Volcano Tours from Reykjavik

If there's one interesting thing to see and do on your visit to Reykjavík, it's the volcanic areas. Many tours take you on these volcanic trails where you can learn about the geological behaviour of this country.

Although it is not possible to visit all the volcanoes in Iceland, you do have the chance to see a few of them. I will show you some of the best tours departing from the capital of Iceland to visit the volcanic areas.

Fagradalsfjall is an active volcano that erupted in 2021 and since September it had not ejected any more magma until 3 August 2022 when it erupted again. So the landscape is still noticeably modified since this event. In this aerial experience you will have the opportunity to see the eruption, the lava flow and the transformation of the landscape after the event.

This 40-60 minute flight is definitely one of the best helicopter tours in Reykjavik you will experience on your visit. You will need to bring a waterproof jacket as well as warm, thermal clothing, water and a camera.

Interesting details

• Price: from 342 euros per person. Children pay approximately 257 euros.
• Duration: between 45 and 60 minutes.
• Means of transport: The flight departs from Reykjavik domestic airport. You must make your own way to the airport using a rental car or public transport.
• Advantages of this flight: The entire flight is professionally narrated by the pilot of the plane. It is a simple and safe flight that poses no risk to the participants.
• Disadvantages of this flight: not suitable for children under two years of age. There is a maximum of five people per helicopter. You have to book well in advance because the demand is very high.

If instead of flying over the area, you prefer to walk around the volcano eruption site, this tour is for you. It is a professionally guided tour that will take you on a walk through some of the places that were hit by lava from Fagradalsfjall when it erupted.

The lava flow has created new landscapes to admire, and on this walking tour you will have the opportunity to see at close quarters how the volcano has left new natural spectacles to admire. In four to seven hours you'll get to see not only the volcano but everything around it, and you'll also see breathtaking scenery on the way to your destination.

Interesting details

• Price: from 280 euros per person.
• Duration: from 4 to 7 hours depending on the place of departure.
• Means of transport: minibus from Reykjavík and hike once on site.
• Advantages of this tour: You have the option of pick up and drop off at the hotel. A professional guide is included during the volcano hike. Local tax is also included.
• Disadvantages of this tour: Children under 8 years old cannot participate in this experience. You have to book well in advance because the demand is very high.

Also on the Reykjanes peninsula, the Geldeingadalsgós volcano erupted last March, so it is possible to visit it to see how the nature of the landscape has been left after this event.

This is considered an extreme adventure, although the site is quite safe for the public to visit. To get there you need to walk enough trails along the south coast of the peninsula. Although the site is open to the public, the experience may be cancelled due to bad weather.

Details of interest

• Price: from 216 euros per person.
• Duration: around nine hours, or a full day.
• Means of transport: From Reykjavík to the volcanic area and back, as well as during the tour, transport is included in a minibus.
• Advantages of this tour: Transport to and from the hotel is included. Also included is an English-speaking guide and a professional photo session in the volcanic landscape. A snack and a drink are also included.
• Disadvantages of this tour: no overweight luggage fee is included. Breakfast and other meals not described in the experience are not included. There must be a minimum of 2 people to do the tour and children under 12 years old are not allowed to participate.

On this 10 hour or full day trip to the south coast from Reykjavík, you will see breathtaking and awe-inspiring scenery. Amongst the natural wonders, you will see the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which erupted in 2010.

In addition to the breathtaking views of this volcano from the Skógafoss waterfall, one of the best waterfalls you can visit in Iceland, you will also visit other interesting attractions in the volcanic area such as the Solheimajokull glacier which is attached to a larger glacier called Mýrdalsjökull.

Details of interest

• Price: from 98 euros per person.
• Duration: about 10 hours or a whole day.
• Means of transport: properly equipped minibus from the hotel where you stay, all the way and back.
• Advantages of this tour: transfer to and from the hotel is included. All taxes and fees necessary to enjoy the national parks are also included. Wifi is available on board. The minibus is air-conditioned and a small Icelandic snack is included for the journey. Child seats are available and child fare is also available. It is possible to take prams. The tour is available in all weather conditions.
• Disadvantages of this tour: Lunch is not included although there is a lunch stop, but at your own expense. Not accessible for wheelchair users.

This is not only an adventurous and extreme experience, but also a historical one. This is because on board an ATV you will be able to see different sites of historical importance on one of the Westman Islands. As for the volcanic tour, you will have the opportunity to see the Eldfell volcano up close.

This volcano erupted in 1973 and destroyed everything in its path, however, the people of this island confronted the volcano and put it out with litres and litres of seawater. During this tour you can drive around the solidified lava and see how the landscape has changed since the eruption.

Interesting details

• Price: from 102 euros per person.
• Duration: about one hour from the time you arrive at the Westman Islands.
• Means of transport: you must arrive on your own by ferry from Reykjavík to the Westman Islands and then walk a few streets to the meeting point specified at the time of booking. Afterwards the tour is done by ATV.
• Advantages of this tour: there is public transport nearby so you can get there and back. Thermal trousers, gloves and helmet are included for the tour.
• Disadvantages of this tour: Not suitable for wheelchair users. Transport from the hotel in Reykjavík and back is not included.

Thrihnukagigur volcano is one of the most impressive and interesting volcanoes not only in Iceland, but in the world. This is because it holds the title of the only volcano that is possible to tour from the inside. During this tour you will be able to see it from the inside and climb it.

The last explosion of this volcano was 4,000 years ago and it is considered a safe place to visit inside and climb down the crater. You will be able to visit this dormant volcano on this 5 to 6 hour experience, where you will also be able to see the lava fields up close.

Details of interest

• Price: from 314 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 5 to 6 hours including transfer from the hotel and back.
• Means of transport: properly equipped bus from hotel pick-up, during the tour to the volcano and back to the hotel. Climbing and the tour inside the volcano are done on foot.
• Advantages of this tour: Transport from the hotel in Reykjavík and back is included, as well as a professional guide who will explain everything you need to know about the volcano. Helmet, harness, and everything you need to ensure your safety is included. Also included are soft drinks and of course the entrance fee to the volcano.
• Disadvantages of this excursion: Children under 8 years old are not allowed to participate. This experience is not recommended for people with back problems, reduced mobility or pregnant women. It is also not recommended for people with serious heart conditions. Not accessible for wheelchair users.

It will take you between 12 and 14 hours to visit the volcanoes of Bardarbunga and Askja on this complete and extreme adventure tour in a super jeep. This experience will take you to the Holuhraun volcano which erupted in 2014 and has left lava fields and a completely new landscape around it. It is an adventure to be enjoyed only in the summer season.

You will also see the craters and moonscape left by the many volcanic eruptions in the area. Your guide will tell you one of the most interesting details about this area, which is that it was here that astronauts trained to travel to the moon for the first time.

Interesting details

• Price: from 252 euros per adult, while children get in for half price.
• Duration: full day, between 12 and 14 hours approximately.
• Means of transport: You must make your own way to the information centre in Reykjahlid, from where you will depart by jeep to the volcanic area.
• Advantages of this adventure: You can take a private tour if you are a group of at least four people. Children pay half price. An experienced guide is included to take you to the most interesting volcanic areas.
• Disadvantages of this adventure: Not suitable for wheelchair users, nor is it recommended for those with back or other mobility problems. Not recommended for pregnant women.

During this tour, you will see much more than just the volcano and its surroundings. The trip will take you directly to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, where you will see breathtaking landscapes typical of Icelandic geography. Here you will see one of Iceland's most famous mountains as well as a picturesque fishing village and rock formations worth seeing.

The tour will also take you to Snaefellsjökull National Park where you will see the volcano and some of Iceland's best glaciers condensed into a single landscape. This volcano is one of the most famous volcanoes on the island because it is featured in Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Interesting details

• Price: from 128 euros per person.
• Duration: full day tour or approximately 10 hours.
• Means of transport: well-equipped bus to and from the island.
• Advantages of this tour: transport from the hotel and back is included. The bus has wifi connection on board and of course the entrance to the park is included. A professional guide is included to narrate the whole experience. Baby seats are available.
• Disadvantages of this tour: not wheelchair friendly. This tour may be cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions.

This plane tour is one of my favourite experiences and that's because it gives you the opportunity to see from high above the snowy landscape of the Grímsvötn eruption area. This is a basaltic volcano that has a high eruption frequency, being one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland.

It is mostly covered by ice sheets, forming ice caves that you can also visit from Reykjavík. These, when they erupt, create a glacial flood phenomenon when the lava comes into contact with the ice.

Interesting details

• Price: from 300 euros per adult, while children can pay approximately 225 euros each.
• Duration: Approximately 45 minutes flight.
• Means of transport: In order to start the experience you will have to arrive on your own at the meeting point established at the time of booking. You can use a rented car or public transport. Once on board, the tour takes place by plane.
• Advantages of this flight: you have access to free parking if you bring your own car. Children pay less than the indicated price per person. Included is a professional guide who will tell you everything you need to know about the volcano.
• Disadvantages of this flight: Not suitable for pregnant women, people with reduced mobility or wheelchair users. Children must be over two years old to participate in this experience.

Black sand deserts, geothermal areas, waterfalls, and a handful of other breathtaking landscapes that only in Iceland can you enjoy is part of what this experience has to offer. The tour will take you directly to one of Iceland's most voracious volcanoes, Hekla, nicknamed "The Gateway to Hell".

For approximately 7 hours you will have the opportunity to see all that this volcano has to offer to its visitors. It's one of the must-see sightseeing adventures in Iceland, and you can do it at almost any time of the year, without having to wait for the best time to visit Reykjavík to do it.

The trip is by super jeep departing from the south coast, however, you can change the pick-up point at an additional cost to see the volcanic landscape and some of the lagoons from Reykjavík.

Interesting details

• Price: you can find this tour for approximately 10 euros per person.
• Duration: about 7 hours.
• Means of transport: Super Jeep for the whole trip. If you choose to be picked up from your hotel, you will get into a minibus with all the comforts.
• Advantages of this flight: the trip includes an experienced local guide and the taxes paid in each place. It is a tour with scheduled departures throughout the year.
• Disadvantages of this flight: This tour is not recommended for pregnant women or people with back problems. It is not suitable for wheelchair users.

• Regardless of the time of year you do any of the hikes, always wear comfortable, warm clothing, hiking boots and sunglasses. It is also important to bring waterproof jackets.
• If you are travelling with children, first check the minimum age for children to participate in the experience.
• Make your reservations well in advance as demand often exceeds supply.
• If you are pregnant or suffer from back problems, then you should consult your doctor before participating in any of these experiences.

Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice, and one of the reasons for this is the sheer amount of seismic and volcanic activity on the island. You definitely can't leave Iceland without seeing the vast majority of the volcanoes that are found there, both active and inactive.

I recommend these tours if you are a lover of adventure and anything that has to do with pushing your life experiences to the limit. These visits to Iceland's volcanoes will remind you of the power of nature and give you an idea of just how spectacular Iceland's geography can be.