Lakagígar: Iceland's Land of Fire and Story

Born from Fire

In 1783, the Earth split open. Over the course of eight months, one of the most significant volcanic eruptions in recorded history unfolded, spewing ash, lava, and gas across the skies of Europe. The Laki eruption reshaped Iceland's landscape and history, leading to famine and hardship and even influencing global weather patterns.

Today, the land is still marked by that fire — but it has also healed. Brilliant green moss carpets the twisted lava, softening what once was a blackened wasteland. It's a place where destruction and renewal live side by side and where every footstep reminds you that Iceland is very much alive under your feet.

Exploring Lakagígar

1. Drive into the Highlands: Accessing Lakagígar is an adventure in itself. You'll need a 4x4 vehicle and a willingness to ford a few rivers along the way — but the journey is half the experience.

Important: In Iceland, driving off marked roads is strictly forbidden and seriously damages the fragile moss and landscapes that take centuries to heal. Always stay on marked tracks, respect nature's boundaries, and help us protect these incredible places for future travelers.

1. Hike to the Top of Mount Laki: A short but rewarding climb leads you to sweeping views over the entire crater row, a landscape that feels both lunar and lush.
2. Wander Among the Craters: Several hiking trails loop through the area, offering close-up views of the craters, lava fields, and the delicate life that has returned since the eruption.
3. Photograph Otherworldly Landscapes: Whether it's the vivid contrast of green moss on black lava, or the endless ripple of craters stretching to the horizon, Lakagígar is a dream for photographers who crave raw, untamed beauty.

A Place to Feel Small — In the Best Way

At Key to Iceland, we believe the most memorable places are the ones that make you pause — not just to take a picture, but to really feel something.

Lakagígar does precisely that. It reminds you of how wild and fragile our planet is. How much power lies beneath the surface. And how, even after great devastation, life finds a way to return.

This isn't a place of grand hotels or polished paths. It's a place of silence, wind, ancient rock — and the quiet realization that you're standing on the edge of something vast and elemental.