Iceland is known as the Land of Fire and Ice, with the country's many spectacular volcanoes representing the 'fire'! Here are 6 of the top volcano tours you can take!
Iceland’s volcanoes do far more than sit on the horizon. They shape the country’s lava fields, craters, geothermal areas, and black sand landscapes. Volcanic activity is a recurring part of life here. Iceland’s official volcano catalog tracks 33 active volcanic systems, which helps explain why the country feels so closely tied to fire as well as ice.
That’s also what makes trips so rewarding. Some of the best volcano tours in Iceland allow you to see geology directly in the landscape, whether through a guided hike, Super Jeep ride, or a walk through a lava tunnel. Together, these options cover a wide range of activity levels and travel styles.
Molten lava flowing through dark volcanic rock during an Icelandic volcanic eruption.
Mount Eyjafjallajökull became internationally known in 2010 when an eruption beneath its ice cap sent ash into the atmosphere, disrupting air travel across Europe. The eruption triggered glacial outburst floods, bringing global attention to a volcano few people outside Iceland had followed before.
Today, Eyjafjallajökull is better known as one of South Iceland’s most dramatic volcanic landscapes. Super Jeep tours in Iceland are an effective way to access rugged terrain in this area. The Mount Eyjafjallajökull Super Jeep Tour also includes stops at Gígjökull glacier, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and Skógafoss waterfall. It’s currently listed as a 5-hour, easy-level trip departing from Reykjavík.
Please note: Transfer for this tour from Reykjavik costs additionally (ISK 10,000).
Expert tip:
“This tour works especially well for travelers drawn to big scenery without committing to a long or demanding hike. In one trip, you can take in volcanic terrain, waterfalls, glacier views, black sand landscapes, and places a regular vehicle cannot easily reach.”
Landmannalaugar sits in Iceland’s southern Highlands, in the wider volcanic region around Hekla. Often referred to as “the Queen of Iceland’s volcanoes,” Hekla is one of the country’s best-known and most active volcanoes, with more than 20 major eruptions recorded since settlement. Over time, these eruptions have shaped the surrounding landscape, leaving stretches of lava, ash, and bare highland terrain.
Rather than focusing on a single peak, this tour takes you across a broader volcanic region. Landmannalaugar adds another side to the story, with rhyolite mountains, lava fields, hot springs, and blue lakes all part of the same highland area.
The Landmannalaugar hiking tour lets you experience that landscape on foot in a single day. Along the way, you walk through lava fields and colorful mountain terrain, then finish with a relaxing soak in the natural hot pool near Laugahraun lava field. The tour also gives you two meeting options, with departure from Reykjavík or the choice to meet on location.
Expert tip:
“This is a strong choice for travelers looking for something genuinely unusual and memorable. Descending 120 meters into a 4,000-year-old magma chamber is not an experience many people get anywhere. It also suits visitors who are comfortable with a moderate walk to the crater.”
This is one of Iceland’s most unusual experiences. It takes place at Þríhnúkagígur, a dormant crater near Reykjavík, and includes a hike across the lava field followed by a descent into the volcano’s empty magma chamber. The Inside the Volcano Tour gives visitors a rare chance to go inside a volcano, not just view one from the outside.
It’s the only place on Earth where visitors can descend into a chamber of this kind, lowered about 120 meters (around 400 feet) by an open cable lift. The volcano last erupted around 4,000 years ago and was left empty after the magma drained away, making visits like this possible today.
This tour runs in small groups and takes place not far from Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavík. The duration of the whole tour is 4/6 hours, with both Reykjavík pick-up and a meet-on-location option. That combination of easy access and a unique setting is what puts it among the most distinctive adventures.
Expert tip:
“This is a strong choice for travelers looking for something genuinely unusual and memorable. Descending 120 meters into a 4,000-year-old magma chamber is not an experience many people get anywhere. It also suits visitors who are comfortable with a moderate walk to the crater.”
This tour showcases two different sides of Iceland in one evening. First, you descend into the underground world of an old lava tube. Then, the focus shifts upwards with a late-night hunt for the Northern Lights away from Reykjavík’s glow.
The Evening Lava Tunnel & Northern Lights Tour starts at Raufarhólshellir lava tube, formed by an eruption more than 5,000 years ago. Inside, you walk 350 m into the cave, with roughly 900 m (2,952 ft) covered in total, as your guide points out the colorful rock layers and volcanic formations. After that, you continue into the countryside for the aurora part of the evening, with warm cocoa, chocolate, blankets, and photos included if the lights appear. If conditions do not cooperate, the tour also includes a free retry for the Northern Lights portion.
This excursion is also easy to fit into a stay in Reykjavík. The tour runs from September to April, lasts about 4 to 5 hours, and is rated easy, making it a practical combo for volcanic scenery and a winter night-sky experience.
Expert tip:
“This combo is ideal for winter visitors who want to make the most of one evening. It is especially useful if you are short on time but still want to combine volcanic landscapes with a chance to see the aurora. The mix of lava tunnel, night skies, hot chocolate, and blankets makes it a cozy, memorable night out.”
Blue ice, black ash, and volcanic sand come together in one of South Iceland’s most striking landscapes. This adventure takes place at Kötlujökull, an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull near Vík, where Katla’s volcanic system shapes the ice above it. The Katla Volcano Ice Cave Tour by Super Jeep brings that scenery within reach, followed by guided glacier access.
Part of what makes this tour so notable is the contrast. You’re stepping into a glacier shaped by the volcanic system beneath it, with dark ash lines running through the ice. From Vík, the route crosses volcanic plains before continuing on foot into the cave itself.
The tour can start from either Reykjavík or Vík. Our experts lead the walk, fit you with your safety gear, and explain how the cave changes in different conditions and why this part of Mýrdalsjökull glacier looks the way it does. The combination of dramatic scenery, glacier access, and local knowledge makes this one of Iceland’s standout volcano tours.
Expert tip:
“Stepping into the cave feels unlike anything else on the South Coast. Near Vík, the mix of blue ice and black ash creates a landscape that looks strikingly different from anything else in the country. The cave also changes from year to year as older formations melt and new ones take shape, which is part of what keeps the experience so interesting.”
The hike focuses on eruption sites on the southwest coast, where fresh lava fields and fissures have created some of the country’s youngest volcanic landscapes. The Volcano Eruption Hike from Reykjavík is built around seeing those changes up close with a guide.
The route leads into the Reykjanes Peninsula, a geologically active part of Iceland. Along the way, you see the aftermath of the Sundhnúkur, Fagradalsfjall, and Meradalir eruptions and walk through terrain that has changed dramatically since 2021.
In practical terms, it’s a straightforward trip from Reykjavík. The tour lasts about 7 hours, includes transport from the city, and is rated moderate. It suits travelers who are comfortable with a longer hike and want to see how quickly Iceland’s landscape can change.
Expert tip:
“This tour makes the most sense for travelers who want to walk through recent eruption terrain rather than view it from a distance. It is better suited to people who are comfortable with a longer, more demanding hike than to those looking for a short scenic stop.”
Volcano tours in Iceland range from lava tunnels and eruption hikes to glacier-volcano landscapes and magma chambers below ground. Together, they show how varied the country’s terrains really are.
For a different perspective, helicopter & airplane tours in Iceland add an aerial view of craters, lava fields, geothermal areas, and glaciers in a way ground tours cannot. From the air, it becomes easier to understand the scale of the scenery and how its volcanic features connect.
A volcano tour in Iceland typically includes seeing volcanic landscapes up close, whether that means walking across lava fields, visiting recent eruption areas, or exploring a lava tunnel. The exact experience depends on the tour, but guided context is usually a big part of what makes the landscape easier to understand.
Many volcano tours in Iceland take place on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where recent eruptions have created dramatic lava landscapes. Others are based in South Iceland or the Highlands, where you can visit glacier-covered systems like Katla or broader highland regions around Hekla.
Yes, volcano tours in Iceland are generally safe when led by experienced guides. Tour operators carefully monitor volcanic activity and weather conditions to ensure visitor safety while exploring the areas.
Volcano tours in Iceland are available year-round, but summer and early autumn often offer the easiest hiking conditions. That is when eruption hikes and highland routes are generally more accessible, with longer daylight and drier trails. Winter still works well for some experiences, especially lava tunnel tours and ice cave tours near Katla. It all depends on whether you want easier hiking or a more winter-focused volcano experience.
Not always. While some volcanic areas can be visited independently, many eruption sites and landscapes are better explored with a guide. A guided tour in Iceland provides expert insight, safety guidance, and easier access to remote volcanic locations.
Bestsellers
