Iceland Travel Guide logo Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND My trip Talk to a local

Ultimate Volcano Tour | Volcano Hike & Grindavík

About 6.5 hoursModerateBus from BSÍ bus terminal, hotel pick-up optionalAge 10+All year
5.0(1 review)
Steam rising from a volcanic craterHikers on the trail to the eruption siteThree hikers at the edge of the lavaHiker above the black lava on Reykjanes
The road along Kleifarvatn lake from the air

A volcano hike tour on the Reykjanes peninsula, close to Reykjavík. You walk out across the lava fields left by the peninsula's recent volcanic activity and visit Grindavík, a fishing town at the centre of it all.

Reykjanes lava fieldsVolcano hikeGrindavík
  • A guided hike across recent lava fields on the Reykjanes peninsula
  • A look at some of the newest volcanic ground in Iceland
  • A visit to Grindavík, the fishing town at the heart of the recent activity
  • Close to Reykjavík, so no need for a long drive

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.
1Departure from ReykjavíkThe tour leaves BSÍ bus terminal at 10:00, or you're picked up from your hotel if you've added it.

The tour leaves BSÍ bus terminal at 10:00, or you are picked up from your hotel if you have added it, 30 minutes earlier. The whole trip takes about 6.5 hours, with a drive of roughly 45 minutes to the Reykjanes peninsula.

Read our Reykjavík guide →
2Walkway past the steam vents at SeltúnSeltún geothermal areaBoiling springs, mud pools and colourful steaming ground.
Walkway past the steam vents at SeltúnColoured geothermal ground at Seltún in Krýsuvík

Krýsuvík is a geothermal system on the Reykjanes Peninsula, and Seltún is the part most visitors see: a compact hillside of bubbling mud pots, hissing steam vents and mineral-stained ground in yellows, reds and greys. Wooden walkways and viewing platforms let you get close without stepping on the ground, which is fragile and can be scalding hot. Keep to the boardwalks.

Read our Krýsuvík guide →
3Steam rising from a volcanic craterFagradalsfjall volcano hikeA guided hike over the lava fields from the recent eruptions to a viewpoint.
Steam rising from a volcanic craterHiker above the black lava on ReykjanesHikers on the trail to the eruption site

Fagradalsfjall is a volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula that woke in March 2021 after about 6,000 years, the first eruption on the peninsula in almost 800 years. Two more followed at Fagradalsfjall in 2022 and 2023, and since December 2023 the eruptions have been at Sundhnúksgígar near Grindavík. Whether you can hike to the craters depends on current activity. Your guide explains the geology and tells stories from the eruptions.

Hike · about 5.5 km return, around 2 hours in totalClimb · about 300 m, moderately steep in places
Read our Fagradalsfjall guide →
4GrindavíkGrindavíkA stop in the fishing town affected by the recent volcanic activity, when access allows.
GrindavíkGrindavíkGrindavík

Grindavík is a fishing town on the Reykjanes peninsula, close to the Blue Lagoon. Before 2023 it had around 3,000 residents. Since an earthquake swarm in October 2023 and the eruptions that followed, the town has been evacuated more than once, and access depends on current advice from the authorities.

Read our Grindavík guide →
5Back to ReykjavíkDrop-off back in Reykjavík.

About the volcano hike tour

The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavík, has been one of the most geologically active parts of Iceland since eruptions began there again in 2021 after centuries of quiet, with further eruptions and lava flows near Grindavík in the years since. This tour is built around that activity: a guided hike out over fresh lava fields, with your guide explaining how the eruptions unfolded and pointing out the different textures and colours of the cooled lava.

Grindavík itself, a small fishing town, has been directly affected by the nearby eruptions and evacuations in recent years, and a stop there gives a sense of what it means for a community to live this close to an active volcanic system. Because the situation on Reykjanes has continued to change from year to year, the exact route, access to the lava fields and whether the town itself can be visited depend on current conditions.

The hike itself is on uneven, sometimes sharp lava rock, so it suits visitors comfortable with a couple of hours of walking on rough ground, in sturdy footwear. Reykjanes is exposed and windy, with weather that can turn quickly at any time of year, so warm, waterproof layers matter here as much as anywhere else in Iceland.

Included

  • Bus transport
  • Guided tour and hike
  • Free Wi-Fi

Not included

  • Meals and drinks
  • Hotel pick-up (optional, extra cost)
  • Hiking crampons (recommended in winter)

What to bring

  • Hiking boots
  • Warm, wind and waterproof layers
  • Gloves, hat and warm socks
  • Water
  • Hiking poles (recommended)
  • Hiking crampons in winter

Good to know

  • About 6.5 hours, starting at 10:00 from BSÍ bus terminal in Reykjavík. Hotel pick-up can be added for an extra cost and starts 30 minutes before
  • Minimum age is 10
  • The Fagradalsfjall hike is about 5.5 km return, around 45 minutes each way, with about 300 m of climbing on a well-kept path
  • There is no flowing lava at Fagradalsfjall now; you walk over the hardened lava fields
  • The tour follows advice from the authorities. If roads or areas are closed because of an eruption, it is rerouted to other volcanic sights
  • Reykjanes is exposed and windy; weather can change quickly

Questions people ask

Is there an active eruption we will see?

Not at Fagradalsfjall, where the lava has hardened. The tour follows current conditions and advice from the authorities, and is rerouted if areas are closed.

How difficult is the hike?

Moderate. About 5.5 km return, 45 minutes each way, with around 300 m of climbing on a well-kept path. Snow and weather can make it harder.

What is the minimum age?

10 years. Teenagers 10-15 have their own price.

Can we still visit Grindavík?

The tour includes a stop in Grindavík when access allows. If it's closed, the tour goes to other volcanic sights instead.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.
5.0Based on 1 review
5 stars1
4 stars0
3 stars0
2 stars0
1 star0
Magnificent Tour!

Iceland Travel Guide recommended this GeoPark and volcano hike, and it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip. The landscape was like nothing I’ve ever seen, with dramatic lava fields, bubbling mud pools, and steaming vents. Our guide took us to some of the most fascinating spots in Reykjanes, and the hike to the volcano was thrilling – it felt like we were walking on another planet! The volcanic activity made for a truly unique experience, and our guide’s insights into Iceland’s geothermal features and the recent eruptions added so much value to the tour. Definitely a must-do for any nature lover or geology enthusiast!

Sarah J. · October 2024
From15,999 ISKPer person

You may also like

Volcano Tour in IcelandVolcano Tour in IcelandFrom 15,990 ISKReykjanes Volcano Fields & GrindavíkReykjanes Volcano Fields & GrindavíkFrom 14,990 ISKReykjanes Volcano TourReykjanes Volcano TourFrom 15,000 ISK
More tours like this:Volcano tours in IcelandHiking tours in IcelandReykjanes toursAll categories →
Our guides to places on this tour:FagradalsfjallGrindavíkKrýsuvíkReykjavík
From15,999 ISK