4x4 Highlights of Iceland including Sprengisandur and Landmannalaugar 9 days
The tour covers Landmannalaugar as well as many of the most interesting sights in the east and the south.
BP24 Map
Upon your arrival at Keflavik airport a meet and greet service is provided by a TOURIS representative who will take you to your Reykjavik hotel. You will be free for the rest of the day in Reykjavík.
Highlights of the day:
Reykjavík
Overnight:
Reykjavík
Optional activity:
Reykjavik City Card
Pick up the car in the morning and leave Reykjavik at the eastern outskirts. Cross the plateau Hellisheiði, with a lot of geothermal activity and plumes of steam rising from the ground. Numerous boreholes have been drilled on Hellisheiði in the last years for hot water and steam, some of the cleanest energy available. Drive to the village Hveragerði, at the foot of the mountain, east of the plateau where geothermal water is used to heat up greenhouses. Hveragerði and the town Selfoss, a little further east suffered considerable damage during the major earthquakes that shook Iceland in May, 2008. Large hot springs and mud pools were created in Hveragerði. Continue and see the Saga Centre at Hvolsvöllur. Stop at the waterfall Seljalandsfoss where it is possible to walk behind the waterfall in summer. The waterfall Skógafoss is a little further east and don’t miss the Folk Museum at Skógar, close to the waterfall.
The glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull are towering above. On March 20th 2010, a volcanic eruption started on Fimmvörðuháls, a mountain ridge between the glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. The eruption on Fimmvörðuháls lasted a couple of weeks. After this eruption came to an end a new and bigger eruption started underneath the nearby icecap of Eyjafjallajökull Glacier. This eruption came to an end on 23. May 2010.
Underneath the icecap of Mýrdalsjökull is Katla, one of Icelands most dangerous volcano. Make a short detour to the glacier Sólheimajökull before continuing to Dyrhólaey natural reserve and a nesting colony of numerous seabirds. Drive to Reynisdrangar, with spectacular coast and beautiful rock formations. The promontory at Dyrhólaey is a massive natural arch carved by the relentless pounding of the winds and surf with rich birdlife in summer. Continue to the Vik for an overnight stay in the area. Snowmobiling and dog sledding activities are available on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
Driving distance
200 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Hveragerði Town
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Skógafoss Waterfall
Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve
Reynisfjara beach
Vík Town
Overnight:
Vík area
Recommended optional activity:
Glacier Walk
Snowmobiling on Solheimajokull Glacier
LAVA Centre
Continue across the Mýrdalssandur floodplains and Eldhraun, the largest lavafield ever to flow on Earth in historical time and to the small village Kirkjubaejarklaustur. At Kirkjubæjarklaustur, see Kirkjugólfið (the Church Floor), a protected natural monument just east of Klaustur. Kirkjugólfið is columnar basalt, eroded and shaped by wind and water. Drive across Skeiðarársandur, vast tracts of black sandy desert washed down by torrential glacial rivers to Skaftafell. Its natural beauty is a result of favourable weather conditions and the interaction of fire and ice. Beneath the Vatnajökull ice cap, towering above Skaftafell is Grímsvötn, one of Iceland’s most active volcano. In the afternoon of 21. May 2011, a sub-glacial eruption started in the Grímsvötn volcanic system underneath Vatnajökull Glacier. Later the same day, the eruption broke the ice cover of the glacier and started spewing volcanic ash into the air. The amount of ash fall was the greatest close to the village Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The eruption went on for about a week. It ceased on 28. May 2011. Stop at the Skaftafell National Park to see the interesting Visitors Center and for a walk. In the area are many interesting hiking trails. An interesting hiking trail takes you to Svartifoss, one of Icelands most picturesque waterfall, famous for basalt columns which surround it and the hiking trail to Skaftafellsjökull glacier is accessible even to wheelchair. A video of a volcanic eruption in the area in 1996 can also be viewed. Continue to the amazing Jökulsárlón, the Glacial Lagoon where huge icebergs, broken off the glacier float and grind together in the deep waters of the lagoon and seals are frequently seen. A cruise among the icebergs on the Lagoon is available in summer. From here, continue east towards the Höfn area for an overnight stay.
Driving distance
280 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Kirkjubæjarklaustur town
Skaftafell National Park
Svartifoss waterfall
Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
Höfn
Overnight:
Höfn area
Recommended optional activity:
Amphibian boat Tour on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Drive from Höfn through the Almannaskard tunnel and past the colorful Lónsöræfi District, a mountainous wilderness ringed by extinct volcanoes and traversed by glacial rivers. Drive past towering mountains, and to the magnificent East Fjords, some now deserted. Enroute stop at the small fishing town Djúpivogur and at Stöðvarfjörður the Stone Collection of Petra is an interesting place to visit.
Driving distance
260 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Egilsstaðir town
Hallormsstaðaskógur Forest
Overnight:
Egilsstaðir area
Continue towards Lake Mývatn and Námaskarð Pass where boiling mud pools and flashing colours of the pass merge with ash and lava from nearby volcanoes. Explore the natural beauty of the Lake Mývatn area. The lake area is known worldwide for its exceptionally many breeding duck species and the abundance of other birdlife. Visit its highlights Dimmuborgir, Mt. Hverfjall, the pseudocraters of Skútustaðir and Krafla volcanic system where the most recent eruptions were 1975 - 1984. In summer visitors can have a guided tour through the Kröfluvirkjun Geothermal Power Station where steam pressure is harnessed for generating electricity (admission is free of charge). The explosion crater Víti is near Krafla and the Mývatn Nature Baths are an outstanding attraction too.
Driving distance
200 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Lake Mývatn
Nature Baths
Dimmuborgir
Overnight:
Lake Mývatn / Reykjadalur area
Recommended optional activity:
Nature Baths
On a fine day the route over Sprengisandur provides a splendid trip through the magnificent interior of Iceland, with spectacular and far reaching views. The route follows roughly the ancient horse trail that linked southern and northern Iceland. It affords a good cross section of views of the interior highlands. Much of the landscape along it consists of a desert sand, gravel and wind eroded lava beds. In total it has grandeur of its own, a haunting quality of size and emptiness, above all, the sense of space and freedom, tranquility and grim beauty. The Sprengisandur route was first crossed by a motor vehicle in 1933, and the old route was moved when Tungnaá river was bridged in connection with the Sigalda hydro project.
Driving south along the Bárðardalur valley the landscape becomes progressively less fertile and less inhabited. The altitude rises gradually and the country assumes a less verdant appearance. In the innermost reaches of Bárðardalur the track comes to Íshólsvatn, a small lake between low grassy ridges. At the northern end of Lake Íshólsvatn there is a short side fork which runs over intervening hills to an interesting low waterfall in the Skjálfandafljót glacial river Aldeyjarfoss, with variously twisted and formed basalt columns. The track junctions with road F881 (detour) which leads to Laugafell mountain hut and near there junctions with road F821 leading north to descend into the Eyjafjörður valley. At Laugafell is an outdoor pool with natural hot water, a popular place for a pleasant bath.
The track passes Fjórðungsvatn, a crescent shaped lake under a low mountain ridge. From a low hill, a tall cairn stands to commemorate one of the pioneering spirits of highland travel. Here is the highest elevation of the track, 826 m above sea level. This is the water divide. North of here all rivers and streams drain to the Arctic Ocean.
Arriving at Nýidalur, the track passes through a wide variety of high country scenery, rock-strewn tracts, gravely plain and patches of eroded lavas, all almost bare of vegetation. In spite of its apparent sameness the trail displays many stark but beautiful views, trackless desert, vast ice fields and near and distant mountains. The landscape is scattered with the debris of ice age glaciers and the evidence of stationary ice sheets that once occupied the plateau can be seen on all sides. Near the mouth of Nýidalur, are mountain huts, a warden’s station and a campsite. Nýidalur valley with very steep slopes lies under the southern rim of ice-capped Tungnafellsjökull. From the huts there is an interesting hike into the valley with curving moss covered sided high up the valleys slopes.
All around encircling the horizon are the rugged mountains of the highlands and the sparkling white ice fields, Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull with fretted glaciers. The white of the ice fields looks incredibly vivid against the sombre background all around.
The track goes west of lake Thorisvatn ( Þórisvatn ), the second largest lake in Iceland. The lake, on a high elevation and holding an enormous volume of water, posses a great water power potential. Near the southern end of the lake the track junctions right with a track leading to Veiðivötn and Jökulheimar.
A short description of the detour follows. If time allows, this detour is well worth while:
Veiðivötn, a number of lakes, strung over a compact area of about one sq km at an altitude of 570 m. The lakes situated between mountain ridges occupy volcanic craters, roughly circular in shape with mostly precipitous banks. The area is heavily marked by volcanic activity and assumed its present form after an eruption around 1480. The side road is 37 km in all, and forms a circle round the lakes. After volcanic activity ceased these craters were filled with water. Around most of them there is a fringe of green. The lakes are interconnected by small watercourses that finally join the Tungnaá River. At Tjaldvatn there are mountain huts, a warden’s station and a camping site. Nearly all the lakes are known for good trout fishing. The surroundings are of a great natural beauty and well worth exploring. After looking at the lakes, head south to the banks of the Tungnaá River, the largest tributary of the great Thjórsá River, which flows here in braided channels over a gravel plain between rock ridges. Here from a ridge and a fine viewpoint, a blunt rock spire known as Tröllið við Tungnaá rises imposingly. Retrace back to the junction south of Lake Thórisvatn. End of detour
Continue to the south on Sprengisandur trail.
The highland track ends at the Sigalda Power station. Continue to the village Hella.
Driving distance
360 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Sprengisandur highland pass
Overnight:
Hella area
Reurn inland to visit the Landmannalaugar area, only passable by a 4 x 4 vehicle in summer. At Landmannalaugar is a warden station, mountain hut and a popular camping site. Near the hut is a warm water pool created by the confluence of natural hot water and a coldwater springs which issue within a short distance of one another from underneath the edge of the obsidian lava field. Here you can take a relaxing bath in the beautiful and almost surreal surroundings.
The scenic interest in the area is tremendous. The surrounding mountains are perhaps the most varied and colorful in Iceland. On a clear day you can see the snow covered peak of the great Mt. Hekla crowning the magnificent landscape. This area is highly recommended for nature lovers and those interested in geology. It offers numerous hiking trails for long and short hikes.
Leave Landmannalaugar and pass Lake Frostastaðavatn, surrounded by colorful mountains and craters. Continue on to visit Ljótipollur a lake-filled crater. Come to Landmannahellir, a cave that runs some distance into a hillside. This track is known as Landmannaleið and it passes through a wide variety of canyons, valleys, over rock ridges and black lava, weird plain of lava rocks surrounded by captivating mountains. The mountain track over Landmannaleið offers some of the finest scenic views available throughout this fascinating region. Off the track there are various trails leading to the volcano Hekla, which is in view on and off to the south of the trail. Head back to your accommodation in the Hella area.
Driving distance
250 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Gjáin
Hjálparfoss Waterfall
Landmannalaugar
Lake Frostastaðavatn
Overnight:
Hella area
Continue west to Selfoss and on to the Great Geysir hot-spring area with numerous hot springs and erupting geysers. Enroute, stop to see the volcanic crater Kerið and the waterfall Faxi. The most active geyser, Strokkur erupts every few minutes. From here drive to Gullfoss, one of Icelands largest waterfalls in the glacial river Hvítá. Make Gullfoss a turnaround point and then head to Thingvellir National Park, a unique place from a geological point of view. Research has shown that Thingvellir is a natural wonder on an international scale. The faults and fissures of the area make evident the rifting of the earth's crust. Thingvellir is also the most historical place in Iceland and a place of exceptional beauty. Thingvellir is the site of the ancient Icelandic parliament. Now head to the Blue Lagoon before you end the tour at your hotel in Reykjavík. Enjoy a relaxing bath at the Blue Lagoon in an otherworldly setting where lava and thermal water complement each other to prepare you for your journey home. Soak in the refreshing waters of the lagoon and have a wonderful last unforgettable taste of Iceland, that ensures you will be fully relaxed when you leave the country. If you plan to take a bath at the Blue Lagoon, we strongly recommend that you book your ticket in advance. It can be booked at www.bluelagoon.com Return to Reykjavík and drop off the car.
Driving distance
290 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Selfoss
Kerið
Faxi waterfall – Gullfoss Waterfall and Geysir Hot Springs
Þingvellir
The Blue Lagoon
Overnight:
Reykjavík
Recommended optional activity:
Horse Riding Tour South
Private transfer from the hotel to Keflavik International Airport
Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 5
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