Landmannalaugar colorful rhyolite mountains, geothermal pool, service center and facilities
- Einar Páll Svavarsson
- May 28
- 6 min read
Why visit Landmannalaugar in Iceland?
1. Landmannalaugar is the most exciting place in the Highland in Iceland
2. Visiting Landmannalaugar is a unique driving adventure
3. Landmannalaugar is a small but stunning part of the mysterious Torfajökull caldera
4. The rhyolite mountains are colorful like no other mountains on the planet
5. You will find obsidian if you need to protect yourself from the White Walkers
6. Landmannalaugar has the best natural geothermal pool in Iceland
7. Hike up to Mt. Brennisteinsalda, and you will walk through a geothermal wonderland
8. Landmannalaugar has more stunning hiking trails than any other part of Iceland
9. Landmannalaugar has a good but harsh camping ground
10. You can visit Landmannalaugar from Reykjavík on a day tour
Landmannalaugar is genuinely one of the most remarkable and captivating spots in the Icelandic Highland! It's a place that instantly captures the hearts of all who visit this extraordinary masterpiece crafted by Mother Nature. Landmannalaugar ranks among the top five most fascinating natural wonders in Iceland and is arguably one of the most breathtaking destinations on the planet. Nestled 600 meters above sea level, this unique haven is famed for its soothing geothermal pool and bath and being the starting point for the legendary 54km, four-day Laugavegur hiking trail. But there's so much more to discover! It serves as the gateway to the enchanting caldera of Torfajökull, brimming with natural marvels, vibrant mountains, and a myriad of hiking trails. While staying at Landmannalaugar, you can embark on various exhilarating and awe-inspiring hikes, each offering stunning scenery and landscapes.
Landmannalaugar, with its colorful mountain,s is one of the most interesting places you can visit in Iceland
Landmannalaugar is a photographer's dream come true! This magical place boasts an endless array of geological wonders, from smoking hot springs and lava fields to rivers, creeks, gullies, ravines, canyons, volcanoes, and stunning rhyolite mountains that transform their colors with every shift of the sun and clouds. However, this enchanting destination is a hidden gem only accessible from early July (sometimes even mid-June) to the end of September. Outside this window, its vibrant beauty remains concealed, as the area is often blanketed in snow or besieged by fierce blizzards and cold during the winter months. So, unless you're up for an epic 4x4 winter adventure, it's best to plan your visit between these months to fully experience its breathtaking splendor!
A product of a unique volcanic system and geothermal activity
Landmannalaugar is part of the distinctive Torfajökull glacier volcanic system. Located just a short distance south of Landmannalaugar is the northern rim of its ancient and vast caldera. A portion of the renowned Laugavegur hiking trail traverses this historic caldera, which measures 12 km by 16 km in diameter. The Torfajökull caldera experienced a collapse hundreds of thousands of years ago after its magma chamber was emptied. Notably, the magma within the Torfajökull caldera is significantly more acidic than typical magma, and the region has witnessed thousands of eruptions over millions of years of the island's geological history. This magma results in the formation of rhyolite lava, as opposed to the more common basalt lava. Since the caldera's collapse, geothermal activity, hot springs, erosion, ice, and various other geological phenomena have transformed the entire region into a remarkable and unique natural wonder. Today, the landscape within the caldera, along with nearby mountains such as Landmannalaugar, is considered one of the most breathtaking and awe-inspiring sights on Earth.
Service Center and facilities in Landmannalaugar are a bit primitive as it should be
Recently, Landmannalaugar has emerged as a primary base camp for individuals embarking on the hiking trail from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk. It is also a favored destination among tourists who visit for a few days to explore the shorter trails and appreciate this gem in the highlands. The Icelandic Touring Association, known as FÍ (Ferðafélag Íslands in Icelandic), operates a service center in Landmannalaugar. This center features a hut, constructed in 1969, that accommodates 80 people, along with a camping ground, restrooms, showers, and washing facilities. The service center provides both hot and cold water, making it an ideal location to change clothes if you plan to enjoy the geothermal pool. Some visitors choose to change into swimwear outdoors by the pool in the traditional manner. However, it's important to note that there is no electricity available to charge phones or use electronic devices such as shavers or hairdryers. Additionally, there is only a tent available for dining and minor cooking activities. The service fee is a reasonable 500 Icelandic Kronur per day.
The camping site and space for 4X4 campers
The camping ground is a bit rough with hard soil and, thus, a bit resistant to tent pegs. You might have to "pin" your tent down with rocks. Usually, campers must fasten their tents with rocks and stones, found aplenty in Landmannalaugar. There is also a good space for 4x4 campers, who are also required to pay the service fee. Campers and people with tents on top of their car who camp on the other side of the river must also pay the service fee, as FÍ needs to continue to build and improve its service and facilities.
Other services in Landmannalaugar
From late June until the middle of September, a small convenience store in Landmannalaugar offers the basic necessities. It does not mean that you can rely on this store for all your food or need less preparation if you take the Laugavegur hiking trail or stay in Landmannalaugar for a few days. It is mainly for emergencies, although the service is increasing year by year. Another service during summer, the Icelandic Rescue Squad, has a permanent presence in Landmannalaugar to increase security in the area and help visitors and hikers with problems and accidents.
The geothermal pool in Landmannalaugar
Taking a dip in the geothermal pool in Landmannalaugar has been extremely popular among tourists and Icelanders for decades. The warm-water pool is only a few steps from the service center at the edge of the lava field of Laugahraun. It is a pool fed by the cold and hot streams coming from under the lava that is blending into the stream by the pool. Most visitors put on their swimming suits by the pool. It is part of the freedom in the mountains and the relaxed highland experience. For hikers visiting Landmannalaugar for a day or more and hiking the many short hikes in the area, it is very relaxing to dip into the pool after a walk to the top of the volcano Brennisteinsalda or Mt. Bláhnjúkur.
Part of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve
Landmannalaugar is a part of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, encompassing approximately fifty thousand hectares in the southern region of the Icelandic Highland. Established in the late 1980s, the reserve aims to protect the delicate ecosystem of the Highland. The Highland Road Fjallabak Nyrðri traverses much of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve and is among the most accessible roads in the Highland for travel in Iceland. However, it is recommended to use a larger 4x4 vehicle, such as a Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Defender, or Jeep Wrangler. It is crucial to highlight that the Icelandic Highland is a highly sensitive area, and driving outside marked roads is strictly prohibited. In Iceland, there are no off-roads, only F roads.
Finding your way and how to drive to Landmannalaugar
There are two main entrances to Landmannalaugar from the west. When you drive from Reykjavík, you find your way to Dómadalsleið Nr. F225, often referred to as Landmannaleið, or Nyrðri Fjallabak Mountain Road Nr. F208. Usually, Nyrðri Fjallabak opens sooner than Landmannaleið in early summer. We recommended that you rent a good 4x4 vehicle if you intend to drive on a mountain road in Iceland marked as an F road on maps. Accordingly, from Reykjavík, you start from the Ring Road Nr. 1 and drive eastward. Once you pass the bridge on the river Þjórsá, you look out for the road Landvegur Nr. 26. You need to drive approximately 50 km north on Road Nr. 26. By the mountain Búrfell, you take a right turn on Dómadalsleið Mountain Road Nr. F225. If the road is closed, you continue for approximately 25 km on Road Nr. 26 until you come to Mountain Road Nr. F208, the Nyrðri Fjallabak mountain road. Both Landmannaleið and Nyrðri Fjallabak lead to Landmannalaugar. Both roads can be a bit difficult, and we can only emphasize renting a 4x4 vehicle. Both roads usually open in early July; sometimes, F208 opens around the middle of June. Both roads close around the middle of September, and both require that you cross rivers.
If you're planning to tour Iceland in a rental car, make sure to read this article about the type of car that would be best for your trip.
Location of Landmannalaugar on the map of Iceland