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About the Volcano Eruption in Iceland

You might be wondering how safe it is to visit Iceland right now given the latest volcano eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula. Fortunately, the Icelandic authorities have asserted that the volcano is not dangerous provided you follow all safety advice.

Flights to Iceland have not been affected, so if you’ve booked a trip, you can go ahead with your travel plans. That said, we do not recommend visiting the eruption site itself. This is because new fissures could open unexpectedly anywhere around Litli-Hrútur, where the eruption is taking place. And the presence of harmful gases makes the site dangerous for children and people with respiratory conditions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

To help answer your queries about the recent volcano eruption in Iceland, our local travel experts have compiled their tips and safety advice below. They are based in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavík, and have all the latest updates you’ll need.

The volcano eruption at Litli-Hrútur started on 10 July 2023, following a few days of strong seismic activity in the surrounding area, including Reykjavík. Fissures in the earth opened up, sending gases into the atmosphere and magma flowing across the landscape. Experts can’t say for certain how long the eruption will last.

This is the third volcanic event that’s happened on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021. The first was in the Geldingadalur area and officially lasted from 19 March to 16 December 2021. Meanwhile, the second was in Meradalir valley and started on 3 August 2022. This eruption went on for just a few weeks.

The eruption is located in an uninhabited region of the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland. You’ll find it’s close to the Fagradalsfjall eruption sites at Geldingadalur and Meradalir valley. But this time, lava is flowing from fissures in the ground between Litli-Hrútur and Keilir, two peaks under 400 metres (1,300 feet).

The Reykjanes peninsula is a UNESCO Global Geopark teeming with volcanic landscapes and geothermal activity, due to the pulling apart of two tectonic plates. It is the only place in the world where you can see the North Atlantic Ridge on land.

The new eruption site on the peninsula is located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) away from Reykjavík. And while earthquakes have been felt in the capital, the authorities say people are not in any immediate danger.

Yes, it is still safe to visit Iceland. There are no flight disruptions due to the eruption, and the main road around Iceland – the Ring Road – is open as usual.

At the moment, there is no need to alter any of your travel plans. But you can contact your dedicated travel consultant if you are in doubt about any part of your itinerary.

As nature can be unpredictable and the current situation may change, we are closely following updates from the authorities. We will do our best to keep all of our travellers informed about anything that could impact their travel plans.

Flights have so far not been disrupted by the eruption. The type of eruption means there are no ash clouds, similar to the previous Fagradalsfjall eruptions in 2021 and 2022, when flights were not affected.

You can check the website of Keflavík Airport for any flight-related updates.

Until the eruption site is better understood by local authorities and scientists, the situation changes from day to day. Check out the Safe Travel Iceland website for the latest updates. We don’t recommend visiting the active eruption site near Litli-Hrútur mountain, as it’s not considered safe. 

This is because new fissures could open at any time and without warning. What’s more, depending on the wind direction, toxic gases can accumulate in the area. This means being at the eruption site is especially dangerous for children and people with respiratory conditions.

That said, the Icelandic authorities have created a trail to a viewing point near the eruption. This is the Meradalir route (or Path E), and it will take visitors from road 427 to this viewing point. The return trip is 18-20 kilometres (11-12.5 miles) over rough ground and steep slopes. Please note that it could take around 5-8 hours to walk the route, plus any time spent at the eruption site.

Bear in mind that the trail is only suitable for experienced hikers. A day bag with warm and waterproof clothing, along with plenty of water and food for the hike are essential.

It’s also worth noting that the hiking route could be closed or redirected if the eruption spreads or the course of the lava changes.

You can use these resources to find out more about the eruption:

The eruption at Litli-Hrútur is ongoing, so it’s possible that there will be more earthquakes in the region. The most powerful earthquake during previous eruptions at the nearby Fagradalsfjall volcano reached a magnitude of around 5.1.

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