Highlands of Iceland Travel Guide

Iceland is famous for its dramatic coastlines, thundering waterfalls, and the Northern Lights — but its true wilderness lies in the interior. The Highlands of Iceland are unlike anywhere else on Earth: a vast, virtually roadless expanse of lava fields, geothermal valleys, glacial rivers, and active volcanoes stretching across the heart of the island.

Uninhabited and inaccessible for most of the year, the Highlands only open to travellers in summer — typically from late June to early September, depending on snow and road conditions. What you'll find there is raw, primordial Iceland: a land shaped by fire and ice, where the colours shift from obsidian black to vivid ochre, where you can hike for days without seeing another soul, and where the silence is so complete it becomes its own kind of sound.

Whether you're an experienced mountaineer or a curious traveller seeking something beyond the tourist trail, the Highlands offer some of the most extraordinary landscapes and adventures Iceland has to offer. But they also demand respect, preparation, and an understanding of what you're getting into.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Highlands: the best destinations, when to go, how to get there, and what to expect — including some of the best ways to experience the interior with Icelandic Mountain Guides.

The Icelandic Highlands — known in Icelandic as "Hálendið" — refer broadly to the elevated interior plateau of Iceland, sitting at altitudes of 400 to 800 metres above sea level. Unlike the populated coastal regions, the Highlands have never been permanently settled; the terrain is simply too harsh, too remote, and too unpredictable to support year-round habitation.

What defines the Highlands:

• Elevation: Generally above 400–500 metres above sea level
• No permanent settlements — only seasonal mountain huts and ranger stations
• Access via F-roads only — rough, unpaved mountain tracks requiring 4WD vehicles
• Seasonal access: Roads typically open late June–July and close again in September–October
• Extreme weather: Conditions can change rapidly, with snow possible even in midsummer

The Highlands cover roughly 40,000 square kilometres — about 40% of Iceland's total land area. Much of this is protected within national parks and nature reserves, including Vatnajökull National Park (the largest in Europe) and the newly proposed Hálendið National Park, which, if established, would protect the entire interior.

The landscape varies dramatically across the Highlands, from the colourful rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar to the bleak, lunar expanses of the Sprengisandur route, the geothermal wonderlands of Kerlingarfjöll, and the explosive craters of Askja. Each area has its own character, its own challenges, and its own rewards.

Landmannalaugar

Arguably the most famous destination in the Highlands, Landmannalaugar is a geothermal oasis nestled amid some of Iceland's most colourful mountains. The rhyolite peaks here glow in shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and purple — the result of slow-cooling lava and centuries of geothermal activity. It's a place that feels almost impossibly vivid against Iceland's typically austere palette.

Landmannalaugar is the starting point for the famous Laugavegur trail, one of the world's great long-distance hikes, which winds south through geothermal valleys, past obsidian fields and glacial lakes, all the way to Þórsmörk. But even without embarking on a multi-day trek, the area offers exceptional day hiking.

• Natural hot spring pools for soaking after a long day on the trail
• Bláhnúkur (Blue Peak) — a challenging but spectacular summit hike
• Brennisteinsalda — a short loop hike through dramatically coloured terrain
• Start of the Laugavegur long-distance trail to Þórsmörk

Þórsmörk (Thorsmork)

Named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder, Þórsmörk is a glacial valley tucked between three glaciers — Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, and Tindfjallajökull — in the southern Highlands. It's a lush, sheltered sanctuary that feels worlds apart from the barren plateau surrounding it, with birch forests, wildflower meadows, and dramatic ridgelines rising above the valley floor.

Þórsmörk sits at the southern terminus of the Laugavegur Trail and the northern end of the Fimmvörðuháls pass, making it a key hub for multi-day trekking in the region.

• Exceptional ridge hiking with panoramic views of surrounding glaciers
• Junction of three of Iceland's most celebrated trekking routes
• Mountain huts and camping facilities for overnight stays
• Accessible by super jeep or specially equipped Highland buses in summer

Askja & Víti

Deep in the northeastern Highlands, Askja is one of Iceland's most dramatic and remote volcanic calderas. The caldera — formed by the collapse of a magma chamber — contains a large lake, Öskjuvatn, which is the deepest lake in Iceland at 220 metres. Within the caldera sits the smaller explosion crater, Víti, filled with milky blue-grey geothermal water warm enough for bathing — though access has been restricted in recent years due to volcanic activity in the region.

The drive to Askja across the Ódáðahraun lava field — one of the largest lava deserts in the world — is an experience in itself, passing through a landscape so otherworldly that NASA once used it to train Apollo astronauts.

• Otherworldly volcanic caldera in the remote northeast
• Víti explosion crater with geothermal waters (check current access conditions)
• Ódáðahraun — one of the world's largest lava deserts
• Used by NASA for Apollo astronaut training in the 1960s

Kerlingarfjöll & Hveradalir

The Kerlingarfjöll mountain range sits at the centre of the Highlands, straddling the Kjölur route. Its jewel is Hveradalir, a high-altitude geothermal valley where boiling mud pools, steaming fumaroles, and vivid mineral deposits create a landscape of surreal beauty. The mountains here are made of rhyolite, and the colours — sulphur yellow, rust red, olive green — are intense, particularly when set against winter snow that can linger into summer.

• Hveradalir geothermal valley with boiling pools and fumaroles
• Exceptional summer skiing and hiking on the Kjölur route
• The Ásgarður mountain resort — with accommodation, hot tubs, and guided tours
• Among the most accessible Highland destinations via the F35 Kjölur route

Hveravellir

Midway along the Kjölur route, Hveravellir is a geothermal oasis in the middle of a vast, windswept lava plain. It's one of the most rewarding stopping points in the Highlands, offering natural hot pools for bathing, fumaroles, and the historic outlaw caves of Fjalla-Eyvindur, an 18th-century outlaw who supposedly spent winters here with his wife.

• Natural hot pools and geothermal activity at 640 metres altitude
• Small mountain hut with accommodation and a café
• Outlaw caves and historic lore of Fjalla-Eyvindur

Lakagígar (Laki Craters)

In the southwestern Highlands within Vatnajökull National Park, the Laki crater row is one of the most significant volcanic features in Iceland — and arguably in modern human history. The 1783 Laki eruption was one of the largest volcanic events in recorded history, producing a fissure eruption that lasted eight months and generated a toxic haze that caused widespread famine across Europe and beyond.

• 130 volcanic craters in a 27km fissure row
• Stunning lava tube caves and extensive moss-covered lava fields
• Within Vatnajökull National Park — Europe's largest national park

Sprengisandur

If you want the most remote and austere Highland experience, Sprengisandur is it. This central route cuts north to south across the interior, passing through a seemingly endless black sand desert flanked by the Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull ice caps. There are almost no services, minimal shelter, and challenging river crossings — but for those prepared for it, the sense of scale and isolation is unlike anything else in Iceland.

• Iceland's most remote interior route — a true wilderness crossing
• Vast black sand desert between two of Iceland's largest ice caps
• Multiple river crossings requiring experience and appropriate vehicles
• Best experienced as a guided expedition for safety and access

When to Visit the Highlands

The Highland season is short. Most F-roads open sometime between late June and mid-July, depending on snowfall and conditions that year, and close again in September or October. The sweet spot for most Highland destinations is July and August, when days are long (nearly 24-hour daylight in midsummer), temperatures are at their most manageable, and the snow has largely retreated.

Even in midsummer, Highland weather is unpredictable. Cold snaps, rain, and even snow can hit at any time. Always pack for the full range of conditions — layers, waterproofs, and warm gear are essential no matter how sunny the forecast looks.

Ways to Explore

For most travellers, the best way to experience the Highlands safely and deeply is with a guided expedition. Icelandic Mountain Guides has been operating in the Highlands for decades, and our guides carry the local knowledge, wilderness skills, and safety experience to take you into this extraordinary landscape in the right way.

Here are some of our most popular Highland and near-Highland tours:

4-Day Laugavegur Backpack Trek

The classic Laugavegur Trek, Iceland's most celebrated long-distance trail. Over four days, you'll hike from Landmannalaugar through geothermal valleys, across lunar obsidian fields, past glacial lakes, and through the verdant birch forests of Þórsmörk. Staying in mountain huts along the way, this is a true Highland adventure accessible to fit hikers with multi-day experience.

Fimmvörðuháls Day Hike

An extraordinary one-day hike over the Fimmvörðuháls pass between Skógafoss waterfall and Þórsmörk, crossing the lava fields created by the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption. This challenging but spectacular hike gives a taste of the Highland landscape in a single day, with sweeping views of glaciers and the South Coast below.

4-Day Hiking Adventure in Þórsmörk

Four days of guided hiking in and around the Þórsmörk valley, exploring the ridges, forests, and glacier edges that make this one of Iceland's most beloved Highland destinations. With a base camp approach, you can go deeper into the landscape each day without the weight of a full backpack.

The Green Ridge Hike

A lesser-known gem in the Þórsmörk area, the Green Ridge Hike follows the striking Útigönguhöfðar ridge above the valley floor, with panoramic views in every direction. It's a more intimate Highland experience — away from the busier Laugavegur crowds — and one of the most visually rewarding day hikes in the region.

Sprengisandur Ski Expedition

For those who want to experience the Highlands in winter or spring, the Sprengisandur Ski Expedition offers a traverse of Iceland's remote central desert on skis — a multi-day, high-altitude expedition through landscapes that almost no one ever sees. This is a serious wilderness adventure for experienced skiers, crossing the vast interior between the Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers.

F-roads are the Highland mountain tracks that make the interior accessible in summer. The F stands for "fjallvegur" — mountain road — and these routes are categorically different from Iceland's paved Ring Road. They are unpaved, rough, often rocky, and may include significant river crossings where there are no bridges.

Driving F-roads legally requires a 4WD vehicle (not just an AWD car — a proper high-clearance 4WD). It is illegal to drive a standard passenger car on F-roads, and doing so can result in serious fines, but more importantly, it can put you in genuine danger and cause significant environmental damage.

Key F-roads for Highland exploration:

• F35 — The Kjölur Route: The most accessible Highland road, passing Kerlingarfjöll and Hveravellir between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers. No major river crossings.
• F26 — The Sprengisandur Route: The central Highland highway, crossing the vast interior desert. Multiple river crossings, remote terrain.
• F208 — To Landmannalaugar: Crosses the Jökulgilskvísl river — one of Iceland's most notorious Highland river crossings.
• F88 — To Askja: Crosses the Jökulsá á Fjöllum glacial river system — requires experience and preparation.

Always check current road conditions before setting off. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (Vegagerðin) at road.is provides real-time road status for all Highland routes. Roads can open and close rapidly depending on conditions — do not drive on a closed F-road under any circumstances.

If you'd rather not worry about any of this, join a guided tour. Our vehicles and guides are equipped for all conditions, and you can focus entirely on the experience rather than the logistics.

The Highlands of Iceland are not for everyone — and that's precisely what makes them so special. In a world where wilderness is increasingly hard to find, Iceland's interior remains genuinely wild, genuinely remote, and genuinely transformative for those who make the journey.

Whether you're here to hike the Laugavegur, ski the Sprengisandur, soak in a geothermal pool at Hveravellir, or simply stand on the edge of the Askja caldera and take in one of Earth's most extraordinary views, we'll help you get there safely and make the most of every moment.

Browse our Highland tours below, or get in touch — we'd love to help you plan your adventure into the interior.