Iceland is one of the most unique and naturally-beautiful places on the planet. Known as the “land of fire and ice”, it certainly has a lot to offer – from icy summits to molten volcanoes, and everything in-between! If you really want to see something special here, we highly recommend checking out the volcanoes.

To maintain the safety of everyone while making the most out of your experience, you have to sign up for a volcano tour. We have all the top Iceland volcano tours out there right now, so buckle in and enjoy the ride!

Be sure to see our reviews of Northern Lights Tours, Whale Watching Tours and ATV Tours.

Best Volcano Tours in Iceland From Reykjavik

	Magnificent Volcano Guided Hike Tour from Reykjavik	Iceland Volcano ATV Tour	Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike & Geothermal Tour from Reykjavik
	Best Guided Tour	Best Adventure Tour	Best Private Tour
Departure:	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Strandvegur 65, 900 Vestmannaeyjabær	Hotel pickup and drop-off included
Start:	9:00 AM	10:30 AM - 04:00 PM	9:00 AM
Duration:	5.5 hours	1 hour	10 hours
Includes:	Transfer to/from Reykjavik, free WiFi on the bus, flashlights (if needed)	Guide, overalls, gloves, helmet	Professional guide, transportation, WiFi on board, pickup and drop-off, headlamp
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Iceland Volcano Tours For 2024

1. Amazing Private Volcano Guided Hike Tour from Reykjavik – At Your Own Pace
2. Iceland Volcano ATV Tour
3. Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike & Geothermal Tour from Reykjavik
4. Volcano Tour- Litli Hrútur, Reykjanes Peninsula
5. Magnificent Volcano Guided Hike Tour from Reykjavik
6. Iceland Volcano Tour in Grindavík with a Local Guide – No Group
7. Landmannalaugar and Hekla Volcano / Guided Private Tour

Iceland Volcano Tour Reviews

1. Best Private Tour: Amazing Private Volcano Guided Hike Tour from Reykjavik

Next up, we bring you the Amazing Private Fagradalsfjall Active Volcano Tour from Reykjavik – At Your Pacetour! Featured on the BBC – The Travel Show, it’s one of the most renowned tours in the entire country.

Lasting 4.5 hours, it’s easy enough to fit into a busy day while still learning and seeing a large amount of Icelandic wilderness.

As if that weren’t cool enough, this is a completely private tour so you’ll only be going with people you know. As long as they have a basic level of fitness, this tour is ideal for the entire family (all ages and experience levels).

This is a tour that operates at your own pace, so you don’t have to worry about keeping up with the guide or being rushed. You’ll first be picked up at your acommodations in the morning, so you just have to wake up and meet them down in the lobby!

The guides are all local to the area, so they know what they’re talking about and offer great tips! Using gas meters and masks, they are always complying with local safety guidelines, too.

Take your luxury coach to the Reykjanes Peninsula, where you’ll see Fagradalsfjall volcano! Often described as an area that looks like it is from another planet, this lunar-like landscape is barren and jagged. Lava fields shape the area, which is why it looks like this!

Next, you’ll be able to see the new eruption that happened recently. The guides will tell you all about how this came to be, when it may erupt again, and the eruptions in the past. Then, take a hike to the crater area, should the weather be agreeable.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Other Experiences You May Enjoy:

2. Best Adventure Tour: Iceland Volcano ATV Tour

If you’re looking for a top volcano adventure but have a busy schedule, this is one of the best options out there. Not everyone wants to go hiking around for hours, and rather experience the speedy version.

If that sounds like you, you have to check out the Volcano ATV Tour and put it at the top of your list! Not only is it easier to fit into a packed day due to the 1-hour time span, but also because there are various start times available throughout the day.

Meet with your tour guide in Vestmannaeyjar, where they’ll show you all around the most unique views of Iceland.First, you’ll get fitted with all safety equipment, and learn how to ride the ATVs.

If you’re a newbie, there’s no need to worry because they’ll show you all about riding them and how to stay safe while having loads of fun! Once everyone feels comfortable, you’ll be able to head out and follow your guide.

First, stop at Prestvik beach, where the notorious fishing ship “Pelagus” sits stranded. The beach itself is also quite interesting, and you’ll get to see where the Guðlaugur landed after swimming up to 6 kilometers in the dark, frigid seas after the Hellisey VE 503 sank.

Next, drive around the lava and into the center of the Eldfell volcano, which is another fascinating experience! Your guide will tell you all about its history and cultural relevance, today.

Afterward, cruise around with the wind in your hair on the gorgeous coastline. If you’re looking for a fun trip for the entire family, we can’t recommend this one enough!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Best Small Group Tour: Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike & Geothermal Tour from Reykjavik

Perhaps you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum, where you’re looking for a longer, more immersive tour experience. If so, then put this Erupting Meradalir Volcano Hike & Geothermal Tour from Reykjavik at the top of your list! Lasting 10 hours long, it covers a lot yet is still one of the most budget-friendly Icelandic tours out there!

Starting at 8:00 am, you’ll either choose to meet at the pickup spot, or they can come pick you up from your hotel. The latter is typically the most convenient, as that way you don’t have to pay or plan for extra time for extra transportation.

You’ll be cruising around in a spacious, air-conditioned coach complete with comfortable seats, on-board wi-fi, and big windows perfect for taking in all the sights.

First, stop at Kleifarvatn Lake, which is a brilliant ice blue color, contrasted with the brown rocky terrain surrounding it. You’ll have some time to take some photos and walk around a bit here.

Next up, is the active Fagradalsfjall volcano! Safety is always at the forefront of these tours, so you’ll get to see it the safest way possible while still having fun. The guide will tell you all about its history, and how it has erupted very recently!

Next, drive around the Reykjanes Pensinsula, until you get to the Gunnuhver Hot Springs. These bubbling, bursting mud pots and hissing steam vents are reminiscent of some of the things you’d see in Yellowstone!

Then check out the pretty Reykjanes Lighthouse along with the Valhnúkamöl Boulder Ridge, where you’ll get to take in the gorgeous sea stack and cliffside vistas that were created by the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll even get to walk the “bridge between continents”, which is from the Eurasian to American tectonic plate.

After all that walking, you’re sure to appreciate the Seltún Hot Springs and Krysuvík Geothermal area! With green, rolling hills surrounding you, it’s an incredibly peaceful time with fresh air and wonderful views.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Best Full-Day Tour: Volcano Tour – Litli Hrútur, Reykjanes Peninsula

This tour will take you on a phenomenal tour where you’ll see and learn all about the geological Icelandic history. If that sounds like fun to you, check out the Litli Hrútur, Reykjanes Peninsula tour.

Lasting around 6-8 hour hours long (depends on traffic, weather and how fast everyone hikes), you’ll be picked up from a variety of pickup points around the city. This is a great option if you want to get back in time for dinner or have plans for the evening.

Head out to see the recently-erupted Fagradalsfjall volcano, which offers a unique perspective as it really doesn’t erupt very often! In fact, it’s been almost 800 years since a volcano last erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula!

You’ll see that as it’s continuing, it slowly releases new lava into the surrounding lava fields. You don’t even need to go hiking to see it, as you did before.

Your guide will tell you all about how the eruption was triggered by almost-constant earthquakes in the area and more interesting facts. Feel the heat from underground as you walk around and learn all about the history and geological lessons about the island.

On the way back you will make a few more stops. First being the Seltún’s bubbling mud pools. There are also several boiling hot springs. They are way to hot to take a dip in unfortunately. The last stop being Kleifarvatn Lake.

This large and very deep lake is an eerie site with all the lave fields surrounding it. It’s unlike anything you have seen before!

The timing is perfect, as you’ll be back just in time for dinner, where you’ll undoubtedly have a lot to talk about and share pictures over!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Best Guided Tour: Magnificent Volcano Guided Hike Tour from Reykjavik

Let’s start things off on the right foot, with the Magnificent Volcano Guided Hike Tour from Reykjavik. Lasting 5.5 hours, it’s just the right length of time to really experience these natural wonders the way they should be.

Located in the middle of the rugged Icelandic landscapes, it’s a surreal experience right from the get-go that will really give you another perspective on planet Earth!

Your tour will start early in the morning, where you’ll meet your guide at 9 am in the lobby of your hotel. It does take a maximum of around 20 to 30 minutes to pick up everyone, but the bus is comfortable, spacious, and includes wi-fi. That way you’ll always be connected and be able to share photos and videos in real-time.

You’ll first head over to the Reykjanes Peninsula, which is not only home to Keflavik Airport (which you’ll probably be flying into) but many notable tourist attractions.

If there’s time, the guides are really great about taking bonus stops along the route so you can further enjoy all of Iceland’s beauty and intrigue.

You’ll then arrive to the Fagradalsfjall Volcano, which has just recently erupted! Of course, safety is always the first priority, but you will be able to walk up the hills to see this incredible volcano! The hike along the way is a lot of fun, too, and is perfect for getting some exercise in in a stunningly unique location.

As you hike, your guide will tell you all about this active volcano’s history, status, and interesting anecdotes.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

6. Iceland Volcano Tour in Grindavík with a Local Guide – No Group

Iceland is one of the most magnificent, breathtaking places on earth, with natural wonders around every corner. Something that I feel everyone should see when in the country is the remarkable Fagradalsfjall Volcano. However, it should only be seen with an expert guide, and the Iceland Volcano Tour in Grindavik with a Local Guide is one of the best.

This tour does include an optional hotel pickup and drop-off, so you don’t have to worry about booking separate transportation or driving there yourself. When we met our guide, we instantly hit it off as they were so kind and knowledgeable! They were actually local to the town that sits right at the base of the lava fields we saw, so you can count on them knowing the area better than anyone else.

Seeing the Fagradalsfjall volcano is absolutely breathtaking, and feels like something otherworldly. The lava fields completely dominate this region, covered in semi-fluid rock formations that are like nothing I’d ever seen before. The volcanic ridges in the distance offer a kind of looming feeling, that only adds to the mystique and excitement felt here.

The hike we went on was actually relatively rigorous, though there was another optional path that was appropriate for just about any activity level or age. We found our hike took around an hour, and they even gave us walking poles to help keep stable. Overall, it was a truly magical experience that I felt like transported us to another planet!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

7. Landmannalaugar and Hekla Volcano / Guided Private Tour

Starting off at 8:00 am, this next tour is a full-day experience perfect for those who really want to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Iceland. The Landmannalaugar and Hekla Volcano/Guided Private Tour is one that covers a lot of land, in the most convenient, comfortable way: by Super Jeep!

The tour started out with our friendly guide picking us up right from our hotel, which was a huge help! The Super Jeep is super fun, with plenty of room, and big windows to see all the scenery without effort. I truly appreciated how well our guide drove, offering interesting commentary on the area while still ensuring we were perfectly safe.

We crossed over the South Iceland farmlands where we soaked in incredible views of Hekla (which we were told could erupt at literally any time!).

It could be a minor little show of smoke and ash, or the eruption could be completely devastating – all we knew is that it was long overdue for an eruption. However, the views were fantastic, as we made it all the way up to around 900m above sea level! We learned that the scenery was used as a landscape in plenty of blockbuster films, and it’s easy to see why as it looks like it’s on another planet.

After that intense experience, I think we all enjoyed arriving in Landmannalaugar where we were able to take a dip in the country’s most famous natural hot pool! We did a bit of hiking around, before visiting the beautiful crater lake worth of Ljótipollur where I took tons of photos and videos as it was simply unreal!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

FAQs About Iceland Volcano Tours

What are the different types of volcano tours?

• Helicopter tours: The ultimate way to see the volcanoes from above. You’ll get to fly over the lava flows, craters and smoke and enjoy a stunning view of the whole island. If you just want the quick way to see the volcanoes and from above a helicopter tour is for you. Just keep in mind they can be pricey.
• Hiking tours: The most adventurous way to experience the volcanoes up close. You’ll get to trek to the base of the volcanoes and feel the heat and power of nature. If you really want to experience them, then there is substitute than see them up close and in person! However hiking up the face of a volcano can be challenging!
• Super jeep tours: The best way to combine convenience and excitement. You’ll get to drive through the rugged terrain and reach the best viewpoints of the volcanoes. If you are feeling adventurous but don’t want to hike on foot this a great option!

How safe are the volcano tours?

The volcano tours are designed with safety as their top priority. They only operate in areas that are safe but just be sure to follow all the directions of the tour guide.

Volcanoes are unpredictable and can change at any moment. There is always a certain amount of risk involved when near them.

What is The best time to do a Iceland volcano tour?

Like most outdoor activities in Iceland we recommend you do your tour in the summer, June, July and August being the three best months. You do them year-round but the weather will not be as nice and comfortable.

What should I wear and bring for the volcano tours?

The weather in Iceland can be very variable and cold, especially near the volcanoes. You should dress in layers and wear warm, waterproof and windproof clothing. You should also wear sturdy shoes or boots that are suitable for hiking or driving on rough terrain.

You should also bring the following:

• A backpack: To carry jacket, snacks and water.
• A camera: To capture the stunning scenery and memories.
• A hat, gloves and sunglasses: To protect yourself from the sun, wind and cold.
• A face mask or scarf: To cover your mouth and nose from the volcanic ash and gases.

What volcanoes can I see in Iceland?

Thrihnukagigur: This dormant volcano allows you to descend into its magma chamber and see its colorful and cavernous interior. From Reykjavik to Thrihnukagigur is 20 miles, which is about a 30 minute drive. There is hiking involved with these tours. You will need to hike about 2.5 miles from the parking lot to the volcano. To enter the magma chamber, it’s a 6 minute elevator ride. Expect to spend 5 to 6 hours visiting this volcano.

Eyjafjallajokull: This is an active volcano that last erupted in 2010 and caused a massive ash cloud that disrupted air travel in Europe. You may remember that air travel was redirected for some time due to the ash cloud. To get there is about about an hour and a half ride from Reykjavik. These tours take a scenic ride along the coast with views of waterfalls and black sand beaches. Expect to pend the entire day doing one of these tours.

Fagradalsfjall: This is an active volcano that last erupted in August 2022 and created a new lava field in the Geldingadalur Valley. Fagradalsfjall is only 25 miles from Reykjavik and less than an hour ride. Here you will need to do a roughly two hour hike from the parking lot to the volcano. There is more here to see than the volcano with geysers, crates and several lakes.

Do I need to do an guided tour to see the volcanoes?

You don’t have to do a guided tour of the volcanoes to see them. We recommend that you do and organized tour because driving in Iceland can be unpredictable and you will obviously need to rent a car.

If you the independent type who likes the freedom to explore on your own it does give you the flexibility and independence of going where and when you want.

The biggest advantage is that a self-drive tour of the Iceland volcanoes allows you to choose your own itinerary and stops. Renting a car allows you to access remote and less crowded parts of Iceland, such as the Westfjords, the Eastfjords or the Highlands.

How do I get the the Volcanoes in Iceland?

Your best option is to do a guided tour where they pick you up from your hotel and take you right to them. If you don’t want to go the guided tour route we recommend you rent a car and drive to them. If that is not an option there are buses that go to a few of them but they are not direct and you will need to connect to get to them.

Are there active erupting volcanoes in Iceland to see lava flowing?

There are several places where you can see lava flowing in Iceland. One of the most recent and popular places to see it was the Fagradalsfjall volcano. It has been erupting for six months now from March to September and thousands of people have flocked there to see it. The Reykjanes Peninsula near Reykjavik usually has several active volcanoes as well.