Icelandic Highlands
Travel Guide
Rhyolite mountains at Landmannalaugar, the volcanic oasis of Þórsmörk, the Askja caldera and Iceland's toughest F-roads — a summer-only wilderness for the adventurous.
From Reykjavík
3–5 h (F-roads)
Gateway towns
Hella, Hvolsvöllur
Best time
Jul–early Sep
Nearest airport
Keflavík (KEF)
01Introduction
The Highlands: Iceland's Uninhabited Heart
The Highlands are the vast, empty interior that most visitors only glimpse from the ring of the coast. No one lives here. There are no towns, no shops and no paved roads — only gravel F-roads, unbridged rivers, and some of the most otherworldly landscapes on the planet.
It is a place of superlatives: the rainbow rhyolite mountains and hot bathing river of Landmannalaugar; the green oasis of Þórsmörk cradled between three glaciers; the Askja caldera with its warm crater lake; and the endless black-sand deserts of Sprengisandur and Kjölur.
The Highlands open for only a short summer window and demand real preparation — a 4x4, river-crossing know-how and full self-sufficiency. Those without a suitable vehicle can still reach the highlights on Super Jeep and highland-bus day tours from Reykjavík and the south.
02Quick Facts
Icelandic Highlands at a Glance
The essentials every visitor should know before arriving.
From Reykjavík
3–5 h (F-roads)
Gateway towns
Hella, Hvolsvöllur
Best time
