Askja Caldera
A remote volcanic caldera in the Highlands with a milky-blue crater lake warm enough to swim in — Apollo astronauts trained here for the Moon.
Askja caldera lake Oskjuvatn and Viti crater
What to expect at Askja Caldera
Askja is a set of nested calderas in the Odadahraun lava desert north of Vatnajokull, formed in an 1875 eruption that darkened the sky over Scandinavia. Inside the outer caldera sits Oskjuvatn, Iceland's second-deepest lake at 220 m, and beside it the smaller Viti crater with a milky-blue geothermal lake at 22-25 C — cool enough to swim but warm enough to survive. NASA sent the Apollo 11 and 14 crews to train here in 1965 and 1967 because the landscape resembled the lunar surface.
Getting there is a commitment: 90 km of highland F-roads (F88, F894, F905) with the deep Lindaa river crossing, only passable to modified 4WDs. Most people come on organised super-jeep day trips from Myvatn or Akureyri ($290-320, 12 hours). Once you reach the Vikraborgir car park, a 2.5 km walk over pumice takes you to the Viti crater rim; the descent to the water is steep, slippery clay. Bring a swimsuit, towel and something to change into — you will not want to skip the swim.
Questions about Askja Caldera
The caldera itself is free. Super-jeep day tours from Myvatn or Akureyri cost $290-320 per person including lunch.
Askja is free 24/7 during the short summer access window.
A full day. From Myvatn the round trip is about 12 hours, most of it driving.
Effectively closed September to late June. The F-roads open based on snowmelt, usually 25 June to 5 September.
Yes for super-jeep tours — book 3-5 days ahead in July-August with Myvatn Tours or Geo Travel.
The nearest town is Reykjahlid at Myvatn, 100 km northwest. All super-jeep tours pick up from Myvatn hotels or the Reykjahlid information centre.
Hotels near Askja Caldera
More natural parks
All natural parks
From the journal
All posts
Hotels
Hotels with hot tubs in Iceland
Ten Icelandic stays where a geothermal soak is part of the room rate, ranked by heat, view and how quickly you can get from bed to bubbles in under 60 seconds.
Hotels
Best Ring Road hotels in Iceland, ranked
A ranked list of 9 hotels spaced roughly every 200km around Route 1, so you can drive the loop in 7 days without a single 3-hour dinner detour.
Hotels
Family-friendly hotels in Iceland
Eight Icelandic hotels that actually welcome kids under 10, with pools, family rooms and food served before 6pm — tested with a 4- and 7-year-old in tow.