Region
South Iceland
260 km from Reykjavik
Kirkjubaejarklaustur: Laki Craters and a Former Monastery
Iceland's monastery village: a tiny green settlement among lava fields, and the gateway to the Laki craters and Fjadrargljufur canyon.
Population
~150
South Iceland • Historic site
Quick Answer
Kirkjubaejarklaustur (Klaustur), a Ring Road village of about 150 people between Vik and Vatnajokull, is the base for Laki craters and Fjadrargljufur canyon.
Kirkjubaejarklaustur (locals shorten it to 'Klaustur') is a green patch surrounded by lava fields and glacial outwash plains. The settlement housed a medieval monastery, and today it has the last services for 70 km in either direction along the Ring Road.
Sources and page update
Updated: 2026-09-10
Ask Skaftarstofa about current access before a Laki trip. F206 and F207 require four-wheel drive and involve unbridged rivers.
For sourcing standards and how to report an error, see the editorial policy.
Official sources to check
Population
~150
Ring Road service village
Known for
Laki craters
Historic monastery site
Top Attractions near Kirkjubaejarklaustur
Laki Craters (Lakagígar)
130 volcanic craters from 1783 eruption
Fjadrargljufur Canyon
100m deep moss-covered gorge
Kirkjugolf
Natural basalt 'church floor' formation
Systrafoss Waterfall
Waterfall near the village
Eldhraunid Lava Field
Vast moss-covered lava from Laki
Skaftafell
Vatnajokull National Park gateway
How to Get to Kirkjubaejarklaustur
From Reykjavik: 3.5 hours via Route 1 (Ring Road), passing through Vik.
From Vik: About 1 hour east on Route 1. A practical stop before or after Skaftafell.
To Laki: F206 and F207 require four-wheel drive and cross unbridged rivers. Ask park staff about conditions and consider a guided trip; a seasonal date range does not establish that the route is open.
Best Time to Visit Kirkjubaejarklaustur
Summer: Summer is the main highland season, with actual access dependent on road and river conditions.
Year-round: The village is a Ring Road service stop. Check opening hours and any trail closures before choosing nearby attractions.
Start with Skaftarstofa before heading toward Laki
Skaftarstofa is the park visitor center at Songholl beside Route 1 near Kirkjubaejarklaustur. It also provides local visitor information and houses the Life with Nature exhibition. Use this as the place to discuss a Laki plan with park staff. The center’s own page lists +354 853 1882; confirm seasonal hours before a late-day arrival.
The park’s Lakagigar guidance describes four unbridged river crossings on F206 and F207, with levels that can rise in rain. Having four-wheel drive does not settle whether your vehicle and experience suit the crossings that day. Ask about current conditions before leaving the village.
Once at the crater area, choose a walk separately from the drive. The park lists the Laki summit route as a challenging two-kilometer walk of about 1–1.5 hours; the Tjarnargigur visitor trail is an easier 500-meter, roughly 30-minute option. Those walking times exclude the highland journey.
Planning help
Kirkjubaejarklaustur FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
What is the population of Kirkjubaejarklaustur?
Kirkjubaejarklaustur has approximately 150 residents and is one of the smallest service villages on the Ring Road.
What does Kirkjubaejarklaustur mean?
The name means 'Church Farm Monastery.' Locals simply call it 'Klaustur.' A Benedictine convent operated here from 1186 until the Reformation.
What are the Laki craters?
Lakagigar is a row of more than 130 craters formed in the 1783–1784 Skaftareldar eruptions. The disaster caused severe hardship in Iceland and affected climate and crops much farther away.
How far is Kirkjubaejarklaustur from Reykjavik?
Kirkjubaejarklaustur is about 260 km from Reykjavik, approximately 3.5 hours by car via Route 1 (Ring Road).
What is Kirkjugolf?
Kirkjugolf (Church Floor) is a natural basalt formation that looks like a man-made stone floor. It's a protected natural monument near the village.
What services are in Kirkjubaejarklaustur?
Despite its small size, the village has a hotel, guesthouse, restaurant, supermarket, and gas station: the essentials for Ring Road travelers.
What is Fjadrargljufur canyon?
A 100-meter deep canyon just west of town. The 2km walking path looks down on the moss-covered walls.
How close is Vatnajokull glacier?
Vatnajokull National Park begins east of Kirkjubaejarklaustur. The village is a base for exploring Skaftafell and glacier lagoons.
For national population totals and trends to put local figures in context, see our Iceland statistics.