Descend into Thrihnukagigur Volcano: Small-Group Lava Field Tour

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/8

Duration5h–6h

GroupUp to 18

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Drop into a dormant volcano and walk inside its colorful magma chamber

This small-group tour from Reykjavik takes you down 400 feet into Thrihnukagigur Volcano, the only accessible volcano interior in the world. You'll hike 2 miles across the lava fields of Iceland's Blue Mountains, then descend via cable elevator into the vast magma chamber, where mineral-stained rock formations glow in shades of red, orange and yellow. The tour runs 5 hours, includes a professional guide, all safety gear and pickup from select Reykjavik locations, and is limited to 18 guests. Children from age 8 are welcome; moderate fitness is required for the uneven terrain and 7 km total hike.

5h–6h

Step-by-step itinerary

Volcano hike and magma chamber tour

Drive from Reykjavik to Bláfjöll
Hike 2 miles across lava fields
Gear up with helmet and harness
Descend 400 feet into magma chamber
Explore colorful volcanic interior
Ascend back to surface
Return hike across lava fields
Drive back to Reykjavik

The Experience

Five hours from Reykjavik, you'll start with a scenic drive toward Bláfjöll—the Blue Mountains—where your guide introduces the geology and history of Thrihnukagigur as you approach. The landscape shifts from road to raw volcanic terrain, and the hike begins at the base of Bláfjöll. For 2 miles you walk across ancient lava fields, an uneven trail that winds through cones and fissures. The ground beneath your feet tells Iceland's geological story, and the surreal terrain builds toward the crater's edge.

At the crater rim, you'll put on a helmet and harness before boarding an open cable elevator—the only lift of its kind in the world. This one-of-a-kind descent lowers you 400 feet into the dormant magma chamber, a space so vast and colorful that standing inside it feels like stepping into the earth's interior. Your guide explains the volcano's last eruption, over 4,000 years ago, and how the lava that once flowed here has solidified into a kaleidoscope of mineral-stained rock. You explore this underground dome at your own pace, taking in formations that glow in reds, oranges and yellows. The cable elevator brings you back to the surface, and you retrace your steps across the lava fields before the drive back to Reykjavik.

Groups stay under 18 people, which keeps the experience intimate and means less waiting at the cable elevator. Your guide is a live professional who speaks English and manages the safety briefing and descent. Light refreshments are included. You'll need warm, waterproof clothing and proper hiking boots—sneakers and jeans won't work on the uneven ground and in Iceland's unpredictable weather. Pickup and drop-off from select Reykjavik locations are included in the price.

What’s included

Professional English-speaking guide.
pickup and drop-off from select Reykjavik locations.
all necessary safety gear including helmet and harness.
cable elevator descent into the magma chamber.
guided hike across the lava fields.
light refreshments.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Gray Line Iceland

Is this one for you?This tour is built for travelers who want to experience something genuinely rare—the only accessible volcano interior in the world—without arranging transport or managing the technical details of descent and safety. The small group size and included guide mean you move at a steady pace and get geological insight as you walk, rather than navigating alone or joining a crowd at the crater rim.