Visit the stunningly beautiful but overlooked location of Reykjanes Peninsula. The hot springs, lava fields and moss-covered geothermal wonders will truly blow you away!
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On this minibus tour, you will certainly feel like you are in another world. Thanks to its diversity of geothermal and volcanic activity, Reykjanes Peninsula is a UNESCO Global Geopark and also part of the European and Global Geopark network. Reykjanes is dotted with huge lava fields and is one of the very few places in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is visible above the sea level. Despite its relative proximity to Reykjavík and Keflavík International Airport, the peninsula is not crowded by tourists and stays an authentic gem off the beaten path.
The tour begins when with collection from Reykjavik, please note that this process can last up to thirty minutes, depending on your location. From there we will make the scenic journey to our first destination, Lake Kleifarvatn. Lake Kleifarvatn is the largest lake in Reykjanes Peninsula, situated in a dramatic volcanic crater close to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The lake is incredibly deep, reaching down close to 100 meters at certain points. It is also completely unique, as it has doesn’t have any rivers flowing into it, meaning that the amount of water in it is defined by the groundwater. In Icelandic legend, it is believed to be home to a strange mythical creature, an Icelandic version of the Loch Ness monster. This along with the spectacular natural scenery made up of coal-black cliffs, black sands, and murky waters, makes it a must-see during your Icelandic visit.
From there we will push on into the Krysuvik area, a hilly region known for the multi-colored sulfur deposits that dye its slopes. There are also several colorful crater lakes in the area, alongside bubbling hot springs and a myriad of different bird species, including kittiwakes, guillemots, and razorbills, who often dive from the cliffs into the blue Atlantic Ocean below.
After that, we will move to Gunnuhver, an expanse of molten seawater, which throws a massive plume of smoke into the air. It is surrounded by colorful rocks that have been dyed various shades of blue and orange by the volcanic activity in the area. It is famous for the rather tragic story of an old woman named Gudrun, who lived in the area sometime in the 18th century. Unfortunately, the locals suspected her of being a witch, meaning that they treated her with suspicion and dislike. By the time of her death, she had been involved in many disputes, including with a judge, who attended her funeral and was then found dead and mutilated the next day. The locals blamed the old woman’s ghost, who proceeded to torment the area until a local priest helped them to trap her in the hot spring. Icelandic folklore holds that she remains trapped there until this day and the spring is named after her. We will continue to pick our way down the coast, enjoying some spectacular birdlife on the cliffs of Valhnukar and seeing the lonely old Reykjanesviti Lighthouse, which gazes out to sea.
Our final stop is known as the Bridge between two continents, a small footbridge that crosses the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which provides the perfect visual representation of how the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are drifting away from each other. It is located in the village of Sandvik and is one of the few places that you can cross continents on foot.
Our Reykjanes tour is perfect for anyone who wants to create some unforgettable moments in truly majestic Icelandic surroundings. It is also perfectly located, providing access to places like the Blue Lagoon, Keflavik Airport, and Reykjavik. This means that it could be a final day treat, after which we drop you at the airport, or combined with another wonderful tour, such as the Blue Lagoon. However, you want to do it: we promise that Reykjanes is a spectacular Icelandic destination that you won’t want to miss!
Pick-up Information
Pick up is at 08:30 am from your hotel or a nearby meeting point in Reykjavík. Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes, your patience is much appreciated.
Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.
Return time
You will return to Reykjavík around 03:30 pm approximately.
The airport drop off is approximately 2.30 PM (14:30), which is suitable when your departure flight time is at 4:00 PM (16:00) and later.
Admission ticket to the Blue Lagoon needs to be booked in advance, should you want to be dropped off at the Blue Lagoon.
If you want to visit the Blue Lagoon, you need to book the entry ticket by yourself in advance. We recommend to book for 3:00 PM (15:00) as drop off there would be around 2.45 PM (14:45). You will have to take the bus back to Reykjavik by yourself, or to Keflavík if your flight is later in the day.
This is a great question. We ask all participants to be ready from the start of the pickup time indicated. This is because you may well be the first pick up of the day. Please be at your assigned location at the start time that you chose when booking the tour.
Here you should wait for your guide.
Have your email and phone number listed with us so we can contact you if we run into any trouble finding you.
View our pick-up locations in Reykjavík.
Before and during activities on the multi-day tours consumption of alcohol is prohibited. If we suspect that a participant is intoxicated, we will prohibit them from joining the activity.
After the activities of the day are finished, you are welcome to have a drink and relax.
Yes, we do. Langjökull Ice Cave is a magical experience, the tour has no minimum age and is a wonderful option for the whole family. Whale Watching with our partner company Elding has been a favourite with families traveling with young children, these guys have a great success rate in seeing whales (upwards of 98% in the summertime).
Another option would be the Landmannalaugar Safari on this tour you get to explore parts of the Icelandic highlands and bathe in natural hot springs. Most of our super jeep tours are also suitable for children over the age of 6 years old. If you would like a nice and relaxing experience we would also recommend the Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon tour.
Your safety is our number one priority! Keeping this in mind, Arctic Adventures reserves the right to adjust the itinerary and/or take different routes depending on conditions. Please read more information in our cancellation policy.
Yes, there is a specially trained and certified guide on each of our tours. The only exception to this is for our self-drive tours.
All of our tours are guided in English.
No, for all your questions and concerns you would need to contact our customer service.
The standard in Iceland is 230V and 50Hz and we use F-type power sockets and plugs, so you might have to bring an adaptor if you are visiting from UK, USA, Canada or other countries using a different voltage, Hz or plugs.
Our tours are split into four different categories that help participants to understand what to expect from the tour. The categories are Easy, Moderate, Challenging and Demanding. Each tour is rated making it easier to find tours that suit you.
For further information about the difficulty ratings and descriptions.
We’ve partnered with the Kolviður Fund in a new carbon offsetting program, which passengers can select to participate in at the time of booking.
The Kolviður Fund is the oldest, most respected carbon offsetting program in Iceland. With your support, one tree will be planted in special Kolviður forests in Iceland to carbon offset your tour with us.
Kolviður forests are strategically planted to absorb the maximum amount of CO2 and the forests are protected for a minimum of 60 years. During their lifetime the trees absorb carbon and store it in their root system, trunk, and branches. Trees also prevent soil erosion and maintain storage of carbon in the soil.