Inside the Volcano (Thrihnukagigur)

The Only Place on Earth

Thrihnukagigur is the only volcano in the world where you can descend into the magma chamber. Normally when a volcano goes dormant, the magma solidifies and fills the chamber, sealing it forever. At Thrihnukagigur, something unique happened — the magma drained away through underground channels, leaving behind a vast, colorful cavern that scientists discovered in 1974 and that has been open to visitors since 2012.

Inside The Volcano operates this extraordinary experience from May through October, and it stands alone as one of the most remarkable natural attractions on the planet.

Getting There

The tour begins with a drive to a base camp in the Blafjoll mountain area, about 30 minutes from Reykjavik. From there, you hike approximately 3.2 kilometers across a lava field to the volcano entrance. The hike takes about 45 minutes on rocky but manageable terrain, and the guide uses the walk to explain the volcanic geology you are about to enter.

At the crater top, you are fitted with a hard hat and harness, then step onto an open cable lift — essentially a metal platform that lowers you 120 meters straight down into the earth. The descent takes about six minutes, and the view changes constantly as the chamber walls reveal new colors and textures at every level.

Inside the Magma Chamber

The chamber is staggering in scale. The Statue of Liberty could stand inside it comfortably. The walls are painted with volcanic minerals — iron reds, sulfur yellows, copper greens, and deep blues and purples that shift depending on where you shine your headlamp. These colors were deposited over thousands of years as different minerals cooled at different rates on the chamber walls.

The floor of the chamber is covered in rubble from the last eruption, and small pools of rainwater that have filtered down through the rock above add an element of underground lake to the scene. The guide explains the geological history, pointing out lava formations, mineral deposits, and the exact spot where the magma once boiled.

The silence inside is remarkable. Standing 120 meters below the surface in a space that once contained molten rock creates a perspective on Earth's power that is impossible to achieve any other way.

Worth the Price

At ISK 52,000, this is one of Iceland's most expensive activities. It is also one of the most worthwhile. There is no other way to experience this on Earth — no alternative destination, no budget version, no virtual substitute. The combination of the hike, the descent, the visual spectacle of the chamber walls, and the sheer rarity of the experience justifies the investment for most visitors.

The tour accommodates small groups and the experience inside the chamber is unhurried. You have approximately 30 minutes on the chamber floor to explore, photograph, and absorb the extraordinary geology surrounding you. Most visitors emerge with the slightly dazed expression of someone who has just seen something they did not know was possible.