Join your private driver-guide for this 8-hour day trip exploring West Iceland’s geothermal and volcanic wonders. 

Departing from Reykjavík, you’ll journey through dramatic fjords and moss-covered lava fields, visit Europe’s most powerful hot spring, marvel at ethereal waterfalls, and venture inside one of Iceland’s most extensive lava tunnels—all at your own pace without the crowds.

Highlights of Our West Iceland Lava Tunnel Day Trip

Private hotel pick-up from Reykjavík

Scenic drive along Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord)

Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring

Hraunfossar & Barnafoss waterfalls

Guided exploration of Víðgelmir lava tunnel

Customizable itinerary to suit your interests

Our West Iceland Lava Tunnel Day Trip Itinerary

All our day trips are fully customizable. Below is our suggested route, but if you’d like to adjust stops, add extra activities, or arrange a special lunch, simply let us know, and we’ll tailor the day to your preferences.

Hotel Pick-Up from Reykjavík

Your driver-guide will collect you from your Reykjavík accommodation and head north, quickly leaving the cityscape behind. 

As the coastal mountains rise around you and the road winds toward the Hvalfjörður tunnel, enjoy panoramic views of fjords and distant peaks.

Scenic Drive through Hvalfjörður

Emerging from the tunnel, you’ll travel along the shores of Hvalfjörður, known as “Whale Fjord.” 

Here, lush valleys give way to vivid lava fields where moss blankets hardened volcanic rock. 

Your guide will point out subtle signs of past eruptions—rocky ridges and smooth, black surfaces—and explain how glacial movements carved the fjord itself. As you pass small farms perched on the hillsides, you’ll hear about early settlers who navigated these very waters and used the fjord’s shelter to build thriving communities.

Deildartunguhver Hot Spring Visit

Next, you’ll arrive at Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring, where scalding water jets forth at 100 °C (212 °F). 

Walk along wooden platforms bordering the bubbling source and watch as torrents of steaming water surge from underground fissures. Your guide will explain how geothermal energy here supplies nearby towns, and you’ll see pipelines channeling hot water hundreds of meters to Reykholt and beyond. 

Learn about the science behind Iceland’s geothermal power—how rainwater seeps into fissures, heats up deep underground, and resurfaces spectacularly. 

Hraunfossar & Barnafoss Waterfalls

A short drive brings you to the twin wonders of Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. 

At Hraunfossar, milky-blue water emerges from the porous Hallmundarhraun lava field, seeping through black basalt and cascading gently into the Hvítá River. Stroll along the viewing platforms, capturing photos of these tranquil falls set against stark lava rocks. 

Then, cross the footbridge to Barnafoss, where the river is forced through a narrow canyon, creating powerful rapids and churning whitewater. Your guide will recount the tragic legend behind Barnafoss’s name—the tale of children lost to the turbulent currents—and how nature and folklore intertwine here. 

The contrast between Hraunfossar’s peaceful springs and Barnafoss’s fierce flow highlights the area’s volcanic legacy.

Víðgelmir Lava Tunnel Exploration

Next, delve beneath the surface to explore Víðgelmir, one of Iceland’s largest and most spectacular lava tunnels. 

Don helmets and headlamps before entering a remarkable, cavernous passage formed over 3,000 years ago during massive eruptions in the Hallmundarhraun lava field. As you walk along the uneven floor, your guide will point out intricate lava formations—flow lines carved into the ceiling and walls, delicate lava stalactites, and patches of ice that cling to the tunnel roof. Learn how successive lava flows built layer upon layer, leaving behind these hidden corridors when molten rock drained away. 

Return Drive to Reykjavík

After emerging from Víðgelmir, you’ll board your vehicle for the return journey to Reykjavík, retracing your route through Borgarnes and along Hvalfjörður’s scenic shores. 

Finally, you’ll be dropped off at your Reykjavík hotel, concluding a day that blends Iceland’s geothermal wonders, volcanic history, and captivating folklore into an unforgettable adventure.