Adventure Vikings · Þingvellir
You drive yourself to Þingvellir, pull on a dry suit and snorkel the Silfra fissure, then warm up later with a Sky Lagoon pass and the ritual. Pick it if you have a car and want the coldest and the warmest water in Iceland on one ticket.
Silfra is a crack in the lava at Þingvellir, between the North American and Eurasian plates, filled with glacial meltwater at about 2 °C and so clear you can see more than 100 metres. Adventure Vikings takes groups of up to six per guide. You get a dry suit (or wetsuit), an undergarment, fins and mask, a briefing, around 30 to 40 minutes in the water, underwater photos and a hot chocolate afterwards. The national park and Silfra fee is paid.
The second half is a Sky Lagoon "Pure Pass", the old name for Saman: shared changing rooms, the lagoon and the full 7-step ritual. You book the slot yourself and can even use it on another day, as one couple did. Guests who tried to change their Sky Lagoon time later were told the spa was full, so pick the slot carefully when you book.
There is no transport. You drive to Þingvellir (about 50 minutes from Reykjavík), park at P5, pay the park's parking fee and walk 400 metres back along the road to the dive vans. The rules are strict: you must swim, speak English and be 150 to 200 cm tall and 50 to 120 kg. Over-65s need a doctor's approval, everyone fills in a medical form, and glasses must stay on land (bring contacts).
Park at P5 and walk 400 m back to the smaller car park with the snorkel vans. Be there 15 minutes early.
Dry suit over your thermals, hood, gloves, mask and fins, then a safety talk.
Float down the fissure with the current. Your guide takes photos.
Warm up, change and head back to the car.
Drive about an hour to Kópavogur for the lagoon and the ritual, or use the pass another day.
★★★★★Dory our instructor was very thorough with all the dry suit fitting and explained every step. [...] I can’t believe how clear the water was! Sky Lagoon at the end of the day was just the cherry on top of the cake to warm up.
★★★★★I am someone who hates being cold, but found the snorkel to be enjoyable. [...] The lagoon was beautiful and the 7 step ritual was well worth the experience. Would recommend this combo to anyone!
★★★★★I thought I would freeze but I wore warm clothes (snug fitting 2 layers) under the wet and dry suits and felt fine other than my face being cold.
★★★★★Can’t believe we got to snorkel between the tectonic plates! [...] We split our Sky Lagoon ticket and did that on a different day. Again, amazing!
Read next:
No. It's self-drive: you get to Þingvellir and then to Sky Lagoon yourself, and you pay the Þingvellir parking fee.
The Pure Pass, which is the old name for Saman: shared changing rooms, the lagoon and the 7-step ritual, plus a towel.
Yes. Every participant must swim and be comfortable in water. You also need to be 12 or older, 150 to 200 cm tall and 50 to 120 kg, and to understand English.
About 2 to 4 °C all year. The dry suit keeps your body dry, so it's your face and hands that feel it. The time in the water is around 30 to 40 minutes.
Ready to book
Snorkel in glacial water at Silfra, then warm up at Sky Lagoon. You drive yourself between the two.
ATV Quad Ride and Sky LagoonNinety minutes on a quad up Hafrafell, then Sky Lagoon and the ritual. Pickup at 9:00, licence needed to drive.★ 5.0 · 8 hours · from $315
Golden Circle, Kerið Crater and Sky LagoonÞingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and Kerið in a small minibus, then about two hours at Sky Lagoon. Ticket included, lunch not.★ 5.0 · 10 hours · from $249
Sky Lagoon Ticket with the 7-Step RitualThe ticket itself, from Sky Lagoon: lagoon, cold plunge, sauna and the full ritual. Saman or Sér, you get there yourself.★ 4.7 · 2 hours 30 min · from $116