7 Best Places To Visit In The Highlands In Iceland

The Icelandic Highlands extend over 40,000 square kilometres and rank amongst Europe’s largest unpopulated areas. The Highlands is a centre of raw and powerful energy, where new lands are forged and old lands are pushed to the west and to the east, onto the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

With the Ring Road getting more crowded every single year I highly encourage you to visit these off the beaten path places in the Icelandic Highlands. They truly are the heart of the country and Iceland at its very best.

Think rainbow colored mountains, bubbling mud puts, majestic volcanoes and the largest glaciers in Europe. They all add to this incredible scenery where you can drive on for hours on end without encountering a single other car.

As soon as you arrive, the crowds from the Ring Road seem like a distant memory and it’s here that your real Icelandic adventure begins. No more standing behind a fence to marvel at natures beauty. Here you’ll get to experience what Iceland is truly about.

The Icelandic Highlands are a place to hike, to marvel and to take thousands of photos.

But just like with any other beautiful and secluded place, the journey there isn’t always the easiest. But no worries, we’ll get to that part!

How To Visit Kerlingarfjöll And The Hveradalir Geothermal Area In One Day

PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO THE ATTRACTIONS IN THE ICELANDIC HIGHLANDS

Just like with any adventurous trip you have to prepare yourself. That means getting a good insurance, figure out your mode of transportation and read up on the destinations you’re about to visit.

I highly recommend getting travel insurance before your trip. It’s something I always do as a precaution because the risks are just not worth it. I personally love World Nomads — their prices are affordable, their coverage is great, and they also offer 24/7 on-call customer service! Plus, you can book or make claims online even when you’re on the road.

💻 Useful resources for your trip to Iceland

road.is – The weather in Iceland can change in the blink of an eye. Before you start driving always check the following steps:
- How are the road conditions? During the winter months several roads can become closed off due to heavy snowfall. Make sure to check this map every single morning before you leave so you don’t put yourself in danger. Red means that the road is completely closed and green means that it’s easy to drive. During the winter months in Iceland you need to pay extra attention to the blue and white colours.
  - White: the road is covered in snow
  - Light blue: there is ice on the road
  - Dark blue: the road is completely covered in ice
- If the road doesn’t look safe, don’t risk it. At times you can find yourself driving alone on the road for hours and there are no safety measures like guardrails alongside 95% of the roads.

Vedur.is – This website will give you all of the latest weather updates. Pay extra attention to the wind conditions. Especially when you’re driving around with a camper van, be aware, you catch a lot more wind and might lose grip.

Vegasja – Live webcams of roads around Iceland.

💡 TIP – Create your own travel map in Google Maps. I always save all of the locations that I want to visit on Google Maps and this way I can easily create a daily itinerary and see which places are located close to each other. To make your trip even more easy you. can also save the locations of the campsites in a different color. This way you have all of your travel information in one place and you can easily navigate from one place to the other.

📱 Apps to download before visiting Iceland

Vedur – An accurate Icelandic weather app. Official warnings get updated automatically.
112 Iceland – An application for the Icelandic Emergency Service
Aurora Forecast – This app will come in handy when you’re chasing the Northern Lights.
Hotpot – The perfect website to scan for those hidden hot springs around the island!

🧳 Iceland Packing List

Hiking shoes – You will definitely need a pair of these. Even that some attractions are located right next to a parking lot you’ll pretty much always have to hike over a rocky terrain. I love my Meindl Mountain Trail Boots for longer hikes and my Danner Mountain Light Boots for daily wear and shorter distances.

Trekking poles – These will especially come in handy cause a lot of the hikes in these guide can be rather strenuous on the joints. I used the Leki Adventure Light trekking poles for all of my hikes in Iceland!

Back Pack – You’ll want to bring a back pack with you to carry your camera, some snacks and your refillable water bottle. I love the Kanken No. 2 back pack from Fjallraven and pretty much take it with me everywhere I go.

Refillable Water Bottle – The water in Iceland is some of the freshet in the entire world so there’s no need at all to buy plastic bottles. Simply find the nearest stream to fill up your bottle and you’re good to go.

Another option is to use a back pack which has a water reservoir built inside of it. For instance this 3L Hydration Bladder is leak proof and can be stored inside a back pack.

Trail Leggings – I love hiking in leggings and have lately been loving the Abisko Trail Tights from Fjallraven.

Fast Drying Shirt – When hiking you tend to sweat, especially when climbing a mountain. One of the best things to wear is a shirt that quickly dries so you don’t get cold high up the mountain.

Insulating Jacket – Depending on the temperature you’ll either want a thicker or lighter jacket. If it’s pretty cold outside I always go for my Fjallraven Vidda Jacket. Otherwise I go for their High Coast Light Jacket which is super light weight.

Woolen cap – The perfect accessory to protect your ears from the cold and to cover your hair after a few days without a shower.

Protein Bars – Make sure you have a couple of these stowed a way in your back pack to boost up your energy level during the hike.

Sunscreen – Make sure to re apply to your face regularly cause pretty much all of the hikes that we did in Iceland were exposed most of the time. I love this one by Neutrogena which feels like a face mist but also provides SPF 50 protection!

Merino Wool Socks – My go to brand has always been Falke and I love how fast they drive after a long day of hiking. Plus since they’re made of merino wool they don’t smell and can be worn for a couple of days.

✈️ Getting into Iceland

The easiest way to reach Iceland is to fly to Keflavik Airport which lies on the Reykjanes peninsula. A ton of international airlines have a stop over in Iceland and their own national air carrier IcelandAir offers a ton of daily flights from the USA and Europe.

Once you’ve arrived at the airport you can simply pick up your rental car or camper van and you’re good to go! If you’re planning on driving yourself you may want to watch out for the taxi’s outside of the airport. They tend to overcharge so you’re far better off taking one of the local busses to Reykjavik.

🗓 When to visit the Icelandic Highlands

For independent travelers the Icelandic Highlands are strictly a summer destination. The F-roads open near the end of June and close when the first snow fall arrives in September. You can stay up to date with all of the actual road information on the Icelandic Road website.

So if you want to do a self-drive tour like I did and you want to go on hiking adventures in the Highlands then the two best months to do so are July and August.

If you can only visit Iceland outside of these months you can still visit the Highlands but it will be an entirely other experience. You can’t do a self-drive tour and will have to go with either a guided Super Jeep tour or a snowmobile tour. Do know that the entire landscape will be covered in snow and you won’t be able to see the rhyolite mountains in all their glory.

📖 MAKE SURE TO READ MY ULTIMATE ICELAND SUMMER ROAD TRIP GUIDE TO SEE WHICH PLACES YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN’T MISS!

🚙 How to visit Iceland’s Highlands

The roads to Iceland’s Highlands are what they call F-roads. The “F” comes from the word “Fjallavegur”, which literally means “mountain road”.

They are unpaved gravel tracks and in some places very badly maintained. Some parts are easy to drive on, others are very bumpy and rocky. You can recognize these so called F-roads by the F prefix on a map or road sign. So for instance F35 means that you’re driving on an F-road.

You can pretty much expect anything when driving on these. From large potholes, pointy rocks, sand to sometimes well maintained gravel. The roads in the Highlands have it all. Even river crossings! When I first heard about them I have to admit I got a little scared. I started reading stories about people getting stuck in a river, drowning their engine and simply destroying the car they rented.

Now, the most important thing to know is that you can only drive on an F-road with a 4×4 car. And if you’re thinking now “Ah, I’ll take my chances”… Don’t. For two main reasons! The first simply being that it’s not allowed. The second that not a single rental company includes insurance for water damage or gravel damage to the bottom of the car. If the car ends up damaged or worse you would get stuck in a river you would have to face a very high bill since you basically would have to pay for a brand new car.

When it comes to choosing a good 4×4 make sure not to go for a low model. Instead opt for one that’s’s a little more elevated. If it has a snorkel in front that’s even better. A snorkel will prevent your car engine from drowning if at one point water would enter.

So far I’ve done every trip to Iceland with a camper van from Happy Campers and their 4×4 van was an absolute champ on all of these rocky F-roads. Its wheels were sturdy enough for all the many potholes and the snorkel did its magic every time we crossed a river. They also have a sophisticated tracking system in all of their vans for travelers’ safety, which will alarm them whenever a driver enters a forbidden area.

You can also choose to rent a 4X4 SUV with SunnyCars if you’re not the biggest fan of camping. They also offer some great options and every single insurance is included in their price.

The Best Hike In Landmannalaugar - The Mount Blahnukur Hiking Trail

Can you drive on all F-roads?

So here’s another tricky part! Some F-roads are so badly maintained and contain many dangerous river crossings that its best to avoid them at all cost.

F578 – This dangerous road is located north of Langjökull and features some extremely dangerous river-crossings.

F337 – This unmarked mountain road is located north of Laugarvatn. It is extremely difficult to drive and one of the steepest drives in Iceland.

F210 – Fjallbaksleið Syðri lies between the popular highland areas of Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk. It includes very difficult terrain and dangerous river crossings, so it is forbidden for all seasons.

F26 – You can drive a small part of the F26, up until Aldeyarfoss but after that this road contains many dangerous river crossings.

F910 – This route leads to Lake Askja, north of Vatnajökull glacier. It is a very difficult road with dangerous river crossings.

The good part is that for visiting the places in this article you won’t have to drive on any of these dangerous roads.

While driving on the F-roads it’s always very important to stay concentrated. It’s a lot harder than driving on a regular road and at times it can be a little slippery as well. Be cautious and plan your journey ahead. In the Icelandic HIghlands it’s important to know where you’re going!

Off-Road Driving

Off-road driving in Iceland is strictly forbidden to protect the untouched nature we value so much. It can be tempting to drive off the small paths that sometimes don’t look too different from the surrounding environment. It’s important to realize that the tire tracks your 4×4 leaves might take years or decades to disappear. Always be respectful and stay on the roads.

Legally speaking, you can expect heavy fines and jail time up to 2 years if you break these laws.

How to ford a river crossing in the Icelandic Highlands

If you wish to visit all the places included in this article you’ll have to do a couple of river crossings. But rest assured, none of them were dangerous or too deep. But there are a couple of things you need to know before embarking on this adventure!

Inspect the river – Do not try to cross a river where the water is higher than three-quarters of the height of your 4X4 rental wheels. Check if in some places the water is less deep and if you can see the bottom shining through. Cross the river where it’s more shallow. This will be where you can see more ripples, a smooth surface often means the water runs deeper. You can also look for other tire tracks and see how they went. Always try to drive downstream. If you drive upstream your car will have more trouble crossing and chances are higher that water can flood your engine.

Drive slow – If you’re driving an automatic that’s all you have to do. If you’re driving a stick shift/manual car then put in the lowest gear to start crossing the river.

When in doubt, do not cross!

🗺 Top Places to see in Iceland’s Highlands

Below you’ll find my top selection of the most beautiful places in the Icelandic Highlands. And for your convenience I’ve also listed which F-road we took and what you can expect if you’re doing the same drive.

Now that you’re all up to speed on what it’s like traveling in this part of Iceland it’s time to share my top places to visit in the Icelandic Highlands!

1. Haifoss – The most impressive waterfall in Iceland’s Highlands

Haifoss is with its 122 meters one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland and it’s located close to the Hekla volcano, at the very edge of the Highlands.

To get there you don’t have to drive on an official F-road but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to be extremely careful if you’re not driving a 4×4. The gravel road leading up to the parking lot is very bumpy and your rental car is never insured against damage underneath the car. From the parking lot it’s only 5 minutes walking to reach one of the best viewpoints.

Haifoss is one of the most impressive and beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. And right next to it you’ll find another waterfall that only adds to the beauty of this canyon.

It’s often overlooked by tourists cause it’s a little more out of the way. When we were there, there were only a handful of other people.

💡 TIP – You can also hike down into the canyon which I highly recommend. It will only add 1 hour to your total visiting time but you can actually get very close to Haifoss.

The 21 Most Beautiful Waterfalls In Iceland By Region

2. Sigöldugljufur – The most beautiful canyon in the Icelandic Highlands

Talking about paradise! Sigöldugljufur is one of those incredible hidden gems in Iceland that actually looks even better in real life! Located in the heart of the Highlands this canyon is filled with some of the bluest water I have ever seen and has waterfalls as far as the eye can see.

Sigöldugljufur is located in the Highlands and only accessible with a 4×4. If you only have short period of time to visit you can combine it with a day trip to Landmannalaugar. You can park your car here and simply follow the hiking trail across the road. Now for the longest time you’ll think you’re in the wrong place. But once you step a little closer to the canyon you’ll actually see its beautiful landscape instead of a barren wasteland. You’ll first take the F26 and then the F208. Both are unpaved gravel roads but the part right before you arrive atSigöldugljufur is extremely bumpy. So be cautious when driving here.

I guess it goes without saying that this is one of the most scenic places in entire Iceland. If you’re visiting the Highlands this is definitely one of the top places to visit.

And one of the best parts about visiting the Highlands in Iceland is that there’s way less tourists. 95% of them stay within the vicinity of the ring road so you’ll have this hidden gem all to yourself.

📖 DISCOVER THE 21 MOST BEAUTIFUL WATERFALLS IN ICELAND IN MY DETAILED TRAVEL GUIDE.

3. Landmannalaugar – The best place to go hiking in the Icelandic Highlands

Landmannalaugar is without a doubt one of the most beautiful regions in entire Iceland. It’s known for its rhyolite and rainbow colored mountains and as the starting point for the world famous Laugavegur Trail. The latter is a 4 day hike that will take you through the Highlands of Iceland and that ends at Thorsmork.

Landmannalaugar is a stunning area in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the heart of Iceland’s southern Highlands. The colorful region can be found nestled beside the raven-black Laugahraun lava field, a sweeping expanse of dried magma which originally formed in an eruption in 1477.

Landmannalaugar is located in the heart of Icelandic Highlands which means you can only get there with a proper 4×4 vehicle. On our way up we took the F26 and then the F208. This way we were able to add a visit to Haifoss and Sigöldugljufur to our itinerary before setting up camp at Landmannalaugar.

The F26 is a regular gravel road with a couple of bumps here and there but nothing too special.

The F208 on the other hand is very bumpy. While driving we could hear all of our cutlery clinging in the back of our van like crazy. Especially the part leading up to Sigöldugljufur was really bad. Afterwards while driving towards the Landmannalaugar campsite it became more of a gravel road again.

To reach the Landmannalaugar campsite you’ll always have to do 2 small river crossings since they’re right in front of the campsite. Again, no worries here if you’re driving a proper 4×4 vehicle! And if you’re unsure and don’t want to risk it there’s always the option to stay at the parking lot right in front of the river crossing. It’s possible to reach the campsite and hiking trails on foot from there as well.

📖 DISCOVER EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VISITING LANDMANNALAUGAR IN MY DETAILED GUIDE – THE BEST HIKE IN LANDMANNALAUGAR, THE MOUNT BLAHNUKUR TRAIL.

4. Kerlingarfjöll & Hveradalir Geothermal Area – My favorite place in the Icelandic Highlands

Kerlingarfjöll is one of the most precious natural attractions in Iceland and is located in the central Highlands. It’s part of an active volcanic system and is home to one of Iceland’s most impressive geothermal areas.

The hills are a brown, nearly orange color and also made out of rhyolite, the same substance as the mountains in Landmannalaugar. It’s this rhyolite that gives them this rusty look and in between, the hills are sprinkled with vivid colors of blue, green, red and yellow. Then add the massive amount of steam coming straight from the ground and the bubbling hot springs spread throughout the area and you know you’ll be in for a treat.

Kerlingarfjöll is accessible via road F35, also called the Kjölur Route or Kjalvegur, from both North and South Iceland. The F35 is one of the best maintained F-roads on the entire island and from where you should drive inland totally depends on your itinerary.

There’s not a single river crossing along the entire F35 and only the last part that leads to the Kerinlingarfjöll Mountain Resort and the Hveradalir Parking is very bumpy and rocky.

📖 DISCOVER EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KERLINGARFJÖLL IN THIS DETAILED TRAVEL GUIDE – HOW TO VISIT KERLINGARFJÖLL AND THE HVERADALIR GEOTHERMAL AREA IN ONE DAY.

5. Ljótipollur – A crater lake in the Icelandic Highlands

Ljótipollur is an explosion crater and crater lake in the south Highlands. Its name means ‘Ugly Puddle’, despite the fact that it’s an incredible beautiful site. It is part of the Veiðavötn volcanic area.

It’s located along the F208 to Landmannalaugar and you don’t need to cross any river to get here. You can drive up to the crater itself with your 4×4 or you can go on the 4-hour hike from Landmannalaugar.

6. The Red Craters of Iceland

These stunning red craters don’t have a specific location on Google Maps unfortunately. But I spotted them when we were on top of the crater that I mentioned above. So if you’re visitingLjótipollur you will definitely see them since you can’t miss their vibrant red color!

7. Aldeyarfoss

Another hidden gem that can be found in the Highlands is Aldeyjarfoss! This impressive and powerful waterfall is also surrounded by basalt columns and only a short detour from the ring road in North East Iceland.

Aldeyjarfoss is located along F26, one of the most dangerous F-roads in entire Iceland. But not. to worry, the part leading towards this particular waterfall is still okay and doesn’t contain any river crossings. It is however very rocky and bumpy and may only be reached with a 4×4. There’s a small parking lot and from there you simply hike down to the waterfall.

The waterfall surrounded by the black columns looks absolutely insane and if you’re very lucky you’ll even see a small pool at the bottom. When I was there it had been too dry the last couple of weeks but otherwise it’s definitely worth checking out.

If you’re lucky you’ll have this place all to yourself. If not you’ll arrive together with a big tour bus. However they usually just have a look and then take off again so if you wait a little they’re gone before you know it.

💡 TIP – Since 2016 small flies are becoming a plague in the Northern part. ofIceland and there were a lot of them here. Bring some DEET with you just to be sure so you don’t get bitten.

Final Tips for traveling the Highlands in Iceland

Fill up your gas tank – There are no gas stations in the Highlands so make sure your tank is full before heading inland. You really don’t want to run out of fuel in these desolate areas.

Stock up on food and drinks – There are no restaurants or shops in the Highlands so make sure to go grocery shopping first. If you’re traveling with a camper van you can make your dinner with a stove. If you’re staying at one of the huts or resorts there’s usually a kitchen where you can prepare your meal and do your dishes.

Pack warm clothes – The weather in the Icelandic Hghlands can be very unpredictable, even more than in other parts of the country. The nights can get very cold so make sure to dress accordingly.

📚 More Iceland Blog Posts

I have visited the land of ice and fire 3 times in 3 years and I loved adventuring and driving around the country. On my blog you can find a ton of free resources to help you plan the perfect trip to this beautiful country.

Charlotte

Charlotte Lint is the founder of Charlies Wanderings.
Charlotte has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice.
She is an expert on writing efficient travel guides and finding unique places to stay.
Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.

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7 Best Places To Visit In The Highlands In Iceland