GoIceTravel
Highland Travel Guides
Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk, Askja and the lunar landscape — the ultimate highland adventure guide.
Skoða allar ferðaleiðbeiningar →Staðbundin þekking
Ekta ráð frá staðbundnum sérfræðingum.
Ferðaáætlun
Hagnýt ráðgjöf fyrir allar árstíðir.
Bestu upplifanir
Bestu staðirnir, ferðir og faldar perður.
Ferðaáætlunaridéar
Tilbúnar ferðaáætlanir fyrir alla ferðategundir.
Did you know? For centuries Europeans believed Hekla volcano was one of the entrances to Hell. During eruptions, people thought they could hear souls escaping from inside the mountain.
Icelandic Highlands
The Icelandic Highlands are a vast, uninhabited wilderness at the heart of Iceland, shaped by volcanic forces and extreme weather. This remote interior is dominated by black sand deserts, rugged mountains, glaciers, and powerful rivers that carve through the landscape.
Places like Landmannalaugar and Askja showcase the region’s raw beauty—colorful rhyolite peaks, steaming geothermal fields, and massive volcanic craters. With almost no infrastructure and no permanent settlements, the Highlands feel isolated and untouched.
Accessible mainly during summer via rough mountain roads, the area offers a true sense of adventure. The silence, scale, and ever-changing conditions create a powerful atmosphere—both awe-inspiring and slightly intimidating—making it one of Iceland’s most unique and unforgettable regions.
4x4 Vehicle Required
Highlands F-roads require 4WD vehicles. Open only June-September. Always check road conditions at road.is before traveling.
Top Highland Experiences
Volcanic wilderness and bookable super jeep adventures
Nýidalur
Nestled in the heart of Iceland's rugged highlands, Nýidalur serves as a crucial base camp along the Sprengisandur route. The dark wooden cabins with their distinctive red roofs, as seen in the image, provide a welcoming haven for trekkers exploring the vast wilderness around Tungnafellsjökull. It's an ideal stopover for those venturing across the challenging Sprengisandur.
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Álftavatn Camsite (Laugavegur)
Álftavatn is the second rest stop on the Laugavegur — Europe's most famous long-distance hiking trail. The campsite sits beside the blue waters of Lake Álftavatn in the heart of the southern highlands, surrounded by volcanoes and glaciers. Accessible only on foot or via F-roads.
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Dreki Campsite (Askja)
Dreki is the base camp for excursions to Askja — one of Iceland's most dramatic volcanic calderas. Here you will find Víti — a warm crater lake you can swim in — and Öskjuvatn — Iceland's deepest lake. The campsite is in the middle of the highlands and is accessible only by 4x4 vehicles on F-roads.
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Emstrur – Botnar Tjaldsvæði (Laugavegur)
Emstrur (Botnar) is the third rest stop on the Laugavegur hiking trail, between Álftavatn and Þórsmörk. This is one of the most remote and wild campsites on the route, deep in the highlands between Mýrdalsjökull and Entujökull glaciers. Distant views of Katla volcano and unforgettable glacier scenery.
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Private Silfra Snorkeling 6 p. group - Meet on Location - with Underwater Photos
From $899
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Fjallabak Nature Reserve Trail
Remote highland trail through volcanic landscapes and rivers.
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Hveravellir Campsite
A remote Highland campsite beside geothermal hot springs between Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers.
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Hvítárvatn Campsite
A remote Highland campsite beside Hvítárvatn lake with views toward Langjökull glacier along the Kjölur Route.
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Kerlingarfjöll Tjaldsvæði
A remote Highland campsite surrounded by colorful rhyolite mountains and geothermal valleys along the Kjölur Route.
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Private Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon 2 Day Tour & Glacier Hike
From $7240
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Landmannalaugar Campsite
A remote Highland campsite in Landmannalaugar surrounded by colorful rhyolite mountains and natural geothermal hot springs.
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Nýidalur Campsite
A remote Highland campsite in Nýidalur along the Sprengisandur Route surrounded by glaciers, rivers, and central Iceland wilderness.
Learn More →Askja Vikraborgir Trail
Trail across volcanic terrain near Askja caldera.
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Brennisteinsalda Trail
Sulfur-colored mountain trail through geothermal valleys.
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Private 2-Day Glacier Lagoon, Ice Cave and Northern Lights
From $7400
Book NowLaugahraun Lava Trail
Short lava field hike near Landmannalaugar hot spring area.
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Viti Crater Askja Trail
Walk around the turquoise Viti crater lake.
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Blahnukur Summit Trail
Colorful rhyolite mountain hike with sweeping highland views.
Learn More →Grettislaug Hot Pots (Hveravellir)
Natural hot spring pools at Hveravellir in the Icelandic Highlands. Located in the remote interior between Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers. Only accessible in summer by 4x4 vehicle.
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Reykjavík All In One Food Tour - Eat, Drink & Explore with Locals
From $205.57
Book NowStrutslaug Hot Spring
One of Iceland's most remote and spectacular hot springs, located on the Strutur hiking route in the southern highlands near the Torfajökull geothermal area. A true wilderness bathing experience for serious hikers.
Learn More →Hveradalir Kerlingarfjoll Trail
Trail through colorful geothermal valleys in Kerlingarfjoll.
Learn More →🎡 Tours & Experiences
Book Activities in Iceland
Tours & Activities
Book top-rated Iceland tours, day trips, and experiences — Northern Lights, glacier hikes, whale watching and more.
Browse Activities →Reykjavík City Pass
Unlimited access to top Reykjavík attractions, museums, and tours with one pass. Save up to 50% vs paying separately.
Get City Pass →Hidden Highland Gems
Secret volcanic wonders few travelers see
Ljótipollur Crater Lake
Ljótipollur — meaning 'ugly puddle' — is a vivid blood-red volcanic crater lake near Landmannalaugar. Despite its unglamorous name it is one of the most striking sights in the Highlands, with steep red and black crater walls plunging into deep blue water. The crater formed in a lava field eruption around 500 years ago. Few visitors make the short hike to the rim, making it a remarkably peaceful spot even during the peak summer season.
Hveravellir Hot Springs
Hveravellir is a geothermal oasis in the centre of the Kjölur highland route — a collection of boiling mud pools, blue hot springs and fumaroles set in a lava field between two glaciers. A natural bathing pool filled with warm geothermal water sits right beside the hot springs. According to legend, Hveravellir was a hideout for the 18th-century outlaw Fjalla-Eyvindur, who survived in the Highlands for years by bathing in the warm springs to endure the freezing winters.
Aldeyjarfoss Waterfall
Aldeyjarfoss is one of Iceland's most dramatic waterfalls — a thundering 20-meter cascade surrounded by perfectly symmetrical basalt columns rising from the riverbank like cathedral pillars. Located on the Sprengisandur route near the highland edge, it sees a fraction of the visitors that more accessible waterfalls receive. The contrast between the white churning water and the dark, geometric basalt formations creates one of the most striking compositions in Icelandic nature photography.
Highlands Legends & Folklore
Stories of outlaws, trolls, and volcanic gods
Highland Adventures
The Icelandic Highlands offer some of the most extreme and rewarding adventures in Europe.
From multi-day hiking trails to super jeep expeditions across volcanic deserts.
Experience geothermal hot springs, glacial rivers, and complete wilderness.
Hiking
Laugavegur trail
Super Jeep
F-road expeditions
Hot Springs
Geothermal pools
✈️ Flights to Iceland
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Highland Tours & Activities
Explore the Highlands with expert guides
Private Silfra Snorkeling 6 p. group - Meet on Location - with Underwater Photos
From $899
Book NowPrivate Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon 2 Day Tour & Glacier Hike
From $7240
Book NowReykjavík All In One Food Tour - Eat, Drink & Explore with Locals
From $205.57
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Reykjavik Private Northern Lights Tour with Pro Photographer
From $1632.79
Book NowFrequently Asked Questions
What are the Icelandic Highlands?▾
A vast uninhabited volcanic interior accessible only in summer by 4x4 vehicles.
When can I visit the Highlands?▾
Mid-June to early September when F-roads open. Check road.is before traveling.
Do I need a 4x4 vehicle?▾
Yes, all Highland F-roads require 4WD. Regular cars are prohibited and dangerous.
What is the best Highland destination?▾
Landmannalaugar for colorful rhyolite mountains and hot springs.
Can I camp in the Highlands?▾
Yes, but only in designated camping areas. Wild camping is strictly regulated.
Haunted Places in the Icelandic Highlands
The Highlands are the most remote and mysterious region of Iceland. Many travelers historically believed spirits protected these landscapes — and medieval Europeans thought one volcano marked the entrance to Hell.
Landmannalaugar
Steam vents rising from the colorful rhyolite mountains were believed to be entrances to hidden underground worlds.
Kerlingarfjöll
The mountains are said to be petrified trolls caught by sunrise — Kerling herself led them across the highlands before dawn broke.
Askja Caldera
This remote volcanic caldera is often described as a gateway to underground fire worlds — formed in a catastrophic eruption in 1875.
Hekla Volcano
For centuries, Europeans believed Hekla was one of the entrances to Hell itself — a belief documented in medieval manuscripts across Europe.
🚐 Getting Around Iceland
Airport Transfers & Sightseeing Rides
Pre-book a private transfer from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík, or explore Iceland by private sightseeing ride. Fixed prices, professional local drivers, instant confirmation.
🌌 See the Northern Lights
Track real-time aurora activity and plan your Northern Lights trip with AuroraVision.
⚔️ Viking Heritage
Saga sites and Viking routes in this region
🗺️ Viking Routes in this Region
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