31-01-2024
A geothermal oasis and stunning mountainous landscape on the edge of an epic lava field in the Icelandic Highlands, Landmannalaugar is an incredible natural wonder in Iceland. Located in the heart of the country’s interior zone, soaking in the rugged and wild beauty of Landmannalaugar is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Discover more about visiting Landmannalaugar in our complete travel guide, including where Landmannalaugar is, how to get there, when you can visit and more important info for your trip. Let’s get started!
Landmannalaugar is a stunning natural valley in the Icelandic Highlands characterized by incredibly colorful rhyolite mountains, steaming geothermal hot springs and historic lava fields. Crafted by thousands of years of volcanic activity, Landmannalaugar dates back to a major volcanic eruption that happened all the way back in the year 1477.
The Landmannalaugar mountains are famed for their incredible colors, with striking yellows, reds, pinks, greens and blues. A variety of geological processes lead to the vibrant colors of these rhyolite mountains, which contrast beautifully against the black dried magma of the Laugahraun Lava Field.
As well as its incredible colors, Landmannalaugar is also famed for the geothermal pools and hot springs peppering its landscape. Landmannalaugar, or ‘the People’s Pools’, was originally a site where weary travelers would stop and rest by taking a soothing bath in one of the area’s geothermal springs. Today, visitors can still enjoy soaking in one of these wonderful geothermal pools, heated by the Earth itself.
When you’re planning your trip to Iceland, you’ll be spoilt for choice with so many incredible places around the country to visit that you might be wondering ‘is Landmannalaugar worth it?’. Well, we can definitely tell you that the stunning landscapes of Landmannalaugar are well worth a visit during your time in Iceland! Landmannalaugar is arguably the best place in the country to get a real taste of the wild, untouched and picturesque nature that makes Iceland so special.
Located in the southern area of the Icelandic Highlands, Landmannalaugar is situated in the interior part of the country. Around 140 kilometers from the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, Landmannalaugar is actually situated within the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, which is why you may hear it referred to as Landmannalaugar Nature Reserve.
Yes, you’ll need a 4x4 vehicle to reach Landmannalaugar, as you’ll need to drive on Iceland's mountainous F-roads to get there. These roads can only be driven on by a 4x4 vehicle due to their unpaved surfaces and mountain inclines.
When choosing which Iceland rental car insurance you need for your vacation, we recommend getting special F-roads protection if you plan to visit Landmannalaugar. Your rental agent can help you with the specifics to make sure you get the right protection for your trip.
Here are the main routes to get to Landmannalaugar, both of which start in Reykjavik and involve traveling on F-roads:
When you hear that Landmannalaugar is located in the remote Icelandic Highlands, you may be thinking ‘is it hard to get to Landmannalaugar?’. While it is an adventurous drive, as long as you have a 4x4 vehicle, it’s definitely doable! The way to Landmannalaugar takes you through incredibly beautiful nature, so the drive itself is definitely part of the experience.
The best time of year to visit Landmannalaugar is, without a doubt, the summer season. That’s because the F-roads that you need to travel on to reach Landmannalaugar are closed during most of the year, only opening in summer when the weather and road conditions are safe enough for driving.
Visiting Landmannalaugar in summer gives you a unique chance to experience the awesome colors and stunning landscapes of this geothermal oasis in full bloom. The milder weather during summer will make all your outdoor exploring more enjoyable, too.
If you do want to visit Landmannalaugar in autumn, winter or spring, you’ll need to join a specialized Landmannalaugar Super Jeep Tour, as super jeeps are the only vehicles that can reach Landmannalaugar at these times of year.
No, it’s free to visit Landmannalaugar. You can enjoy the wondrous panoramas of this stunning area of natural beauty without paying a penny!
If you’d like to stay over somewhere near Landmannalaugar, there are a few options for you, including hotels, Airbnbs and camping sites. Just be aware that there aren’t many hotels very close to Landmannalaugar, so we highly recommend booking in advance if you do intend to stay in any of these accommodations.
Fairly close to Landmannalaugar, there’s the Highland Centre Hotel and Gljasteinn Holsakogur Hostel. If you don’t mind driving back to the southern coast, you’ll have any more options, including Hotel Katla and Hotel Vik.
Another great and budget-friendly option is staying at the Landmannalaugar campsite for a once-in-a-lifetime experience sleeping among the beautiful rhyolite mountains and historic lava field of Landmannalaugar.
With a choice of many fun activities, you might be wondering what the best things to do at Landmannalaugar are. Here are some of our favorites to choose from:
If you want to explore the beauty of Landmannalaugar up close by taking a hike through your incredible natural surroundings, we definitely recommend taking the Laugavegur Trail. One of Iceland’s most popular hiking trails, the challenging 55-kilometer Laugavegur Trail passes through breathtaking valleys, geothermal springs and a nature reserve at the base of an active volcano.
The Landmannalaugar hot springs are a must-visit while in the Icelandic Highlands. Rich in beneficial minerals and remaining at a comfortable 40ºC, you can find the People’s Pools next to the Laugahraun Lava Field. Soaking in this geothermal pool is the perfect relaxing activity after an energetic day of exploring or hiking around Landmannalaugar.
Another activity for intrepid adventurers is summiting one of the volcanoes in Landmannalaugar. For example, you can take a 6.5-kilometer trail to hike to the top of the volcano Mount Brennisteinsalda, whose name means ‘sulfur wave’ in English due to the colored sulfur spots on its side. Another choice is the challenging 6.1-kilometer hike to the summit of the volcano Mount Blahnukur, ‘the Blue Peak’.
Landmannalaugar is home to many beautiful waterfalls, cascading down the mountains and flowing into the river valleys beneath. Among these is the famous 128-meter high Haifoss Waterfall, or ‘High Falls’, which was the highest waterfall in Iceland until it was recently overtaken, making it the second highest falls in the country. Make sure to bring your camera to capture the amazing panoramas of Landmannalaugar’s waterfalls!
If you’re looking for an easier hiking trail, the one across Laugahraun Lava Field is a good shout. This unique trail across a field of solidified lava is a popular day-hike in the Landmannalaugar area, suitable for people of all levels of fitness and families, too. Just over 4 kilometers long, taking the Laugahraun Lava Field trail lets you soak in the impressive views and explore this historic landscape up close.
Sigoldugljufur Canyon is also known as ‘the Valley of Tears’ due to the sheer number of waterfalls cascading down this striking canyon into the vividly blue water at its base. With countless waterfalls and lush green vegetation lining one side of the canyon, and desolate lava landscapes covering the other side, the magical Sigoldugljufur Canyon looks almost too otherworldly to be real! Definitely worth a visit during your time in Landmannalaugar, you can stop off at Sigoldugljufur Canyon on your way to Landmannalaugar if you take the route approaching from the north.
Fancy exploring the incredible natural paradise of Landmannalaugar with an experienced guide, so you can soak in the beauty all around you while learning about your environment and never worrying about getting lost? Check out our top recommendations for guided Landmannalaugar tours to take:
Want to discover the stunning rhyolite landscapes and steaming geothermal pools of Landmannalaugar for yourself? What are you waiting for? You can book a rental car in Iceland today to start preparing for the trip of a lifetime! If you’ve got any questions, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us and we’ll be happy to help you out. We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful country soon!