Volcano Eruption Hike

Volcano Eruption Hike

On our Volcano Hike you’ll travel through the mossy older lava fields of Reykjanes Peninsula to the spectacular site of Iceland’s latest volcanic eruption and visit other geothermally active area on the peninsula. Our expert guide will provide the necessary safety gear and information to help visitors safely enjoy this unique experience.

Once we arrive at the trailhead, it is a 1.5 to 2 hour hike up to the eruption through uneven terrain but is well worth it. Depending on the weather conditions, you may see billowing smoke and a red glow reflecting against the clouds before finally seeing the craters themselves, towering over the valley and spewing red-orange lava hundreds of meters into the air.

There are several craters actively erupting, all in a row along the same magma fissure. Since the eruption first started on March 19, 2021, the molten lava has been slowly filling up the valleys surrounding the craters, completely changing the landscape.

We will spend 2-3 hours at the eruption site allowing you plenty of time to explore the area. You will notice that in some places, the lava pools into vast lakes that spread out at the base of the craters, a layer of thin black crust forming on top as it cools. You may even get to see the lava flow in bright glowing rivers, or you may just want to sit and watch lava spurting from the craters and listen to the gentle crackling as it solidifies into newly formed rock.

On the way back to Reykjavik we will make a short stop at Krysuvik geothermal area where you can take a walk between the boiling mud pools and natural volcanic steam vents. From there we will visit the largest lake on the Reykjanes peninsula, Kleifarvatn. The lake is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and at 97 meters is one of the deepest lakes in Iceland. An earthquake in 2000 caused the water level of the lake to drop suddenly. The water level has since returned to normal but along the south shore of the lake you can still see steam from numerous hot springs which were revealed after the 2000 earthquake.

It’s Iceland’s volcanic nature which helps create and shape its jaw dropping landscapes– the lava fields, mountains and geothermal areas–and make it such a magical place. Join us on the Volcano Hike and see not only how Iceland began but how it continues to grow and change. Pictures might say a thousand words, but seeing, feeling, and smelling a real volcanic eruption in person is truly a once in a lifetime experience that will leave you speechless.