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Volcano tours in Iceland let you explore the country’s volcanic landscapes in several ways. You can fly over active craters and lava fields by helicopter, hike across recent eruption sites, or descend into a dormant volcano’s drained magma chamber. An eruption does not need to be underway. Most volcano tours operate year-round, and many depart from Reykjavík. Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and has more than 30 active volcanic systems, creating accessible craters, lava fields, and eruption sites year-round.
Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula has been in an active volcanic phase since 2021, with a series of fissure eruptions near the town of Grindavík. When no eruption is underway, there is no flowing lava to visit. Travelers can still explore older craters, recently formed lava fields, and geothermal areas where access is permitted. The Icelandic Met Office monitors the system continuously and treats another eruption as the most likely outcome, though the timing can't be pinned down. Flights and everyday travel have carried on normally throughout.
Check before you travel:
Iceland's Reykjanes volcanic activity updates show the current eruption status.
You can reach Iceland's volcanoes from the air, on foot, or underground. The easiest options depart from Reykjavík, require no hiking, and are available year-round.
See craters, fresh lava fields, and geothermal areas in a single helicopter tour. A flight is also the only way to see a live eruption from above while access roads and trails are closed for safety.
Guided hikes reach the recent eruption sites on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the lava fields are only a few years old. In summer, highland routes around Hekla volcano and the Landmannalaugar area add older volcanic scenery. Eruption hikes depend on weather and access.
Iceland's volcanoes built a world below the surface. Explore the magma chamber of the dormant Þríhnúkagígur volcano by descending 120 m (400 ft) in an open elevator system. You can also walk into a 5,200-year-old lava tube on a Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel tour, where vivid colors and fascinating rock formations line the walls.
Get close to lava, only a few years old, without the long trek. This year-round tour takes in the fresh Sundhnúkagígar lava field and the steaming Seltún geothermal area in Krýsuvík, with short walks rather than a real hike.
The lava here stays black and bare for years before any moss grows over it. Photo: Gunnar Gaukur
Volcano tours are spread across southwest Iceland, from the Reykjanes Peninsula to the South Coast and the Highlands. The Reykjanes Peninsula, about 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Reykjavík, is where you'll find recent eruption sites, fresh lava fields, and geothermal areas such as Krýsuvík. Near the capital, visitors can descend into the Þríhnúkagígur magma chamber or explore the Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel. Further east, the South Coast is home to Eyjafjallajökull volcano and the Katla volcano system beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Here, the Katla ice cave forms through the interaction of ice and volcanic activity. Highland routes around Hekla and Landmannalaugar reveal older volcanic landscapes.
Three rules for a safe volcano visit: go with a guide, don't enter closed areas, and never walk on lava. Eruption sites in Iceland are actively managed because the cooled crust can conceal molten rock and toxic gases beneath it. During an active eruption, hiking to the site may be off-limits, so a helicopter tour becomes the safe way to see it. Between eruptions, you can explore hardened lava fields, craters, and geothermal areas instead. Guides may carry gas monitors and adjust routes to conditions. Always check the SafeTravel advisory before you set out.
No, there is currently no active volcanic eruption in Iceland. The most recent one lasted from July 16 to August 5, 2025, and took place in a remote area. Lava stayed well away from major infrastructure like the airport, Ring Road, and Reykjavík. Travel and flights have been running normally throughout, and your plans can go ahead without concern. For the latest information, you can check Iceland's volcanic activity updates.
No, the volcano eruption won’t disrupt your travel plans in Iceland. Everyone in the country is safe, and the volcanically active region is constantly monitored by scientists and authorities. There's no impact on travel itineraries and flights to a from Iceland are also running normally. Your trip should go smoothly and be full of unique experiences!
Absolutely, Iceland remains a safe destination. Volcanic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula, while significant, is well-managed and poses no threat to the rest of the island. This region has experienced a number of eruptions since 2021. However, none have disrupted flights or general travel around Iceland. The current eruptions are taking place in the isolated area. Extensive monitoring by the authorities ensures that these events won't affect your visit.
No, the volcanic eruptions should not affect your flights. Keflavík International Airport is operating normally, and flights to and from Iceland are running on schedule. The recent ‘fissure eruptions’ do not produce ash clouds that would disrupt air travel.
The best way to experience a volcano safely is through guided volcano excursions. If the eruption is active, hiking to the area is usually off-limits, but you can still see the lava up close—just from above! Helicopter tours give you an unforgettable bird’s-eye view of the action. Once it’s safe to access the site on foot, guided hiking tours will open up, making it easy and safe to explore the area. Keep an eye on our volcano tours for updates!
Yes, to visit the eruption site safely, it's best to go with a professional guide. Local guides are experienced in navigating the area and will keep you safe while providing essential information about the volcanic activity. Booking a guided excursion reduces risks and improves your experience.
The area where the eruptions have been active is about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) southwest of Reykjavík. This distance ensures that the volcanic activity is contained to the Reykjanes Peninsula and does not directly impact the capital city.
Yes, volcanic activity is normal in Iceland. The country is on the boundary of two tectonic plates, which causes frequent eruptions and earthquakes. The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen more frequent volcanic activity since 2021, which is part of a natural cycle. Authorities are well-prepared for these events.
No, walking on lava is prohibited and extremely dangerous. The top layer of lava can easily break, exposing hot lava below and creating serious hazards. Lava fields, in general, are protected in Iceland. Visitors should avoid disturbing or walking on them to prevent accidents and preserve the site. However, you can observe the volcanic terrains from a safe distance, like the newly formed Sundhnúkagígar lava field, on a guided tour around Grindavík.
Yes. Even between eruptions, the volcanoes stay open to visitors. You can fly over craters and lava fields by helicopter, hike recent eruption sites on the Reykjanes Peninsula, or descend into a drained magma chamber on the Inside the Volcano tour. You can also walk a lava tunnel or enter the Katla ice cave under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier near Vík village.
Helicopter tours are the only way to see an active eruption site up close. While eruptions can sometimes be visible from public roads or viewpoints, access to the eruption area itself is often closed for safety. Flights provide a safe aerial view of the eruption, lava flows, and the surrounding landscape. Availability depends on weather, volcanic activity, and official restrictions.
Yes. The Inside the Volcano tour takes you into the empty magma chamber of Þríhnúkagígur, one of the few volcanoes in the world where this is possible. An open lift lowers you about 120 m (400 ft) after a walk across the lava field to the crater. Inside, the chamber opens into a vast, cathedral-like space filled with vivid mineral colors that reveal how the volcano once formed.
Yes. Iceland’s volcanoes are closely monitored, and recent eruptions since 2021 have been limited to the Reykjanes Peninsula, away from Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport. The Icelandic Met Office tracks activity continuously, helping keep access controlled and safe. Still, the rule on the ground is simple: go with a guide, follow closures, and never step onto fresh lava.
In most cases, no. Recent fissure eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula have not generated ash clouds that would affect air traffic, and Keflavík International Airport has remained fully operational. The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption was a different type of event, producing a high-altitude ash plume that disrupted flights across Europe.
The recent eruption sites are about 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Reykjavík, on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The distance keeps the activity well away from the capital while staying close enough for half-day and day tours.
Yes, if you want to visit an active eruption. While lava is flowing, authorities control who gets close, and the safe ways in are a guided hike once the site reopens on foot, or a helicopter tour overhead. You watch from a set distance and never step onto the lava itself, even where the surface looks hard and cooled. Between eruptions, you can reach cooled lava fields and marked viewpoints on your own, but you should stick to the trails.
No, walking on lava is prohibited and dangerous: the cooled crust can break and expose molten lava beneath, and lava fields are protected in Iceland. You can view them safely from a distance, a viewpoint, or from the air.
Summer and early fall are best for the easiest hiking conditions and open highland routes, while winter is excellent for lava tunnel tours and the Katla ice cave. Helicopter tours and the Reykjanes Lava Fields and Grindavík tour operate throughout the year, weather permitting, making it possible to experience Iceland’s volcanic landscapes in every season.
Yes, entirely. Iceland straddles two tectonic plates and lies over a mantle hotspot, which keeps the ground geologically busy across the country. The Reykjanes Peninsula entered a new active phase in 2021 after roughly 800 quiet years, and authorities are well prepared for it.
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