Private Reykjanes Peninsula Tour

We head out of the city and towards the rugged Reykjanes Peninsula starting with Kleifarvatn.

Lake Kleifarvatn is the largest body of water on the Reykjanes Peninsula, covering approximately 8 square kilometers and reaching depths close to 100 meters. It sits in a tectonically active region, directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and is fed entirely by groundwater — there are no visible rivers flowing in or out. This makes the lake especially sensitive to geological shifts.

Following a series of earthquakes in the year 2000, fractures in the lakebed caused the water level to drop by nearly 20%. Though the lake has since partially recovered, it continues to slowly lose volume, likely due to persistent subsurface drainage. During the post-quake retreat, Cold War-era surveillance equipment—later identified as Russian—was found on the exposed lakebed, adding a curious historical layer to the site.

Close to Kleifavatn lake we find Seltún which is part of the Krýsuvík geothermal area and is known for its high-temperature geothermal activity driven by volcanic heat beneath the surface. The site features steaming vents, boiling mud pools, and hot springs caused by groundwater interacting with magma-heated rocks below.

The area is rich in minerals like sulfur, iron, and silica, which color the ground in vivid shades of yellow, red, and white. The mud pools consist mostly of kaolinite clay mixed with acidic geothermal water, which continuously bubbles due to escaping gases—primarily carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. That same hydrogen sulfide gives the site its strong "rotten egg" smell.

Historically, people believed this eerie, steaming landscape was a doorway to the underworld, a reflection of how extreme geothermal environments shaped Icelandic folklore.

The Reykjanesviti Lighthouse stands near the southwestern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, in one of the most geologically active zones of Iceland. This area lies directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are diverging. As the plates slowly pull apart—at a rate of about 2.5 centimeters per year—the crust fractures, forming visible fissures, lava fields, and volcanic cones.

Off the coast, Eldey Island rises from the ocean. It is home to one of the world’s largest colonies of Northern Gannets. The island is also historically significant as the final recorded habitat of the Great Auk, a flightless bird driven to extinction in the mid-19th century.

Nearby, the Bridge Between Continents spans one of these fissures, offering a symbolic and physical crossing between the two continental plates. We head over there for our final stop.

Our final stop before heading back to the city is the peninsula's symbolic footbridge. 

The Bridge Between Continents is a symbolic footbridge built over a rift valley where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates diverge. Located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, this site lies directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a massive underwater mountain chain that surfaces here and stretches all the way through the Atlantic Ocean.

The bridge spans a small canyon formed by the drifting plates, which separate at a slow but steady pace of about 2.5 centimeters per year. The visible gap below the bridge is part of a much larger tectonic boundary that has shaped Iceland’s volcanic and seismic landscape.

Installed as a geological landmark and cultural symbol, the bridge allows visitors to “walk” from one continent to another. It represents both the geological forces shaping the Earth and Iceland’s unique location straddling two of the planet’s major plates. Plaques at either end mark the continental divide, offering a rare glimpse into plate tectonics in action.

Here are just a few things to consider taking with you on your day out:

• Warm layers - Places inland tend to be colder than Reykjavík
• Rainproof layers - Especially if you plan to visit waterfalls
• Food and Drinks - We'll make sure to also stop along the way
• Hiking boots - Sturdy shoes are better in this landscape
• A fully charged Camera