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Not many tours get this far into Iceland's interior. A Super Jeep carries you into the Highlands to Lakagígar, a long row of craters left by the Skaftáreldar eruption of 1783 to 1784, one of the greatest eruptions in Iceland's history. The day is built around getting out and walking the crater rims and moss-covered lava, with a local driver-guide who knows both the ground and the story behind it.
Reaching it means fording four unbridged rivers on a rough Highland track, which is exactly why you travel by Super Jeep and leave the driving to someone who knows the route. Along the way you stop at Fagrifoss, a remote waterfall most people never see, and finish at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon before the drive back. Groups stay small, up to twelve, so the quiet stays with you.
Expert Guides
• Deep local knowledge
Availability
June–September
Duration
~8 hours
Level
Easy
Suitable for most people in fair condition.
Departs From
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Pickup starts about 30 minutes before departure from Kirkjubæjarklaustur, and you set off north on the F206 mountain road toward Laki. You reach the crater area around 10:30 AM, then loop back to town for drop-off around 5:00 PM.
The craters are the centerpiece. When they erupted, they poured out about 12 km³ (2.9 mi³) of lava, enough to bury a large area of the lowlands and reshape life throughout Iceland. The toxic haze that followed became known as the Móðuharðindin, the mist hardships. You’ll get about 2.5 hours here. Hike to the top of Mount Laki for a view along the whole row toward the Vatnajökull ice cap, or take the shorter trail into a crater beside it. If you'd rather not climb, your driver-guide can take you up to a nearby viewpoint instead. A ranger station and picnic tables are on site.
A short drive brings you to Tjarnargígur, a crater holding a pool of water, with a viewing platform on the rim. From here you can take a longer walk down inside on steep lava steps over uneven ground, about an hour round trip. If that's not for you, stay up at the platform, wander into an easier crater nearby, or wait in the Super Jeep. Restrooms and picnic tables are here as well.
After the track closes the circle around Lakagígar, the tour pauses at Fagrifoss, the scenic waterfall on the Geirlandsá river. You have around 20 to 30 minutes for the short walk to the falls before the last stretch.
The final stop is Fjaðrárgljúfur, a gorge up to about 100 meters (330 feet) deep. The Fjaðrá river cut it into soft palagonite rock at the end of the last Ice Age, around 9,000 years ago. You’ll walk the marked path along the top edge, looking down at the water winding between sheer, moss-draped walls. Stay on the path and behind the fences, since the vegetation and the rim are fragile. From here, it's the drive back to town.
The tour lasts 8 to 9 hours in total, with about 5 hours spent hiking and sightseeing. Available from June 15 to September 15.
Pickup starts about 30 minutes before departure, from any of these points:
A Super Jeep is a highly modified vehicle equipped with 38" to 50" tires and a robust suspension system, uniquely designed to handle Iceland's diverse terrains and conditions. Dive deeper into the world of Super Jeep Tours.
Yes, Super Jeeps are designed and modified to handle the challenging terrains of Iceland, ensuring safety during tours. For a secure adventure, check out our Super Jeep Tours.
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.
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, our guides are not able to provide information on these matters, but our team will be happy to assist you. We kindly ask that you reach out to our customer care team regarding any questions or concerns.
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.
