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Half-Day Volcanic Areas Tour in Iceland

While glaciers of Iceland may take millennia to carve the landscape, volcanoes reshape it in an instant. This is a land where the ground tells stories, shaped by time and forever shifting beneath our feet—and this half-day tour shows us just that. Led by an expert, knowledgeable guide, there’s no better way to connect to Iceland’s fiery soul than by exploring its craters, bubbling hot springs, hissing steam vents, and dramatic eruption sites from just a few years back. With Reykjavik as the starting point, this is the perfect half-day city escape to discover a totally different, wild, and untamed side of Iceland!

Adventure highlights

  • Cooled lava flows
    After being dormant for 6,000 years, the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted in 2021—leaving behind striking geological formations, which we’ll explore
  • Perfect half-day trip from Reykjavik
    Get a good glimpse into Iceland’s dynamic and ever-changing landscape by walking among craters, hot springs, and more
  • Incredible variety of landscapes
    One minute we’re at the green Grænavatn lake, the next we’re hiking on a frozen-in-time lava river

Itinerary

Join us for a half-day tour of Iceland’ volcanic landscapes! With Reykjavik as the starting point, we’ll venture to the island’s wild, uninhabited, untamed landscapes, and spend our time exploring what shaped this fiery island. Kleifarvatn Lake, Seltún geothermal area, vibrant lake of Grænavatn, eruption sites from 2021 and 2023—we’ll make sure to tour it all! Hop into a comfy minibus and let our expert guide lead the way.

  • We’ll pick you up in Reykjavik at around 12pm—note that the pick-up may take around 30 minutes. We’ll then spend the next 5.5 hours exploring the untamed volcanic landscapes on the Reykjanes peninsula! Here’s a breakdown of what we’ll visit below.

  • A 30-minute drive from Reykjavik takes us to Kleifarvatn, the largest lake on the Reykjanes Peninsula. One of Iceland’s deepest lakes at 318 feet (97 meters), it has no river inflows, fed only by groundwater through porous lava rock. Legend speaks of a mysterious, worm-like creature lurking in its depths—your guide will share its tale as you take in the stunning volcanic landscape.

    Kleifarvatn lake in Iceland
  • Next, we’ll explore the Seltún geothermal area in Krýsuvík, a Mars-like landscape of steaming vents, bubbling mud pools, and mineral-streaked hills in red, yellow, and gray. The air carries the distinct scent of sulfur, a sign of the intense geothermal activity. Walking the wooden paths, you’ll witness the raw power of Iceland’s underground forces.

    Seltun area, Iceland
  • Next, we visit Nátthagi, near the Fagradalsfjall volcano, site of the dramatic 2021 eruption—the longest in Iceland’s 21st century. After 6,000 years of dormancy, it reshaped the landscape with vast lava fields and striking black rock formations. A short hike to the viewpoint offers a stunning look at this frozen-in-time lava river.

    Natthagi valley cool lava
  • Arriving in Grindavík, you’ll experience the eerie silence of a once-thriving town deeply impacted by volcanic activity. Since late 2023, eruptions forced evacuations, leaving it largely abandoned. Recently reopened and deemed safe, the town still bears visible scars—empty houses and cracked roads—offering a rare glimpse into nature’s raw power.

    Grindavik cool lava
  • Next, we visit the newly formed Sundhnúkagígar lava field near Grindavík, shaped by recent eruptions that made global headlines. Steam still rises from the fresh volcanic terrain, offering a rare glimpse of Earth’s raw power. After exploring, we’ll head back to Reykjavík, passing through scenic countryside and reflecting on the day’s adventure. We’ll arrive by early evening, leaving you time to unwind or explore the capital.

    Road covered by lava
Adventure brochure
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If you have questions or need help with planning a trip, schedule a call with one of our adventure experts.

Meet your guide

Arctic Adventures
5.00
Arctic Adventures
Certified Guides
The Arctic Adventures family consists of adventurous and highly qualified people from all over the world. Some people are passionate river rafters or mountain climbers, while others really thrive on numbers and calculations. There is one thing, though, which they all have in common: a tremendous love and passion for outdoor adventures and total respect for nature. 
5.00(3 reviews)
E
Elaine

I had excellent experience in this tour. The scenery is awesome, and the hiking is great. Our tour guide Bjron is very professional and caring to everyone. He made this tour full of fun and excitement. I highly recommend this tour.

B
Biljana

Spectacular locations and very friendly, helpful, motivated and knowledgeable guide.

O
Omez Mesina

Excellent day trip very well arranged. The guide was super fun and kept us engaged. There was no rushing. Pick up in Reykjavik and dropping off back there was also quite smooth.

Show all reviews
5.00(3 reviews)
E
Elaine

I had excellent experience in this tour. The scenery is awesome, and the hiking is great. Our tour guide Bjron is very professional and caring to everyone. He made this tour full of fun and excitement. I highly recommend this tour.

B
Biljana

Spectacular locations and very friendly, helpful, motivated and knowledgeable guide.

O
Omez Mesina

Excellent day trip very well arranged. The guide was super fun and kept us engaged. There was no rushing. Pick up in Reykjavik and dropping off back there was also quite smooth.

Things to know

  • Included:

      • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
      • Half-day volcano tour in Iceland
      • Pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavik
      • Minibus transportation
      • Free WiFi on board the bus

    Add-ons (free of charge)

      • Rental of hiking boots, waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, crampons

    Not included:

      • Flights to Iceland
      • Accommodations
      • Meals
      • Guide gratuities — optional
      • Travel and medical insurance — optional
  • This half-day volcano tour in Iceland is perfect for beginners and anyone aged 6 and up! A basic level of fitness is all you need, as you’ll be leisurely exploring Iceland’s volcanic wonders for around 5.5 hours.

    For more hiking adventures in Iceland powered by local guides, click here!

  • Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

      • Day pack large enough to carry everything you might need throughout the day (around a 25-40L bag)
      • Hiking poles — optional
      • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
      • Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
      • Comfortable hiking clothes
      • Spare clothes for layering
      • Waterproof rain jacket
      • Sunhat
      • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, tissues, etc.)
      • Headlamp or flashlight
      • Sunglasses
      • Camera — optional (but recommended)

    Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

  • Group sizes and pricing

      • For this half-day volcano tour in Iceland, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 18:1.
        It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 18 participants.

    Half-day volcano tours in Iceland can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

    Min. age requirements

      • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
      • Minors older than 6 may be permitted to join the half-day volcano tour in Iceland on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

    If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

  • To get to this half-day volcano tour in Iceland, fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF), serving Reykjavik. From there, it’s best to hop on a shuttle to Reykjavik, or you can take a taxi. It takes about 45 minutes to reach Reykjavik.

    It is recommended to arrive at least one day before the tour. If you’re flying in from the U.S. or will be landing early (4-6:30am), you should be able to join the tour, but some risks would follow (i.e., if the flight gets delayed) and could miss out on the tour. This is, therefore, not recommended! Accommodation for the night prior to the tour is at your arrangement.

    At checkout, you’ll be able to choose one of your preferred pick-up spots. Note that departure time is at around 12pm at these locations, and it can take about 30 minutes to pick everyone up.

  • We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

    Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

    Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

  • To secure your spot, you’ll be asked to pay the full amount upon checkout.

      • Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
      • Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
      • Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.

    Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.

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