A Day Trip to the Icelandic Highlands
In 2017, we spent part of our honeymoon in Iceland.
On a whim, we booked a day trip to the Icelandic Highlands, and this ended up being our favorite part of the trip. Read on to learn why you have to do more than the Ring Road if you visit Iceland.
Riverside hike in the Icelandic highlands
When we go back to Iceland, we will definitely be spending more time in the highlands, and would like to bring our tents for an extended adventure.
We took a guided day trip to Landmannalaugar with Arctic Adventures and fell in love with the rambling F-roads, and the unspoiled beauty of this area. If you are enjoying a road trip in Southern Iceland or even just taking day trips from Reykjavik, we highly recommend adding the highlands to your Iceland bucket list.
When to Visit the Highlands
The roads to the highlands are only open in the summer, so it's best to visit from July to September. (June is a possibility, but the end of June would be best).
We visited in August, and you will notice that snow is still present in higher elevations. Our guide told us that in the beginning of July, there was still a lot of snow in the highlands.
Driving on F-Roads
One of the reasons we booked a tour instead of driving ourselves is because of the F-roads in Iceland. F-roads require a 4x4 vehicle, which is more expensive to rent.
So, we decided that a day tour would allow us to relax (we were still jet-lagged on this day) and would save us some worries about driving the two hours inland without cell service.
During our tour, we stopped three times to get out and take pictures.
Summer on the F-Roads of Iceland
Our van: partway through air is let out of the tires to make the bumpy ride more comfortable
Arriving in Landmannalaugar
After an hour and a half or so, after a quiet drive, we came upon a small river crossing and then found ourselves in the middle of a happening area with a campsite, food truck, showers, and hot springs.
The parking lot and campground was full of people, a combination of tourists with guides as well as people who had extended trips in the highlands. (If you're used to campgrounds in the US, keep in mind that you will simply find an open area with many tents close together here.)
To read more about Landmannalaugar, check out this guide.
Laugavegur Trail
One of the beautiful trails in the highlands is Laugavegur, and you could spend days on the trail. We only explored a small amount of territory on our day trip, but if you are a backpacker and experienced hiker, and have a couple weeks in Iceland, this seems worthy of a longer trip.
Sulfur Vents in the Iceland's Highlands
Hot Spring
We loved this natural hot spring for a quick dip after our hike. There is a small dock where everyone places their towels and clothes, piled up very close, and then you just wade in the water (some parts were chilly) until you find a good, warm spot.
We preferred this location to most developed ones like the Blue Lagoon. It felt wonderful to enjoy this natural scene and fresh water. (To read more about our Blue Lagoon experience and the costs, check out this post.)
There are bathrooms and showers nearby, so after our dip we were able to shower (for a small fee) and change.
What to Pack for a Day Trip to Iceland's Highlands
We each carried a small back pack for this day which included:
snacks and lunch
water bottle
bathing suit
pak towel (or other quick drying towel)
To save money while traveling in Iceland, we stayed at Airbnbs. You can read all about our budget, and you can use the box below to begin your search.
Disclosure: As an Airbnb Associate, we may earn a small commission if you book a stay (of your choosing) after clicking our link. This does not cost you any additional money and we would never recommend a tool or service that we do not use ourselves.