The Highlands

Iceland's wild interior, rainbow mountains, lava deserts and natural hot springs, open and glorious through the summer.

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The wild heart of Iceland

The Highlands fill the vast centre of Iceland, a roadless world of rhyolite mountains in red and gold, black lava deserts, glacial rivers and steaming hot springs. It is the emptiest and most dramatic part of the country, and reaching it feels like stepping onto another planet.

Because the mountain roads open only in the warm months, the Highlands are a summer treasure. Come for the great trekking routes, the natural pools at Landmannalaugar, and scenery so wide and clear that the rest of the world falls away.

Open in summer, worth the wait

The highland roads, marked with an F, open once the snow clears, usually from late June into September, and close again for winter. They cross rivers and rough ground, so a high clearance 4x4 is needed, or simply join a guided super jeep or hiking tour and leave the driving to an expert.

Most visitors reach the Highlands on a long day trip from the south or as part of a multi day trek. Whichever way you go, carry warm layers, food and water, and check road and weather conditions before you set off.

Access: Summer only, by 4x4 or guided tour
Best for: Trekking, hot springs, super jeep tours, raw wilderness
Best time: Late June to September
Stay: 1 long day to a 4 day trek
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The Highlands

What to see and do

The places worth slowing down for.

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Landmannalaugar

The jewel of the Highlands, where rainbow coloured rhyolite hills meet a lava field and a natural hot spring you can soak in after a hike. The trailhead for the country's most famous trek.

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The Laugavegur trek

A 4 day walk of about 55 kilometres from Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork, often called one of the world's great hikes, passing hot springs, ice and obsidian along the way.

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Thorsmork

A sheltered green valley cradled between three glaciers, with birch woods, braided rivers and big views. A gentle, beautiful base after the high passes.

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Askja and the east interior

A remote caldera with a milky blue lake and, nearby, the warm crater pool of Viti. A long, otherworldly drive through black sand desert.

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Kerlingarfjoll

A geothermal mountain range of steaming slopes and hot streams, threaded with walking trails and softened by colourful clay.

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Hot springs in the wild

The Highlands hide some of Iceland's finest natural pools, from Landmannalaugar to the hidden warm river at Strutslaug, the reward at the end of a long day.

Tours & activities

Guided Highland adventures from trusted local operators, from super jeep day trips to multi day treks. Reserve in minutes once booking goes live.

Landmannalaugar Super Jeep & Hike
Most Popular
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⏱ 10 to 12 hours 📍 From Reykjavik

Landmannalaugar Super Jeep & Hike

Cross the highland rivers by super jeep, walk the rhyolite trails and soak in the natural pool.

Live pricing via Bókun
New
Laugavegur Trek, Guided
Adventure
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⏱ 4 days 📍 Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork

Laugavegur Trek, Guided

Iceland's classic multi day walk with hut nights, hot springs and a support guide.

Live pricing via Bókun
New
Askja & Viti Crater Tour
Seasonal
♡
⏱ Full day 📍 From Myvatn

Askja & Viti Crater Tour

A long, wild drive into the eastern interior to the blue caldera lake and warm crater pool.

Live pricing via Bókun
New
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Make it a longer journey

The Highlands sit at the centre of the island, within reach of the south and the north.

Most highland trips begin from the south, near the Golden Circle and the south coast, so it is easy to pair a few green coastal days with a wild day inland. From the north, the route to Askja runs from the Myvatn area. Whichever side you start, the Highlands add the raw, empty grandeur that turns a good Iceland trip into an unforgettable one.

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Good to know

Quick answers for planning your trip.

When are the Highlands open?

The mountain roads usually open from late June and stay passable into September, depending on snow melt and river levels. Outside those months the interior is closed to vehicles and best left to winter specialists.

Do I need a 4x4 for the Highlands?

Yes. The highland F roads cross rivers and rough terrain and require a high clearance 4x4, and some routes are for experienced drivers only. The easiest option is a guided super jeep or hiking tour, with no driving worries at all.

Can beginners hike the Laugavegur trail?

The Laugavegur is a wonderful first multi day trek for reasonably fit walkers. Mountain huts and a daily luggage transfer make it manageable, and a guided group adds safety and ease over the river crossings.

Are there hot springs in the Highlands?

Many. Landmannalaugar has a famous natural warm pool right by the huts, and hidden gems such as Strutslaug and the geothermal streams of Kerlingarfjoll reward those who walk to them.

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