Small Group Volcano Hike With A Professional Geologist

Had a fantastic day with France leading us up the volcano. Learned a lot, France was very engaging and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend!

Truly was an extraordinary experience. France was an exceptional guide and was insanely knowledgeable about everything from the drive right up to the top of the hike. Would highly recommend for anyone looking to see the lava fields up close and get an expert’s insight!

Very good tour. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and took the time to make the experience enjoyable and thoughtful. Thank you.

Incredibly knowledgeable guide who was able to look at a massive lava field and immediately pick out unique lava rocks literally millimeters wide to show the group. She was also very knowledgeable about the history, industry, and economy of Iceland and many of the features we drove past. The itinerary was great with a mix of hiking, geology lessons, scenic vistas, and lunch ON some of the newest rock on earth. She made sure to warn us of potential hazards, and even had paracetamol ready when I slipped and twisted my ankle (no serious injury). The trip itself started at the base of the lava flow from the 2021 eruption sequence. It was about 2 km to the summit of a nearby mountain overlooking the lava field and active volcanic crater, with many spots still venting steam as of August 2026. There were multiple stops for rest, geology, and pictures. I have asthma but never needed my inhaler, so it was not too strenuous. The highest point was about 200m up from the parking lot. After the hike, we drove along the coast before going north towards Reykjavik. We drove past a geothermal area and briefly stopped at an incredible overlook above a lake.

This tour was awesome! France was such a great guide - she provided so many details about what we were looking at that it made the whole experience so rich and interesting. I had no idea that lava had so many stories to tell!

They canceled our tour at 10pm the night before with no explanation, leaving us with no plan for the next day and no time to find anything else. My wife loves geology, and was so excited to have a volcano tour with a real geologist; she burst into tears when it got canceled. When I emailed them to check in, all three email addresses I tried bounced back. They have not refunded us and we are now having to dispute the charge with our credit card. DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY.

Fantastic and educational hike up to some beautiful lava fields and expansive views of the whole region. We also stopped at a lovely lake and the mostly abandoned town of Grindavik. A couple of turns on the hike are steep, and the way down a bit slippery but it's doable. What made the tour special was the wonderful guide who taught us the many geologic forces at play, the results of continuing lava flows and made us aware of the dangers that may exist of one strayed too far on their own. Our geologist was incredibly accommodating to all guests and was a pleasant leader for the small group. Also gave an excellent recommendation for Fish Company which I thoroughly enjoyed after a great tour.

France was the MOST amazing guide! We had a small group of 8 and she was great at assessing the hiking skills early on and knowing exactly where she could take the group. She was so knowledgable and answered every question we had. Highly recommended!

This tour was the thing I was most looking forward to on my trip to Iceland and it did not disappoint. I learned all about volcanoes. The guide was an excellent science communicator and teacher. She had visuals at the start to orientate the group, provided details as we hiked, responded thoughtfully to all our questions, and was happy to repeat information as we needed. She is obviously an expert who is passionate in sharing her knowledge. I recommend booking this tour early in your trip because the knowledge gained will provide insight into the sights you will see across Iceland. Plus, it will help keep you safe on this hike and for the rest of your trip. I also recommend paring this tour with the lava show to "see" these geological forces. Dress warm, for the wind and rain. Pack a lunch. Moderate difficulty is an apt description, some elevation gain, some rough terrain but very comparable to other sites. If you are remotely interested in volcanoes, I recommend you book this tour.

Jasmine was an amazing guide. She was informative and passionate about the volcano history of Iceland and explained the area we toured in a fun and interesting manner. The trek itself was incredible. Walking through and around an area that so few get to explore was awe inspiring. I would highly recommend this tour. You haven't truly learned about Icelandic history until you have done this. No complaints whatsoever.

Absolutely amazing experience. It would have been very easy to just run up to the top of the lava field and take a look around without really understanding what was going on. Having the geologist made a huge difference! So many things I never would have noticed if they weren't pointed out to me. It also really changed my perspective on all of the terrain around Iceland that I have seen so far. It was great to drive through Grindavik on the way and see what's happened there, to see where the lava flows had crossed the road, and then to take the other road back for the scenic views. Definitely highly recommend and very worth it!

Our guide was France. She is stellar, beyond knowledge, friendly, funny, and I do not have enough words to describe how fantastic the experience was. No the matter simple or complex the geological question, she had the answer and even more! I will book this again on a future trip! I would recommend everyone do this. Exhilarating and beautiful hike/climb up to the lava flows!

We had an amazing time. Fran our guide was great. She explained all the rock formations and the history of the area. We often held different kinds of rocks to compare them. We made regular stops along the way up so she could show us examples of things and so we could have small breaks. Im not an experienced hiker/ climber but the hike was doable because of this. I got a bit nervous in some places and she held my hand to guide me through without being patronising or making me feel like an inconvenience to the group. The views and scenery was beautiful. Going through the town to see the aftermath of the earthquake was really eye opening too. It was really easy to find the meeting point.

Done plenty tours excursions around the world this tops all of them. France, our guide was most authentic and enthusiastic wonderful person. Fantastic experience I'll never ever forget. France educated us so much I will never look at rocks/volcanos the same way again Thinking about changing to 1 star ⭐️instead of full 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️....because the tour had to end. The hike and sights were incredible our guide , France exceeded that Re freshing authentic extreamly knowlegable engaging Thankyou so much Learned so much Highly highly recommend. Absolutely 💯 worth the money Perfect

What an incredible tour! Our tour guide, Giuseppe, made the tour so much fun and entertaining. My favorite type of tour is one where the guide is so passionate about what they speak about that their passion is contagious. Giuseppe had that passion on this tour from the second we met him to when he dropped us off. He was incredibly kind, fun and had great energy that made the day fly by. This was one of our favorite tours of the half dozen we did in Iceland and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to learn about geology from a passionate expert!

Canceled at the very last minute with no warning. Shame, do never book with them. I contacted them and it’s question but they never bothered to contact me!

This was an absolute must tour for anyone interested in the Geology of Iceland, the recent eruptions and also likes a hike. We enjoyed the tour through Grindavik, then going to the hiking site. The tour guide was really good, understood the subject and gave some really useful information throughout the day. The hike be prepared for the conditions, we had some interesting wind conditions but being prepared made the whole thing enjoyable. The views from the top were incredible.

It was an amazing hike to see how volcanoes can create new life, new materials but can also change lives. As there was a quick peak at Grindavik on the way back. Thank you, it was amazing!

Absolutely fantastic. Small group of 7. Guide (unsure of her name, lovely Australian lady) was knowledgeable, passionate, and interesting. Day was definitely worth the cost. Learnt a lot. Would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys learning about volcanoes.

I was on the same tour as the previous reviewer from Tucson, and disagree with her narrative. I had an excellent time and gained a lot from it - as a hike in an incredible landscape and as a tour. Here’s the facts: the guide was a minute or so late. It’s called unpredictable traffic. The travel party were sitting in a car for quite some time before this. I witnessed you accost the tour guide about getting a refund before she could even check us in. The guide said, very reasonably that you will need to contact the office, as it would be the managers decision. Standard workplace practice. An absence of poles wasn’t the problem. A lack of suitable footwear was. You need hiking boots for a hike, not white shoes you’d wear in the city. The guide was very much ‘a tour guide kind of person’. She looked after our safety, waited for the slower members of the party (myself included) and was in view the whole time. She was considerate, knowledgeable and excellent at explaining geological concepts i clearly. Her use of diagrams, getting us to feel the weight and texture of the rocks, feel (safely) heated rocks and touch the tough little thyme plants growing there got us to engage with this magical landscape. And the views!!!! Driving past Grindavik on the way back was sobering but important. One of the best tours I’ve been on. So, read some of the other reviews too and you will see that it is well worth doing. It gives you another valuable perspective and deepens your connection to this amazing place.

One person in our group got really sick the night before. We kept trying to contact the phone number provided to let them know but there was no answer. When the tour guide finally arrived ( a bit late for waiting in the freezing weather), we told her one person could not make it and wondered if we could get a refund. 3 out of 4 in the group were there. She basically said she had nothing to do with it and she just works there. She wasn’t a tour guide type of a person. I understand we needed someone who knows the material but she never even told us her name. I strongly suggest mentioning walking poles. It’s not only for beginners, poles can make this hike a lot more manageable. Our tour guide even went as far as saying that she understands this was out of our comfort zone and was proud of us finishing! Mind you we are hikers

We originally had this tour booked but due to back weather it was canceled, however they dis offer us an activity as a substitution which was AMAZING!!! Perfect for a rainy day and definitely felt like our day did not go to waste. We hiked inside a cave made by lava which was amazing. We had to make a short walk to the entrance that was the only "wet" part but inside the cave was pure darkness and beauty. We wore helmets and had headlights which was the only light source inside. You do have to be a somewhat flexible and have good balance. I am claustrophobic bit I did it. Its wide and tall in majority of places, only a small section do you have to "crouch"( if you are tall) to get through (but still wide) . Our guide was so informative and we learned so much and felt safe! Definitely recommend even as a planned tour not just a rainy day activity.

Dress appropriately - be prepared for wind, cold, & rain. Best to have trail shoes. If prepared for a solid hike in the elements, this is a fabulous experience. I never imagined I'd learn as much as I did about volcanoes and types of lava, not to mention the detailed history of area eruptions.

Our guide and geologist expert France was amazing. She picked us up promptly and set expectation clearly on what the hike involved to ensure everyone's safety. She shared valuable information all through the hike making us appreciate the site even more. The site itself is quite amazing watching hot gases leaving lava flow that happened years ago showing the true power of heat it carries. We also experienced crates where you could feel the heat on the rocks from 2011 eruption.

Our guide Guiseppe was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about volcanoes. He made our hike great with lots of details and showing us unique parts of the volcanoe. Everything was on time and we had a great group, great guide and a lot of laughs. Highly recommend!

Amazing view of the area and very knowledgeable and friendly guide! I saw many geological formations and my guide explained their origins thoroughly; it was a fascinating experience and there were many opportunities for incredible pictures!

Pros : It was a very interesting hike and the guide was quite knowledgeable. There were numerous stops on the way to make it easier on people that might not hike regularly. Cons : It is not at all a maximum of 6 travelers as indicated. All the groups from the day I went were more than this, making it hard to stay together and hear everything. Also, the hike doesn't even go to the crater of the eruption. Seeing as other tours with regular guides were around the same amount of people and some were getting to the crater, I would not have paid significantly more for this tour. But I would surely have missed some of the extensive knowledge of our guide.

Our guide, France, was very knowledgeable and excellent at explaining everything. Learnt a lot. Always felt safe and able tokeep up with the group.

Giusuppie, sorry if I misspelled his name, was phenomenal! He was a wealth of knowledge on the volcano, the plates around and the fissures, as well as the lava around. The volcano had just erupted on July 21 and a few days ago announced it was done. To be able to see and experience what we did with him was phenomenal! It is a six mile hike total with about 16k steps we did just there. It was phenomenal exercise as with all the rain it was very muddy but extremely manageable!

Giovani was nice, caring, and very informative but the write up of the activity did not warn people to have the proper gear for rain and wind and cold. Nor did it mention bringing your own food. We met the van at 10 am and did not get back to the city until 5:15. That’s a long time with no meal. Luckily we bought some energy bars at a gas station. Also we did not know we would hike a little under 5 miles out to the volcano and back on very rocky, muddy terrain in rain and wind. By the end we were completely soaked—even water in our hiking boots, jackets and pants drenched and dripping. It was dispiriting and diminished the impact of our volcano experience. More information is always good!!!

Giuseppe was our tour guide and was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and personable. We learnt a lot and really enjoyed our time with him. Not at all Giuseppe‘s fault, but a couple of points to make. 1. We were disappointed that our group had eight people, instead of the “small group of six” advertised. 2. Just a heads-up that the trail was challenging. Walking along the rocky sides of the flooded road was made more difficult by the sheer number of visitors, as was our walk on the rough lava field. In fact, 25% of our group did not go on the lava field because they were worried about injury. 3. We returned from our pick up point at 6 PM, not 4 PM Overall a really rewarding experience. Just be aware that there may be extra folks on your tour, that the hike may take longer than advertised, and to be aware that the ground may be more rocky and unlevel than indicated on the website.

Giuseppi was amazing! He has so much knowledge of geology and volcanology and was exited to share it with us. He made sure we got the best views of the volcano. Great trip!

It was fascinating getting a personal geological lesson! Frances was kind and it was great to know about the volcanoes and the Icelandic geological landscape.

What an amazing experience. France was an excellent guide who took us s close as we could to the erupting volcano, always keeping our safety and education in mind. It was a great hike with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We learned so much! Highly recommend

Peppe was great and knowledgeable! We drove to the most recent volcanic activity and did a long hike. The views from about 1km out were great! We were lucky to be there during the eruptions. It’s a great small group tour. There was a total of just 6 of us.

I just can’t believe it. My last full day in Reykjavik and at 12am they canceled the tour because the guide was sick. They couldn’t even allocate another guide on the spot for this so called once in a life time hike. The Volcano just erupted 2 days ago, and I wasn’t able to find any replacement, nor was the Viator support able to. You know it sucks right, receiving a cancellation the moment you wale up because the guide was sick and couldn’t decide to contact me earlier. This is my first low review on Viator and I think this deserves 0 stars

Our geologist was very informative and adapted our hike to make sure everyone was doing well and not over exerted, stopping to take breaks and give us information. It was cool to learn about the lava, to walk on it and to put our hands in cracks to feel the warmth of the lava deep down.

Very interesting tour. Learned an amazing amount about lava flows and volcanoes. The guide was very informative and helpful and willing to answer any questions. She was also very considerate about pacing the hike so that all participants were comfortable. Would highly recommend this tour for those interested in volcanoes!

Our geologist guide, named France, was amazingly knowledgeable and personable. She spent one-on-one time with each person in our small group. We learned so much on this beautiful hike through an exotic landscape. She really made this trip a highlight of our Iceland trip.

The guided hike was amazing! Our geologist guide was super friendly and informative. Highly recommended! The view of the lava and volcano was spectacular.

This tour was phenomenal. Jasmine the geologist that accompanied us on this tour was so incredibly knowledgeable that it made all the sites we went to even more spectacular.

Giuseppe was fantastic! I learned so much about lava and the activity in the surrounding area. Seeing the lava fields and fissures in the ground nearby was astounding - I was too busy staring at them I forgot to take photos! Worth doing even in the rain!

This tour requires a significant amount of physical ability to ascend extensive steep inclines over approximately 4 miles. Tour leader France showed patience and caring while taking very good care of all in attendance and allowing individuals to proceed at their own pace. She was very knowledgeable about the geology and particulars of the Icelandic volcanoes and provided very interesting insights to the different types and makeup of eruptions and lava flows. I highly recommend this tour to anyone with an interest in volcanoes and stamina to undertake a slightly difficult hike to the top of the mountain!

They cancel 40 mins before my tour time started They didn’t even have the curtsy to call me back or make an attempt! No others options so my day wouldn’t be ruined. I personally would not pick this company again as they have no second plan if one employees get sick!

This was an incredible day! Giuseppe was a wonderful tour guide. He was so knowledgeable about the volcano, and he explained the different kinds of lava rocks, which we would have walked by of he had not been there. I learned a lot! I really enjoyed having lunch on the cooled lava, even though apparently there is still lava flowing about 35 meters below us. The volcano has fairly regular eruptions, with the next one anticipated for late June. About the hike: The first part of the trail is fairly easy, with dirt and gravel paths. There are some fairly steep switchbacks, but Giuseppe planned breaks along the way to let everyone's heart rate settle. 😊 We had perfect weather, other than a few minutes of small hail while we walked on the lava. Then it was blue skies, hardly any wind, sunshine! We were so fortunate!!! You do climb over some rocks, and some of them can be sharp, slippery, or loose. Definitely wear your hiking boots! There was one part of the trail that was a bit narrow with rocks to walk over. As someone with a fear of heights, this was the most challenging part of the hike. Just focus on looking where your feet are going and move at a pace that is right for you. There are no steep drops, but there are lots of sharp rocks on the inclines, so take your time here. That said, at no time did I feel unsafe or rushed. Giuseppe was kind and funny; when you combine that with his professional knowledge as a geologist, you have a perfect tour guide! The only change I would make is with the transportation to the hike. There were 6 passengers crammed in to the vehicle. Somehow, even as the oldest person on the hike, I got crammed into the back and really couldn't move my legs for the 45 minute ride to and back. Other than that, the day was perfect, and I am so glad we did this hike to the top of the volcano! Thanks for a wonderful day!

This tour was absolutely incredible. France was an amazing tour guide. I can’t imagine doing this hike without an expert geologist - she explained so much and I know so much more about lava fields now! I look at the topography of Iceland so differently now. Not only was she knowledgeable, but the way she arranged the tour was very smart. I am in ok physical shape but not the best. She had strategically placed her stopping points to give people a chance to rest while teaching us more about what we are seeing. This is one of the best things you can do in Iceland! Book it!!!

Excellent tour if you want to learn info about Iceland's geology and volcanic activity, focused on discussion. Would absolutely do again, there were tons more areas to go we didn't have a chance to.

Hands down amazing tour! Giseppi made the experience great and was fabulous to gain knowledge about volcanos :) would recommend the tour to everyone!!

The trip was very memorable. Time passed very quickly. Guide was knowledgeable and friendly.Thank you!