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Landmannalaugar is a geothermal area in Iceland's southern Highlands, inside the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. It's known for rhyolite mountains streaked red, pink, and green, over 30 hiking trails, and natural hot springs warm enough to bathe in.
The name means "People's Pools," after the geothermal pools that have drawn travelers and sheep herders across the Highlands for centuries. Landmannalaugar is also the starting point of the Laugavegur trail, Iceland's best-known multi-day trek. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you plan to soak.
Arctic Adventures runs Landmannalaugar tours from Reykjavík, from short guided hikes to Super Jeep trips and multi-day treks, so you can reach the area without driving the Highland F-roads yourself.
The rhyolite slopes shift color with the light, so clear days show the boldest reds and greens.
The best time to visit Landmannalaugar is summer, from June to September, when the Highland F-roads are open and the trails are clear of snow. This is the main window when the area is reliably accessible, and it's when our Landmannalaugar tours run, with Super Jeep trips running into October.
Daylight stretches to about 21 hours near midsummer, so there's time for a full day of hiking and a soak in the hot springs without rushing. June and September are noticeably quieter than peak July and August.
Guided tours drop you right at the trailhead, where the paths winding through here begin.
You can reach Landmannalaugar from Reykjavík in three ways: by self-drive, by bus, or on a guided tour. The drive takes about 3.5 hours.
To self-drive, you need a 4x4. The route runs on the unpaved Highland F-roads (F208 and F225), which can involve river crossings and are open only in summer. If you'd rather not drive, a summer bus links Reykjavík and Landmannalaugar, and the bus back to Reykjavík can be booked online; otherwise, join one of our Landmannalaugar tours.
Staying overnight at the campsite lets you start the longer trails early, before the day-trip crowds arrive.
You can stay overnight in Landmannalaugar in a mountain hut or a tent. The hut, run by Ferðafélag Íslands (the Iceland Touring Association), has bunk beds and a kitchen. The campsite beside it has toilets, showers, and running water, and the bathing hot spring is a short walk away. Hut beds and campsite spots must be booked in advance, and huts fill up months ahead for July and August. If your Landmannalaugar tour includes camping, bring a sleeping bag, warm layers, and sturdy shoes.
The hiking and Super Jeep day tours run from Reykjavík and return the same day.
Our Landmannalaugar tours range from short guided hikes to Super Jeep trips and multi-day treks. Here's how to choose.
For a beginner-friendly hike, the Landmannalaugar Hiking Day Tour from Reykjavík crosses the Laugahraun lava field and climbs the colorful slopes of Brennisteinsalda. To cover more ground without the long walk, the Landmannalaugar Super Jeep tour reaches the area's highlights by 4x4. The area's best Landmannalaugar hikes range from one-hour canyon walks to full-day summit climbs.
For a deeper trip into the Highlands, the 3-Day Landmannalaugar Trek spends nights in mountain huts and centers on Grænihryggur, the blue-green Emerald Ridge hidden deep in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. Along the way you climb Brennisteinsalda, soak in the Landmannalaugar hot springs, and on the drive back stop at Háifoss, Iceland's second-tallest waterfall.
To see Landmannalaugar as part of a full lap of the country, the 8-Day Iceland Highlight Hitter circles the Ring Road from Reykjavík and reaches Landmannalaugar by super jeep on summer departures (mid-June to the end of September). Winter departures swap that day for snowmobiling on Langjökull glacier.
The Laugavegur trail starts in Landmannalaugar and runs 55 km (34 mi) south to Þórsmörk, usually over four days with nights in mountain huts. The classic guided option is the 4-Day Laugavegur Trek (Huts). The 6-Day Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trek walks the same trail, then adds a day hiking the Fimmvörðuháls trail to the Magni and Móði craters left by the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption. Hut spaces book out months ahead for July and August. Browse all trekking tours for tent departures and routes that add the South Coast and a glacier hike.
A day tour is best if you're short on time and want the highlights in one day. You'll hike past rainbow-colored rhyolite mountains, climb Mt. Brennisteinsalda, and soak in a natural hot spring before heading back to Reykjavík that evening. Choose the 3-day trek to go deeper and leave the crowds behind. It's all-inclusive, with transport from Reykjavík, two nights in mountain huts, and meals from lunch on day one to lunch on day three. You also get a full day on Grænihryggur (the Emerald Ridge), Hjálparfoss falls, Gjáin valley, and Háifoss, one of Iceland's tallest waterfalls. It’s a good choice if you want to experience the Highlands at an easier pace than the Laugavegur Trek, while still starting where that iconic trail begins.
The Landmannalaugar Hiking Day Tour from Reykjavík is a good pick for first-time hikers who are reasonably active. It's a moderately easy 6.5 km (4 mi) hike over about 2 to 3 hours, climbing Mt. Brennisteinsalda for its colored slopes and panoramic views. There's some steep, loose ground near the summit, but no technical climbing, and you finish with a soak in the natural hot spring. The minimum age is 10. If you'd rather keep walking to a minimum, the Super Jeep tour is the gentler choice.
Every guided Landmannalaugar tour includes an English-speaking guide, facility fees, and time to soak in the natural hot spring. On day hiking tours, you travel in a 4x4 Highland-ready vehicle. The Super Jeep tour covers round-trip travel from Reykjavík or Selfoss, an expert driver, and onboard Wi-Fi. The hiking day tour lets you add Reykjavík pickup or meet the group on location. The 3-day trek from Reykjavík adds two nights in mountain huts, essential safety equipment, and all meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 3. If you visit Landmannalaugar independently, you'll need to reserve and pay for parking in advance and have a 4x4 vehicle approved for F-roads. The drive through the Highlands can be challenging, but it is a route our guides know well.
Yes, all Landmannalaugar tours depart from Reykjavík. Hotel pickup depends on the tour. The Super Jeep tour and 3-day trek collect you from one of our designated pickup stops and hotels around the city. The hiking day tour picks up from Bus Stop 1 at City Hall (Ráðhúsið), Bus Stop 8 at Hallgrímskirkja church, and Dalur HI Eco Hostel beside the Reykjavík Campsite. If you're staying outside the capital, you can also join at Hella or Selfoss, or meet your guide at Landmannalaugar.
Plan for approximately 14 hours if you're joining a day tour from Reykjavík, or about five hours if you're meeting your guide in Landmannalaugar for the hike. The Landmannalaugar Super Jeep tour takes about 11 hours from Reykjavík, with most of the sightseeing done from a specially modified 4×4 and only short walks along the way.
Yes. The Landmannalaugar Super Jeep tour takes you into the Highlands in a comfortable, specially modified 4×4, so you can experience the region without a long hike. Along the way, you'll cross rivers and lava fields, stopping at Hjálparfoss, Sigöldufoss, Ljótipollur crater, and viewpoints near Hekla volcano. At Landmannalaugar, you can soak in a natural hot spring or enjoy a short walk among the colorful rhyolite mountains. Walking is optional, and the minimum age is six, making this a great choice for families and non-hikers.
You can book Landmannalaugar tours year-round, but they operate only during the summer, when the Highland F-roads are open. Most hiking day tours and multi-day treks run from June through September, while Super Jeep tours typically continue into October. Booking 3 to 6 months in advance is best, especially for July and August, because seats fill up quickly and mountain huts have limited availability.
Still have questions? See all FAQs about Landmannalaugar tours →
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