For many years we’ve been sending our clients to experience the splendour of Iceland’s volatile landscape – brooding volcanoes, seething geothermal springs, steaming lava flows and, from time to time, live eruptions!
These tend to occur once every five years, but are also fickle and hard to predict. Eruptions may last only days or sometimes, months. Over the last three years, there have been consecutive eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula in south west Iceland with another predicted to be highly likely as of November 2023.
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Reykjanes Peninsula, November 2023
A new eruption near Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula is considered highly likely following increased seismic activity from early November. While this is highly localised and there is no disruption to the rest of Iceland, the town of Grindavik has been evacuated as a precaution. The nearby Blue Lagoon is also temporarily closed and the situation is under the closest of surveillance.
Icelanders are used to their country rumbling. The country has one of the world’s most effective volcanic preparedness measures with its abundant volcanic features, which are a huge draw people from around the globe.
On the 10 July an eruption started at Litli-Hrútur north of Fagradalsfjall on the Reykjanes Peninsula and lasted about a month. It occurred near to the sites of the 2021 and 2022 volcanic eruptions. A tourist-friendly eruption, molten red lava was visible from a hiking trail established at a safe distance from the eruption, providing the chance to witness one of nature’s most dramatic sights.
Photographer RTH Sigurdsson
The previous eruption started on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula on 3 August 2022. Magma pushed to the surface in the Merardalir valley near to the site of the 2021 eruption also on the peninsula. A tourist-friendly eruption, volcanic activity lasted several weeks before subsiding. View images from the eruption in August 2022 and the changed landscape.
On Friday 19 March 2021, a volcanic eruption started in the Fagradalsfjall area of the Reykjanes Peninsula around 25km from Reykjavik. A fissure around 500 – 700 metres long opened up releasing red hot lava flows in a dramatic spectacle. The eruption was closely monitored to ensure there was no threat to inhabitants or infrastructure. Multiple fissures subsequently opened and this tourist-friendly eruption became a visitor hotspot for both Icelanders, and once travel restrictions were lifted in spring/summer 2021, overseas tourists keen to witness nature in the raw. While the eruption is no longer live, it lasted for the rest of 2021, and the site is still a popular visitor attraction.
The previous most recent significant volcanic eruption in Iceland was at the Holuhraun lava field, north of the Vatnajokull icecap in the central Highlands. This spectacular eruption lasted six months from late August 2014 to the end of February 2015. Fountains of molten rock erupted from fissures up to a mile in length, producing a lava field over 85 sq km in area – the largest in Iceland since the Laki eruption of 1783. A marked hiking trail has since opened through the lava field.
Prior to that, the 2010 eruption at Eyjafjallajökull made global headlines, sending a huge volcanic ash cloud high into the atmosphere that grounded aviation in the northern hemisphere for several days. The eruption had started as a tourist eruption with lava being emitted from fissures in stunning fashion against the dark skies of March. But a second, more powerful phase saw a fissure open under the thick ice of the glacier, which erupted explosively on 14 April 2010 creating the now infamous ash cloud.
Even without a live eruption, Iceland’s volcanic features are ever-present. Whether you want to descend deep into the magma chamber of a dormant volcano, fly over a crater in a helicopter, or hike over Iceland’s lava fields, we can assist with your travel plans. Take a look through our most popular experiences below or contact our Travel Specialists about how you can enjoy Iceland’s volcanic wonders.
Our collection of specialised excursions includes superjeep adventures and dedicated volcano experiences, which can be incorporated into any self drive itinerary in Iceland.
The dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Southwest Iceland. This huge volcanic magma chamber is now accessible to people to venture inside on a tour lasting 5-6 hours including transfers from Reykjavik.
Take an exciting excursion to Eyjafjallajokull – the site of the 2010 eruption – with an expert Superjeep driver/guide. Climb the slopes of the glacier with this highly adapted 4×4 vehicle taking in views of the south shore.
Located near to Borgarfjordur in the west of Iceland, the Vidgelmir lava cave offers the chance to explore Iceland’s magical underworld on a 1.5 hour walking adventure.
This centre offers visitors a full multimedia experience; immersing guests into Iceland’s volcanic and seismic life. It’s the largest museum of its kind in the country.
The latest eruption in Iceland started on 3 August 2022, reminding the world that this North Atlantic island is a geological hot spot. Read on to take a look at some of the country's impressive geological and volcanic experiences.
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See stunning images by photographer Ragnar TH Sigurdsson of the dramatic eruption in the Fagradalsfjall area of the Reykjanes Peninsula that started on Friday 19 March 2021.
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