Join your private driver-guide for a full-day adventure exploring the geothermal wonders, dramatic coastlines, and otherworldly landscapes of the Reykjanes Peninsula, concluding with a rejuvenating soak at the world-famous Blue Lagoon.
With hotel pick-up in Reykjavík, you’ll bypass the crowds and travel at your own pace. Along the way, your guide will weave together Iceland’s geological story and local folklore, leading you through lava fields, steam vents, coastal cliffs, and finally into milky-blue geothermal waters.
Highlights of Our Reykjanes Peninsula & Blue Lagoon Day Trip
Private hotel pick-up from Reykjavík
Geothermal marvels at Gunnuhver and Bridge Between Continents
Dramatic coastal scenery at Reykjanesviti Lighthouse and Brimketill
Immersive Blue Lagoon experience with silica mud masks
Customizable itinerary to suit your interests and schedule
Our Reykjanes Peninsula & Blue Lagoon Day Trip Itinerary
All our day trips are fully customizable. Below is our recommended schedule. However, if you’d like to adjust the timing, include additional stops, or reserve a special lunch, please let us know, and we’ll tailor the experience to your preferences.
Departure from Reykjavík and Early Drive
Departing from Reykjavík, your private driver-guide will lead you southwest toward the Reykjanes Peninsula, where Iceland’s volcanic heart pulses just beneath the surface.
Along the way, observe the Salka geothermal plant’s billowing steam plumes and hear tales of hidden huldufólk (elves) said to live among the fissures and lava tubes. Questions are encouraged as you travel, ensuring a relaxed yet informative start to your journey.
Bridge Between Continents Experience
Your first stop is the symbolic Bridge Between Continents, a slender footbridge spanning the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Stepping onto this bridge presents a rare opportunity to stand with one foot on each continent, a moment that symbolizes the slow yet relentless movement of the Earth’s crust beneath Iceland.
Wander down the walking paths carved into the surrounding fissured lava rock, where deep crevices reveal the reddish-brown hues of iron-rich minerals. Your guide will explain how these plates drift approximately two centimeters apart each year, reshaping the landscape and creating the geothermal phenomena you’ll encounter throughout the day.
As you explore the area, notice how moss and small grasses cling to the cracks in the lava, thriving where few other plants can. Stunning vistas frame the bridge itself: on one side, the barren lava fields stretch inland, and on the other, you glimpse the distant ocean meeting sheer cliffs.
Your guide will share local legends of how early settlers used these landmarks to navigate, as well as modern tales of how the region’s dramatic geology continues to captivate scientists and visitors alike.
Gunnuhver Geothermal Marvels
A short drive brings you to Gunnuhver, one of the peninsula’s most active geothermal areas.
Traverse wooden boardwalks that wind above hissing fumaroles spewing hot steam, and keep a respectful distance from bubbling pools of reddish-brown mud!
Your guide will point out how superheated groundwater, trapped beneath layers of impermeable rock, escapes violently through fissures—creating dramatic vents that can blast steam and hot water dozens of meters into the air.
As you breathe in the sulfur-tinged air, your guide will recount the legend of “Gunna,” a restless ghost said to have haunted this very site centuries ago. According to folklore, Gunna’s spirit was calmed when a local priest recited blessings over the springs, and the area has since carried her name.
The juxtaposition of eerie steam plumes with haunting stories highlights the peninsula’s unique blend of natural power and cultural mystique. After capturing photos of the surreal landscape, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for how Iceland’s volcanic heart continues to shape both the land and its legends.
Reykjanesviti Lighthouse and Coastal Cliffs
Continue to Reykjanesviti Lighthouse, perched atop rugged cliffs where the Atlantic’s crashing waves meet black volcanic rock.
This historic lighthouse, one of Iceland’s oldest, has guided mariners through treacherous seas for centuries. As you approach, the guide will describe how shifting shorelines and powerful storms have battered the structure, prompting multiple reconstructions over time.
Take a moment to explore the nearby walking trails where the land meets the sea: weathered lava fields give way to jagged cliffs, offering sweeping views of the horizon where sea and sky merge.
Brimketill Lava Rock Pool Exploration
Re-join your driver to travel along the coast, bringing you to Brimketill, a natural lava rock pool shaped by centuries of ocean erosion.
Here, the molten lava that once flowed into the sea has hardened into rugged formations, carved by relentless waves into smooth, bowl-like depressions that fill with seawater at high tide.
Carefully step onto the uneven basalt rocks as your guide describes how each surge sculpts the rock, creating swirling patterns and miniature whirlpools when waves rush into the pool. Feel mist from the crashing surf as you watch water surge over the edges, revealing the raw power of the Atlantic.
The interplay of water, rock, and sky here provides a sensory-rich experience: the salty spray, the rhythmic pulse of waves, and the striking visual of pale foam atop dark rock.
Blue Lagoon Relaxation
Conclude your Reykjanes Peninsula exploration with a visit to the iconic Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa nestled within a sea of black lava.
Step into the milky-blue waters, warmed by the Earth itself and infused with silica, algae, and mineral salts known for their skin-healing properties.
If desired, indulge in additional spa amenities such as a steam cave or sauna, each designed to complement the lagoon’s restorative qualities.
