Iceland. The small town of Vík í Mýdral, in the very south of Iceland, is famous for its black beach Reynisfjara. The offshore rock formation was created long ago out of careless trolls, and the basalt columns are among the favorite motifs of many travelers. In the following article, you will learn where the most beautiful black beaches and rock formations near Vik are, where you can see puffins, and what else there is to discover.

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Vík í Mýdral - the "Bay at the swampy Valley"

Vík í Mýdral (translated as "Bay by the Swampy Valley") is the southernmost village on the Icelandic mainland and is located 186 kilometers from the capital Reykjavík. The village, which has only 318 inhabitants, is a perfect starting point for tours in the south. In addition to a campground, there are accommodations in various price ranges. It's best to book as early as possible, otherwise, it will be expensive! There is a gas station, a large supermarket, an outdoor outfitter, and of course a souvenir store with Icelandic sweaters and everything you can imagine.

Not far from Vík is the volcano Katla, one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Iceland. When it erupts, the residents of Vík have to evacuate to safety in a very short time. The evacuation is practiced regularly. The elevated wooden church Reyniskirkja (1929) is considered a safe assembly point where all inhabitants should seek shelter from the lava, especially glacier flows.

Tip: You should plan a little more time for the drive to Vik because you will pass the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss on the way.

Reynisdrangar - Trolls or just a great Rock Formation?

Directly in front of the village of Vík, you will find the first black beach. From here you have a beautiful view of the rock needles Reynisdrangar, which rise about 66 meters high from the sea. But since we are in Iceland, these are not normal rocks. According to the legend, two trolls tried to drag a three-master to the shore at night. But trolls are known to be a bit bad at timing: they were surprised by the morning sun and in a split second, they and the ship turned to stone.

TIP: Do you want to experience Iceland to the full? Then you should opt for freedom on four wheels. With a rented campervan, you can explore the natural beauty of Iceland flexibly and at your own pace. Your lunch break? Preferably in an idyllic parking lot with a view. In the evening, head to one of the many well-equipped campsites. Whether you want to tour around Iceland on the Ring Road or seek adventure in the highlands. At Cozy Campers , you can rent both budget vans and highland campers, which you can use to drive the lonely F-roads in the highlands. The latter is already at the top of my wish list for my next trip to Iceland!

Reynisfjall - Tuff mountain with puffins

Reynisfjall is a 340 m high tuff mountain that separates the village of Vík from the beach Reynisfjara. It was formed in the penultimate ice age by a volcanic eruption under the ice. A hiking trail leads from Vík up to a viewpoint at 150 meters above sea level. There and back it is about seven kilometers. Along the way, you can see seabirds during the breeding season, and with luck, puffins.

On the other side of the mountain, at Reynisfjara beach, you will find the famous basalt columns and two caves. The beach is only about three kilometers from Vík as the crow flies. But the mountain Reynisfjall blocks the direct way and must be either hiked or driven around (about 16 kilometers).

Reynisfjara Beach - Basalt Columns, Caves, and Monster Waves

Next to the parking lot, various warning signs attract full attention: sneaker waves can suddenly and unexpectedly wash over the beach here and, in the worst case, cause an unwanted swim in the North Atlantic. This has cost some travelers their lives. Therefore, you should always keep an eye on the water and keep plenty of distance from the water line. Even if the sea looks quite calm and peaceful.

Basalt columns are formed by the slow cooling of the basalt lava. After the solidification of the lava flow and cooling of the surface, the first stress cracks appear here. With increasing cooling, the stress cracks continue to grow downwards and the typical hexagonal columns are formed.

Tip: If you stay overnight in Vík, visit Reynisfjara Beach before the tour buses from Reykjavik arrive. Or in the evening, when most of the visitors are already on their way home.

More about trolls and elves in Iceland...

...can be found in the following books*:

Dyrhólaey Peninsula - the "Door Hill Island

From Cape Dyrhólaey you have a breathtaking view of the south coast of Iceland. You will see the black beaches from above, rock formations, and puffins and you can hike to a historic lighthouse. Especially impressive is the rock arch, which is also called Dyrhólaey. From above, the arch doesn't look that big. But the opening is enough that in 1993 a daredevil pilot flew through the arch.

Cape Dyrhólaey is a volcanic island that was once off the coast. It was formed about 80,000 years ago by a submarine volcanic eruption. Through further volcanic eruptions in the last millennia, the island was connected to the main island by the advancing outwash plains. Today the cape is connected to the mainland and the peninsula is the southernmost part of the Icelandic mainland.

Also the volcanic islands of Hjörleifshöfdi (12 km east of Vík and also a very worthwhile destination) and the rocky cliffs of Ingólfshöfdi were connected to the main island by expanding sandur areas.

What else is there to discover nearby?

If you are in Vík, then besides Reynisfjara beach, Dyrholaey and Reynisdrangar it is worth making a detour to the airplane wreck of Sólheimasandur and a hike to Hjörleifshöfði. From this island mountain, you have a great view over a wide offshore beach and up to the white cap of the Myrdalsjökull.

If you have some money left in your travel budget, I can also recommend a guided tour to the ice cave at Katla volcano and Icelandic horse riding at the black beach of Vík .

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.

Do you know the south of Iceland and Reynisfjara beach near Vík? How did you like it? Do you have any questions or suggestions for my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love peculiar rock formations as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the "Old Man of Hoy" - a sea stack on the Orkneys or about the Rock Formations at Mono Lake in California.

Der Beitrag Schwarzer Strand Reynisfjara und versteinerte Trolle bei Vík erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Iceland. After the first two days on Laugavegur, trekking in Iceland counts as a water sport for me. I curse the rain cover for my backpack, which always flies off halfway, and I no longer believe in Goretex boots and lightweight gear. On the way, I discover my hidden talent for repairing outdoor equipment: sleeping mats, shoe soles that fall off, fissures, and broken backpack buckles... On the last day and after about 55 kilometers on Iceland's best-known long-distance hiking trail, I finally feel I'm prepared for anything and immediately walk further over the Fimmvörðuháls to Skógar. Simply irresistible!

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

Icelandic Weather provides Diversity

Laugavegur is considered one of the most beautiful trails in the world. But what exactly makes trekking on Laugavegur in Iceland so special? It can't be the Icelandic weather, can it? Or maybe it is because the weather gives the trail a very special atmosphere: light fog and low-hanging clouds made me not completely rule out the existence of trolls. Besides, the clouds gave my photos a great dramatic effect and the everlasting wind made me feel nature even more intensely. The quick weather changes also brought a certain dynamic to the hike: no sooner had one applied sunscreen than one was putting on one's rain jacket and looking for one's gloves.

Be prepared for bad weather and take waterproof and warm clothes with you. Even if the weather forecast promises only sun! You are on the trail for several days - the forecast can change. Don't forget: People have already frozen to death on the Laugavegur in bad weather!

Weather forecast for Iceland: vedur.is

More info about trails in Iceland: safetravel.is

What you will read here

There are already numerous blogs that describe the Laugavegur in all details and provide many facts. I don't want to write another one. So in the following I will write about some details that we experienced on the tour and that might help you when it comes to more than just GPS routes, camps and bus connections.

Do you know how to pack your backpack? Or how to calculate your own walking time? What is important when fording a river? Did you check your equipment beforehand for weak points or did you think about what you should take with you to repair your equipment or what spare parts you should bring?
You can read that and a few stories about it in the next chapters.

And why my post has this somewhat ambiguous title? Well, it corresponds to the naked truth. And there are already so many articles called: "Guide for the Laugavegur", "XX Tips for the Laugavegur", "Laugavegur - everything you need to know"... My title sounds more exciting, doesn't it?

The landscape drives to hike

Every day on Laugavegur surprises with a different kind of landscape. This motivates one to keep moving forward, after all, one wants to see what great view is hiding around the next corner or behind the upcoming hill. The more beautiful the landscape, the easier it is to walk. Even with my additional five kilograms of camera equipment.

We walked the trail in four stages:

Where is the luggage?

Imagine the following situation: You have well-tried and tested outdoor equipment - boots, sleeping pad, trekking backpack, sleeping bag, clothes, and, and, and... And then suddenly everything is gone. You wait for it to finally reappear, but no one can tell you where your luggage has gone. A week passes, the second week passes, and the third. And then you fly to Iceland to trek the Laugavegur and have either old, borrowed, or newly bought equipment. Thanks, Lufthansa! My partner's luggage was lost on the flight from Los Angeles to Berlin while changing planes in Frankfurt. It took three months for it to turn up! Hard to believe, isn't it? But alas, this happened with some regularity on several airlines in the summer of 2022.

My partner starts the Laugavegur with my 20-year-old discarded trekking backpack, an old inflatable sleeping pad, an aged sleeping bag, and borrowed mountain boots that were fortunately already broken in. That the soles almost fell off, we have only seen during the tour... And that the sleeping pad will not last long, we have also not suspected.

Check the equipment before the tour for the condition (the owned and borrowed) and reconsider the durability of some parts.

Stage 1: Landmannalaugar to Hrafntinnusker

After a four-hour bus ride through the rain, we arrive in Landmannalaugar in the rain. Here we are supposed to start. However, my motivation is low, my backpack is heavy and somehow there are suddenly far too many people here. At the same time as our bus, two other buses arrived, whose passengers now spread out in the parking lot, visiting the toilet and besieging the party tent kindly erected by the campsite owners. Did the bus driver not tell something about a food truck with hot soup? I suppress the thought and unpack our sandwiches instead. I eat quickly so that the bread doesn't get so wet. Then we're off. All the others - most of them were day visitors - have already set off and we now have a free path.

After the first 5 minutes, I realize that I have not packed my backpack well: the camera and the telephoto lens are on top, and my backpack wobbles on my back, which is especially annoying when climbing over the first rocks. I repack: the lens comes down further, close to my body, about where my shoulder blades are. And the camera comes out around my shoulder because the photo motifs will not be long in coming. As rain protection for the camera, I have a waterproof bag* handy, which I put over the camera again and again during the day. Also good, but not waterproof, is the softshell cover for the camera from Peak Design*.

Here's how: Pack your backpack correctly

• Light equipment such as sleeping bag, sleeping pad, down jacket down.
• Medium-weight gear, such as clothing to the top outside.
• Heavy load camera lenses, tent, provisions, drinking water at shoulder height as close to the body as possible.
• Small items that are used frequently in the lid compartment.
• Keep a first aid kit handy.
• Use pack sacks to keep your gear organized and dry.
• Backpack too small? You can also attach bulky, light luggage to the outside.

We walk through the geothermal area of Landmannalaugar with smoking solfataras, colorful rhyolite mountains, yellow sulfur crystals, pitch-black volcanic rock as well as whimsical lava formations. Again and again, great views open up, like the one over the black lava field Laugahraun, colorful mountain flanks, and white snow areas. Finally, in the last section of the stage, we cross extensive snowfields. As soon as the glassy, black obsidian then mixes with the rocks, the hut at Hrafntinnusker is not far away. The mountain is littered with obsidian, which you may already know from the series Game of Thrones as dragon glass.

The camp at Hrafntinnusker is very exposed and partly covered with snow. The places for the tent offer some wind protection with small stone walls made of obsidian.

Did you know that it is forbidden to take stones from Iceland?
Do not forget!

Do you want to spend the night in the hut? Then book early, because there is not much space. If you bring your tent, you don't need to make a reservation. The cost for a tent with two persons is 5.000 ISK (as of 07/2022). If you go to pay in the hut, take a little more money: there are canned beer and candy bars.

This is how it works: Calculate walking time

Do you want to know how long you will be on the way? This is how you can estimate your time:

1. Time needed for the difference in altitude: per hour 300 hm in ascent, 500 hm in descent, or your personal experience value.
2. Time needed for the walking distance: 4 km per hour or your personal experience value.
3. Divide the smaller value in half and add it to the larger value. This is then your approximate time requirement without breaks.

Stage 2: Hrafntinnusker to Alftavatn

The second stage starts in the snow. The trail is easy to see here, as a trail of dirt stretches across the white snow fields. The dirt comes from the exposed, rocky sections of the trail that alternate with the snow. It is much easier to walk on them. When we left, it was foggy, the wind kept whipping rain in our faces, and we shimmied from trail marker to trail marker, which are particularly large up here and therefore easy to see. We struggle with our rain covers, which the wind keeps tugging off our backpacks. Also, additional belts, which we tie around, help only for a short time. (The next day I packed the entire contents of the backpack waterproof in pack sacks and garbage bags and hiked without rain cover).

How much Rain, Wind and Fog should it be?

At some point, the point is reached that it is better to spend the day in the tent and wait until the weather gets better. Where exactly this point lies is difficult to say, it depends on many things. Better think twice about what suits you. Plan a buffer day and take a little more food with you. That way you can just sit out bad weather.

We set off for the day - after checking the weather report, which promised an improvement in the weather. Wrapped up warm and rainproof, with the map in a waterproof map case*, compass, GPS, thermos and Emergency Shelter*, where two of us would have found quick shelter.

At some point, it clears up. We look into a wide valley and see at the very back the lake Alftavatn with the hut. The path now goes downhill and the landscape becomes greener again. The camp at the lake consists of two cabins, a shower, and toilet house, and - here it comes - a restaurant! It is tiny, but all the more cozy for it.

When there is no Wind in Iceland, there is a Storm...

What was blowing across the meadow as we pitched our tent was definitely not wind. We held our tent cover down with our hands, feet, and stakes, and then somehow managed to tie everything down and tighten it up. The aluminum poles bent threateningly far toward the ground but held up after further support from a trekking pole. The tent meadow at the lake offers no protection, everything is flat, and there are no stone walls or bushes behind which one can warp.

The Thing with the Sleeping Pad

After we have set up the tent, the next surprise comes: one of our sleeping mats breaks down. It keeps the air inside, but some of the internal weldings of the single air chambers have come open. One half of the mat is now just a big bump, the suitable lying surface has been halved to about 30 centimeters... only brute force helps: we press forcefully on the mat and let more of the welds open up. Deflate a bit and then it somehow works out with lying down. But comfortable is different.

The sleeping pad was a bit older. To me, this has already happened with another similar mat after 8 years. Whether I continue to rely on air-filled mats with this chamber system on tours??? Rather not! What experiences do you have? Please drop me a line!

Currently, I use the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm*. It's light, compact, and super warm with an R-value of 6.9. Inside it, there are many small triangular chambers that provide thermal insulation. I hope it lasts a little longer.

Stage 3: Alftavatn to Botnar

The night it stormed and rained continuously. In the morning it was a little less stormy, but the rain just won't stop. Slowly the campground empties, at some point, there are only three tents left, including ours. During a short rain break, we take down and pack our backpacks. About 16 kilometers lie ahead of us. We decide to stop at the restaurant after 100 meters. A perfect rain shelter with coffee and cake. Well... it was already noon (it opens only at 12:00). We wait here until the rain stops and then start our daily stage with dry clothes. Since it does not get dark in Iceland at the beginning of July, one is fortunately completely free in his timing!

Good to know: sunrise and sunset in Iceland

Spare Parts and Repair Kit

Before the tour, I considered for a long time, which spare parts and what I should take along for possible repairs. After Iceland, we went to Greenland for hiking at the Tasermiutfjord and for a kayak tour through the fjords. So it was worthwhile to think about these "little things". And maybe take a little more with us: Screws, cable ties, spare buckles for the backpack, armor tape, sewing kit, my Leatherman, and so on. I needed the sewing kit on the very first day, a spare buckle on the second day, and the screws on the third. What else I had with me but didn't need: floral wire, nails, rubber bands in various widths, super glue, buttons, rivets, ribbon, small leather/rubber pieces, velcro, and sturdy trash bags. In addition, I have collected on the trail everything possible, which was so on the way and seemed useful and thereby done equal to the environment what good.

Shortly after I had firmly reconnected the sloping sole with the trekking boot, we had to take the boots off again immediately: a river blocked our way. This was the first ford on the Laugavegur for us - up to here we could jump over all the rivers, cross them with the help of stepping stones, or just walk through quickly.

So boots off, waders* on, pant legs up, open the hip belt, and trekking poles* in the hands.

Wading through a river: how to do it, you can see here .

After about four kilometers we reach the Hvanngil hut with a beautiful and better wind-protected campsite. After that the landscape changes again, it becomes stonier and bright green, moss-covered mountains rise from the black plain. The way to the Botnar hut is long but offers many great motifs for all photo enthusiasts. With tired legs and feet, the view of the camp at the end is certainly one of the most beautiful motifs.

And because it is so beautiful here in the camp, we stay two nights and use our free day for a day trip and for photography. The first day we had pitched our tent at a great view. But for the second night we moved down into the valley, where it was much more sheltered from the wind.

Hiking Backpack and Camera

In addition to the necessary hiking gear, I carried about five kilos of camera gear across Laugavegur. The camera was mostly hung around my torso, ready to hand. With the shoulder strap, it didn't bother me much. Only when I used trekking poles, the camera was a bit of a hindrance and I then tied it to the backpack.

The camera clips "Capture" from Peak Design, which many photographers like to use, with which you can attach the camera to the shoulder strap of the backpack, unfortunately did not fit on my backpack. I have to try again with other screws, the supplied were just too short. Now I have discovered from Tasmanian Tiger a camera mount for the backpack and modular lens bags that you can attach to the outside of the backpack. Maybe I'll give those a try.

How do you carry / attach your camera to your trekking backpack? Do you have any tips? Then write them in the comments.

Stage 4: Botnar to Thórsmörk

With a view of one of the many glacier tongues of the distant Mýrdalsjökull, we continue on the last section of Laugavegur. After a steep descent we cross the river Botnaá, which has cut deep into the rock. Fortunately there is a bridge. The landscape here looks completely different from the first three days. Later we walk through black sand on which willow bushes grow. After another climb we see the sea for the first time. It seems eternally far away. Thórsmörk, the legendary forest of Thor, on the other hand, is not so far away. But before we enter the forests of dwarf birches and yellow and blue flowers, we have to ford the river Þrongá. This was the deepest and widest river we had to ford.

Arrived at Camp Langidalur we first sit down in the sun and toast with a beer (at the reception you can buy all kinds of useful and tasty things). Almost wistfully we look back on the trail - is it really already over? The next day the weather is supposed to be nice. I decide to go further. In front of me lies the Fimmvörðuháls Trail, which leads between the two glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull to Skógar. I go on alone. My partner takes the bus back to Reykjavik, because the broken sleeping mat does not really invite to extend the tour.

There are three camps in Thórsmörk: Basar, Langidalur and Húsadalur. All three have a bus connection to Reykjavik. Langidalur is closest at the end of Laugavegur. At Basar is the trailhead of the Fimmvörðuhál. Here also many overlanders camp with their vehicles, who don't want to ford the river Krossa. Camp Húsadalur is the largest and offers the most comfort, including a restaurant, sauna, cabins and glamping tents.

You can buy bus tickets online at Trex .

So what exactly made the Trekking on Laugavegur so special?

When I look back on the hike along Laugavegur, I would love to walk it again next summer. Iceland shows its prettiest side on these 55 kilometers, each stage has its own character. It never gets boring or monotonous. And the Icelandic weather then adds a bit more drama and atmosphere to the landscape. Simply beautiful. However, only if you are not freezing and not wet. But if you prepare a bit and take gloves, a scarf, a beanie, and long underwear with you on your summer vacation, you will have a great time on the trail.

Humid, stormy, irresistible - and sometimes the sun shines!

Many things that are necessary for the success of a trekking tour on the Laugavegur in Iceland, I have not gone into. These are, among others, the use of map, compass and GPS, stove and food, appropriate clothing, onion layer prinzig, emergency equipment ... The list could be continued even further. I will take up these topics in the coming articles.

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.

Do you know the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland? How did you like it? Do you have any questions or suggestions regarding my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love trekking as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the circumnavigation of the holy Mount Kailash in Tibet or about 100 kilometers of hiking on the Hexenstieg in the Harz mountains.

Der Beitrag Feucht, stürmisch, unwiderstehlich – Island Trekking auf dem Laugavegur erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Iceland. After two hours, I had almost gotten used to the constant uphill walking. It felt almost funny when I saw a wide plain in front of me. A minute ago everything around me was green, here it is now stony and windy. In the distance I recognized a cairn. It had to be huge. Shortly after, I kept the stone man company for a while and enjoyed the panoramic view of the surrounding glaciers and canyons from the Fimmvörðuháls Trail, one of the most beautiful trekking routes in Iceland.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

Thor's forests, dizzying views, canyons, glaciers, white snowfields, black lava formations, volcanic craters and countless waterfalls.... Did I forget something?

Von Þórsmörk (Básar) bis nach Skógar sind es rund 25 Kilometer und 870 Höhenmeter bergauf. Der Weg geht steil hinauf bis zum Fimmvörðuháls, wo die Hütten Fimmvörðuskáli und Baldvinsskáli stehen. Von dort geht es dann nicht ganz so steil rund 1060 Höhenmeter wieder hinab. Viele Wanderer, die den beliebten Laugarvegur Trail gehen, setzten ihre Wanderung über den Fimmvörðuháls Trail bis nach Skogar fort. Die Strecke lässt sich in zwei Etappen mit Übernachtung bzw. Camping in/an der Hütte unterteilen. Für mich war es ebenso die Fortsetzung des Laugarvegur und zugleich der krönende Abschluss einer meiner schönsten Wandertouren. Ich bin beide Etappen des Fimmvörðuháls an einem Tag gelaufen, anfangs bei schönstem Sonnenschein. Abends um 23 Uhr kam ich bei Regen in Skogar an. Der Zeltplatz war voll, meine Beine waren müde, meine Füße waren nass, meine Nase lief, aber ich hatte ein breites Grinsen im Gesicht.

Stages of the Fimmvörðuháls Trail

Stage 1: Þórsmörk (Básar) - Fimmvörðuháls (ca. 10,5 km; ascent ca. 1220 m, descent ca. 259 m)

Stage 2: Fimmvörðuháls - Skógar (approx. 14 km; descent approx. 1060 m)

Where is the Fimmvörðuháls Trail the most beautiful?

The Fimmvörðuháls Trail gives you a little bit of everything Iceland has to offer. It's hard to say which section I liked best. The trails are very different and it is the variety that makes the trail. It never gets boring.

Forests of Thor and dwelling place of the gods

It starts in the forests of Thor - also known as Þórsmörk. Here blue and yellow flowers bloom, there is water and the dwarf birches grow lush and don't seem so dwarfish anymore. The path zigzags up through Goðalönd, the dwelling place of the gods, to several viewpoints. From here the valley of the wide glacial river Krossa can be seen for a long time. Soon, the path becomes more exposed. On both sides deep canyons cut into the landscape and there is a great view of the mountain Útigönguhöfði and the glacier Tungnakvíslajökull on the other side. Up here, no more trees grow and it goes steeply up a grass-covered mountain flank further and further.

View to the valleys Hvannargil and Hraungil

After the steep ascent it is time for a rest. The path leads straight across the stony plain of the plateau mountain Morinsheiði at the end of which the next highlight is waiting: the view into the valleys Hvannargil and Hraungil. A great point for an extensive break and to gather strength. Now we go up a narrow section at Heljakambur, it gets a bit steeper again and at an easy climbing spot there is even a metal chain for safety.

Snow and lava fields

Now it goes further and further up to the lava field Godahraun. At some point the first snow fields begin and the colors of the landscape reduce to black, white and gray. From time to time there is also some red mixed in, from the lava rock underneath. Here Eyjafjallajökull erupted in 2010, the craters Magni and Modri erupted before the main crater. By now the lava has cooled down a long time ago, but it is still sharp and cuts your skin or rain pants if you are not careful. The trail continues between the Eyjafjallajökull and Myrdalsjökull volcanoes. At the 1116 meter high pass Fimmvörðuháls it is almost done. At least for those who plan to spend the night at the huts.

Trail of the waterfalls

Two huts at the pass invite you to stay, camp or just to warm up for a while. From here the view reaches all the way to the coast. Afterwards the trail leads over a gravel road. Only at the bridge, which leads over the river Skógá, it continues on a trail - I have called this section for me the "Trail of the waterfalls". The waterfalls line up like pearls on a necklace - one more beautiful than the other. Especially when the sky is a bit more dramatic, the photos become especially beautiful. Unfortunately, this is then also often associated with rain, so I mostly just took pictures with my phone. Next to the waterfalls, steep canyons open up that can even keep up with the picturesque Múlagljúfur Canyon in southeast Iceland.

Even though this last section is incredibly beautiful, it also drags on quite a bit. Especially when you have already covered 20 kilometers. The trail ends at the impressive Skógafoss - but only after you have mastered the last challenge: about 370 steps down to the campsite.

Tip: After the bridge over the Skógá River, you'll find several springs along the trail where you can refill your drinking water.

The Fimmvörðuháls Trail at a glance

Start and end: Básar (247 m) in Þórsmörk via Fimmvörðuháls (1116 m) to Skogar (60 m)

Length: about 25 kilometers

Height difference: Direction Þórsmörk to Skogar about 870 meters up and 1060 meters down

Tip: It is easier to go steep up than steep down, so for me the direction Þórsmörk to Skógar was the favorite.

Overnight: In two cabins at Fimmvörðuháls (book in advance) or in a tent next to the cabins. Wild camping is prohibited. At the start/end point at campsites or hotel (Skógar) or hut (Þórsmörk).

Directions to get there: from / to Þórsmörk or Skógar Campsite there are buses. You can book in advance through Trex. Attention: If you take the bus from Skógar to Reykjavik, you will have to stay in Hvolsvöllur for about six hours. There is not much to see here, except the gas station with restaurant, a few Icelandic horses, a souvenir store and the lava exhibition. Alternative: the Straeto bus from Skogar. Bookings in advance are not possible. If the bus is full, you will have to wait for the next one, which will come the next day.

Do not forget: Trekking poles, sunglasses and sunscreen, rain gear and warm clothes (no matter what the weather is at the beginning!!!), gloves, hat, first aid kit with emergency blanket.

Check the weather forecast! If you are hiking at the beginning of the season, check the condition of the trail, for example on Safetravel.is. Do not start the tour in bad weather / forecast. You walk mostly in exposed terrain, where you have no protection in bad weather and also miss the view - not worth it. It is better to stay one day longer in the camp. Plan a reserve day, if necessary instead smaller day tour in Þórsmörk!

The best Season: mid July - early September

Trail conditions: trails, scree, snow and lava fields, gravel road. In July 2022 I didn't have to ford any rivers from Þórsmörk Langidalur to Básar, the Krossa was crossable dry with mobile bridge. However, it is better to ask about the current status beforehand.

Drinking water: There are hardly any places on the way where you can fill up. However, you can melt snow at the top of the pass or buy drinks at the huts.

Map: Landmannalaugar, Porsmörk, Fjallabak - 1:100.000 *

Orientation: the trail is marked throughout with pegs

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.

Do you know the Fimmvörðuháls Trail in Iceland? How did you like it? Do you have any questions or suggestions to my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

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Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love trekking as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the circumnavigation of the holy Mount Kailash in Tibet or about 100 kilometers of hiking on the Hexenstieg in the Harz mountains.

Der Beitrag Fimmvörðuháls – Trekking auf der Lava des Eyjafjallajökull erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Iceland. Vestmannaeyjar was once the scene of a devastating volcanic eruption. On the night of January 23, 1973, on the outskirts of the town of Vestmannaeyjabær, the earth cracked open and lava fountains shot into the black night sky. Eruptions followed for almost six months. Lava and ash destroyed 30% of the city. But new land was also created. Today you can walk on the cooled lava and even climb the volcano Eldfell in the south of Iceland. A museum worth seeing also informs about the devastating eruption.

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What to expect in this Article

Fire Mountain and Fire World - On the Traces of the 1973 volcanic Eruption
Climbing Eldfell Volcano in Iceland
Visit of the Museum Eldheimar "World of Fire"
Walk through the "Lava Forest" Hraunskógur
What happened? The Eruption of Eldfell in 1973 on Heimaey

Fire Mountain and Fire World - On the Traces of the 1973 volcanic Eruption

Climbing Eldfell Volcano in Iceland

The approximately 200 meter high lava cone that was formed during the 1973 eruption has been appropriately named "Eldfell" . Translated, it means "mountain of fire". The currently dormant volcano is located just a few hundred meters outside the town of Vestmannaeyjabær and is one of the islands' most popular attractions. Many visitors to the Westman Islands hike the 1.7 kilometer Eldfell Hike to the summit. From there you have a fantastic view over the lava landscape, the town with the harbor and the surrounding mountains. It is also possible to walk around the crater. Most of the trails are marked with wooden stakes, but there are also unmarked trails.

When I started to climb the volcano Eldfell, the summit was hidden in low clouds - typical for Iceland. This gave the area an especially mystical atmosphere. But it cleared up every now and then and I could finally enjoy the view over the lava field and the city from the summit. But even without a view the summit is impressive, because the rock shines in bright rust red and sulfur yellow even on cloudy days.

You can find trekking boots, hiking poles, gloves and everything else you might need for your tour on the Eldfell volcano in Iceland at Bergzeit.

Visit of the Museum Eldheimar "World of Fire"

In the modern museum Eldheimar - the Pompeii of the North you can learn everything about the volcanic eruption of 1973. Eldheimar means "World of Fire". The heart of the museum is an excavated house that was previously completely buried under the lava of the volcanic eruption. The museum was built around the historic house, so to speak. It opened in 2014.

The historic house inside the museum was located in the former street Gerðisbraut 10, where Gerður Sigurðardóttir and Guðni Ólafsson lived with their three sons. They had to flee headlong from their home on the night of January 23, leaving their belongings behind. Some of them are still scattered around the ruins.

Using the audio guide, I continue through the exhibition. What is remarkable about the museum is that there are no overly long and tedious text panels to read. The museum is very visually oriented with many large-scale pictures, models and films about the dramatic events in 1973, and the audio guide conveys the content. Through the combination of seeing and hearing, I experienced the exhibition very intensively. Especially the sight of the destroyed house and the section about the evacuation touched me very much.

On the upper floor the museum continues with an interesting exhibition about the island of Surtsey. This was created during an earlier volcanic eruption in 1963-1967. From the beginning it has been protected and the natural development and colonization of the island by fauna and flora is documented. It is even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The tour through the exhibition finally ends in a small museum café.

Walk through the "Lava Forest" Hraunskógur

Hiking trails now lead across a bizarre lava landscape where there was still sea before 1973. In another 10 years, a forest may grow here. Hraunskógur is a 28-hectare reforestation area. Every year, volunteers and employees of the municipality plant about 4,000 tree cuttings (willows, spruces, poplars, elms). Numerous walking paths have also been created in the lava forest, leading over the rugged block lava covered with moss and lupines. It's a little bit like a labyrinth, but you can't seriously get lost here. On the contrary - it's really fun to get lost here.

I didn't get to see quite as much of the forest on my walk. But even without tall trees, this rugged lava landscape quickly became my favorite place on Heimaey. Even if it feels a bit strange to walk here. Because houses and streets are buried under the lava layer, which is on average 40 meters thick.

Finally, a bit of history:

What happened? The Eruption of Eldfell in 1973 on Heimaey

Lava Fountains and Ash Fall

The eruption was unexpected. At night, at 1:55 a.m. on January 23, 1973, the earth cracked open on the outskirts of the town. The fissure, about 300 meters long, quickly grew to about 1,600 meters. Lava fountains shot up to 150 meters into the night sky from 30 to 40 craters. Lava flows overflowed the eastern end of the city and ash fell on the entire island. The event shook not only the Icelanders. It was broadcast on television all over the world.

Why did no one foresee the eruption? There had been a series of weak earthquakes in the days before. Shortly before the eruption, they even reached 2.7 on the Richter scale, but that's probably not unusual at the edges of lithospheric plates. Besides, there has been no volcanic activity here for 5,000 years.

Evacuation of the Inhabitants

Thanks to a storm the day before, the entire fishing fleet of Heimaey was in port. Thus, the evacuation of the islanders could start immediately. Already half an hour after the beginning of the eruption, the first boat left the harbor. Within six hours, all 5,300 inhabitants were safe. Only a few stayed behind to perform urgent tasks or rescue valuables from their homes. One of these tasks was to slaughter the cattle. Because the grass was covered with ash, there was nothing left to eat on the island.

Volcanic eruptions also produce toxic fumes. These are heavier than air and collect in dips. A man died after inhaling such fumes in the basement of the pharmacy. Several people were injured by the gases.

Cooling the Lava

The Westman Islands live from fishing. The port of Vestmannaeyjabær is even the most important fishing port in all of Iceland and, so to speak, the lifeline of the Westman Islands. Now the lava flow was flowing incessantly towards the harbor and threatened to close it. This would have been a disaster. Firefighters began to cool the edges of the glowing lava with seawater, thus slowing it down. When the first attempts already showed positive results, bigger guns were brought in: The ship Sandey pumped 400 l/s onto the lava. In addition, water pipes were laid on the lava crust in daring actions. In the end, 32 converted oil pumps from America were used, capable of pumping 1,000 l/s. In total, about 6.2 million tons of seawater were pumped onto the lava for cooling. With success: the harbor entrance remained free and is now even better protected by the new lava walls, which are up to 40 m high.

Destruction and Formation of new Land

At the beginning of the eruptions, houses near the fissure were destroyed by lava or pyroclastics. Despite the efforts of many helpers to shovel the fallen ash from the roofs of houses, many collapsed under the weight. Others were buried beneath the advancing lava or ignited by lava bombs. It was not until early February that the precipitation of pyroclastics subsided. However, persistent lava flows continued to cause destruction. In the end, an average 40-meter-thick layer of lava covered parts of the city. In some places, the layer was even up to 100 meters thick.

Only after about six months, on July 3, 1973, the eruptions were over. In total, 60% of the houses on Heimaey were damaged in the eruption. A little more than half could be saved. But about 400 houses were completely destroyed. In addition, the power plant and a fish processing factory were destroyed, as well as submarine supply lines from the main island.

The volcanic eruption created the Eldfell cinder cone, which is about 200 meters high. In addition, the area of the island grew by about 2.0 square kilometers.

Cleanup

Cleanup began immediately after the end of the eruption in July 1973. It was a mammoth task to clear the houses and roads and make the island habitable again. After a year, about 50% of the former inhabitants had returned to the island, and by March 1975, 80%. Today, about 4,500 people live on Heimaey, 800 fewer than before the Eldfell eruption.

The heat stored under the lava is used for energy and hot water production, and the pyroclastics are used as building material. Land was filled up with it in the sea, on which 200 houses were built.

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.

Guided Tours in Iceland

You don't feel like wandering around on your own and would rather join a guided tour in Iceland? Nothing could be easier. If you book an excursion via the following affiliate links, you will support Wanderlust Motifs with a small commission. The tour will not be more expensive for you. Merci!

Do you know the volcano Eldfell on the Westman Islands in Iceland? How did you like it there? Do you have any questions or suggestions to my article? If yes, then write me a comment! Eldfell auf den Westmännerinseln in Island? Wie hat es euch dort gefallen? Habt ihr noch Fragen oder Anregungen zu meinem Artikel? Wenn ja, dann schreibt mir doch einen Kommentar!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love the Scandinavian countries as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Kayak Tour in the Swedish Archipelago or a Trekking Tour to the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.

Der Beitrag Pompeji von Island – Ausflug zum Vulkan Eldfell der Westmännerinseln erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Iceland. You want to see puffins? Then Iceland is the right place for you. About 60% of the North Atlantic puffins nest here. The largest colony lives on the Westman Islands. With about 1.1 million breeding pairs, it is even the largest colony in the world.Here you can learn more about the cute puffins. You will also get helpful tips on how to observe the puffins on the Westman Islands.

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Puffin Calendar - What happens when in the Year?

Mid to late April: Puffins come back to Land

Puffins live about half the year on the open ocean. In the Westman Islands, Puffins come back to shore between mid and late April to nest and raise their young. The males arrive first and occupy their breeding burrow from the previous year. Somewhat later, the females arrive in the made nest. Puffins are monogamous, meaning a pair stays together for life. Each breeding pair lays only one egg, which is then incubated by both parent birds for 35 to 38 days.

From the End of June: Feeding Time

As soon as the chick has hatched, both parents fish for what the sea has to offer. The offspring are fed for about six to seven weeks. This is a great time to take photos. If you're lucky, you'll catch a puffin with a beak full of sand eels. The puffins sometimes really fill their beaks when they do this. When they catch a sand eel, they press their tongue against the top of the beak so that they can continue fishing until the entire length of the beak is filled with fish.

Do you need binoculars? I recently bought the Zeiss Terra ED 8×42*. It has good optical performance, is very handy, not too heavy and the price is ok too. It is also waterproof. This is great for paddling or when it rains a little longer.

From mid-August: the Puffins fledge

In August the time has finally come: the little Puffins leave their caves. Normally the moonlight leads them out to sea. But the lights of the city irritate the little ones. Some of them become crash pilots and end up on the streets, where they are exposed to many dangers. But luckily there is the Puffin Patrol! But more on that later.

However, in recent years, it also happened that the parent birds had to feed their young longer. Because of food shortages, the chicks just weren't ready to fly out yet. For example, in 2015, the Westman Islands puffins were on land until October. This affects their chances of survival, as weather conditions then become more adverse.

Early September: Return to the Sea

The parent birds continue to visit the colony for up to three weeks after the young bird has fledged. From September on, the puffins are then exclusively on the open sea. The wintering grounds cover the entire northern Atlantic to North Africa as well as the western Mediterranean.

The best Time of the Day to watch Puffins

Puffins are usually out at sea fishing during the day. Then, they come only briefly to their breeding burrows to feed the young. Usually they disappear so quickly into the breeding burrows that it is difficult to photograph them. In the evening hours it gets a bit quieter in the colonies. Then many animals are on land and can be photographed well in front of their breeding burrows.

Also, puffins seem to like wind and rainy weather. In sunny weather, on the other hand, they are more likely to be hidden in their breeding burrows or out at sea.

Where can you see Puffins on the Westman Island of Heimaey?

Puffins nest on the tops or slopes of grassy, steep cliffs. The breeding burrows are dug into the earth with the beak. To do this, the cliffs must have a sufficiently thick layer suitable for digging. The burrows are about 0.75 to 1.5 meters long and have an opening about 30 - 40 cm wide. At the end of a narrow passage, a breeding chamber about 30-40 cm in size then opens, which is padded with a thin layer of feathers and plant parts.

On Heimay, the main island of the Westman Islands, you will find some good spots to observe puffins:

• Cape Storhöfđi: There are breeding burrows all along the cape. Also, there is an observation hut where you can stay protected from wind and rain and watch the birds in front of their breeding burrows or during their approach and departure. The puffins fly so close to the hut that you can hear the flapping of their wings.

• Mountain Heimaklettur: There is also an observation hut at Heimaklettur. If you don't have much time and don't want to make the long walk to Cape Storhöfđi, then the nearby mountain Heimaklettur is a good place for puffin watching.

• Along the west coast hiking trail:If you hike from the campsite to Cape Storhöfđi, you can see puffins on the cliffs already on the way.

• During a boat trip: During a boat trip around the island of Heimaey you can observe numerous puffins fishing on the water. However, if the boat gets too close, they dive or fly away. I'm always sorry to disturb and startle them. Still, I have to smile every time. It just looks too funny when the Puffins fly up with their too small wings.

You can find even more puffins in my article “Mit Traktor und Heuwagen zu den Puffins von Ingólfshöfði”.

Puffin Patrol and Rescue Center

From about the middle of August the young puffins leave their nest and fly towards the sea. They orient themselves by the moon. However, some of them are distracted by the city lights and fly towards the city. There, the little puffins are exposed to numerous dangers. At this time of year, it is traditional for the kids of Heimaey to walk the streets in the evening with cardboard boxes and flashlights to collect the lost birds. The "Puffin Patrol" brings the found puffins to the Rescue Center. There, the puffins are examined, weighed and measured. The following morning, the kids then release their birds by the ocean. They then fly or swim out to sea on their own.

When I read about the Puffin Patrol for the first time, I was really moved. I would have loved to see that. But I was a bit too early, the chicks were not yet ready to fledge.

Injured or malnourished young birds are cared for and fed at the Rescue Center until they can survive on their own at sea. If you want to learn more about puffins, I recommend a visit to the Rescue Center. It is located in the Sea Life Sanctuary near the harbor.

Are puffins eaten?

Puffins were an important part of the diet in Iceland in earlier times. For this purpose, eggs were stolen from the nests as well as animals were caught with the net. Today, puffins are still caught and eaten - although their species has been classified as endangered since 2015. The trapping season runs from July 1 to August 15, targeting non-breeding individuals between the ages of four and five. On average, 100,000 puffins are caught each year in the Westman Islands.

A decline in puffin populations on Iceland and other colonies in the North Atlantic has been observed for about 10 years. The breeding success of the Westman Islands colony has also been decreasing. Changes in the food web and food shortages are suspected as possible causes. Puffin catches have been reduced on the Westman Islands as a result. Many Icelanders are also increasingly turning away from puffin meat.

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.

Guided Tours in Iceland

You don't feel like wandering around on your own and would rather join a guided tour in Iceland? Nothing could be easier. If you book an excursion via the following affiliate links, you will support Wanderlust Motifs with a small commission. The tour will not be more expensive for you. Merci!

Did you also see puffins on your trip to Iceland? Where was that? Do you have any questions or suggestions about my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love the Scandinavian countries as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Kayak Tour in the Swedish Archipelago or a Trekking Tour to the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.

Der Beitrag Lieblinge der Westmännerinseln – so seht ihr Puffins erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

Lava Landscape of the Eldfell Eruption
Bird Rocks
Rocks with fantasy Pictures
Sheep Lift of the Westman Islands
Beluga Whale Sanctuary Klettsvik Bay
Meereshöhlen und die “Singing Cave”
Provider for Boat Tours around the Westman Island Heimaey
Book Recommendations for Iceland

Lava Landscape of the Eldfell Eruption

The eruption of the Eldfell volcano in 1973 destroyed 400 houses. They were overrun by lava, collapsed from the weight of the volcanic ash on the roofs, or were set on fire by lava bombs. But in addition to the destruction, the lava flow also created new land: about two square kilometers in the northeast of the island. You can see this new land of the Westman Island Heimaey from the water side during the boat tour. Impressively, the lava piles up here to bizarre towers and lava arches. The waves of the sea crash against the black lava and form a great contrast with their white foam crests.

Bird Rocks

The Westman Islands are known for their large seabird colonies. Kittiwakes, fulmars and razorbills breed on the cliffs in several tiers. Particularly large numbers of seabirds nest at Cape Höfði, the southernmost point of Heimaey. The cliffs here are 122 m high and there are several caves. We even drive into a cave called "Fjósið".

During our boat trip we also pass Iceland's largest colony of puffins. It is located on the east side of the island Heimaey. From the boat it is a bit difficult to see the puffins at their nesting holes. But one can observe many puffins in the water here.

Rocks with fantasy Pictures

In Iceland, many rocks and natural phenomena are accompanied by stories. For example, striking rocks are petrified trolls and hot springs or volcanoes are angry women. At the Westman Islands there are even two petrified hedgehogs - these are two offshore cliffs that look particularly round and spiky.

In the rocks of Heimaey you can see even more with a little imagination. There is a huge elephant drinking from the sea with its trunk. Right next to it a Tyrannosaurus is posing. And near the harbor entrance, a face and an eagle's head can be seen on the rocks.

Sheep Lift of the Westman Islands

In the past there was little grass on the main island of Heimaey. In order to feed all the sheep, the animals were taken to the greener neighboring islands. But how does one get the sheep up the almost vertical cliffs? With the sheep lift, of course! Necessity is the mother of invention. The Icelanders have made a wire basket that is pulled up the cliff on a rope. What brave animals that must be!

In the meantime, enough grass grows on the island of Heimaey for the sheep. But still, sheep are brought to the outer Westman Islands. Tradition remains tradition.

Beluga Whale Sanctuary Klettsvik Bay

Klettsvik Bay used to be the temporary home of the orca Keiko. In the meantime, the two beluga whales "Little Grey" and "Little White" have moved in here. The bay is 3.2 square kilometers in size with a depth of up to 10 meters. It is separated with a double net and equipped with a supply platform. It is the first beluga whale sanctuary in the world where belugas have been returned from an aquarium to a more natural environment.

When I was here in July 2020, the two whales were supposed to have been relocated. But the belugas had a stomach flu and the move to the new environment was delayed until August. I wish Little Grey and Little White all the best, the pilot project much success and hope that many more sanctuaries for whales and dolphins will follow.

Meereshöhlen und die “Singing Cave”

On the coast of Heimaey there are several sea caves. We even went into two of them by boat. The larger of the two caves is called Klettshellir and is known as the "Singing Cave". This is because the acoustics inside it are extraordinary. To illustrate this, the captain plays us an Icelandic song. And the name of the cave lives up to its promise.

Every now and then, music concerts are held in the "Singing Cave". The sound experience must be impressive. Unfortunately, no concert was offered during my stay.

Provider for Boat Tours around the Westman Island Heimaey

You can book your boat tour around the Westman Island Heimaey with Ribsafari and Boat Tours. You can choose between a tour with the speedy Zodiacs or a larger boat with protected interior and viewing deck. There are also different routes offered: the circumnavigation of the main island Heimaey or excursions to the offshore islands, for example the island Surtsey, which was formed during the volcanic eruption of 1963-1967.

I had opted for the leisurely tour in the larger boat Teista. The boat tour went once around Heimaey and lasted 1.5 hours. Cost: 8,700 ISK (about 55 euros).

By the way: With a little luck you can also see whales on the trip. Even orcas! We also saw the blow of a whale in the distance.

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.

Have you ever made a boat trip around the Westman Island Heimaey in Iceland? How did you like it? Do you have any questions or suggestions to my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love the Scandinavian countries as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Kayak Tour in the Swedish Archipelago or a Trekking Tour to the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.

Der Beitrag Highlights einer Bootstour um die Westmännerinsel Heimaey erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

What is a Glacial Lagoon and how is it formed?
Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón or Heinabergslón? Which is the most beautiful Glacial Lagoon in Iceland?
Seals in the Glacier Lagoons
What can one do at the Glacier Lagoons?
Safety
Location and how to get to the Glacier Lagoons in the South of Iceland
Camping near the Glacier Lagoons
Interesting Places near the Ice Lagoons

What is a Glacial Lagoon and how is it formed?

Glacial lagoons are formed when meltwater from a glacier collects in a depression in the ground and cannot drain away. This depression eventually grows into a basin, the glacial lagoon, through erosion and retreat of the glacier. Due to the large amount of sediment transported with the glaciers, glacial lagoons are usually cloudy and resemble a café latte.

Icebergs break off from the edge of the glacier into the lagoons, where they slowly melt. Each iceberg is unique in size, shape and coloring. Most of the time they are white. This is due to the trapped air bubbles that scatter the light. But there are also icebergs that are almost transparent. Their ice is older and pressure has forced the air bubbles out of the ice. Here in Iceland, many icebergs also have black stripes, spots or patterns. This is the embedded ash from past volcanic eruptions. 

Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón or Heinabergslón? Which is the most beautiful Glacial Lagoon in Iceland?

It is hard to say which of the three ice lagoons is the most beautiful. Each of them is a natural beauty and has its own special features that make it stand out from the other lagoons. Here are a few details:

Jökulsárlón – big Icebergs, Seals and clear Water

Jökulsárlón is located at the foot of the glacier Breiðamerkurjökull and is the most famous of the glacial lagoons in Iceland. Its formation is not at all long ago and began around 1920 with the shrinking of Breiðamerkurjökull. Since then, it has been growing incredibly fast. Frighteningly fast, because its growth is synonymous with the retreat of the glacier's edge and the melting of Breiðamerkurjökull.

In 1956, the lagoon covered an area of 4.5 km². Twenty years later it has about doubled its size. Today, Jökulsárlón is about 30 km² and continues to grow. With a depth of up to 260 meters, the ice lagoon is also the deepest lake in all of Iceland. But the landscape here is changing fast - in the future the lagoon will grow into a deep fjord.

Jökulsárlón is larger and more dramatic than the other ice lagoons in Iceland. The outlet glacier rises about 30 meters above the waterline. When it calves, the ice chunks that fall into the water can be several stories high. Then they float as icebergs in all imaginable shapes on the lagoon. And remember - only about one tenth of the iceberg is visible above the water surface! And there is something else that distinguishes Jökulsárlón from all other glacial lagoons in Iceland: its water is clear and turquoise.Normally, glacier outlets are milky murky. But due to the connection to the sea and the tides, the lagoon is regularly "washed". 

Some of the icebergs find their way into the open sea. Here they are exposed to the heavy surf and break into many small "diamonds". You will then find them washed up on the so-called “Diamond Beach”The fragments of the large icebergs sparkle here on the black sand of Breiðamerkursandur. A unique sight, unique in the world and an absolute highlight for every photographer!

Fjallsárlón - very close to the Glacier Edge

Do you prefer a little less hustle and bustle?Then I can recommend the smaller glacier lagoon Fjallsárlón. Its area is only about one fifth of the area of Jökulsárlón. But the icebergs floating on it are just as big. Advantage of Fjallsárlón compared to Jökulsárlón: You have a better view of the outlet glacier Fjallsárlón and you are much closer to the ice edge. Because of the proximity you can hear the glacier working. The cracking and crunching of the ice underlines the fantastic view of the glacier.

Heinabergslón - off the beaten Track

Heinabergslón is fed by the outlet glacier Heinabergsjökull, itself part of Vatnajökull. The somewhat lesser known ice lagoon lies off the beaten visitor path about 40 kilometers east of Jökulsárlón. A gravel road leads from the ring road to a parking lot, where a breathtaking panorama opens up. If you find the other two ice lagoons too busy and are looking for a quieter alternative, then Heinabergslón is the place for you.

Besides a small hike, you also have the possibility to do a kayak tour between the icebergs. The lagoon is a bit smaller, which is convenient for the kayak tour. Because already after a short paddle we were surrounded by impressive icebergs. We could even paddle up to the glacier and take a little walk on the ice.

Seals in the Glacier Lagoons

In the ice lagoon Jökulsárlón you can watch seals all year round. They swim around between the icebergs and every now and then you can see a head peeking out of the water. I have seen especially many seals directly at the outflow of the lagoon into the sea. Possibly there are the most fish here. Also in the Fjallsárlón there should be seals, but I didn't see any here. Only in the Heinabergslón you will not see seals for sure, because the connection to the sea is missing.

What can one do at the Glacier Lagoons?

You should not miss a boat trip on one of the glacier lagoons. It's a chance to get even closer to the icebergs and the edge of the glacier. I did the "adventure tour" with a Zodiac on the Jökulsárlón lagoon during my last trip to Iceland. That was absolutely impressive. But even better than a ride in a noisy Zodiac boat, I found the kayak tour on the Heinabergslón. Instead of a loud boat engine, we only heard our paddles slowly pulling through the water.

Here is an overview of what you can do:

Jökulsárlón - Tours with Zodiacs, Amphibious Boat and Kayaks

All costs are as of July 2020. If you want to know the current price, please check the website of the tour operator.

Icelagoon Adventure Tours offers private tours as well as special tours for photographers in addition to the popular "Adventure Tours". The total duration of the adventure tour by Zodiac is 1 hour and 45 minutes. Of this time you will be on the water for one hour. Cost: 66 euros.

Tip: It's best to sit at the very front, then you'll have the best photo opportunities.

The tour operator Glacierlagoon has besides Zodiac tours also trips with an amphibious boat in the program. With the amphibious boat you will not get as close to the icebergs as with the Zodiac. The excursion lasts 30-40 minutes. Cost: 40 euros.

Iceland Extreme also offers guided kayak tours. Duration: 1.5 hours. Cost: 69 euros.

Fjallsárlón - Tours with Zodiacs

Fjallsarlón Iceberg Boat Tours offers tours with Zodiac boats. Each boat can take 10 people. The tour on the lagoon takes about 45 minutes. In total you have to plan about 90 minutes with briefing. Cost: 53 euros. After the boat ride you can warm up with a warm meal in the restaurant Frost.

Heinabergslón - Kayak Tours

There are no Zodiac tours on Heinabergslón. Instead, you can join a guided kayak tour with Iceguide and be all alone on the water. A perfect nature experience, absolutely recommendable!

Safety

Glaciers can calve and icebergs can turn or break apart. This can cause large waves. Keep your distance from large icebergs. This applies equally to Zodiac boats, kayaks and also walkers and photographers on the shore.

Location and how to get to the Glacier Lagoons in the South of Iceland

All three lagoons are located on the south coast of Iceland between the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and the town of Höfn. They border Vatnajökull National Park, the largest protected wilderness area in all of Iceland.

Fjallsárlón is the first lagoon you will reach from Reykjavik after about 5 hours of driving (370 km). It is not visible from the ring road. After crossing Fjallsá - the outflow of the lagoon into the sea - there is a turnoff to the left leading to the parking lot.

About 10 km further east is the famous Jökulsárlón lagoon directly on the ring road. Tip: If you are here, take a look at the beautiful Diamondbeach.

Only the ice lagoon Heinabergslón is a bit more difficult to reach. That's why it is less visited. From Jökulsárlón you drive another 40 kilometers on the ring road to Flatey Farm (64°15'32.7″N 15°34'54.7″W). From here it is another 7 kilometers on a gravel road to the parking lot in front of the lagoon.

Camping near the Glacier Lagoons

Unfortunately there are no camping possibilities directly at the ice lagoons. The closest places are in Skaftafell or Höfn. Also other accommodations in the vicinity are sparse. You should make a reservation in advance.

If you want to take pictures of the ice lagoons at midnight sun, the longer drive can be a challenge. Unfortunately I didn't make it, I was just too tired. The distances from Jökulsárlón are:

• Skaftafell campground: 58 km / 60 minutes drive.
• Svinafell camping site in Skaftafell: 51 km / 45 minutes driving time
• Höfn camping: 79 km / 60 minutes driving time

Interesting Places near the Ice Lagoons

Around the glacier lagoons Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón and Heinabergslón there are more interesting places in the south of Iceland that are worth a visit:

• Early in the morning, the Diamond Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Iceland, because this is where the icebergs from the Jökulsárlón strand. It is located right next to the ice lagoon.
• The nature reserve Skaftafell is a popular hiking area with the famous waterfall Svartifoss with its black basalt columns. The popular glacier toursalso start here. Skaftafell is located about 47 km west of Fjallsárlón.
• Early in the morning, the Múlagljúfur Canyon is a beautiful gorge with steep rock walls, two waterfalls and spectacular views. About 3.4 kilometers west of Fjallsárlón, the dirt road branches off to the starting point of the hike.

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.

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Recommendations for further Reading

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Hike along the West Coast from Heimaey to Stórhöfði

Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland is known for its puffins. Here, the biggest Puffin-colony of Iceland lives with 1,1 million brood-pairs.The cute animals have dug themselves thousands of nest-caves at the slopes in the south of the island Heimaey. From the puffin lookout you can observe the animals well protected from wind and rain. There are guided puffin tours but you can also go on your own to the observation hut. And why not hike to the puffins? Here you can read all about the hike to the puffin lookout in Stórhöfði on the Vestmannaeyjar - the windiest place in Iceland.

The Hike to Cape Stórhöfði at a Glance

Length of the hike: From the campsite to the parking lot Stórhöfði on the west coast about 7.4 kilometers
Type of path: The trail on the west coast is marked with wooden stakes and is well trodden. The path on the east coast, on the other hand, is not marked and is more difficult to find. Here you should have a GPS capable smartphone with an offline map.
Duration: If you want to hike the way there and back, you should plan a whole day.
Clothing: Remember, Cape Stórhöfði on Vestmannaeyjar is the windiest place in Iceland. It is best to wear windproof softshell or rainwear.
Highlights: Puffins, loneliness on the path, steep coast, black beaches, view from Stórhöfði

The main stops on the hike to Stórhöfði

Herjólfsdalur - reconstructed longhouse

The hike starts at the campground in Herjólfsdalur. The valley is named after Herjólfur Barðarson, who according to Landnáhmabók was one of the first settlers in Iceland. Between 1971 and 1980 archaeological excavations in Herjólfsdalur found remains of eight houses and stone walls. The oldest remains were dated to the early 9th century. They are the oldest traces of human settlements on the Westman Islands. The farm of Herjólfsdalur was reconstructed in 2006 and can now be visited right next to the campsite. It is built in the typical style of that time as a longhouse made of stones and lawn. In the rear part of the building there was an area for the animals.

From here you follow the path to the coast and walk for a while between the golf course and the cliffs.

Kaplagjóta - the "Horse Gorge"

The number of horses on Vestmannaeyjar was limited in the 16th century. If there were more horses on the island than allowed, the animals were pushed into the "horse gorge". Cruel. And honestly, I find it hard to believe.

Rock Formation Elephant Rock

Right next to the horse gorge, a huge stone elephant's head can be seen in the rock. He dives his trunk into the sea to drink.

As soon as you leave the golf course you are alone in the most beautiful nature with black lava rocks, colorful flowers and wonderful views.

Monument Mormónapollur

Also on Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland there were Mormons. The first Icelanders who converted to the Mormon faith were baptized here in the "Mormon pool". That was in 1851, and a monument here commemorates the Icelanders who emigrated to Utah.

Cliffs Ofanleitishamar

At the cliff Ofanleitishamar I saw my first puffin on Vestmannaeyjar. Also fulmars breed here on the rocks. But there was one thing I found especially exciting here: a rusty tractor hangs at the top of the cliff. How did it get there?

Shortly before the well-marked path leads down to the black sandy beach, an eider duck mother scurries along the path with her young. Quickly the chicks are called together. Motionless, the ducks squat close together. I am impressed how well behaved the little ones are. I walk past them in a wide arc.

The Bay Vík

Arrived at the beach I can't believe my eyes: two bathing beauties come out of the water. Not in neoprene, but completely naked. It must be cold! I myself am warmly wrapped up in down and rain jacket. Maybe there is a hot spring here?

The black sand beach in the bay called Vík is framed by nicely layered tephra stones. The stones at the water's edge are covered with poisonous green algae and there is a lot of washed up seaweed on the beach. The sea must be beautiful under water here. 

Pirate Bay

In July 1627 pirates from Algeria landed in the Pirate Bay. They killed 34 inhabitants and deported 242 Icelanders as slaves to North Africa.The Algerians were considered Turks at that time, so the attack is still called a Turkish attack today.

Puffin Lookout at Cape Stórhöfði

On the mountain side of Cape Stórhöfði nest countless puffins. Every year they return to their breeding caves from mid-April. First, the males come and prepare the brood-cave afterwards. About 10 days later, the females come ashore. Puffins are monogamous, that is, a pair stays together all its life. Only if the "wife" didn't appear at the hatchery, the males look for a new partner.

In order to observe the puffins without disturbing them, an observation hut was built here. Super practical in wind and rain. Because in such weather puffins like to stay especially gladly before its brood-caves. Besides, they are to be seen best in the evening hours. During the day, they are usually on the sea for fishing. They come then only shortly to the brood-caves in order to deliver the loot. For a break before the cave is only little time.

Cape Stórhöfði on Vestmannaeyjar - the windiest Place in Iceland.

Cape Stórhöfði was formed during a volcanic eruption about 6,000 years ago. On the highest point, 122 meters above sea level, there is the lighthouse and since 1921 a weather station. Here on Vestmannaeyjar the highest wind speed in Iceland was measured with 220 km/h. That is wind force 17 - the highest level on the Beaufort scale! It blows you away. Fortunately it was not quite as windy when I was there.

From Stórhöfði you have a beautiful view of the offshore islands. It is said that you can even see the island of Surtsey. from here, but only 20 kilometers away. Surtsey was created by a volcanic eruption in 1963-1967 and is today a UNESCO world heritage site. The island may not be entered, except by scientists.

Way back to the City along the East Coast

You can either hitchhike or walk back. For the way back you can walk along the east coast of the island. The path branches off the road at Pirate Bay. It is not marked and therefore hard to find. I followed a horse track, but it took me off the right path and I ended up back on the main road too early. I didn't want to correct my course cross-country and I walked along the road. Since it was already late in the evening, hardly any cars passed by and my attempt to hitchhike was unfortunately unsuccessful.

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.

Guided Tours in Iceland

You don't feel like wandering around on your own and would rather join a guided tour in Iceland? Nothing could be easier. If you book an excursion via the following affiliate links, you will support Wanderlust Motifs with a small commission. The tour will not be more expensive for you. Merci!

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Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love the Scandinavian countries as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Kayak Tour in the Swedish Archipelago or a Trekking Tour to the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.

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Vestrahorn – the "Batman Mountain" in the Southeast of Iceland
Why visit the Vestrahorn?
Model Vestrahorn - great Photos guaranteed
Viking Café with Camp Site and Accommodation
Viking Village of Stokksnes
Riding at the Vestrahorn
Hiking at the Vestrahorn and on the Stokksnes Headland
How much Time should one plan?
How to get there & Entrance Fee

Vestrahorn – the "Batman Mountain" in the Southeast of Iceland

The Vestrahorn is part of the 889 m high mountain massif Klifatindur.Besides Vestrahorn, Eystrahorn in the east and the Brunnhorn in front of it belong to Klifatindur. There are also many other smaller peaks and horns that give the mountain massif its special appearance. The peaks of the mountain look similar to the Batman logo (from a distance). Therefore the Vestrahorn is often called "Batman Mountain" by the locals.

Good to know: Klifatindur was created during the ice age. Its peaks are the remains of a large volcano that was active about 6 to 7 million years ago. Unlike most mountains in Iceland, Klifatindur is not made of lava, but of magmatic deep rock, grabbo and granophyr.

Why visit the Vestrahorn?

Heading east on the ring road, you quickly pass one of the most photogenic mountains in Iceland - without seeing it. The Vestrahorn and the dune landscape in front of it on the headland Stokksnes are a bit offside. You have to drive there intentionally. But once you have decided to take a little detour over the gravel road, the Vestrahorn will not let you off. I wish I had had more time to photograph this hidden jewel extensively at all times of day and night.

Vestrahorn is with the Kirkjufell the most photographed mountain in Iceland.There are also great hiking opportunities here, including the ascent of the peak of Klifatindur. The landowners run a small inn with a nice café and viking village.There is even the possibility to ride one of the great Icelandic horses. More about this later.

Model Vestrahorn - great Photos guaranteed

The mountain with the black dune landscape on the Stokksnes peninsula is a highlight for every landscape photographer.If you browse the internet for pictures of the Vestrahorn, you will be flooded with great shots. The mountain is especially beautiful at sunset or when it is framed by bright green northern lights.

You can reach the best photo spots from the Viking Café via a dead end road. There are four parking lots along the road. To the right and left of the road are wide black sand beaches and two lagoons. The water level in the lagoons is tidal. At low tide they fall dry. At high tide and windless weather you can catch fantastic water reflections of the Vestrahorn in the lagoon. To find the right time, it is best to find out about the tides in advance – click here for the tide table.

When I arrived at the Vestrahorn, unfortunately there was already low tide. But I could still take pictures of beautiful reflections. Since the beach is very flat, the waves come up far. When they flow back and there is still some water left over the sand, there are also some great reflections.

A little above the beach there is an extraordinary dune landscape.The black dunes are partly covered with beach grass and give a great foreground for your photos. Do you have a tripod and remote shutter release with you? The dunes are a great spot for selfies in front of the mountain. But be careful with the grass, it is an important erosion protection.

Viking Café with Camp Site and Accommodation

The Viking Caféis rustic and cosy. Here you get a second breakfast, coffee, cake and sandwiches in a really nice atmosphere. If the weather is good, you can also sit outside and enjoy the view over the bay with your coffee. And if the weather is not good, you can browse the souvenirs, write a postcard or use the free WiFi.

You can't get enough of the Vestrahorn and want to spend the night here in the southeast of Iceland? This is also taken care of: Motorhomes can find a Pitch for the Night in the parking lot in front of the café. The guesthouse also offers seven comfortable rooms for travelers.

Viking Village of Stokksnes

Left of the Viking Café you can take a walk to the Wikingerdorf “The old Farm” The village was built in 2009 as a location for filming. The building material was mainly driftwood and old telephone poles. The film was never shot, but the village still stands here. The entrance fee is included in the entrance to the Vestrahorn.

Riding at the Vestrahorn

Opposite the Viking Café is the Hornhestar Riding Farm,which offers horseback riding tours in front of the breathtaking scenery of the Vestrahorn. You will ride over black sandy beaches and can admire the beautiful landscape of Stokksnes from the back of a horse. How about a photo of you on horseback in front of the Vestrahorn?

The rides last about two hours and take place in a small group of 2 to 4 people. Costs: 20.000 ISK (126 Euro).

Unfortunately I did not have time to go riding here. But instead I had the pleasure to tolt over the black beach in Vík. Read here why you should ride an Icelandic horse in Iceland.

Hiking at the Vestrahorn and on the Stokksnes Headland

There are several hiking trails on the Stokksnes peninsula and the Vestrahorn. These are shown on the information leaflet that you will receive with your ticket.

• Hike around the beach Kirkjusandur (6,4 km). You will pass the two best photo spots for the Vestrahorn. At the beach you continue in the direction of the Vestrahorn. At the foot of the mountain turn left and walk through the Viking village back to the Viking Café.

• Hike to the lighthouse of Stokksnes (0,5 km). From here the old NATO radar station can be seen well.

• West of the access road there is also a walk around Kirkjusandur beach (4 to 6.5 km). On this hike you can watch seals and seabirds with some luck.

• The 889 m high Klifatindur is also quite popular with mountain climbers. There is supposed to be a marked route to the summit.

How much Time should one plan?

How often on my travels, I like to pack my days too full. Same this time. A weather-related change of plan then upset everything. So I only had 1.5 hours for the Vestrahorn. Somehow I also assumed wrongly that there is nothing more than one photo location. Far from it. I could have spent the whole day here, if not two.

The longer you are here, the better are the chances to photograph the mountain with different cloud formations and moods. Or even to get a weather window suitable for photography - it can rain a lot.

How to get there & Entrance Fee

The Stokksnes headland and Vestrahorn mountain are located on the southeast coast of Iceland, about 90 km from the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón and 15 km from Höfn. You will first pass Höfn on the ring road heading east. After about 7 km turn right just before the tunnel onto an unmarked gravel road. Follow this road for another 6 km to the Viking Café. 

In the Viking Café you pay the entrance fee for the Vestrahorn.That is about seven euros. Together with the entrance ticket you will get a small map of the area with hiking trails and parking areas. If the café is closed, you can also get a ticket from the machine in front of the café. With the ticket the barrier in front of the entrance will open. For the exit the barrier opens automatically.

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.

Do you know the Batman Mountain Vestrahorn in the southeast of Iceland? How did you like it? Do you have any questions or suggestions regarding my article? If so, please write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love the Scandinavian countries as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Kayak Tour in the Swedish Archipelago or a Trekking Tour to the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.

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Where is the volcanic Crater Kerið located?

The volcanic crater Kerið is part of the extended "Golden Circle" in the southwest of Iceland. So it is not far away from Reykjavik. Shortly before the town of Selfoss the road to Haukadalur (35) branches off the ring road. After 13 kilometers you reach the volcanic crater Kerið. A visit to the crater can be integrated with the other highlights of the Golden Circle in a day trip from Reykjavik .

"Golden Circle" - What is that?

Early in the morning, the "Golden Circle" is a popular route for a day trip from Reykjavik in southwest Iceland. It includes three of the most famous sights of the island in a round trip of about 300 kilometers. The pure driving time is about 4-5 hours. The sights are: the former Thing site Þingvellir in the national park of the same name, the geothermal area Haukadalur with the geysers and the name-giving “goldene Wasserfall” Gullfoss. If you take Iceland's Golden Circle a little further, you will find the volcano crater Kerið, the hot springs around Laugarvatn and the former bishop's seat Skálholt .

The volcanic Crater Kerið in the Southwest of Iceland

Kerið is the easternmost of five craters in the Tjarnarhólar series. They all belong to the postglacial Grímsnes volcanic field and the eruption belt in the Reykjanes-Langjökull area. Between 5,000 and 6,500 years ago, the lava field Grímsneshraun with an area of 54 square kilometers was formed here from a total of 12 volcanoes. It is assumed that the lava under the solidified crater floor of Kerið flowed off after the eruptions. The crater floor then sank below the water table. Since the lake has no other inflow or outflow, the water level in the crater indicates the groundwater level.

Depth: 55 meters
Length and width: about 270 x 170 meters
Area: about 0.05 square kilometers
Water depth: between 7 and 14 meters

Walk around the volcanic Crater Kerið

The entrance to the volcanic crater Kerið is 400 ISK (2,50 Euro). Parking is free of charge. After a few meters you will reach a viewpoint with a view to the blue crater lake. From here you can walk along the circular path at the crater rim, which is about 900 meters. To the left of the viewing platform there are stairs leading down to the lake. If you also walk the lower circular path around the lake, you will extend your walk to about 1.5 kilometers.

The parking lot and the access to the crater are open around the clock. I was there all alone at about 8 o'clock in the evening on a rainy day. Even the ticket booth was closed.

Book Recommendations for Iceland

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.

Do you know the volcanic crater Kerið in Iceland? How did you like it? Do you have any questions or suggestions regarding my article? If so, please write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love the Scandinavian countries as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Kayak Tour in the Swedish Archipelago or a Trekking Tour to the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.

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