Hot springs, three lava tube caves, and big waves

Optional Blue Lagoon or a restaurant in a fishing village

Hvammahraun is the name of the lava field that originated in the volcanic crater of Eldborg in the Brennisteinsfjoll territory. The lava field covers over 36 sq. kilometers and most of it had passages to the lowlands in the south and in the west of the mountain.

Departures

Availabe: All year

Details

Tailor-made tour for groups upon request

You can also send us an email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Description

The roadway to the south shows how great volumes of lava thrust themselves into the surging sea in the inlet of Herdisarvik. We’re able to see where it tumbled off 10.000 year old cliffs into the fizzing ocean. Great amounts of lava also had passage down two gorges known as Mosaskard and Natthagaskard. Uphill from there we find 3 very interesting lava tube caves.

We start the tour in Reykjavik and from there we drive to Kleifarvatn lake and from there to the hot cauldrons by Seltun and they are viewed. From there we head to Austurengi geothermal area and watch the magnificent thermal springs there, which are among the largest ones in Iceland, if not in the whole world. When in Herdisarvik in the southern part of the Reykjanes peninsula, we’ll take a stroll down to the rugged coastline to watch the surf break against the black rocks of the beach. These waves are generated in the far reaches of the South Atlantic Ocean, for the fact is that the next land due south is Antarctica.

After having inhaled a lung fill of the fresh Atlantic breeze, we head up the mountain through the lava in Natthagaskard gorge. While we get higher, the scenery gets more beautiful and more terrific by each step. At the edge of the gorge there are 3 lava tubes that we’re going to explore. Each lava tube has its own characteristics. Hallur is the first lava tube and it’s around 200 meters long. Hallur’s main characteristic is that it leans downwards due to the fact it was the passage for the lava flow down the mountainside.

"Annar í Adventu" is another lave tube, 200 meters west of Hallur, and its length is around 220 m. It has two openings. The southern entrance opens up on the sheer mountain face and from there  an amazing scenery towards the sea, which happens to be an uncommon sight from Icelandic lava tubes. Natthagi is the largest of those three caves, 400 meters long. Natthagi has 3 entrances or openings and they’re all skylights. Natthagi boasts of many beautiful lava formations and is among the more interesting lava tubes found in Iceland.

After the cave tour, you're able to head back the same way to Reykjavik or take an alternative route to the Blue Lagoon to recharge yourself once again. Another possibility is to take the road to the villages of Þorlakshofn, Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki where you can find a number of good restaurants that are pleased to welcome hungry and weary travelers.

Extreme Iceland offers tours to the three caves and the geothermal areas every season of the year.