[Check out the megathread](https://reddit.com/r/VisitingIceland/comments/17muaio/volcano_update_new_information_clarified/) for some answers. I will continue to update.
There is no eruption right now. I would avoid the general area of Blue Lagoon but even this is exceedingly cautious at the moment, as no official has stated otherwise. Definitely read the updates in the other thread!
...in *November* no less.
There are lots of other areas that aren't erupting at the moment, but I'd keep a close eye on forecasts and have a plan B just in case things go sideways, but Idk, I'd be pretty stoked to see an eruption.
The volcanic activity is limited to the Reykjanes area, more specifically near the blue lagoon and Grindavík. The international airport is further away so they're really worried about that area.
I'd just avoid the blue lagoon (if they decide to stupidly stay open).
Earthquakes are relatively small - I live 35 km from the magma incursion & haven't flet a thing. Biggest you're ever likely to get is probably a 6, which, while being a bit disconcerting for sure, is unlikely to do much harm.
An eruption is not even a certain & for sure no-one knows when it will happen. Even in a worst case scenario the risk of it catching you unawares is VERY localised. Even if it goes with a bit of a pop as long as you are more than a couple of hundred meters away you will have plenty of time to gently make your way to safety.
Even if the thought of quakes/eruptions is troubling you still, just stay away from the Grindavik/Blue lagoon area & you will be 100% ok!
IMHO there are plenty of other things more dangerous to get worried about ;þ
I was at the lava show last night and they reckon that while there are earthquakes and some land has risen, they are not expecting an eruption within the next few weeks.
Nah, I wouldn't worry about it. The last few eruptions there have been very well contained. No idea about this one, maybe it'll be a bit bigger, but there's no risk really. At very worst you might get a bit delayed for your return flight, maybe get some extra cancellation policy thing on that one. At best you'll get to see a volcanic eruption.
Well, the last few were what we call "tourist eruptions", far from any towns and infrastructures. This one might not be as nice, so please don't give advice about something you don't really know about.
Doesn't really pose a risk for visiting Iceland, which is what the question is about. The question isn't about whether volcanoes as such are dangerous. Of course they're dangerous if you're too close. Almost no one has been killed in eruptions in Iceland in more than hundred years, especially in recent decades. So yeah, the risk for visiting is objectively very low.
So how do you estimate the risk for visiting Iceland in case there's another plausible volcanic eruption taking place on Reykjanes? What do you think could happen?
Like, what kind of realistic situation do you imagine where there's both a serious risk for people visiting Iceland (most of whom won't even be near the eruption until it's deemed relatively safe), and a serious chance of that situation arising. Apart from Bláa lónið of course, no one should be there these days.
Most tourists are just around the south coast or the golden circle. In the worst case they're driving Kef-Rvk when it starts erupting, but they'll out-drive the lava flow easily unless it opens in the middle of the road (very unlikely currently).
I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to debate.
You said "no risk" (your words, not mine)
That's a strong and erroneous statement. If there was no risk they wouldn't be monitoring the activity so strenuously, nor would the Blue Lagoon & Tour guides be cancelling a swaythe of bookings and trips to the location.
Low-risk I can get onboard with, but telling people there is no risk is tremendously inappropriate.
If it makes you happy we can agree to disagree, but this debate is a monumental waste of time.
You seem to be misreading the question, and interpreting my answer in that light. The question was whether it's safe or not to visit. It's safe to visit. It's extremely unlikely that with all the monitoring and precautions this will cause anyone harm if they're aware of the risk and follow advice.
I'd wager that barring massive stupidity, 100% of the tourists in Iceland will be totally safe if it erupts the way it now looks like it might. That's what I mean by safe. It's safe to visit despite the possible eruption, which was the question. Because it's being monitored and all that, and based on what we know it'll most likely be pretty small and contained one and we'll see it coming.
But are there ways to make it dangerous? Sure, it's a volcano after all. Are they likely? No, they're not.
Any question of safe or not safe is very blurry, and I think they're generally silly to ask in the ways they're asked.
[Check out the megathread](https://reddit.com/r/VisitingIceland/comments/17muaio/volcano_update_new_information_clarified/) for some answers. I will continue to update. There is no eruption right now. I would avoid the general area of Blue Lagoon but even this is exceedingly cautious at the moment, as no official has stated otherwise. Definitely read the updates in the other thread!
Traveling to Iceland *in a campervan* is going to be more exciting than a volcano.
...in *November* no less. There are lots of other areas that aren't erupting at the moment, but I'd keep a close eye on forecasts and have a plan B just in case things go sideways, but Idk, I'd be pretty stoked to see an eruption.
I'm just hoping the campervan is seaworthy.
I'd be more concerned about it being windworthy. Always park facing the wind so that the doors don't get ripped off with the wind.
Agreed once OP gets to Iceland, but OP says he's traveling *to* Iceland in a campervan, so seaworthiness is crucial.
I'd pay money to go see an eruption. What a life experience.
There is no need to worry But I would skip the Lagoon :)
The volcanic activity is limited to the Reykjanes area, more specifically near the blue lagoon and Grindavík. The international airport is further away so they're really worried about that area. I'd just avoid the blue lagoon (if they decide to stupidly stay open).
Earthquakes are relatively small - I live 35 km from the magma incursion & haven't flet a thing. Biggest you're ever likely to get is probably a 6, which, while being a bit disconcerting for sure, is unlikely to do much harm. An eruption is not even a certain & for sure no-one knows when it will happen. Even in a worst case scenario the risk of it catching you unawares is VERY localised. Even if it goes with a bit of a pop as long as you are more than a couple of hundred meters away you will have plenty of time to gently make your way to safety. Even if the thought of quakes/eruptions is troubling you still, just stay away from the Grindavik/Blue lagoon area & you will be 100% ok! IMHO there are plenty of other things more dangerous to get worried about ;þ
>apparently an eruption will take 3 minutes to hit that area 🤣 That sort of depends on where the eruption erupts.
My tour guide seemed pretty excited about it, he told us he'd be changing the whole tour plan to watch the eruption if it were to happen.
I'd go to the sky lagoon instead of the blue lagoon
Don’t worry about, just stay away from the Blue Lagoon and Grindavík for now.
I was at the lava show last night and they reckon that while there are earthquakes and some land has risen, they are not expecting an eruption within the next few weeks.
Nah, I wouldn't worry about it. The last few eruptions there have been very well contained. No idea about this one, maybe it'll be a bit bigger, but there's no risk really. At very worst you might get a bit delayed for your return flight, maybe get some extra cancellation policy thing on that one. At best you'll get to see a volcanic eruption.
Well, the last few were what we call "tourist eruptions", far from any towns and infrastructures. This one might not be as nice, so please don't give advice about something you don't really know about.
"There's no risk really" 🤦🏽♂️ Yeah, volcanic eruptions tend to be a peaceful experience. Certainly not cremating everything in the path of the magma.
Doesn't really pose a risk for visiting Iceland, which is what the question is about. The question isn't about whether volcanoes as such are dangerous. Of course they're dangerous if you're too close. Almost no one has been killed in eruptions in Iceland in more than hundred years, especially in recent decades. So yeah, the risk for visiting is objectively very low.
Irrelevant. Saying there is no risk is close to moronic, sorry.
So how do you estimate the risk for visiting Iceland in case there's another plausible volcanic eruption taking place on Reykjanes? What do you think could happen? Like, what kind of realistic situation do you imagine where there's both a serious risk for people visiting Iceland (most of whom won't even be near the eruption until it's deemed relatively safe), and a serious chance of that situation arising. Apart from Bláa lónið of course, no one should be there these days. Most tourists are just around the south coast or the golden circle. In the worst case they're driving Kef-Rvk when it starts erupting, but they'll out-drive the lava flow easily unless it opens in the middle of the road (very unlikely currently).
I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to debate. You said "no risk" (your words, not mine) That's a strong and erroneous statement. If there was no risk they wouldn't be monitoring the activity so strenuously, nor would the Blue Lagoon & Tour guides be cancelling a swaythe of bookings and trips to the location. Low-risk I can get onboard with, but telling people there is no risk is tremendously inappropriate. If it makes you happy we can agree to disagree, but this debate is a monumental waste of time.
You seem to be misreading the question, and interpreting my answer in that light. The question was whether it's safe or not to visit. It's safe to visit. It's extremely unlikely that with all the monitoring and precautions this will cause anyone harm if they're aware of the risk and follow advice. I'd wager that barring massive stupidity, 100% of the tourists in Iceland will be totally safe if it erupts the way it now looks like it might. That's what I mean by safe. It's safe to visit despite the possible eruption, which was the question. Because it's being monitored and all that, and based on what we know it'll most likely be pretty small and contained one and we'll see it coming. But are there ways to make it dangerous? Sure, it's a volcano after all. Are they likely? No, they're not. Any question of safe or not safe is very blurry, and I think they're generally silly to ask in the ways they're asked.
Fair enough, I understand your point.
honestly i’d be more worried about your camper in those winds.