Volcano Travel · Tour
Reykjanes and Grindavík by Minibus, the Town the Lava Emptied
Half a day across the Reykjanes peninsula, out of Reykjavík and back. The route takes in hot springs, craters, and the ground the recent eruptions left near Grindavík, with guides who know which parts changed and when. Grindavík is the stop that sits differently from the rest. It was a fishing town until the eruptions of late 2023 emptied it. It has reopened, and the cracked roads and the houses left as they were are still there to see. One stop involves a 20-minute walk over uneven ground, so footing matters.
What's included
- Certified English-speaking guide
- Pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavik
- WiFi on board
Itinerary
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Kleifarvatn Lake
The day starts at Kleifarvatn, the largest and deepest lake on the Reykjanes peninsula, a short drive from Reykjavík. It is 97 metres deep and has no inlet and no outlet: groundwater keeps it filled. The stories told locally put a serpent under the dark water, and the guide tells them here.
We’ll then explore the surreal Seltún geothermal area in…
Then the Seltún geothermal field in Krýsuvík, where the ground is red, yellow and grey, coloured by what is happening underneath it. Wooden walkways wind between bubbling mud pools and steam vents, and the sulphur is in the air the whole way along.
A short drive brings us to Grænavatn
A short drive to Grænavatn, the Green Lake, a volcanic crater lake with a deep emerald colour that comes from the sulphur and minerals in the water. It sits against rough dark ground, which is the contrast photographers stop here for.
Next
Nátthagi is a valley near Fagradalsfjall, the volcano that erupted in 2021 after 6,000 years of silence and then ran lava for six months. The lava field is walkable now, with rock formations and frozen ridges through it, and a 20-minute hike reaches the Nátthagi viewpoint. (The hike to the lava field takes about 20 minutes, on uneven and rugged ground. Passengers need to be comfortable with that.)
Grindavik
Grindavík was a working fishing town until the eruptions of late 2023 forced an evacuation and left it empty. It is safe and open again, but the marks are still on it: houses standing as they were left, and roads cracked by the seismic activity.
Svartsengi
The Sundhnúkagígar and Svartsengi lava field, just outside Grindavík, is new ground. The eruptions that made it are as recent as 2024, and steam still comes off the lava as it cools. You walk onto rock that did not exist a short while ago. After that the minibus drives back to Reykjavík through the countryside, arriving in the city by early evening.
Reykjavik
The day starts with a pick-up at the point you choose in Reykjavík, then a 40-minute drive to the first stop.
Reykjavik
The tour ends with a drop-off at the location you choose in Reykjavík.
Not included
- Lunch
- Snacks
Good to know
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Total duration of the tour includes transportation between stops
- Please note that we reserve the right to cancel this tour if requested so by the local authorities due to changing conditions in the area surrounding the volcano.
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- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: en.
Reviews
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