Volcanic activity has been—quite literally—shaping Iceland from its earliest history up until the present day. Simply put, the country is no stranger to molten rock and volcanic ashes—as can be experienced in the Meradalir Valley. Here you’ll find the sight of the two eruptions that have occurred in the last one and a half years. Now that the Fagradalsfjall volcano has reinstated a ceasefire, you can roam the nearby landscapes dominated by newly formed fields of lava—see the heat waves radiating from the fields, touch the rehardened volcanic rock and smell the burning moss. Learn interesting stories about the country’s past and geology and get to know why Iceland is dubbed the Land of Fire and Ice.
Embark on a private guided hike to the Meradalir Valley—the sight of the recent eruptions of the Fagradalsfjall volcano. What awaits you is an outlandish feast for the senses—from vast heat-radiating lava fields to the smell of burning moss. The expert guide will cater you the best possible experience of the otherworldly landscapes while teaching you about Iceland’s history and natural phenomena. Once the hike is over, you can try autochthonous cuisine in Grindavik—a nearby fishing village.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
The hike is around 3.7 miles (6 km) long in each direction and will take the average person about 1.5 hours to complete (about 3 hours of hiking in total). Despite the area generally being quite flat, there will be some up-hills and one particularly steep part. You can expect an elevation gain of around 1,180 ft (360 m). Apart from the fact that the weather and trail conditions may affect the difficulty, the hike should be easy to anyone with prior hiking experience and slightly tiresome to those without any hiking experience. Keep in mind endurance issues or knee problems make the hike significantly more strenuous.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and avoid wearing cotton—choose clothes made of wool, fleece, or other synthetic materials. Don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking to the Meraldir Valley can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to the Meradalir Valley and the Fagradalsfjall volcano, most people fly into Keflavik International Airport, an hour drive from the trailhead.
From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to the Fagradalsfjall Parking P2, a parking lot recently set up by Icelandic authorities. Here, you will meet up with your guide and start the hike.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Meradalir Valley, Iceland, please refer to these official COVID-19 guidelines for traveling to and from Iceland.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
Day Trips Cancellations
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.
