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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 💥
The Geldingadalir valley lies on the Reykjanes Peninsula, in the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system, with the Meradalir valley right next to it 🌋. For nearly 800 years, this system lay dormant… until March 19, 2021. For six months, a particularly beautiful and relatively harmless eruption filled the valleys with lava, before stopping on September 18, 2021 😱.
On August 3, 2022, a new eruption broke out right next door, at Meradalir, visible from the same hiking trail. This brand-new landscape is what we discovered in March 2023, a few months later, with the lava still steaming. Since then, the peninsula hasn’t calmed down: an eruption at Litli-Hrútur in July 2023, then, since late 2023, a series of eruptions along the Sundhnúkur craters, near the town of Grindavík.
In this article, we tell you about our hike to Fagradalsfjall volcano and Meradalir, and give you everything you need to know to do it today: parking, trails, duration, safety and the latest eruptions 🥾.
🗺️ Planning your trip? Find all our tips and articles in our complete guide to traveling in Iceland.
THE MAP OF OUR ICELAND ROAD TRIP 🗺️
To help you plan your itinerary, we’ve gathered every place from our 12-day road trip in Iceland 🇮🇸 on an interactive map: waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, hot springs and stopover towns, all the way around Route 1. Click on each pin to discover the place in detail 📍. And to keep it handy during your trip, open it in Google Maps: you’ll find it easily on your phone 📱.
Our itinerary
Our trip to Iceland
12 days10 stops1 full loop of Route 1Dacia Duster 4x4 in winter
The stops, in order
- 1
Reykjavik
1 night
Arrival at Keflavík and car pick-up
- 2
Selfoss
1 night
Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and Kerið
- 3
Hof
2 nights
South coast waterfalls, Reynisfjara, ice cave and Diamond Beach
- 4
Reyðarfjörður
1 night
The Eastfjords and the pebble beaches of Hvalnes
- 5
Egilsstaðir
1 night
Seyðisfjörður, its blue church and its rainbow street
- 6
Mývatn
1 night
Dettifoss, Hverir and the Mývatn Nature Baths
- 7
Akureyri
1 night
Hverfjall, Dimmuborgir and Goðafoss
- 8
Bifröst
1 night
Glaumbær turf houses, Grábrók crater
- 9
Hvalfjörður
1 night
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Kirkjufell
- 10
Reykjavik
1 night
Fagradalsfjall volcano, Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon
OUR HIKE TO FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO AND MERADALIR 🌟
OUR STARTING POINT FOR THIS HIKE
We did this hike early in the morning, to make the most of the site and reach Meradalir. If you’re driving, there are several parking lots: the most practical is parking lot P1 🅿️, the starting point of the main trails. We paid 1,000 ISK for the day (about €7), and that’s still the rate today, paid through the Parka app: your license plate is recorded by camera.
We took trail A, from P1 to Meradalir and back: 12.2 km (7.6 miles) in total, in about 3 hours at a good walking pace 🥾. There’s a steep climb at the start that’s a bit of a burn. Whether in summer or especially in winter, you need to be very well equipped: the wind can be very strong and constant 🌬️. You can find our route on Komoot 👇.
HEADING TO FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO
Once geared up, off we go 🌋! The climb starts quickly, and you soon reach a first impressive viewpoint, over a huge area where the lava flow was monstrous 😱. During our hike, there were still fumaroles: several months after the eruption, the lava was still very hot ♨️!
We keep climbing, and our legs really feel it, until we reach the top facing Fagradalsfjall volcano 🌋. You can get close, but it is strongly advised not to walk on the lava: though it looks cold, it can stay hot and fragile inside… It’s impressive to see everything that happened here, the show must have been incredible 😍!
ON TO MERADALIR
After this spectacle, we continue along the trail, with a terrible wind 😩. Even though we’re used to the mistral in Provence, this was something else: like a fan pointed at us 24/7 that never stops. We were covered from head to toe, and we almost wanted to run, the wind was slapping us so hard 😂. It was a fairly physical and truly unusual hike, but magnificent.
At the end of the trail, you get really close to the Meradalir lava, and that’s just incredible: the cooled lava flow is less than 50 cm (20 inches) from you 😲. Of course, it’s less spectacular than an active eruption, but you realize what happened right next to you, and it’s mind-blowing 🧐. Then you just turn around to get back to the car. You can also do the hike with a guide, which we didn’t.
FAGRADALSFJALL TODAY: ERUPTIONS AND TRAILS IN 2026 🌋
THE ERUPTIONS SINCE OUR VISIT
Since our hike, the Reykjanes Peninsula has been going through a very active volcanic period:
- 🌋 July 2023: eruption at Litli-Hrútur, just north of Fagradalsfjall, visible from the trails.
- 🏘️ November 2023: the town of Grindavík is evacuated after intense seismic activity.
- 🔥 Since December 2023: a series of eruptions along the Sundhnúkur crater row, north of Grindavík, which have also led to several closures of the Blue Lagoon.
So the recent eruptions aren’t at Meradalir, but a little further west. Geologists believe the peninsula has entered a new active period that could last years, or even decades.
THE OPEN TRAILS
- 🥾 Trail A, the one we did: from parking lot P1, across the 2021 lava, to the 2022 flow at Meradalir.
- 🆕 Trail B, opened in July 2025: it leads to viewpoints over the Sundhnúkur crater row (about 4.7 km one way to the first viewpoint, 6.1 km to the second).
- ⚠️ Walking off the trails is forbidden, and access can close at any time depending on volcanic activity and air quality.
👉 Our tip: the hike can be done all year round, but it’s easier from late May to September. From October to April, bring light crampons and check the weather. Before you go, always check SafeTravel and Visit Reykjanes, as well as our must-have apps for Iceland 📱.
HOW TO GET TO FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO? 🚗
Parking lot P1 is on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik and 30 minutes from Keflavík airport. Access roads can change or close depending on volcanic activity around Grindavík: enter the parking lot in your GPS and check road conditions on the day. Bring your picnic and water before you set off, there’s nothing on site 🥪.
A car is by far the easiest option, and like us, you can continue with the Blue Lagoon in the afternoon. All our tips are in our article on car rental in Iceland 👇.
RENTING A CAR IN ICELAND 🚗
To explore Iceland, we think a rental car is the best option: you’re free to string together waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches and hot springs at your own pace, and stop whenever a landscape catches your eye, without depending on organized tours 🏔️.
We drove all the way around Iceland on Route 1 in a 4×4, in the middle of March, and everything went really well. Here’s the agency we used and recommend, plus an alternative if you’d rather compare 👇
Our rental tip
Renting a car in Iceland
The agency we used, and an alternative to compare.
Blue Car Rental
Iceland's largest local rental company
We rented our Dacia Duster 4x4 with them for the whole loop around the island: we recommend them without hesitation!
Our budget€62013 days, full insurance · ~€48/day
- Tested on all of Route 1
- Insurance included, no deposit
- Free cancellation
DiscoverCars
Rental comparison site
To compare several Icelandic rental companies in a single search.
Excellent rating290,000+ Trustpilot reviews
- 1,000+ rental companies compared
- Free cancellation
- 24/7 support
To compare before you choose
Good to know before you rent
- Gravel, sand and ashThe wind blasts gravel and sand onto the bodywork: make sure these protections are included.
- Check the roads every morningLook at road.is and safetravel.is before setting off: in winter, a road can close within a few hours.
- Your French driving license is enoughIt's accepted in Iceland. The international driving permit is optional: only if you want one.
- Photos and video at pick-upFilm the car from every angle when you collect it, to avoid any dispute when you return it.
- Fill up whenever you canGas stations are rare in the East and North, and often self-service: bring a card with a PIN code.
- Hold on to the doorsIn strong winds, a door can be ripped off as it opens: park facing the wind and open gently.
DISCOVER FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO ON A TOUR 💸
▶️ Without a car, or if you’d rather be guided, many tours leave from Reykjavik to the Reykjanes eruption sites, sometimes combined with the Blue Lagoon. You’ll find them on GetYourGuide, with free cancellation on most of them 👇.
THINGS TO KNOW 🥰
- 💰 The price: if you come on your own, only parking costs money: 1,000 ISK per day (about €7), via Parka. With a guide, the price depends on the tour.
- ⏳ Duration: allow 3 to 4 hours for trail A to Meradalir (12.2 km round trip).
- 🕒 Opening hours: the site is accessible 24/7 unless the authorities decide otherwise, but stick to daytime: rescue services are more limited in the evening and at night.
- 🧥 Gear: hiking boots, warm waterproof clothes, a beanie, gloves, water, food and a fully charged phone. The wind is the main trap.
- ⚠️ Never walk on the lava: even if it looks solid and cold, it can stay hot and fragile.
- 🌬️ Follow the authorities’ guidance, which changes with the wind and volcanic gases. Access can be closed at any time.
- 🥾 Difficulty: a moderate hike, with a fairly steep climb at the start, perfectly doable if you’re in good shape.
OUR REVIEW OF FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO AND MERADALIR 💭
We did this hike just before the end of our Iceland road trip, and it was a great idea 😍! I’d had a really hard time finding clear information before going, especially about parking 🅿️: that’s why this article exists.
The experience was simply incredible. It was the first time I’d seen so much lava with my own eyes, and realized it had all happened right next to us just a few months earlier. It was tough and physical because of the wind, but magnificent: you’d think you were on Mars 🤗. And the perfect combo is the hike in the morning, then the Blue Lagoon in the afternoon to relax, like we did.
👉 What about you? Would you try the hike in the footsteps of Iceland’s latest eruptions?
FAQ: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO ❓
These are the questions people often ask before the Fagradalsfjall volcano hike. Feel free to ask yours in the comments, and I’ll add them to this FAQ 💬.
No, the Fagradalsfjall (2021) and Meradalir (2022) eruptions are over. Since late 2023, activity has shifted to the Sundhnúkur craters, near Grindavík, with a series of eruptions. Check SafeTravel before you go.
Allow about 3 hours for the 12.2 km (7.6 miles) round trip on trail A to Meradalir, and 3 to 4 hours with breaks. That’s how long it took us, despite a very strong wind.
At parking lot P1, the starting point of the main trails. It costs 1,000 ISK per day (about €7), paid through the Parka app: your license plate is recorded by camera.
It’s of moderate difficulty, with a steady climb at the start. The hardest part is the wind, which can blow non-stop. Being in good shape and well equipped is enough.
Trail A leads from P1 to the 2022 flow at Meradalir: that’s the one we did. Trail B, opened in July 2025, leads to viewpoints over the Sundhnúkur craters.
No, it’s dangerous: even if it looks cold and solid, the lava can stay hot and fragile inside. Always stay on the marked trails.
Yes, we did it in March. Bring very warm clothes, light crampons from October to April, and check the weather and road conditions on the day.
On the Reykjanes Peninsula, in southwest Iceland, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik and 30 minutes from Keflavík airport.
Yes, that’s what we did: the hike in the morning, then the Blue Lagoon in the afternoon, about twenty minutes away. Remember to book your Blue Lagoon slot and check that it’s open.
No, the trails are marked and can be done on your own, like we did. A guide can be worthwhile if you don’t have a car or want explanations about the eruptions.
WHERE TO STAY IN ICELAND 🏨
During our 12-day road trip in Iceland 🇮🇸, we slept in 9 different places, alternating between hotels and guesthouses, almost all booked on Booking. Changing accommodation every night is the best way to loop around the island without piling up hours of driving 🚗.
OUR TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLACE TO STAY
- 📅 Book ahead: outside Reykjavik, accommodation is scarce and the best places go fast.
- 🍳 Breakfast included: very handy, because cafés and restaurants are rare on the road. We often used it to make our lunch sandwiches.
- 🛒 A kitchen in remote areas: around Jökulsárlón, the nearest supermarket can be more than an hour’s drive away. Do your shopping before you arrive.
- ♨️ A hot tub: after a day in the cold and wind, it’s pure bliss. Several of our places had one.
- 🌌 Away from the lights: in winter, a place in the countryside gives you a better chance of seeing the northern lights right from your door.
- ✅ Free cancellation, to stay flexible if the weather forces you to change your itinerary.
HOTEL OR GUESTHOUSE IN ICELAND?
Both have their advantages. A guesthouse is often cozier, sometimes with a kitchen to cook your own meals. A hotel is more convenient for a one-night stop, with a reception desk, a restaurant and often breakfast included. As for us, we liked both. It all depends on what you want, your budget and how you like to travel.
HOW MUCH DOES ACCOMMODATION COST IN ICELAND?
Iceland isn’t a cheap destination, and accommodation is one of the biggest items in the budget. We paid between €78 and €162 a night for two. To be completely transparent with you: €1,366 for 11 nights, or about €124 a night on average (that was in 2023, prices may have changed since).
👇 Here are the 8 places where we slept during our road trip that still welcome travelers, in the order of our itinerary.
Tested during our road trip
Our 8 places to stay in Iceland
GuesthouseHotel
-
HotelReykjavik201 Hótel (Kópavogur)
Right next to the capital, handy for the first and last night of the road trip.
- Double room
- Breakfast included
- Close to Reykjavik
- Guesthouse
SelfossLambastaðir Guesthouse
A quiet guesthouse, perfect for sleeping after a day on the Golden Circle.
- Hot tub and sauna
- Breakfast included
- After the Golden Circle
- GuesthouseOur favorite
SvínafellThe Potato Storage
Our absolute favorite of the trip: an exceptional place at the foot of the glaciers.
- Our best place to stay
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Close to Jökulsárlón
- Hotel
EgilsstaðirHótel Eyvindará
A quiet hotel on the edge of Egilsstaðir, with a hot tub to unwind.
- Hot tub
- Breakfast included
- Near Seyðisfjörður
- Hotel
MývatnVogafjós Farm Resort
A farm on the shores of Lake Mývatn, chosen for watching the northern lights.
- Ideal for the northern lights
- On-site restaurant
- Breakfast included
- Hotel
AkureyriCentrum Hótel
Right in the town center, a stone's throw from Akureyri church: you can do everything on foot.
- Town center
- Breakfast included
- Superior room
- Hotel
BifröstHraunsnef Country Hotel
A country hotel in the middle of nowhere, with a hot tub and a restaurant.
- Hot tub
- On-site restaurant
- Breakfast included
- Guesthouse
HvalfjörðurHótel Laxárbakki
A stop on the edge of the fjord, ideal after a day on Snæfellsnes.
- Hot tub
- On-site restaurant
- Heading back to Reykjavik
MY MUST-HAVE TRAVEL GEAR 🧳
It’s a question that comes up a lot when preparing a trip “What should I bring?” And in Iceland even more than elsewhere, because the cold, wind and rain can quickly ruin a day if you’re poorly equipped 🥶. That’s why you’ll find below the travel accessories we had in our bags. Planning ahead and getting these items in advance helps you save money and avoid paying for some of them on the spot, where everything costs much more 💸 These are the accessories we took to Iceland in the middle of winter 👇.
Our road trip checklist
What to pack for Iceland?
What we had in our bags for 12 winter days. Good news: the outlets are the same as in France, no adapter needed.
0 / 12 in my suitcase · check what you already have
- Essential
Cold & snowHeat Holders thermal socks
The ones we took: to keep your feet warm on walks in the snow.
- Essential
Cold & snowThermal underwear
Thermal leggings and T-shirt under your clothes: the basics for facing the Icelandic wind.
- Essential
Cold & snowWarm gloves
A pair of ski gloves against the wind, and a thin pair for taking photos.
- Essential
Cold & snowBeanie and neck warmer
The wind is often strong, especially near the waterfalls and on the black sand beaches.
- Essential
Cold & snowWaterproof hiking boots
Icy trails, snow and waterfall spray: dry feet all day long.
- Essential
ElectronicsPower bank
The cold drains batteries fast: your phone lasts until evening.
- Recommended
Baths & waterWaterproof phone pouch
To take photos in the hot baths with no risk to your phone.
- Recommended
Baths & waterMicrofiber towel
Light and quick-drying: handy for baths and hot springs.
- Recommended
Baths & waterWater bottle
Tap water is excellent in Iceland: no need to buy bottles.
- Bonus
Travel & securityEmergency blanket
Keep it in the car, in case a closed road forces you to wait.
- Bonus
Travel & securityTSA lock
To lock your suitcase on the plane, with no risk of it being broken at security.
- Bonus
Travel & securityAirTag
To track your suitcase if your luggage is delayed or lost.
THANKS FOR YOUR FEEDBACK 
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