Reykjanes Lava Fields Tour: Volcanic Craters & Hot Springs
Walk across Iceland's newest lava, still steaming from eruptions in 2024
A half-day minibus tour from Reykjavík explores the Reykjanes Peninsula's volcanic terrain: Kleifarvatn lake, the Seltún geothermal area with bubbling mud pools and sulfur vents, Grænavatn crater lake, a 20-minute hike across the Fagradalsfjall lava field, and the raw Sundhnúkagígar lava zone formed by recent eruptions. A certified English-speaking guide leads the route, with pickup and drop-off in Reykjavík included.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Reykjanes Peninsula volcanic sites
- Pickup from Reykjavík city
- Drive 40 minutes to Kleifarvatn lake
- Visit Kleifarvatn lake and hear legends
- Explore Seltún geothermal area
- Visit Grænavatn volcanic crater lake
- Hike 20 minutes to Nátthagi viewpoint
- Explore lava field near Fagradalsfjall volcano
- Visit volcanic eruption site in Grindavík town
- Explore Sundhnúkagígar / Svartsengi lava field
- Drive back to Reykjavík city
- Drop off in Reykjavík city
What’s included
- Certified English-speaking guide.
- pickup and drop-off at your chosen location in Reykjavík.
- WiFi on board the minibus.
Times
- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 12:00
Before you book
Operated by Arctic Adventures
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
You're picked up in Reykjavík and driven 40 minutes to Kleifarvatn, the largest and deepest lake on the peninsula at 97 meters. The guide shares the local legend of a creature in its dark waters as you take in the views, then moves on to Seltún in Krýsuvík: a geothermal area where the ground itself becomes the landscape. Vibrant reds, yellows and greys paint the terrain shaped by geothermal activity. You walk the wooden paths past bubbling mud pools and steaming vents, the sulfur smell unmistakable and the raw power of the Earth on full display.
A short drive brings you to Grænavatn, the "Green Lake," a volcanic crater lake whose vivid emerald color comes from high concentrations of sulfur and minerals. The contrast between the water and the rugged landscape around it makes it a photographer's stop. Next is Nátthagi valley near Fagradalsfjall, the volcano that erupted in 2021 after 6,000 years of dormancy and shaped one of Iceland's most remarkable eruptions. A 20-minute hike takes you across the vast lava field with its dramatic rock formations and frozen lava ridges to a viewpoint over the volcanic wonder. The terrain is uneven and rugged, so you need to be comfortable on rough ground.
The tour then enters Grindavík, a fishing town reshaped by volcanic eruptions in late 2023 that forced evacuation. Though now safe and reopened, abandoned homes and cracked roads from seismic activity remain: a rare glimpse into Iceland's dynamic geology. Your final stop is the Sundhnúkagígar and Svartsengi lava field just outside Grindavík, a brand-new section of Earth born from eruptions as recent as 2024. Steam still rises from the cooling lava as you step onto terrain that captivated the world. After exploring this extraordinary volcanic landscape, you're driven back through the Icelandic countryside and dropped off in Reykjavík by early evening.
Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary and stories comfortably without translation. The 20-minute hike on uneven lava terrain is the most demanding part of the day, but the tour suits all fitness levels. You set your own pace across the ground.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is Kleifarvatn lake and why does the tour start there?
Kleifarvatn is the largest and deepest lake on the Reykjanes Peninsula at 97 meters deep, with no inlets or outlets. It relies entirely on groundwater. The tour begins there because it's a short drive from Reykjavík, and the guide shares local legends about a serpent-like creature said to live in its dark waters, setting the stage for the volcanic adventure ahead.
What happens at the Seltún geothermal area in Krýsuvík?
Seltún is a geothermal landscape painted in vibrant reds, yellows and greys by powerful geothermal activity. You walk along winding wooden paths past bubbling mud pools and steaming vents, where the unmistakable smell of sulfur fills the air and shows the raw power of Iceland's Earth at work.
How difficult is the hike at Fagradalsfjall, and what will I see?
The hike to the Nátthagi viewpoint takes about 20 minutes and crosses the vast lava field created by the 2021 eruption. The terrain is uneven and rugged, so you need to be comfortable walking on rough ground, but the viewpoint offers a breathtaking view of the volcanic landscape and its dramatic rock formations and frozen lava ridges.
What makes the Sundhnúkagígar lava field different from the other stops?
Sundhnúkagígar is a brand-new section of Earth formed by eruptions as recent as 2024, making it one of Iceland's most recent volcanic creations. Steam still rises from the cooling lava, giving you an up-close look at nature's fiery creativity in action on terrain that captivated the world.
What will I see in Grindavík, and why is it significant?
Grindavík was a busy fishing town until powerful volcanic eruptions in late 2023 forced evacuation and reshaped it. Though now safe and reopened, abandoned homes frozen in time and cracked roads from seismic activity remain, offering a rare glimpse into Iceland's dynamic geology and the raw power of nature.
Reykjanes Lava Fields Tour: Volcanic Craters & Hot Springs
5h 30m · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 119 per person
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