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!

Best Volcano Tours in Iceland

	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 5 Best Rated Iceland Volcano Tours For 2023

1. Best Guided Tour: Magnificent Volcano Guided Hike Tour from Reykjavik
2. Best Adventure Tour: Iceland Volcano ATV Tour
3. Best Private Tour: Amazing Private Volcano Guided Hike Tour from Reykjavik – At Your Own Pace
4. Best Small Group Tour: Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike & Geothermal Tour from Reykjavik
5. Best Half-Day Tour: Half-Day Fagradalsfjall Volcano Tour from Reykjavík

Iceland Volcano Tour Reviews

1. 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

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 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

4. 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

5. Best Half-Day Tour: Half-Day Fagradalsfjall Volcano Tour from Reykjavík

This tour draws many similarities between the tour we just covered, except it’s even more affordable and not completely private.

This 4-hour 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 Half-Day Fagradalsfjall Volcano Tour from Reykjavik.

Lasting around 4 hours long (depending on traffic and weather), you’ll be picked up around 1 pm at your hotel by a comfortable coach with free wi-fi on board. This is a great option if you don’t like waking up early, or have a busy morning as most of these tours do take place earlier in the day.

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.

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

Iceland Travel Guide

There are many reasons the Land of Fire and Ice has seen an explosion in tourism since 2019. Not only can you see the Northern Lights, active volcanoes, glaciers, and puffins, you can also relax in a geothermal spa and even bake bread inside a pot buried underground.

What you decide to do in this fascinating country is your choice, but you should take the time to do some research before you go. This guide is here to inform you where you can go, what you can do, and how you can get there, because we want you to have the best vacation of your life in Iceland.

Airports & Entry

Most visitors to Iceland arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF). Although Iceland only has a population of 359 thousand people, in 2018 this busy airport handled 9.8 million passengers. Despite the number of visitors, there is only one terminal. You will find the check-in times minimal, with an average 20-minute waiting time at the security check.

Inside the terminal, you will find everything clearly signposted in English. Charging points for cellphones and laptops are provided in the waiting area along with free Wi-Fi.

Strollers are provided for children, and there is a dedicated kids’ play area. The usual selection of food outlets and shops are found on the upper floor of the main building. Manned information stands are located throughout the airport.

It is 30 miles from the airport to Reykjavik, the capital city. The speed limit is 55 mph, but the drive usually takes 50 minutes due to traffic. Shuttle bus services link KEF to the city, which you can book in advance online or pay for at the airport.

Some hotels offer airport collection, and you should ask about that when you book your room. You can, of course, jump in a taxi at the airport, but it will be extremely expensive compared to the airport bus service. Car rental is available at the airport, but it is advisable to book in advance.

Planning Tips

With so many exciting things to do and see in Iceland, you’re guaranteed to have a great holiday. However, things do not always go to plan, so here are 5 tips to help you make the most of your visit.

Tip #1: If you want to see the Aurora Borealis, go between September and March

It’s easier to view the Northern Lights when the sky is at its darkest. In Iceland, the nights are especially long between September and March, but the sky doesn’t grow dark enough to view this magical phenomenon during the summer months. However, do not plan a visit around a full moon, because its light can dampen the impact of this natural light display. The best days to go are around the time of a new moon.

Tip #2: Check out the SolarHam website

If you are especially interested in the Aurora Borealis and want to earn your Geek Badge, check out the SolarHam website. This techy site provides a 3-day geomagnetic forecast, which is useful for aurora hunters to select the best time to view the Northern Lights. The same site provides a satellite map of where the natural light show is right now, so you can look up if you’re near.

Tip #3: Take your time to enjoy all the attractions of Iceland

There’s so much to see in Iceland, it would be a crime not to explore and experience as much as you are able in the time you have. While you are there, do not miss the opportunity to see so many unforgettable natural phenomena in one place. There is nowhere else on the planet where you can see active volcanoes, glaciers, and icebergs, all in one national park.

Tip #4: Book everything in advance, especially in winter

Tourism is on the rise in Iceland, and hotel rooms, tours, and attractions get fully-booked ahead of time. Don’t miss out on seeing the Northern Lights from the best vantage point possible because all the tours were booked-up before you arrived. Many tours like the ones detailed above offer a 24-hour-in-advance free cancellation, so you take no financial risk booking. Ask about free cancellation when buying your ticket.

Tip #5: Impress your friends with quintessentially Icelandic souvenirs

The budget chain store Bonus stocks many unique Icelandic products, such as Omnom chocolate, Icelandic specialty teas, herbal sea salt blends, and licorice mixed with chocolate. At Bonus, you can pick up great, inexpensive gifts for your friends! Vinbuoin, the state-run liquor store, sells a fine selection of renowned Icelandic spirits, including Iceland’s signature tipple, Brennivin.

And if you like to sort through other folks’ debris for the hidden treasures, a special weekend market is held at Kolaportio in downtown Reykjavik where Icelanders come to sell off their unwanted goods when moving to a new house. You could find anything!

Restaurants & Eating Out

Because of Iceland’s geographical position and climate, vegetables and grains are rare in traditional foods, and many famous dishes focus on preserved seafood or meat. Also, food was scarce in yesteryears, so every part of an animal or fish was eaten.

You’ll find many traditional meals involve fish or meat that is salted, smoked, dried, or fermented. Watch out for such culinary delights as baked sheep’s head and fermented shark.

Seafood restaurants are common throughout Iceland, and all serve “fish of the day”, which is usually salmon, monkfish, haddock, or cod. However, if you wish, you can seek out some of the more exotic options. Humar is a kind of lobster caught off the south coast of Iceland, renowned for its tender and tasty flesh.

It is served fried, baked or grilled, though it can also be found as a pizza topping! Plokkfishkur is a fish stew, made to the chef’s specific recipe but usually combining white fish with onions, potatoes, milk, and flour. Harofiskur is a snack you can buy in any grocery store. It is dried stockfish, eaten with butter or straight out of a bag.

Because it is difficult to grow wheat in Iceland, there are many traditional varieties of rye bread, like flatkaka, baked in thin disks on hot stones. One variety of rye bread you should try is rugbrauo, a sweet-tasting, dark bread.

The reason rugbrauo is so interesting for visitors to Iceland is that a common baking technique is to bury a dough-filled pot near one of the many hot springs, such as Fontana Hot Springs, and use geothermal heat to bake the bread. Rugbrauo baked that way is also called hyerabrauo (hot-spring bread).

Icelanders don’t only eat fish and rye bread. Sheep are the most common livestock in Iceland, so lamb is often on the menu. Sheep wander freely around the countryside, eating seaweed, grass, and berries, which tends to make lamb tender with a mild flavor.

Smoked lamb is called hangikjöt and is often served boiled during the winter holidays. Also watch out for varieties of meat you won’t see in most other countries, like puffin, horse, and whale. Despite international concern over puffins and whales, they are still commonly consumed in Iceland.

A meal on vacation isn’t complete without dessert. Popular local sweets include rugbrauosis (rye bread ice cream), pönnukökur (Icelandic pancakes), and snuour (cinnamon bread covered in caramel or chocolate). A dairy product unique to Iceland is skyr.

It is a kind of sour milk cheese eaten like yogurt and often sweetened and flavored with fruit or vanilla.

Nightlife & Entertainment

With long, cold nights throughout the winter, it’s no surprise Icelanders love their nightlife, and much of it is centered where most of the people live—Reykjavik. Because the capital is so small, most of the clubs and bars are within walking distance of one another. In fact, many are along one street, Laugavegur, the commercial artery of downtown.

Most social venues are informal and entrance fees rare. When Icelanders go out for the night, they tend to begin late, and many clubs and bars don’t get busy until after midnight. This is in part because alcohol in bars is expensive, so locals drink at home before setting out.

Many clubs and bars stay open as late as 5 am. Cocktail bars are a recent addition to Iceland’s nightlife, but with the booming tourist trade, they are rapidly expanding.

And don’t worry too much about safety at night. In 2019, the Institute for Economics and Peace in Sydney ranked Iceland the most peaceful nation on Earth for the 12^th year running. Crime rates in Reykjavik are probably lower than anywhere you have ever lived.

Getting Around

Iceland is a small country covering an area slightly smaller than Kentucky. If you wanted to drive from Reykjavik on the west coast to Faskruosfjorour on the east coast, the 425 miles route would take only 8½ hours.

However, because of its small population outside of the capital, you cannot rely on public transport to go sightseeing around the country or reach the best place to view the northern lights. This leaves you with two options: hiring a car or booking a coach tour, like the Golden Circle tour detailed above.

Within the capital and its immediate area, you do have more options: bus, taxi, bicycle, or walk. The public bus service is inexpensive and efficient, and you can ask for help to find the right bus from your hotel reception. Given that Reykjavik is so small a city, taxis are affordable.

If you want a little exercise, bicycle rentals are available in many hotels, and the city is crisscrossed by dedicated bicycle paths. If you decide to walk, make sure you wrap up well. The weather can deteriorate rapidly in Iceland.

Accommodations

Over the past few years, Iceland has seen a huge expansion in tourism. With a 378% increase since 2010, hotel rooms fill up quickly. Through Christmas and summer, hotels are usually fully booked. Since 228 of Iceland’s 359 thousand citizens live within the capital and its immediate hinterland, settlements throughout the rest of Iceland are small and rooms for visitors limited. Most hotels are in the capital.

You will probably find it most convenient to stay in Reykjavik. You will find a broad range of hotels there, it is near the airport, and many of the attractions along with most of the nightlife are found there or nearby. Many organized tours to other parts of Iceland and major tourist attractions set out from Reykjavik, such as most of the Northern Lights tours detailed above.

Within the downtown and central area of Reykjavik you will find a choice of luxury hotels, like the Hotel Borg downtown and The Icelandair Hotel Marina, overlooking the harbor. If you head a little more out of the center, you’ll find more affordable hostels, such as The Capital Inn and Bus Hostel Reykjavik.

There are some popular hotels outside of the capital near to tourist attractions, such as Hotel Skaftafell in the Vatnajökull National Park, which offers spectacular views of Iceland’s largest mountain, or Skyrhusid Guesthouse near Lake Jökulsarion in the south. Wherever you decide to stay, the important thing is to book in advance. If you don’t, you will miss out on the best rooms.

Weather

Iceland is not the place to go if you want year-round sunshine and dry weather. In fact, on 22^nd December there are only 4 hours of daylight, because that is the shortest day. That’s great if you want to see the Aurora Borealis, since it can only be seen during dark nights, but not so good for other sightseeing. In contrast, the longest day boasts 21 hours of daylight, 21^st June.

The “warm” summer period covers June, July, and August, with an average daily high of 55⁰F and a low of 46⁰F. Yes, 55⁰F is their summer high! Summers are short and cloudy. The winter period covers November through March, two months longer than summer, and is cold, wet, windy, and overcast, with frequent snow. The average daily high drops to 35⁰F in January with a low of 27⁰F.

If your main interest is the Northern Lights, you should go anytime September through March, because the sky is dark enough to view those fantastic electromagnetic displays. If the Aurora Borealis does not interest you, you’ll get the warmest weather and longer days from the end of June to mid-August.

Attractions

The Northern Lights are not the only unique and fascinating attraction in Iceland. The Land of Fire and Ice is the best place in the world to see and experience the majesty and power of two extremes in Nature: glaciers and volcanoes. These attractions are all part of what is called the “Golden Circle”. Taking a day tour of the Golden Circle with a guide is a great way to take in all of the best sights.

12 miles from KEF is the world-famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Here you can laze in pools of hot, milky blue water heated by a lava flow. Nearby stands the Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant, which uses superheated water from the lava flow to generate electricity and also provide heat for a municipal water heating system.

There are geothermal spas like the Blu Lagoon throughout Iceland, so wherever you choose to stay, you can find one near you and experience the power of molten rock.

If you are there in the winter, be sure to see the migrating whales. To have the best chance of see them, that a whale watching tour. The boat captains know the best places to go to see them.

If ice and Arctic landscapes interest you, head 140 miles east from Reykjavik to Vatnajökull National Park, which is centered on Vatnajökull glacier and the surrounding beautiful landscape. This park covers 14% of Iceland and is filled with glacial rivers and active volcanoes. To fully see it, take a tour of the glaciers!

Vatnajökull glacier empties into the glacial lake of Jökulsarion in the south, where you can see 100-feet-tall icebergs freshly broken away from the glacier. Jökulsarion served as a setting in several major Hollywood movies. On your drive back to Reykjavik, you can see two beautiful waterfalls around Skogar. The first, Skogafoss, is an impressive waterfall and a popular destination for Icelandic day-trippers.

18 miles west of Skogafoss is picturesque Seljalandsfoss waterfall. A path allows sightseers to pass behind the curtain of water as it falls into the crystal-clear plunge pool.

If it’s man-made cultural and historical attractions you seek, you’ll find plenty to do and see around Reykjavik. The capital’s earliest history stretches back to 874, but it only became a true city in 1785.

Around Reykjavik, you’ll find an interesting assortment of museums and tourist attractions, like the National Museum of Iceland and the Reykjavik Maritime Museum.

Perhaps one of the most unique attractions is seeing the continental plates splitting apart at Silfra. Here the North American and Eurasian plates are separating. If you are daring you can take a snorkel tour of Silfra and see it for yourself!

A famous landmark visitors flock to see is the Hallgrimskirkja Church, which is the largest church in Iceland. This unique structure was designed by a local architect to resemble the glaciers and mountains of Iceland.