Mývatn volcano walks: Hverfjall, Krafla or Askja

Three volcanic walks sit within an hour of Lake Mývatn, and they are not interchangeable. Hverfjall is a two-hour crater climb anyone reasonably fit can do. Krafla on snowshoes is a winter option. Askja is a full day in the highlands. If you have one morning, do Hverfjall.

Hverfjall: the quick one

Hverfjall is one of the largest tephra craters in the world, and you walk up it and then around the rim. Hverfjall volcano sunrise hike (from €124, two hours) covers 2 to 3 km with about 120 metres of climbing. Geo Travel brings crampon spikes if the path is icy and snowshoes if the snow is deep.

The minimum age is 7. Cancellation is free until 24 hours before. The start times are early, between 07:30 and 08:30, so you are walking in low light for much of the year. In midsummer the “sunrise” label means less. In midwinter, you start in the dark.

You can also walk Hverfjall alone and for free. The reason to pay is the guide, the traction gear on bad days and the explanation of what you are looking at. If the weather is clear and the path is dry, a guide adds little. If it is icy, they add a lot.

Availability is thin. Our snapshot shows only a couple of months of open dates for this tour, so check dates before you plan around it.

Krafla on snowshoes: winter only

Snowshoeing in Krafla volcanic area (from €139, three hours) is a short drive from the operator’s office followed by a walk of a little over two hours among lava formations and steaming ground. Snowshoes and poles are included. You bring boots, warm clothes, a drink and a snack.

The minimum age is 12. The cancellation terms are tougher than most: 50% of the price within 7 days, rising to 90% within 6 days. It is a snow tour, so it only makes sense if there is snow. Book it close to your dates and you may have to accept losing money if the snow does not come.

It is a gentler day than Hverfjall in effort and a better one for atmosphere.

Askja and Víti: the long day

Askja Caldera and Viti Crater 4x4 tour (from €490, 10 hours) leaves Akureyri or Mývatn in a 4x4 and goes deep into the highlands. You pass Herðubreiðarlindir and Drekagil before reaching the 50 km² caldera and Víti. The tour mentions that swimming in Víti is sometimes possible in summer. That depends on conditions, and you should not plan around it.

This only runs when the highland tracks are open, usually summer. The cancellation terms are unusual: 10% of the price within 365 days of departure, rising to 50% within 2 days. A private version, Askja and Viti Crater private tour, costs from €2,569. Our Askja guide has more on the choice.

It is a long day with long drives on rough ground. That is the cost of seeing somewhere few people reach.

The private option: Þeistareykir and Krafla

Private Þeistareykir Volcano and Krafla Lava walk (from €1,981, five hours) goes to Gjástykki, a remote rift area, with a lava walk to a crater from the 1984 eruption. It is a private super jeep tour with pickup. Free cancellation until 24 hours before.

It is the only trip here that reaches the plate boundary at Gjástykki. It is also by far the most expensive. Whether it is worth it depends on how many people share the vehicle and whether they care about quiet over price.

How to choose

• One morning, fit adults and children over 7: Hverfjall.
• Winter, enough time, no fear of cold: Krafla snowshoes.
• Summer, a whole day: Askja.
• A group that wants the remote lava fields to itself: the private Þeistareykir tour.

Our honest take

Hverfjall is the best value, and in good conditions you could do it yourself. Krafla snowshoeing is pleasant but its cancellation terms make it a gamble on snow. Askja is the real expedition and deserves a full day. The private Þeistareykir trip is memorable for the right group, but at €1,981 it is a luxury, not a default. If you can only choose one for your first visit to the north, start with Hverfjall and add Askja if you have a day and the tracks are open.