the battle-hardened cliffs and sea stacks formed by the Atlantic ocean. Before heading back to Reykjavík we visit the Bridge between Continents where earthquakes have made a rift between the Eurasian & North American tectonic plates where you have a chance to walk between the continents.

Fagradalsfjall Volcano

An active volcano and naturally warm healing waters is something that you don't see every day and in this tour volcanic- and geothermal activity run the scene to make this a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The beautiful backcountry of Reykjanes Peninsula offers variated scenery, natural phenomena, and places of stunning beauty and is only a short distance from Reykjavík! Being so close to the nature-surrounded capital Reykjavík, a tour to the active volcano in Geldingadalir and gives you the great opportunity to visit a number of interesting places at a relaxed pace without much time spent on the road.

The Peninsula of Reykjanes is a true volcanic wonder hosting unique natural phenomenon; open rift zones, mossy covered lava-fields, geothermal fields, mountain lakes, fishing villages, and breathtaking coastal features. Reykjanes lies on one of the world’s major plate boundaries, the Mid Atlantic Ridge in between the tectonic plates of Eurasia and North America, drifting apart from one another resulting in open fissures and volcanic activity.

Lake Kleifarvatn

Kleifarvatn is the biggest lake in the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula surrounded by palagonite and sandstone mountains that once were formed in eruptions under the ice. The lake is decorated with black basalt beaches and beautiful rock formations sculpted by the weather elements throughout the centuries. Kleifarvatn is highly affected by earth movements that are frequent in the area that have drained the lake in the past and given birth to new hot springs, now underwater. The Lake’s folklore gives this stunning place an extra mysterious feeling.

Grindavík Fishing Village

The drive through the southern part of the peninsula is beautiful. Thick lava fields meet the Atlantic Ocean creating dramatic scenery all the way to Grindavík fishing village. Grindavík is one of Iceland’s main fishing harbors where everything turns around fishing. It’s the ultimate place to get into the Icelandic fishing culture and to have fresh fish lunch.

Grindavík is a beautiful Icelandic fishing town with one of the most active harbors in the country. The town’s population, 3300 people, bases its livelihood on the fishing or fish-related industry. Grindavík provides about half of Iceland’s salt fish production.

Gunnuhver Hotsprings

The saltwater-fueled bubbling mud pots and hissing steam vents at Gunnuhver hot springs are next in line after lunch. The hunted mud spring at Gunnuhver is constantly spewing dense, cloudy steam reaching up to 300 degrees Celcius. Close to it stands one of Iceland’s Geothermal stations, producing electricity from the hot steam and harnessing hot water for central heating. The combination of the steamy cooking ground along with the station house and its boreholes and pipelines create a surreal scenery that could easily be mistaken for a setting in an out-of-this-world science fiction movie.

Named after a female ghost, Gunnuhver is Iceland’s largest mud pool with it’s 20 meters wide violently boiling earth alimented by overheated salted seawater. It’s a strong legend, loud roaring and powerful sulfurous vapor gives the sites a truly mystical atmosphere.

Reykjanesviti Lighthouse & Coastal Features

Onwards to the majestic Reykjanesviti lighthouse to take in the breathtaking coastal features at the Reykjanes toe witnessing Valhnúkamöl boulder ridge, sea-cliffs, sea-stacks, and skerries very animated in spring and summer with sea birds nesting in the area. Reykjanesviti lighthouse is Iceland’s oldest lighthouse and sits on the “toe” of the Reykjanes peninsula. It’s surrounded by spectacular coastal features; seacliffs, sea-stacks, skerries and islands, under the constant attacks of the North Atlantic Ocean. Various types of sea birds nest in the area in spring and summer, creating one the worlds gannet colonies on Eldey island.

Bridge between Continents

A short drive takes us to the geological wonders of the Bridge between the continents, one of the very few places in the world where drifting apart of two tectonics places is visible on land and a unique opportunity to walk from the Eurasian tectonic plate to the American.

The Bridge between Continents is a 15-meter footbridge spanning a gaping rift between the Eurasian & North American tectonic plates. The lava-scarred peninsula lies on the Mid Atlantic Ridge where two major tectonic plates drift apart by the Earth’s forces, few centimeters each year. It’s the only place where this longest mountain ridge on the planet is not under sea level. The bridge between continents give you a unique opportunity to walk between the two tectonic plates where North America and Europe drift apart.

We lounge the northern part of the Peninsula as we had back to the city. Count on an hour for your smooth ride back to Reykjavík.