By Monika
Laki Craters Iceland: How to Visit Lakagígar + Things to Do.
Hidden deep in the remote Highlands, Laki Craters in Iceland (or Lakagígar) are one of the country’s most otherworldly landscapes: more than a hundred volcanic craters stretching across miles of moss-covered lava fields.
Visiting this dramatic region feels like stepping onto another planet.
But reaching Laki isn’t as simple as hopping into your rental car. The rugged F-roads leading there involve multiple river crossings and require either a highly capable vehicle and driving experience or the expertise of a professional guide, which is why I chose a guided tour!
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know to plan your visit:
- How to get to Laki Craters (tour vs. self-drive)
- Best things to see and do on the “Laki Loop”
- When to visit
- What to pack
I’ll also share my own experience visiting on a Super Jeep Laki Craters tour and why I highly recommend it over driving yourself.
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- Laki Craters Iceland: How to Visit Lakagígar + Things to Do.
What Are Laki Craters?
Laki craters (Lakagígar) are a row of over a hundred volcanic craters formed during the massive, devastating eruptions in 1873-1874. It was one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in Icelandic history, which led to thousands of deaths and affected the climate and living conditions not only in Iceland but the rest of Europe for a long time.
That area belongs to Vatnajökull National Park. For more information and history, visit the official website.
How to get to Laki Craters
Laki craters are located in the Icelandic Highlands, a remote, uninhabited interior area of the country, accessible only by rough mountain roads, called F-roads.
The road to Lakagígar starts on the South Coast, near another iconic destination – Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.
You’ll see a sign for Laki and road 206.
Shortly before the main parking lot to the canyon, the access road (road 206) splits and the right “leg” becomes road F-206 and leads to Laki.
You’ll get to the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon viewpoint first, and right after that, it gets pretty rough and bumpy all the way to the parking lot for Mt. Laki.
Lakavegur (F206) becomes Lakagígavegur (F207) and both roads F206 and F207 form what’s known as the “Laki Loop”.
You have two options for visiting Laki:
Self-drive
While it is an option, I would only attempt it if:
- you have a large SUV, suitable for F-roads AND river crossing
- you are very experienced driving on F-roads
- you have river crossing experience
You should take the above recommendations very seriously, or you may end up like this poor car (in the photo below) that we saw stuck in the river on our way back from the tour.
There are multiple rivers to ford on the way to Mt. Laki.
Some were small and quite shallow, but a couple were much deeper on the day of my visit. How safe it is to cross them depends on the amount of rainfall before your trip, currents and the water level.
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READ MORE: Driving in Iceland – Essential Tips for a Great Road Trip.
Super Jeep tour
This is the way I chose to visit the craters.
I wasn’t ready to tackle F-206 even though I already had some highlands driving experience (we drove to Landmannalaugar and Kerlingarfjöll before, plus on some other rough unpaved access roads), and the car I had for this particular Iceland adventure (a medium-sized 4×4 hybrid SUV) wasn’t suitable for this route so I booked this Laki Craters tour.
Also, I was travelling with my dad and thought it would be fun to take him for a drive in a Super Jeep!
What to See at Laki
You’ll see some amazing things on your Laki adventure.
The first stop is of course Mount Laki, which you can just admire from the parking lot or hike to the summit. You can also take a short walk into one of the volcanic craters, see a volcanic crater lake (Tjarnargígur) and a beautiful waterfall (Fagrifoss).
And if you haven’t seen Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon before, this is a perfect opportunity to do so as it’s near the starting point of route F206!
Below you’ll find descriptions and drive times between the stops of this scenic loop.
Scenic drive to Laki on road F206
We stayed in Kirkjubæjarklaustur and got picked up from our guesthouse by our driver around 8:30 am. After picking up the rest of our small group (there were only 7 of us), we got on the road.
The drive was absolutely amazing – bumpy but full of truly incredible views right from the beginning. The weather was great – cold and windy but sunny with clear skies, so we really enjoyed the ride.
Good to know: all the river crossings are on this stretch of the road F206 – from the canyon to Mount Laki.
It took about 90 minutes to reach the main parking lot by Mt. Laki.
Watch this short video from the drive to get an idea of what to expect:
Helpful hint: For a regular 4×4 car you should double the drive times I’ll give in later in this article, as you won’t be driving as fast as the Super Jeep.
There is a small building with real flush toilets and picnic tables where you can have a snack before or after your hike.
Helpful hint: bring all your food and drink for the day with you – there are no places to buy anything on this route.
Mount Laki hike
Trail length: 1.6 km one way
Elevation gain: 770 ft (235 m)
Our guide instructed us to just “follow the yellow sticks all the way up” and that’s what we did!
The path is a flat gravel track at the beginning, but soon after the turn-off for the volcanic crater walk on your left (more on this trail in the next section), it starts to climb.
The closer it gets to the top, the steeper and more rocky it gets, but it is clearly marked the entire time.
The views from the trails are amazing!
It took us about 45 minutes to hike to the top, and the views from the summit were just breathtaking!
You can see the row of volcanic cones this area is famous for, beautiful crater lakes in the distance, and even the glaciers!
Oh, yes – did I mention we’re between two glaciers? Mýrdalsjökull and Vatnajökull – wow!
The wind was so strong at the summit that it was folding our phone down on the selfie stick (!!!), so we walked around for a bit and started the hike down, which only took us about 20-30 minutes.
Before we got to the parking lot, we did take the detour for the volcanic crater loop.
Volcanic Crater Loop – Visitor Trail
This is a short (500m), easy hike into one of the volcanic craters, which will take you about 30 minutes to complete.
You’ll find the sign for it along the gravel path, so you won’t miss it.
It will be on your left on the way to the summit and on the right on your way down.
Even if you feel tired from your Mt. Laki hike, take this short walk – it’s worth it!
You’ll walk on a path in the moss-covered lava, past volcanic cones, caverns, fissures, and other structures formed after the eruptions.
Find out more about this trail here or download the brochure with information.
We had plenty of time here to do both hikes and have lunch at the picnic tables or in the Super Jeep for those who were cold.
Afterwards we were off to our next stop.
Tjarnargígur Crater Lake
Drive time: about 30 minutes
This was a fabulous stop. We walked for a few minutes and got to a viewing platform from which we could see a stunning, bright blue crater lake.
Then we took some gravel steps down and were able to get much closer to the lake. The views were absolutely breathtaking!
After taking some photos, we continued on a flat, gravel path through the lava field to the parking lot where our guide would meet us with the Jeep.
Right before the parking lot, we took a quick detour and found ourselves inside a small crater.
It was a nice, relaxing walk in beautiful scenery – just what we needed to rest our legs after the hike to Mt. Laki.
The walk from the crater lake to the parking lot took about 1 hour.
Fagrifoss Waterfall
Drive time: about 1 hour
This is a quick stop by a very pretty waterfall. It only took a few minutes to reach the viewing deck for Fagrifoss from the parking lot.
The name “Fagrifoss” in translation means “the Beautiful Waterfall” and this site definitely lives up to its name!
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Drive time: about 30 minutes
Fjaðrárgljúfur was the last stop of our tour. It was also on this drive that we saw the poor car stuck in the water that I mentioned at the beginning of this article…
I had already visited Fjaðrárgljúfur before, but was happy to visit again and show my dad this unique canyon.
I also got to hike the trail from the top down, instead of up, like we did during my previous visit.
We stopped at the viewpoint parking area and walked down the gravel path to the main viewing deck.
And just like the first time I saw it, the canyon was stunning – seeing its signature serpentine walls around the river at the bottom of the gorge just doesn’t get old!
After about 20-30 minutes of walking down the trail along the canyon, we met our guide at the main parking lot, from which we were dropped off at our hotels. It was about 5:30 pm.
And just like that, this amazing tour came to an end.
Facilities at Laki
There are bathrooms at each main parking lot of this route, but you should bring food and drinks for the day as there are no shops or cafes here.
Best Time to Visit Lakagígar
Laki craters are located in the remote Icelandic Highlands and are only accessible in the summer, usually from mid-June to mid-September.
The Laki Craters tour is also available only in this time window.
If you wish to venture out on your own, make sure to check the road status and the weather forecast.
What to Pack for your trip to Laki Craters
- wind and waterproof clothing that you can wear in layers. Iceland’s weather changes often, even more so in the Highlands, so be prepared for all 4 seasons.
- hat and gloves – if you visit on a cold, windy day like we did, you’ll be glad you had them!
- good hiking boots – you don’t want to hike Mt. Laki in sneakers!
- hiking poles – while not required, they were very helpful
- food, snacks and drinks for the day
- a backpack to carry your layers, food and drinks in
- a phone or a camera to capture all the fabulous views!
Need more Iceland packing tips? Check out my practical Iceland Packing List to be prepared for your adventures!
Why Choose a Laki Tour?
I am an independent traveler – I like to explore on my own, HOWEVER I knew I wasn’t ready to take on this drive.
This Laki Craters Tour was the best choice I could have made.
Not only did it take away the stress of navigating tricky terrain and river crossings, but our fantastic, knowledgeable guide shared many facts about the history and geology of this area I never would’ve known otherwise.
Not to mention the funny and entertaining stories that made this whole experience even more enjoyable!
Nearby attractions
There are many attractions close to the Lakagígar area.
- Fjaðrágljúfur Canyon
- Eldhraun Lava Field
- Kirkjugólf Natural Monument
- Skaftafel Visitor Center (your base for the Svartifoss waterfall hike and visiting the Skaftafellsjökull glacier
- Svinafellsjökull Glacier
- Skógafoss waterfall
- Kvernufoss waterfall
Read my guide to the best things to see on the South Coast of Iceland and check out my South Iceland 7-day itinerary to see how you can put your favorite destinations into an amazing travel plan!
Where to stay near Laki
Kirkjubaejarklaustur is an excellent place to spend the night (we stayed at Klausturhof Guesthouse). The town is close to road 206, with plenty of hotels and guesthouses to choose from.
Explore the map below for accommodation options:
Vik is another great accommodation option.
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FAQ:
No. The road (F-206, anf then F-207) involves multiple rough stretches and river crossings. You’ll need a high clearance 4×4 SUV and experience with F-roads and fording rivers. Otherwise, it’s much safer and easier to take a Super Jeep guided tour.
The full Laki loop (with stops at Mt. Laki, Tjarnargígur Crater Lake, Fagrifoss, and Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon) usually takes about 8 hours with a Super Jeep. It will take longer if you drive yourself, as your speed will be lower.
The F-roads are only open in the summer, typically mid-June through mid-September, depending on weather and road conditions. Always check for updated road status and weather forecast before you go.
The trail is moderate — about 1.6 km one way with 235 m (770 ft) of elevation gain. Expect a steep, rocky climb near the summit, but it’s manageable for most hikers with sturdy shoes.
If you’re an experienced Highland driver with a suitable 4×4 and confidence in river crossings, self-driving is possible. For most travelers, a Super Jeep tour is safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable, plus guides share a lot of information about history and geology along the way.
Tour vs. Self-Drive: Which is Better for Visiting Laki Craters?
| Option | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Drive (4×4 only) | – Full freedom and flexibility with your schedule – Stop wherever you want along the route – Adventure feel of driving Iceland’s F-roads | – Requires a large 4×4 with high ground clearance – Multiple river crossings (risky without experience) – Rough, bumpy roads may require reduced speeds – No guide to share history or geology information | Experienced drivers with a strong 4×4 vehicle and river-crossing skills who want independence |
| Super Jeep Guided Tour | – Stress-free: no worrying about road or river conditions – Safe and comfortable in a powerful vehicle – Local guide shares history, geology, and stories – Small groups for a personal experience | – Less flexibility with timing (but plenty of time on the tour I took!) – May be slightly more expensive than self-driving | Most travelers, families, and anyone without serious Highland driving experience. |
However you choose to get there, Laki Craters in Iceland are a not-to-miss destination!
Are you ready to plan your adventure? Check out my favorite, trusted TRAVEL RESOURCES to make trip planning easy and efficient!
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Get organized with this printable, fillable, practical ICELAND PACKING LIST!
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For more Iceland inspiration and travel guides click HERE.
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About Monika
An avid traveler and a passionate trip planner, mildly obsessed with being organized and prepared 🙂
Well aware of how precious travel time is, I’m here to share my experience and help you get the most out of your vacation time.
“Taking the hassle out of trip planning”
