Glanni Waterfall
Your first stop will be at Bifrost – a place that you might have heard about when reading stories about Norse Mythology. Here, aside from mythical boarder between human and god´s world, you will find tiny, but charming waterfall called Glanni. Located on the Nordura River multiple tiers fall down across old lava fields called the Grabrokarhraun. In fact, you can also enjoy the view over 3 volcanic craters called Grabrok, that rise above these fields.
Deildartunguhver - the most powerful hot spring in Europe
Our next stop is a visit to Deildartunguhver, famed as the most powerful hot springs in Europe. It produces more than 180 liters of boiling hot water per second! You can feel the fierce power of Mother Nature as you walk safely on boardwalks through billowing clouds of steam around the bubbling hot springs, or just see them from the viewing platform.
Reykholt Historic Site
Snorralaug (Snorri’s Pool) is a smaller hot spring found just a few minutes away in Reykholt, where local people have bathed since the 12th century. This pool was first mentioned in the medieval writings of Snorri Sturluson, a famous Icelandic poet and chieftain, who used to live and bathe here too. Snorralaug is now a protected archaeological site. There will be time to take pictures of the beautiful old timber church here, which dates back to the 19th century. You can take a look inside, where a viewing glass to a medieval smithy cistern can be seen.
Hraunfossar - famous Lava Falls
Next, we will see the great Hraunfossar, a stunning series of waterfalls formed by several rivers running a distance of about 900m across the Hallmundarhraun lava field, created a thousand years ago by a volcano erupting under the nearby Langjokull glacier. Hraunfossar translates as the “Lava Waterfalls”, but nowadays it’s clear glacial meltwater that tumbles down into the Hvita (White) river below to provide one of the most breathtaking views in the country.
Barnafoss - a tragic tale
A short walk through the many viewing points and platforms here brings us to another beautiful waterfall, but this is one with a tragic tale to tell. This is Barnafoss, or “the waterfall of the children”. The sad story here is that there used to be a natural stone bridge over these ferociously powerful falls, and one day two children from a nearby farm fell to their deaths when they were trying to cross the river. The grief-stricken mother had the bridge destroyed, so that no others would ever suffer the same fate.
Lunch Break: Scheduled stop at the restaurant/cafeteria (own expense). Timing of the stop can change due to the weather/daylight conditions.
Viðgelmir Lava Cave
The highlight of the tour is a trip to the magnificent Vidgelmir Lava Cave. Nearly 1600 meters long, the cave takes you deep inside a lava flow, filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites, fascinating ice and lava formations and multi-colored rocks. This 90-minute-long expedition into the most extensive lava caves in the country will amaze you, giving you a real sense of the power and scale of these volcanic eruptions, all in the expert hands of knowledgeable guides who will tell you much more about the geological features here.
Húsafell
After nearly 2 hours spent deep below the surface of the Earth, we will end our tour in the woodland oasis of Husafell. Husafell is a magical place to unwind after a day of wonder, with birch tree woodlands, waterfalls, rugged lava fields, crystal-clear water springs, medieval remains and much more to see. The fairytale setting of Husafell has been home to many artists, and the modern-day sculptor Pall Gudmundsson now makes interesting faces and even rock harps, which he cuts out of local stones. The Husafell Stone can also be found here, a legendary lifting stone that has been used to test the strength of the locals and in international competitions too.
Drop off service in Reykjavík
Your tour ends at the same spot you were picked up from or any other available location in Reykjavík. Estimated arrival time is between 19:30-20:30
Included:
- Professional tour guided in English in a minibus
- Pick up and drop off within Reykjavik
- Free Wi-Fi and USB chargers on the bus
- Admission fee to Viðgelmir Lava Cave
Excluded:
Lunch – we make scheduled stops so that guests can buy lunch or snacks during the tour
Pickup takes place between 08:30 – 09:00 – so please be ready from 8:30 at your pick up location
The tour takes about 10 hours
Tour is operated under all weather conditions: please bring warm, wind & waterproof clothes
It can happen that activities are cancelled due to weather or other unforeseen reasons - in that case a refund for the cancelled activity will be issued
Remember to dress warm - inside the cave it can get really cold!
Hiking boots are highly recommended
Proper footwear when walking on uneven and slippery surfaces increases your safety and comfort. If you do not own proper footwear (solid shoes reaching above your ankle) you can rent them during booking process