ASKJA Caldera Classic #1
The tour that takes you into the secluded heart of Iceland!
Experience the breathtaking beauty of this extraordinary landscape—featuring golden sands, rugged rocks, the majestic Jökulsá river, ancient and newly formed lava fields, and even secluded empty vistas. Don’t miss the chance to explore this stunning natural wonder! Don´t miss out seeing the highlands of Iceland. Rough lava, glacier rivers, new and old lava, sand, rock and even nothingness.
Our Askja Classic tour will take you on an unforgettable adventure into the highlands of Iceland to visit Askja caldera, deep within the Vatnajökull Glacier national park. Inside Askja caldera you can find some of the most impressive volcanic formations in Iceland. Öskjuvatn (Lake Askja) is the second deepest lake in Iceland, a pristine blue lake surrounded by the gorgeous mountain range of the caldera. Next to it is Víti (Hell), a volcanic crater with turquoise-blue geothermal water at the bottom. A truly unique sight in the vast nothingness!
On the way up to Askja you will be able to enjoy the barren lunar landscapes of Vatnajökull Glacier national park. Feel like astronauts for a while, be it from Apollo 11 or Artemis II, they all left their marks here. We will drive through rough lava fields and cross rivers on our 4×4 bus specifically designed for the Icelandic highlands. Among other things, you will see iconic Icelandic mountains, powerful glacier rivers, a canyon carved by a waterfall and a freshwater river where you can fill your bottle with pure mountain spring water. Our knowledgeable guide will tell you everything about the history and geology of the area and answer any questions that might come to mind.
Our trip starts and ends at our headquarters just outside Reykjahlíð village near Lake Mývatn. Time of departure is 7:45 am in the morning, and we will be back around 7 or 8 pm. The drive up to Askja takes around 3-4 hours, but there will be a couple of stops along the way at interesting sights and locations. During the longer breaks the passengers will have time to sit down inside a hut or outside on the grass and have a bite to eat (please note that you must bring enough food along since there are no restaurants or shops on the way), and there will be access to bathrooms with running water. When we arrive to Askja around 12 am or 1 pm, you will have 2.5 hours of free time. The hike up to Askja Lake is 2.4 km on mostly even terrain, and takes around 35 minutes. Once you arrive at Askja Lake you can enjoy the breathtaking sights. Afterwards, we make a short stop in Drekagil just outside of Askja and then drive directly back to Lake Mývatn.
We have been running this tour for over 40 years now, so you will be in good hands with our experienced drivers. Our custom 4×4 buses let you sit high up with lots of space for your feet and your belongings, so you can relax and enjoy the beautiful nature while our guide tells you all about the area we are driving through.
The weather in Iceland is unpredictable and changes fast, even in the summer. Take extra clothes with you, just in case. You can store them on the bus while hiking to and from Askja, and at all the other stops.
In the beginning of summer, there can still be snow in the highlands. You may have to walk in snow from the parking lot to lake Askja.
One way is 2,4 km long on mostly even terrain with a small hill in the beginning. It takes around 35 minutes to walk in good conditions. It can be more challenging in the snow.
Guided tour in 4×4 bus.
1) Warm clothes and good shoes, since the weather in the highlands is unpredictable and can change suddenly.
2) Food for the day. There are no supermarkets or restaurants on the way. But there is very small coffee shop in Dreki, you can buy coffee, hot chocolate, waffle and a bit of candy. (The stop there is in the afternoon)
Below are a few important points of information for bookings in summer of 2026.
Due to ongoing inflation in Askja caused by inflow of new magma since August 2021, Askja is being carefully monitored by scientists and you might become aware of research activity when you are in the area. It is not recommended by the National Park to take a bath in the crater Víti as of right now, since the ph levels and acidity of the lake is high at the moment (1.5).
We are used to going every single day over the summer, but on very rare occasions we might need to merge tour dates together if we don’t reach our minimum capacity. If this is the case with your booking, we will reach out to you and offer to move your tour to another date. If your schedule is not flexible, your booking will be refunded.
Please note that you can always change your booked date according to our availability or receive a voucher from us.
For groups larger than 12 people please contact us directly for your booking requests if your desired departure date is not available on our calendar.
You can book on our website here, by sending us an email at myvatntours@gmail.com or phone us +354-861-1920.
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If you cancel the tour more that 7 days in advance, we refund 95% of the price.
If you cancel 3-7 days in advance, we refund 70% of the price.
Cancelling 2 days or less before a tour is considered a no-show and refunds will not be issued.
If Mývatn Tours cancels a tour before departure, customers will receive a 100% refund. Tours may be cancelled due to weather conditions, snow, safety concerns, natural disasters, or other necessary reasons.