Deep beneath Iceland’s volcanic landscape, a vast magma chamber offers travellers a rare glimpse inside a dormant volcano. The adventure ends with a bowl of traditional Icelandic soup.
Inside the crater of the volcano Þríhnúkagígur in iceland / Uaiecs / Wikimedia Commons
About 30km from Reykjavík, Þríhnúkagígur offers an experience unlike most volcanic attractions. Visitors hike across rugged lava fields before descending 120 metres into an enormous magma chamber, last filled with molten rock thousands of years ago.
The experience, known as Inside the Volcano, combines geology, adventure and a warming meal in the Icelandic wilderness. While dinner is served back at the surface, the journey underground is what makes this excursion extraordinary.
Inside a dormant volcano
Þríhnúkagígur translates to Three Peaks Crater. It’s last eruption was around 4,500 years ago, but it’s most remarkable feature lies beneath the surface.
Unlike most volcanic chambers, where cooling magma eventually solidifies, this one drained away, leaving behind a vast cavity. The chamber covers approximately 3,100 square metres, with walls streaked in reds, oranges, yellows, purples and blues. Open to visitors since 2012, it offers a rare opportunity to explore the interior of a volcano rather than simply admire it’s crater from above.
The descent underground
The adventure begins with a guided three-kilometre hike across uneven lava fields, taking around 45 to 50 minutes each way. At the base camp, visitors receive safety equipment before boarding an open cable lift. The descent takes six to seven minutes, carrying them approximately 120 metres into the chamber.
Inside, colourful rock formations reveal the volcano’s geological history. Visitors spend around 30 minutes exploring the space with a guide before returning to the surface. It’s a striking reminder that Iceland’s volcanic landscape extends far beyond what we see above ground.
Soup after the spectacle
Back at base camp, visitors are served traditional Icelandic lamb soup, with a vegetarian or vegan alternative available. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate are also included.
The meal is not served inside the volcano itself. Instead, it offers a welcome chance to warm up after the hike and underground descent. Simple as it sounds, a hot bowl of soup feels particularly fitting after exploring a landscape shaped by fire.
Planning your visit
The Inside the Volcano tour generally operates from May to October, weather permitting. Allow around four hours for the excursion if meeting at the site, or five to six hours with transport from Reykjavík.
A moderate level of fitness is required. Sturdy hiking boots, warm layers and waterproof clothing are recommended, and the minimum age is eight. Check the Inside the Volcano website for current prices, availability and departure details.
A different perspective on Iceland
Iceland’s glaciers, waterfalls and volcanic landscapes are impressive from the surface. At Þríhnúkagígur, the experience goes deeper, revealing a hidden world shaped by ancient geological forces.
The descent is the main attraction, but returning to the surface for a warming bowl of soup completes the adventure. It may not be dinner at the centre of the Earth in the literal sense, but few meals come with a story quite like this one.
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