Landmannalaugar in Iceland’s Fjallabak Nature Reserve is an ideal location to experience untouched nature and wilderness hot springs. Getting there is part of the adventure: you need to cross several unbridged glacial rivers with specially modified vehicles.
Landmannalaugar is at the edge of the Laugahraun lava field, which formed in an eruption in the 15th century. The area is famous for its natural geothermal hot springs and colorful surrounding landscape.
You can see interesting geological features in Landmannalaugar’s volcanic craters, multicolored rhyolite mountains, and steaming lava fields. Geothermal activity flourishes here, including the unique opportunity to bathe in a natural hot spring fed river.
Hiking in Landmannalaugar
Without a doubt, hiking in Landmannalaugar is a popular sport. Actually, Landmannalaugar is part of the famous “Laugavegurinn” hiking route. The trail starts in Landmannalaugar and stretches 55 kilometers (34 miles), ending in the Thorsmork area.
If you prefer a shorter hike, there are plenty of hiking trails and options to suit different abilities. The most popular routes include the 2-hour hike through the Laugahraun lava field to Mt. Brennisteinsalda, the 1-hour hike up Mt. Blahnjukur, and the 4-hour hike to Ljotipollur crater lake. (Ljotipollur means “Ugly Puddle in Icealndic, but this area is actually quite beautiful!)
Is there an entrance fee to Landmannalaugar?
No, there is no entrance fee. However, there are fees to stay the camp ground and the mountain hut. (Early reservations are recommended, especially for the mountain hut.) You also need to pay a fee to use the showers and changing rooms for the hot spring bathing.
How to get to Landmannalaugar?
If you’re driving, make sure you have a 4WD with a high under carriage. There is no other way to cross the rivers than by driving directly through them. In the summertime, specially modified busses go daily to and from Reykjavik to the area.
The road to Landmannalaugar is closed during the winter, but tour operators offer trips in SuperJeeps that can handle the wilderness terrain all year round.
GPS: 63.983 N, -19.067 W
