Landmannalaugar & Highlands Tours: Into Iceland’s Volcanic Interior
Quick summary: A Landmannalaugar tour takes you into Iceland’s remote volcanic Highlands to one of the country’s most extraordinary landscapes — a place of multicoloured rhyolite mountains, steaming lava fields, and natural geothermal hot springs you can bathe in. Reachable only across rough Highland roads, and only in the summer months, Landmannalaugar sits at the heart of the interior and is the gateway to the famous Laugavegur trek. Tours reach it by super jeep, specialised Highland bus or on foot, offering day trips, hiking and multi-day treks into some of the most beautiful and untouched wilderness in Iceland.
Landmannalaugar & Highlands Tours at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What it is | A tour into Iceland’s volcanic Highlands |
| The landscape | Multicoloured rhyolite mountains, lava fields |
| The highlight | Natural geothermal hot springs to bathe in |
| Location | The remote interior Highlands |
| Access | Rough Highland roads — summer only |
| Reached by | Super jeep, Highland bus, or on foot |
| Famous trek | The Laugavegur trail starts here |
| Season | Roughly late June to September |
| Best for | Hikers, nature lovers, wilderness seekers |
What Is Landmannalaugar?
Landmannalaugar is one of Iceland’s most beautiful and famous natural areas — a remote geothermal region in the volcanic Highlands, celebrated for its extraordinary, otherworldly landscape.
Its fame rests on a rare combination of features. The area is surrounded by rhyolite mountains streaked in astonishing colours — reds, pinks, golds, greens and browns — created by volcanic mineral deposits, giving the hills a painted, almost unreal appearance. Among them lie lava fields, steaming vents, and, most famously, natural geothermal hot springs where a warm river lets you bathe amid the wild mountain scenery. It is a landscape unlike anywhere else in Iceland, and one of the great highlights of the interior.
Set deep in the Highlands, Landmannalaugar is remote and accessible only in summer, which makes reaching it an adventure in itself — and a tour the most practical way to get there. It is also the northern starting point of the celebrated Laugavegur hiking trail.
Where Are the Highlands and Why Do They Matter?
The Highlands are Iceland’s vast, uninhabited volcanic interior — a wilderness of mountains, glaciers, lava fields, deserts and geothermal areas at the heart of the island, and home to some of its most dramatic and untouched scenery.
Unlike the accessible coastal Ring Road, the Highlands are crossed only by rough, unpaved mountain roads (the “F-roads”), often including unbridged river crossings, that require a capable 4×4 and are legally closed to ordinary vehicles. Because of snow, these roads open only in summer (roughly late June to September, depending on conditions) and close again in autumn, making the interior inaccessible for much of the year.
This remoteness is exactly what makes the Highlands special. They hold some of Iceland’s most spectacular and pristine landscapes — Landmannalaugar, the Þórsmörk valley, the Askja caldera, and more — largely untouched and rarely crowded. To visit them is to reach the wild heart of the country, and because of the access challenges, a guided tour or specialised transport is the usual and often the only practical way to do so.
How Do You Get to Landmannalaugar?
Because Landmannalaugar lies deep in the Highlands across rough roads, reaching it requires the right transport, and tours offer several ways.
Super jeep tours — modified 4x4s that handle the F-roads and river crossings with ease, often in small groups, and the most capable and comfortable way in. Super jeeps can also sometimes reach the area outside the peak season.
Highland bus tours — specialised high-clearance buses that run to Landmannalaugar in summer, a popular and more affordable way to reach it, whether for a day trip or as transport for hikers.
Guided hiking tours — trips that include the journey in plus guided hiking, from day hikes to the multi-day Laugavegur trek.
Self-drive (experienced only) — possible in a suitable 4×4 for confident, experienced drivers comfortable with F-roads and river crossings, though many prefer to leave the demanding driving to a guide.
What all these share is the need to cross the Highland roads, which is why organised tours and specialised vehicles dominate. For most visitors, a super jeep or Highland bus tour is the easiest and safest way to reach this remote wonder, removing the challenge of the drive.
What Can You Do at Landmannalaugar?
Landmannalaugar offers a range of experiences, from a relaxing soak to serious multi-day trekking.
Bathe in the hot springs — the signature experience: soaking in the natural geothermal warm river amid the colourful mountains, a magical way to enjoy the landscape.
Day hiking — a network of shorter trails explores the immediate area, including the famous rhyolite mountains, the Laugahraun lava field, and viewpoints over the multicoloured hills.
The Laugavegur trek — Landmannalaugar is the starting point of Iceland’s most famous multi-day hiking trail, the Laugavegur, which runs across the Highlands to Þórsmörk over several days, through some of the country’s most spectacular scenery.
Photography — the surreal, colourful landscape is a paradise for photographers.
Taking in the wilderness — simply experiencing the remote, pristine beauty of the interior.
Whether as a day trip to see the mountains and bathe in the springs, a base for day hikes, or the start of a multi-day trek, Landmannalaugar rewards every kind of visitor drawn to Iceland’s wild interior.
When Can You Visit the Highlands?
The Highlands, including Landmannalaugar, are accessible only in summer, and this is the single most important thing to understand about visiting.
Because the mountain F-roads are blocked by snow for much of the year, they open only when conditions allow — typically from late June to sometime in September, though the exact dates vary each year with the weather and snowmelt. Outside this window, the roads are officially closed and the interior is effectively inaccessible to normal Highland tours.
This makes the Highlands a summer-only destination for most visitors, and means Landmannalaugar tours run only during these months. If seeing the interior is a priority, your trip needs to fall within the summer season. (Super jeeps and specialist operators can sometimes reach parts of the Highlands slightly outside the main season or in winter, but for standard access, summer is essential.) It is always worth checking current road-opening status when planning, as the season’s timing shifts from year to year.
Who Are Landmannalaugar & Highlands Tours Best For?
These tours suit visitors drawn to Iceland’s wild interior and natural beauty.
Hikers — from day-walkers to those tackling the multi-day Laugavegur trek.
Nature and landscape lovers — for the extraordinary rhyolite mountains and pristine wilderness.
Photographers — for the surreal, colourful, otherworldly scenery.
Those wanting the hot springs — for the unforgettable experience of bathing in the wild geothermal river.
Adventure and wilderness seekers — for reaching the remote, untouched heart of the country.
Summer visitors — since the Highlands are accessible only in the summer months.
It suits those willing to venture beyond the accessible lowlands into the remote interior, and — crucially — those visiting in summer, when the Highlands are open. For anyone drawn to Iceland’s wildest and most beautiful landscapes, and able to visit in season, Landmannalaugar and the Highlands are among the country’s greatest rewards.
Practical Tips for Landmannalaugar & Highlands Tours
- Summer only — the Highlands are accessible roughly late June to September.
- Bring swimwear to bathe in the natural hot springs.
- Choose your transport — super jeep or Highland bus for the easiest access.
- The Laugavegur trek starts here, for multi-day hikers.
- Check current road-opening status, as the season’s dates vary yearly.
- Pack for changeable mountain weather, even in summer.
- Wear proper hiking footwear for the trails and terrain.
Are Landmannalaugar & Highlands Tours Worth It?
For nature lovers, hikers and anyone drawn to Iceland’s wildest scenery, a Landmannalaugar and Highlands tour is one of the most rewarding experiences the country offers — a journey into a landscape unlike anywhere else on earth.
The appeal is extraordinary and singular. Landmannalaugar’s multicoloured rhyolite mountains — streaked in reds, golds and greens — its steaming lava fields, and its natural geothermal hot springs, where you can bathe amid the wild peaks, make it one of Iceland’s most beautiful and otherworldly places. Set deep in the remote volcanic Highlands, it rewards day-trippers, day-hikers and multi-day trekkers alike, and is the gateway to the famous Laugavegur trail across the interior.
The two things to understand are access and season. The Highlands are reachable only across rough mountain roads, so a super jeep or specialised Highland bus tour is the easiest and safest way in — and they are open only in summer, roughly late June to September, so a visit must fall within that window.
Given those conditions — visiting in season, and reaching it by a suitable tour — Landmannalaugar and the Highlands are unmissable. For the surreal beauty, the wild hot springs, the great trek and the pristine interior wilderness, a Landmannalaugar and Highlands tour is well worth it, and for many the most memorable experience of an Iceland trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Landmannalaugar is one of Iceland’s most beautiful and famous natural areas — a remote geothermal region in the volcanic Highlands, celebrated for its extraordinary landscape. It is surrounded by rhyolite mountains streaked in astonishing colours (reds, pinks, golds, greens) created by volcanic mineral deposits, among lava fields and steaming vents, and most famously has natural geothermal hot springs where a warm river lets you bathe amid the wild scenery. It is also the starting point of the famous Laugavegur hiking trail.
The Highlands are Iceland’s vast, uninhabited volcanic interior — a wilderness of mountains, glaciers, lava fields, deserts and geothermal areas at the heart of the island. They are crossed only by rough mountain F-roads, often with unbridged river crossings, that require a capable 4×4 and are legally closed to ordinary vehicles, opening only in summer because of snow. This remoteness is what makes them special, holding some of Iceland’s most spectacular and pristine landscapes, including Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk and Askja.
Because it lies deep in the Highlands across rough roads, reaching Landmannalaugar requires the right transport. Options include super jeep tours, modified 4x4s that handle the F-roads and river crossings; specialised high-clearance Highland buses that run there in summer; guided hiking tours that include the journey plus hiking; and self-drive for experienced drivers in a suitable 4×4 comfortable with F-roads and river crossings. For most visitors, a super jeep or Highland bus tour is the easiest and safest way in.
You can bathe in the natural geothermal hot springs, the signature experience; day-hike the network of trails through the rhyolite mountains and the Laugahraun lava field; start the famous multi-day Laugavegur trek, which runs across the Highlands to Þórsmörk over several days; photograph the surreal, colourful landscape; and simply take in the remote, pristine wilderness. It rewards day-trippers, day-hikers and multi-day trekkers alike.
The Highlands, including Landmannalaugar, are accessible only in summer, because the mountain F-roads are blocked by snow for much of the year. They typically open from late June to sometime in September, though the exact dates vary each year with the weather and snowmelt. Outside this window the roads are officially closed and the interior is effectively inaccessible to standard tours, so a visit must fall within the summer season. It is worth checking current road-opening status when planning.
The Laugavegur is Iceland’s most famous multi-day hiking trail, starting at Landmannalaugar and running across the Highlands to the Þórsmörk valley over several days, through some of the country’s most spectacular and varied scenery — rhyolite mountains, lava fields, geothermal areas, glaciers and river valleys. Hikers stay in mountain huts or camp along the way. It is a summer-only trek, given the Highland access, and one of the great hiking experiences in Iceland.