Reykjanes Safari & Blue Lagoon
Volcanic Day Tour from Reykjavik
Iceland’s Int. Airport (KEF) is at the tip of Reykjanes peninsula so it‘s the area you first see when visiting Iceland. Most drive the highway straight to Reykjavik but there is so much to see and explore there.
Reykjanes is the home of Iceland’s newest volcanic eruptions, near the town of Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon.
You will also see the tectonic plate boundaries, geothermal steam vents and boiling mud pits, lava cliffs, craters and volcanoes.
Like all our tours, it‘s private tour, often done on an arrival or departure day, so we almost always adjust the itinerary a bit. The order is reversed if we start at KEF airport vs when we start in Reykjavik.
A) Starting in Reykjavik and ending in KEF airport
We start by going driving up to the geothermal area around Hengill volcano and explore the area around the geothermal power plant. Next we drive through the lava fields to see we see how Icelanders still dry fish in the lava field just outside of the capital area – even if it’s just a few miles from the city, it still the middle of nowhere. A few minutes later we are again away from all city lights in a volcanic lunar-like landscape which is vast, barren and deserted with many volcanoes and endless lava. We are in fact driving right where the tectonic plates meet; the Eurasia-plate and the North America-plate. This is the reason why the Reykjanes Peninsula is so volcanic. We make our way along the scenic back roads to Lake Kleifarvatn, a secluded mountain lake with black sanded beaches. At Seltun in Krysuvik we will explore a large geothermal area with many hot springs, boiling mud pools and blowing steamvents. Some journalists have said this are to be more fascinating than the more famous Geysir area. There are certainly fewer people and it is a strange and colorful world. In the spring it’s worthwhile to take a look at the Atlantic Ocean from the sea cliffs at Krysuvik which is brimming with sea birds. Later in the afternoon we go by the back roads to the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing soak before we drop you off in time for your afternoon flight back home.
B) Starting in KEF airport and ending in Reykjavik
Our driver-guide will be waiting for you as soon as you clear customs at the airport and your Iceland adventure starts right away. We start by driving to the Bridge between Continents, which as the name indicates is where the Eur-Asian tectonic plate meets the North American plate. From there we drive to Gunnuhver, a fascinating geothermal area with an interesting troll-story. Next we drive to the Blue Lagoon where you can enjoy a relaxing soak and perhaps have some lunch.
Instead of taking the highway to Reykjavik, we drive the scenic back roads, through the lava fields and explore this lunar landscape. We visit Seltun in Krysuvik, a colorful geothermal area and lake Kleifarvatn with it’s black beaches. If you are up for a bit more adventure we might venture into a lava tube cave – or just take a short peak into the entrance if you prefer. Sometimes we pay a visit to the president’s house on the way into Reykjavik before dropping you off at your hotel.
Grindavik Lava
Tectonic Plates
Volcanoes
Lava Fields
Lava Tube Cave
Blue Lagoon
Seltun Geothermal Area
Q: Do we need to bring lunch or is there a place to stop on the way?
A: Usually we have lunch at the Blue Lagoon but we could also stop at a restaurant in Grindavik, a nearby fishing town.
Q: Why is the Blue Lagoon entry not included?
A: We don’t know how many people you are or which entry package you prefer. This of course affects the cost. We can book any entrance package for you and we don’t add any mark up to their prices.
Note that Blue Lagoon is quite popular and they can be fully booked at certain times or even all day in high seasons.
Absolutely fantastic
Iceland in the winter is definitely a bucket list vacation. Deciding to take a private tour with Nature Explorer tours and stay most nights in the countryside was the best decision. Every aspect of our trip went very smoothly. Hawk and Gudrun were both a pleasure to plan with and were very responsive and flexible with our itinerary. Gylfi was our tour guide for the four days we spent outside of Reykjavík . I couldn’t recommend him more highly. He was a good conversationalist, extremely knowledgeable about the history and geology of Iceland ( and other places). He brought us to places that weren’t on the itinerary or well known by tourists but also made sure we had time at all of the high profile stops. He also made sure our schedule was different than tour busses so the stops were never very crowded. The truck was comfortable and Gylfie is a very experienced outdoor man who took us off road to see sites we would not normally be able to get to. We went to the blue lagoon early in the morning after landing and then spent the day touring Reykjavík . The next day we headed out with Gylfi and did the golden circle, southern coast and Jokusarlon tours staying in different hotels each night.
Bill F, Rutherford, NJ
(29 contributions on Tripadvisor)
Written March 1, 2020
“This is the BEST tour in Iceland!”
I cannot stress how much we enjoyed our time with Nature Explorers while we were in Reykjavik. We set up two tours with the company; one to the Blue Lagoon and one to tour the Golden Circle with an added glacier tour. Both guides were informative and fun, and both locations are not to be missed! the Golden Circle was especially memorable as we toured with Hawk, the owner of the company. His wealth of knowledge of the area and general fun facts about Iceland kept us entertained throughout the 9 hour tour. The sites were fabulous, especially the glacier. He was able to take us ONTO the glacier in his converted vehicle…a special and unique treat that ALL must do. I can’t recommend choosing Nature Explorer enough – so much better than a bus tour and so fun and memorable.
– Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Sierra Higgins, California USA
Tour details
Available: Every day.
Duration: 5 – 8hours.
Departures: At your request.
Free hotel pick up in Reykjavik or KEF
Not included: Lunch and refreshments.
ISK 239900 per Super-Jeep
ISK 359900 per XL Super-Truck
Photos from
Reykjanes & Blue Lagoon
