Kleifarvatn Lake
Kleifarvatn Lake
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
120 reviews
Excellent
63
Very good
48
Average
9
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Eber Shibin
Mumbai, India496 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
A beautiful serene place. You don't see a lot of tourists come through this area. And you can have some time in the place all to yourself. I have read that it is one of the best places to see the northern lights, although I knew it only a few days after I visited it or else would have planned accordingly. It was a morning visit for me, it was cold, cloudy and windy. So couldn't get the bright photos I was looking for. But this is a must visit.
Written September 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RJN612
Pottsville, PA453 contributions
Aug 2021
We were here as part of an excursion on the peninsula. The area is quite interesting geologically and for its beautiful views. I wish we had more time to hike about the area. It is an easy drive through the peninsula and worth stopping for a look around the area.
Written August 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ganfo
White, GA556 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
Most of the reviews are from summer visitors.
My wife and I visited two lake overlooks and the nearby thermal site as part of a Reykjanes Peninsula tour by Gateway to Iceland. Part of the unique appeal was that it was late morning in January, and the sun was just beginning to come up as we arrived. The light was extraordinary, and I was able to get two of my best photos from our entire trip, and several others that were almost as good.
Nearby are the thermal springs, an abandoned farm, a school that has been re-purposed, and a nice overlook of the Atlantic coastline facing south. All photos were taken by dawn's early light, which lasts an hour or more at this time of year in Iceland. Further away at the SW tip of the island are a lighthouse, geothermal plant, coastal viewpoint and geothermal springs, all in close proximity to one another. Though we did not see the plant from close up, that area is also recommended and are included in the tour we took.
Also known as the "Draining Lake" due to leakage from a geologic event, Kleifarvatn plays a key role in a crime novel of that name by a famous Icelandic author.
A bit of trivia: on the way from Reykjavik we drove through the town of Vogar. I may be off a bit, but I believe I counted passing thirteen consecutive roundabouts in our passage thru town. I wonder if that's a world record...
The Reykjanes Peninsula has apparently been overlooked by a lot of visitors, and the low number of reviews of sites in the area supports that conclusion. See it while it's uncrowded. It has its own appeal, and is highly recommended.
My wife and I visited two lake overlooks and the nearby thermal site as part of a Reykjanes Peninsula tour by Gateway to Iceland. Part of the unique appeal was that it was late morning in January, and the sun was just beginning to come up as we arrived. The light was extraordinary, and I was able to get two of my best photos from our entire trip, and several others that were almost as good.
Nearby are the thermal springs, an abandoned farm, a school that has been re-purposed, and a nice overlook of the Atlantic coastline facing south. All photos were taken by dawn's early light, which lasts an hour or more at this time of year in Iceland. Further away at the SW tip of the island are a lighthouse, geothermal plant, coastal viewpoint and geothermal springs, all in close proximity to one another. Though we did not see the plant from close up, that area is also recommended and are included in the tour we took.
Also known as the "Draining Lake" due to leakage from a geologic event, Kleifarvatn plays a key role in a crime novel of that name by a famous Icelandic author.
A bit of trivia: on the way from Reykjavik we drove through the town of Vogar. I may be off a bit, but I believe I counted passing thirteen consecutive roundabouts in our passage thru town. I wonder if that's a world record...
The Reykjanes Peninsula has apparently been overlooked by a lot of visitors, and the low number of reviews of sites in the area supports that conclusion. See it while it's uncrowded. It has its own appeal, and is highly recommended.
Written January 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ted21117
Southampton, UK210 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
On my stay in Reykjavik I would take my hire car out at night in search of the Northern Lights. This location was recommended to me by the concierge at my hotel and also seemed from mapping to be a good open location for seeing the northern lights. I didn't expect the place to be so great!!
At night it's a quiet, tranquil but easily accessible location where conditions to view the Aurora Borealis are at their best! In the daytime it is a vast open lake, with great views! There is a huge area to park cars off the road.
(Note if the cloud coverage is high then it won't matter there you are seeing the Northern Lights will be difficult)
At night it's a quiet, tranquil but easily accessible location where conditions to view the Aurora Borealis are at their best! In the daytime it is a vast open lake, with great views! There is a huge area to park cars off the road.
(Note if the cloud coverage is high then it won't matter there you are seeing the Northern Lights will be difficult)
Written January 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunny E
259 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
We visited Kleifarvatn on a little detour to the airport. It was time well-spent. The lake is quite impressive (it's very big and its surroundings are simply beautiful). There is a parking lot on the northern end of the lake which is good for a photo stop!
Written June 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Inertia-Rvk
Reykjavik, Iceland16,125 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
The thing is that the Blue Lagoon is the magnet of the Reykjanes Peninsula, making it so that all the other stunning pearls of the peninsula are almost forgotten - very regrettably! Lake Kleifarvatn is a paradise for landscape photographers, for example, particularly for those aiming for a good spot for northern light photography. It's dark over there.
But the lake itself is just sooo beautiful, as a place to relax and simply enjoy the silence. In the early hours of the day the lake's surface is just like a mirror. And there're lots of geologic features all around it, and it even has a beach!
It's a gravel road along the lake, by the way.
But the lake itself is just sooo beautiful, as a place to relax and simply enjoy the silence. In the early hours of the day the lake's surface is just like a mirror. And there're lots of geologic features all around it, and it even has a beach!
It's a gravel road along the lake, by the way.
Written October 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wisniak
Ness Ziona, Israel581 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
We visited this lake on an overcast, cold and very windy day, so we could not really see its beauty.
There's a road along its western side, that snakes between the black cliffs and the lake.
There are some very good observation places along the road as well as at least 1 picnic spot with tables and a small parking.
We returned on our last day, a couple of hours before our flight back home. It was a sunny day and it was an excellent decision - we could finally appreciate the beauty of the place. Attached is a photo of our 1st visit - and photos of the 2nd visit.
There's a road along its western side, that snakes between the black cliffs and the lake.
There are some very good observation places along the road as well as at least 1 picnic spot with tables and a small parking.
We returned on our last day, a couple of hours before our flight back home. It was a sunny day and it was an excellent decision - we could finally appreciate the beauty of the place. Attached is a photo of our 1st visit - and photos of the 2nd visit.
Written August 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heid25
Perth, Australia123 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
The Reykjanes Unesco Global Geopark has 55 areas listed geosites. We set aside one day
We started the day from Gata free campsite stopping to visit the colourful bubbling Seltun Geothermal area to Kleifarvatn Lake on road 42. We stopped at the viewing turn out overlooking the large blue lake and walked the black sand beach. The road is between the lake and the mountain with snow capped mountain ranges across the lake.
Next we drove loop road 417. This road in my opinion is one of the most scenic drives we did in Iceland. It is an unpaved road in the middle of a beautiful blanket of mossy lava fields. The black snow capped mountain ranges in the backdrop with yellowish green grey moss draping down the mountain side are absolutely stunning.
Our next stop was the Blue lagoon. It is a huge place and one can walk to follow the blue water flowing out of the pool area even if one does not go for a dip. One can enjoy a coffee here. There is clean wc.
Then we drove south to Grindavik onto road 427 to visit the must stop highlights such as the Gunnuhver Mud Pools, the tectonic mid Atlantic bridge, Brimketill rock pool, light house. On the road north there were hundreds of nesting birds on the ground, some on the road, some flying high going berserk.
We finally ended our day at the Sandgardi campsite listed with the camping card in a lovely surrounding in a beautiful town with free hot showers included. By the way one can also help themselves to free groceries left by past campers.
We achieved so much on this day and thoroughly enjoyed it. Join a tour if one prefers not to drive. It is well worth a sightseeing day.
We started the day from Gata free campsite stopping to visit the colourful bubbling Seltun Geothermal area to Kleifarvatn Lake on road 42. We stopped at the viewing turn out overlooking the large blue lake and walked the black sand beach. The road is between the lake and the mountain with snow capped mountain ranges across the lake.
Next we drove loop road 417. This road in my opinion is one of the most scenic drives we did in Iceland. It is an unpaved road in the middle of a beautiful blanket of mossy lava fields. The black snow capped mountain ranges in the backdrop with yellowish green grey moss draping down the mountain side are absolutely stunning.
Our next stop was the Blue lagoon. It is a huge place and one can walk to follow the blue water flowing out of the pool area even if one does not go for a dip. One can enjoy a coffee here. There is clean wc.
Then we drove south to Grindavik onto road 427 to visit the must stop highlights such as the Gunnuhver Mud Pools, the tectonic mid Atlantic bridge, Brimketill rock pool, light house. On the road north there were hundreds of nesting birds on the ground, some on the road, some flying high going berserk.
We finally ended our day at the Sandgardi campsite listed with the camping card in a lovely surrounding in a beautiful town with free hot showers included. By the way one can also help themselves to free groceries left by past campers.
We achieved so much on this day and thoroughly enjoyed it. Join a tour if one prefers not to drive. It is well worth a sightseeing day.
Written August 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2wreckless
Bradford, UK355 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
We drove past this lake on the way back to Reykjavik on a dark and rainy night. The road was a little scary, but the lake seemed moody and very atmospheric. We returned the next day in lovely sunny weather and the lake was stunning. Plenty of places to stop and take in the views of the huge lake and surrounding countryside. Well worth visiting and spending a few hours walking the beaches and rocks.
Written January 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Delmeboy
Bridgend, UK57 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
A really beautiful lake a few minutes down the road from Krysuvik mud pools. Worth a walk around and take in the wonderful black sands and ash deposits.
Written October 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NaperBug
Naperville, IL19 contributions
Hello - I would be travelling to Iceland in last week of May. I was wondering for those who have been to the Seltun/Kleifarvatn area:
Can you actually go to Seltun first and walk over to Kleifarvatn lake area or vice versa?
The reason I'm asking is on google maps its showing that it would take a 45 min detour from Seltun to drive to Kleifarvatn.
Thanks
Delmeboy
Bridgend, UK57 contributions
Hi, been a few times and a nice part of Seltun is Krisuvik. This is a nice geothermal mudpool that is probably a ten minute walk from Kleifarvatn. However, the road doesn't have a pavement and can is a little winding. There is a nice viewing area above the lake to park in with nice walks around the beautiful lake. Definitely worth a visit.
Robert E
California2 contributions
Hi Diane, is it possible to drive the lake in regular car or do you need a four wheel drive?
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Claim your listingKleifarvatn Lake - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Kleifarvatn Lake
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Kleifarvatn Lake:
- Reykjanes Geopark small-group tour & optional Airport or Blue Lagoon drop-off (From $115.00)
- Reykjanes secret G spots (From $270.00)
- Lava, Craters and Hot Springs Private Tour from Reykjavik (From $322.00)
- The Diamond Tour - Private (From $1,109.54)
- Reykjanes Peninsula Tour (From $796.00)
- Hotels near Kleifarvatn Lake:
- (7.60 mi) Hotel Vellir
- (8.39 mi) Viking Village Hotel
- (8.79 mi) Edda's Farmhouse in Town
- (9.44 mi) T10 Hotel Iceland
- (9.40 mi) Vibrant Iceland Hostel
- Restaurants near Kleifarvatn Lake:
- (8.26 mi) Von Mathus & Bar
- (8.67 mi) Tilveran
- (8.26 mi) Pallett
- (8.40 mi) Fjorugardurinn, the Viking Restaurant
- (8.67 mi) Brikk bread - kitchen
Kleifarvatn Lake Information
Excellent Reviews | 63 |
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Very Good Reviews | 48 |
Kleifarvatn Lake Photos | 177 |