Spend a day in the Icelandic highlands by visiting highlights like Hveravellir, Kerlingarfjöll and natural hot springs!
By Graatje Weber - Editor Beyond Travels
The Icelandic highlands are among nature’s masterpieces on our planet. Dramatic landscapes can be found in every corner. A haven for those who seek adventures off the beaten path. The remote highlands require large vehicles to explore due to extreme road conditions. To makes thing even more interesting: the roads to the Icelandic highlands are open only three months per year. In this blog we will give you a near-perfect plan to spend a day in this unique place.
We visited the Icelandic highlands on various occasions. Our last visit to Kerlingarfjöll was in August 2023 with Aava, our friend from Finland and Simeon, our friend from Bulgaria.
First: Hveravellir Hot Springs
We started our day at the Hveravellir Hot Springs, a geothermal spot situated between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers. The site is located directly at the Kjalvegur route, the F-road connection the north and the south in Iceland through the highlands.The Hveravellir hot springs are a series of colorful geyser-like boiling pools. It’s an alien sight. These pools are over 100ºC, definitely not meant for bathing.
Location: Find it here!
The steaming pools are a result of Icelandic volcanic activity. At Hveravellir you’ll see various types of hot springs: geysers, fumaroles, solfataras, boiling pits and warm hot springs with lower temperatures. The currently active geysers have irregular eruptions. You will not find a spouting geyser like the famous one in Iceland. Hveravellir might not be as spectacular, but it surely is not as crowded. The absence of crowds is the reason why we enjoyed Hveravellir more than geyser.
The hot springs have been a popular resting in highlands travels since the time of the settlement 1.100 - 1.200 years ago. It is mentioned frequently in the Icelandic sagas. It is one of the few places in the area where you can stay the night in a lodge. Camping is also an option. The best reason to stay a while is the natural hot spring which is actually suited for bathing. We did not take a bath, because our day has more things scheduled!
Bonus: at Hveravellir you can do multiple hikes. We followed the Green Trail which is only 3 kilometers in length and takes you to the highlights of the area. If you decide to spend more time at Hveravellir you can choose to hike the Red Trail (12km) or the Orange Trail (21km).
Second: Hiking at Kerlingarfjöll
Next up, we venture to the majestic Kerlingarfjöll mountain range. We felt like this place looks a bit like the popular Landmannalaugar, but is (again) way less crowded. A brand new resort opened its doors at Kerlingarfjöll in 2023. This will lead to an increase in tourism in the near future. It’s a rising star among the Icelandic natural wonders!
Parking: Find it here!
Pass the resort and keep on driving uphill until the end of the road. Here you will have wild views of the valley. Kerlingarfjöll is like a playground for hikers and photographers. The trail will take you down inside the valley. Explore the vibrant rhyolite mountains with red, orange and yellow hues. The place looks like it comes straight from a fictional movie.
Keep in mind that Kerlingarfjöll is located at 1,000 meters altitude. Spots of snow are found even in summer. Ensure to wear warm clothes with layers to adapt to the temperatures. Weather can change rapidly in this place. We use the Icelandic weather website to get our information. Watch this video to see how we went from overcast to rain to sunshine in just one hour. The Icelandic highlands gave us a wise lesson: be prepared for anything at anytime!
Kerlingarfjöll has many hiking trails. Some are quite demanding multiple-day hikes. We recommend to not attempt these trail as our plan is to spend just one day in this area. Roam the valley, climb some of the mountains to have a nice overview of the area and make sure your camera is turned on. We spent about two hours in the valley of Kerlingarfjöll. Do not follow the trail to the mountain base camp (the resort) because this will be our next stop.
Third: Natural Hot Springs
After exploring the dramatic landscape of Kerlingarfjöll we make our way back to the mountain resort. We are going to end the day with a rewarding dip in natural hot springs. Follow the river upstream, cross the bridge and keep on trail. Take the left trail at the intersection and keep following the river upstream. It takes about 30 minutes of hiking to reach the hot springs. You’ll pass a beautiful valley where we met no other travelers. We felt like discovering a true hidden gem! The best feeling!
Location: Find it here!
Follow the trail until the end to get to the hot springs. Immerse yourself in the warm, mineral-rich waters of the springs. The crisp mountain air creates a perfect contrast with the water temperature. We lived in Iceland for twelve months. Our number one favorite thing to do is to soak in a hot spring after being in the outdoors. Especially if it is a secluded spring amidst a stunning landscape! We spent about one hour and a half in the spring with our friends. Take a dip in the cold river next to the spring for the true Iceland-experience.
Please, keep in mind to not forget any thrashes when leaving the spring. This place is nature. Let’s keep nature a clean place. Be sure to have dry clothes and a towel ready when you get out of the warm waters. The outside climate may be cold, too cold when you are wet. We don’t want anyone to get sick.
Fourth: Dinner Time!
The journey to Hveravellir and Kerlingarfjöll ends at the mountain resort. This place has a kitchen service, but is quite expensive due to it’s remote location. However, a day in the outdoors makes a hungry belly. Let us recommend some good places in the Golden Circle area to have dinner. When returning to the civilized world you will head south and enter the Golden Circle area at Gullfoss waterfall. We will recommend some restaurants which are, in Icelandic terms speaking, close to this location.
Efstidalur II: A 300-year-old dairy farm turned into a hotel-restaurant ten years ago. We worked and lived at this place and are able to confirm the quality. The farm-to-table way of serving food is just phenomenal! Efstidalur has a menu with hamburgers, meat and local dishes. Go to the website to see more, navigate here to get there.
Mika Restaurant: A lovely spot in the town of Reykholt. We loved Mika’s pizzas! A quick service and very reasonable prices. Oh, the deserts at Mika are delicious as well! Go to the website to see more, navigate here to get there.
Restaurant Milinik: You might not expect to find an Ethiopian restaurant in Iceland, but here it is! Milinik focuses on exotic meals originating from Africa. You can navigate here to get there.
Hotel Geysir: Hotel Geysir can be considered fine dining and is higher in pricing. A fantastic ambience and high-quality food will be worth your while. Go to the website to see more, navigate here to get there.
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