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Iceland’s Volcano & Highlands Hiking Adventure

Ready to feel the heat? This 3-day adventure will take us right to Iceland’s fiery heart, where we’ll witness the raw energy of the country’s past and present volcanic activity! Along Iceland’s iconic sites—like the roaring Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls and the vibrant Landmannalaugar valley—we’ll also venture to some less known spots, like the Lakagígar craters, born from the greatest lava eruption on Earth. Recharging our batteries on this adventure won’t be a problem—we’ll soak in geothermal hot pools and end our days at a comfy, cozy, remote hotel. For those who’d rather uncover some hidden gems than follow the crowds, this journey is calling your name.

Adventure highlights

  • Meet the island's oldest residents
    Iceland is home to millions of adorable puffins, with their colorful beaks and comical waddles, making them a must-see wildlife highlight
  • Landmannalaugar valley
    Surreal colors emerge from this valley, and we’ll see it up close by exploring Mt. Brennisteinsalda & Laugahraun lava field
  • Remnants of the world’s biggest lava eruption
    We’ll see Lakagígar craters, formed by an eruption that was the world’s largest, unleashing lava that reshaped Iceland

Itinerary

Over 3 incredible days of exploring, we’ll experience Iceland’s volcanic and geothermal activity up close! Starting from the Vestmannaeyjar Islands & Stórhöfði Cape, we’ll hike up to Mt. Eldfell volcano, visit famous waterfalls, see the iconic Lakagígar craters, and explore the surreal Landmannalaugar valley. All accommodations, breakfasts, and daily guided transfers are included—just kick back and enjoy this remarkable side of Iceland.

  • We’ll pick you up in Reykjavík at around 8am and head south to Landeyjarhöfn harbor. From there, we’ll take a 30-minute ferry ride to the Vestmannaeyjar Islands, starting with a visit to Stórhöfði Cape—home to the island’s oldest inhabitants, the Atlantic puffins. Next, we’ll explore the Eldheimar Museum, which tells the story of the dramatic 1973 volcanic eruption that forced the evacuation of the entire island. Afterward, you can either hike up Mt. Eldfell Volcano or take some time to explore the town before we return to the mainland in the afternoon.

    Back on the mainland, we’ll journey along Iceland’s breathtaking south coast, stopping to admire the stunning Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls. Along the way, you’ll also get a glimpse of the infamous Mt. Eyjafjallajökull volcano, known for its disruptive 2010 eruption. Our next stop is the charming coastal village of Vík, where you can explore the town or walk along its iconic black sand beach. From there, we’ll drive through the vast Eldhraun lava fields before reaching our hotel for the night.

    Accommodation: Adventure Hotel Geirland

    Seljansfoss waterfall in Iceland
  • After breakfast, we’ll begin the day’s adventure at the breathtaking Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, where hiking along its edges feels like stepping into a fairy tale. From there, we’ll journey into the remote highlands to Laki and Lakagígar, part of the UNESCO-listed Vatnajökull National Park. At Mt. Laki, we’ll hike to the summit for a stunning panoramic view of the Lakagígar craters, formed during the massive 1783-1784 eruption. This historic eruption and its ashfall triggered famine across Europe, playing a role in the events leading to the French Revolution.

    We’ll then continue exploring the highlands, stopping at a few scenic spots before returning to the main road. Our next stop is the charming village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, where you’ll have free time to explore. You can visit Systrafoss Waterfall, Systrastapi Rock, or Kirkjugólf, a natural basalt formation resembling a church floor. From there, it’s just a short drive back to the hotel for a well-earned rest.

    Meals: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Adventure Hotel Geirland

    Fjadrargljufur canyon, Iceland
  • After breakfast, we’ll check out of the hotel and start our journey back to Reykjavík, taking the scenic and less-traveled Fjallabaksleið nyrðri F-road. Our first stop is Eldgjá Canyon, part of the Katla volcanic system and the largest volcanic canyon in the world. We’ll hike through this stunning landscape and visit Ófærufoss Waterfall before continuing deeper into the highlands.

    Next, we’ll arrive at Landmannalaugar, a true gem of the highlands. Here, you can explore the Laugahraun lava field, hike the colorful slopes of Mt. Brennisteinsalda, or relax in a natural geothermal pool. After a couple of hours soaking in the beauty of Landmannalaugar, we’ll continue our journey back to Reykjavík, stopping briefly at Hjálparfoss Waterfall in Þjórsárdalur Valley. At around 8pm, we’ll arrive in Reykjavík, where you’ll be dropped off at your preferred location.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Eldgja canyon and waterfall
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. 

Accommodation

5.00(5 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.

N
Nichole

3 day highlights volcano We had a great guide in Bjork. We did a 3+6 day tour. Our 3 day was fantastic, about 8 passengers which was fantastic. Allowed more time at each location. Bjork took us to some hidden spots and we had a great time exploring lava fields and waterfalls. Loved the smaller accommodation.

B
Biljana

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

Show all reviews
5.00(5 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.

N
Nichole

3 day highlights volcano We had a great guide in Bjork. We did a 3+6 day tour. Our 3 day was fantastic, about 8 passengers which was fantastic. Allowed more time at each location. Bjork took us to some hidden spots and we had a great time exploring lava fields and waterfalls. Loved the smaller accommodation.

B
Biljana

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

K
Kim Guillory

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this tour. We visited several beautiful places. A few of the hikes were a bit challenging but so worth the views from the top. Björn was an outstanding tour guide. His love and passion for his country is evident and it makes the tour even more enjoyable because he was excited to show us things on the itinerary as well as some extra gems he took us to along the way. I loved my experience and would recommend this tour to anyone who loves to be out in nature and enjoys hiking. Also, you should not have issues with motion sickness because the roads through the highlands are extremely BUMPY, but it was part of the fun adventure.

A
Anna

It was our first time taking an organized tour and so we weren’t sure what to expect, but it was truly spectacular. We went for this trip together with my 8yo son, and he also had a wonderful time. We loved all the hikes, walks, waterfalls, all the beautiful views. We also loved our tour guide and his rich stories. Thank you for this unforgettable experience!

Things to know

  • Included:

      • An experienced guide with extensive knowledge of the area
      • 3-day Iceland volcano tour
      • Accommodation for 2 nights at a 3-star hotel (private bathrooms, twin rooms)
      • Pick-up in Reykjavík
      • Drop-off in Reykjavík
      • Breakfast each morning at hotels
      • Transportation during the tour in a minibus
      • Free WiFi on the bus
      • Eldheimar Museum admission
      • Vestmannaeyjar Ferry
      • Landmannalaugar Facility Fees

    Add-ons (possible to add at checkout)

      • Single supplement — $220
      • Equipment rental

    Not included:

      • Flights to Iceland
      • Lunches and dinners
      • Guide gratuities — optional
      • Travel and medical insurance — optional
  • This Iceland volcano tour is perfect for beginners and anyone aged 8 and up! A basic level of fitness is all you need, as you’ll mostly be leisurely exploring Iceland’s volcanic wonders, and there will also be several shorter hikes—which you can always skip out on.

    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)
      • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
      • Hiking poles
      • Lightweight hiking boots
      • Comfortable and warm hiking clothes
      • Spare clothes for layering
      • Waterproof rain jacket
      • Waterproof pants
      • 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.

    Hiking boots, waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, hiking poles, and crampons can be rented with your guides at checkout.

    As for the luggage limit on this Iceland volcano tour, please stick to one small backpack and one piece of luggage weighing a maximum of 20 kg (44 lbs).

  • On this Iceland volcano tour, you’ll be covering around 300 km (186 miles) per day, spending about 4-5 hours on the road. But don’t worry—it’s far from just a long drive! You’ll be stopping regularly for sightseeing, activities, hikes, bathroom breaks, and lunch, making every stretch of the journey an adventure in itself.

  • Group sizes and pricing

      • For this Iceland volcano tour, 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.
      • The price of this Iceland volcano tour is based on double occupancy. If you’d like to have a room to yourself, you can add a single supplement to your booking at checkout. If you’re traveling solo, you’ll be paired with another traveler of the same gender—a single supplement isn’t mandatory.

    Iceland volcano tours 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 8 may be permitted to join the Iceland volcano tour 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 Iceland volcano tour, 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 7:30am 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!

  • Deposits

    Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

    Cancellations

    Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

    Basic

      • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
      • If canceled 90 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
      • If canceled within 89 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

    Flexible

      • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
      • If canceled 90 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
      • If canceled 60-89 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
      • If canceled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

    Super Flexible

      • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
      • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
      • If canceled within 59 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
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