Laki Craters Mountain Expedition by Super Jeep

The largest lava flow in a single eruption in recorded history causing famine world wide

Highlights Real mountain luxury tour in a super jeep • Experienced local guide • Plenty of time to hike around • Lava • Craters • Glacier view • Un-bridged rivers • Beautiful waterfalls • Spectacular canyon and scenery.

Activities: Sightseeing Tours in Iceland

Available: Jun-Oct
Duration: 1 day
Region: South Iceland
Level of difficulty: Low

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Price per person:
35000 ISK

Tour description

Join the full day tour to Lakagigar craters in Vatnajokull National Park. The super jeep tour is for those who want to get the most out of the day. Our super jeeps are specially modified in Iceland to be able to deal with the tough surroundings in the highlands and on glaciers. We focus on individuals and small groups with a maximum of 12 passengers in each car. Relax and enjoy the mountain view while your local driver guide gives you informative comments about the history and geology of Lakagígar. You can hike on top of the Mountain Laki, which is in the middle of the row of craters and enjoy the magnificent view.
Iceland is a perfect destination for those seeking adventure on a grand scale and Lakagigar stands out and has this otherworldly feel.

Among other places we will stop at Tjarnargigur crater, Fagrifoss waterfall (means literally beautiful waterfall), and explore the breathtaking Fjadrargljufur Canyon.

Lakagígar or Craters of Laki is about 25 km. (15.5 miles) long fissure with about 130 craters. The eruption started at 8th of June 1783 and lasted for 8 months resulting in the largest lava flow in a single eruption in recorded history. The mountain Laki (818 meters high) did not erupt itself but is standing in the middle of the craters that opened on each side stretching almost from Mýrdalsjökull south east of Laki and north east of Laki to Vatnajökull.

This tour starts and ends at Kirkjubaejarklaustur, (Klaustur for short), a small village in south of Iceland. Complimentary hotel pick up starts at 8:30 am and departs from the petrol station N1 at 9am. After pickup, we drive straight to Laki Craters. We arrive at Laki around 10:30 am. Mt. Laki is about 660ft higher than the surrounding area and is located in the middle of the row of craters. There we will stop for about 2.5 hours. You have plenty of time to hike the trail on top of Laki for a magnificent view and walk the interpretation trail into the huge crater next to Laki. For those that cannot walk on the trail, we will drive to a nearby hill almost as high as Laki for a view over the craters.

After your hike at Laki we drive to our next stop at Tjarnargígur (Tjarnarcrater) which has water inside. It is a brief easy walk to the platform at the huge crater. The next hike takes an hour, it is not very difficult, but it is an uneven track and it begins with steep lava steps down into the crater. You have the option to come back to the parking lot and ride in the super jeep to the end of the trail were we wait to pick up the others. While we wait, you can take a short, easy walk into crater close by or just relax in the super jeep. We continue our drive and follow the row of craters into the lava field on a narrow track and close our circle around Lakagigar.

On our way back we still have more secret places to explore. Among the places we will stop is the hidden waterfall Fagrifoss for about 20-30 minutes for a little exploration. The name of the waterfall, Fagrifoss means literally beautiful waterfall. Our last stop is Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. It is safe to say that the majestic Fjaðrárgljúfur is a breathtaking and unique canyon often referred to as the most beautiful one in the world.

Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon formed for about 9-10.000 years ago when Iceland was covered with Ice age glacier. From a big glacial lake above the canyon the progressive erosion by flowing water formed the canyon in the soft rock and palagonite over the millennia.

We will let you out at the higher end of the canyon. It is a marked trail downhill by the side of the edge of the canyon. This is easy downhill trail. But if you like you can also come with the super jeep to the lower end of the Canyon and explore it from there.

We will be back to Klaustur around 5pm where we drop you off at your hotel

It is not easy to get to Lakagígar on normal 4×4 vehicle. The only “road” to Lakagigar is a rough mountain gravel track that is hardly maintained at all and you will have to cross several rivers on the way. People are often in trouble driving to Laki on a normal 4×4 cars even though the car rental companies allow you to drive the F roads (F road means Fjallvegur or mountain road) it happens often that people are damaging the undercarriage on their vehicle and getting stuck in the rivers. That’s when insurance companies close their eyes and say, “at your own risk!” Meaning that any damage to your rental vehicle in a river will come out of your pocket and your life is in your hands.

It is safe to say that the Icelandic Super Jeep is an experience by itself. A muscular build up 4×4 truck on a monster tires,(46″ or about 110 cm high) specially modified in Iceland to be able to deal with the tough surroundings in the highlands and on glaciers.

Your driver guide has years of experience driving the super Jeep in all conditions as well as being experienced local guide knowing this area as the back of his own hand. He will guide you in this tour and make sure that you do not miss anything worth seeing and your trip is both informative about the history and geology of Lakagígar as well as safe and comfortable.

Get the most out of your day. More time for you to hike and explore the area and less travel time.

We focus on small group size and greater experience with a local guide. Our super Jeeps are well maintained and reliable. They are equipped with a monster 46” tires about 110 cm tall and about 65 cm wide. One of the secret about the comfort in the driving is that the driver releases most of the air out of the tire (about 8 pound left) and with the soft air suspension will make the driving exceptionally soft and comfortable. We can travel faster and safer on the rugged muddy mountain track and crossing the rivers with confidence giving you more time to hike around and explore the unique area of Lakagígar.

You will come back relaxed and your rental car is waiting for you in one piece without a scratch.