When I was doing research for my trip to Iceland I looked at countless photos on Instagram and Google, but none of the places made a bigger impression on me than Landmannalaugar.
From the moment I first saw images from this place I knew that I will definitely have to include it on my photography road trip around Iceland.
How to visit and where to hike in Landmannalaugar In Iceland
The highlands of Iceland is, in my eyes, one of the most interesting places on the planet – a cross between New Zealand‘s rolling hills and the colourful mountains of the Bolivian Altiplano. Sounds perfect right? Here is the catch.
Planning a side trip to Landmannalaugar from the Ring Road isn’t as straightforward as looking it up on the map, typing it into GPS and driving there.
The roads to Landmannalaugar are not paved and depending on which route you have chosen to drive on, there could be many river crossings along the way.
The effort, however, will be well worth it and you shouldn’t skip Landmannalaugar when planning a road trip to Iceland.
Getting to Landmannalaugar
1. Self-driving
There are three main roads leading to Landmannalaugar. The easiest and most popular one is F208 from the north (Red route on the map).
The second easiest route is the F 225 from the west (close to mt. Hekla, green route on map). The third and hardest, but probably the most scenic is F 208 from the south, entering directly from highway number 1 (Route blue on map).
At the time I didn’t know about the first two roads, and as my itinerary was taking me along the southern coast I chose the third road.
I’ve got to say it was quite nerve-wracking having to drive through countless fords in the pouring rain, but after ca. 3 hours of slow driving, I reached the destination.
Under no circumstances should you attempt driving the roads to Landmannalaugar in a compact rental vehicle. A 4×4 car is a must! Before you rent your car also make sure that taking it on the so-called F-roads is allowed and that you are comfortable with river crossings.
Those dreaded F roads are defined as windy, mountainous, gravel roads with no bridges and river crossings. They are NOT open to the public all year round.
Depending on water levels and snowfall they could be opening slightly later or earlier but in an average year the F208 opens in the middle of June.
Just remember to check before you start driving. Road.is provides information about current road conditions in the Icelandic highlands.
2. Bus Transfer
If self driving through rough roads doesn’t sound appealing to you, or if renting a 4×4 is not not really your idea of budget travel in Iceland, there are several bus transfer options to Landmannalaugar.
You can book a return ticket from Reykjavik and stay at the campsite or in the huts for a night.
I would highly recommend staying at least one night in Landmannalaugar to get a taste of the surroundings and to do at least one hike in the area. A bus company called Trex covers all these options.
As everything in Iceland, bus transfers aren’t cheap. A return journey will set you back ISK12900 (ca. USD100).
Organized day trip from Reykjavik
If your time in Iceland is limited, but you don’t want to miss out on the highlands, you can also book a day trip from Reykjavik either on the first or last day of your stay in Iceland.
The downside of the day tour though is that it won’t give you much time in Landmannalaugar, but again it’s a great option for someone who doesn’t have much time in Iceland.
Accommodation options in Landmannalaugar
The only accommodation available in Landmannalaugar is the campsite and the huts. There are no hotels, supermarkets, no petrol stations or any other major signs of civilisation.
Make sure you’ve got enough food/petrol for not only your time there but also for your return journey.
Backcountry huts
The huts at Landmannalaugar cost 9000 ISK (70€, 90$USD) per person per night and book out well in advance. The bookings can be made on Iceland Tourism Association website.
Camping in a tent
A safer and certainly cheaper option is to bring your own tent and camping equipment. The campsite is quite busy in the summer months and operates on a first come first serve basis.
The cost per person/night is 2000ISK (17€, 20USD) and showers/toilets are not included. Use of the facilities costs 500ISK per day.
So, if like most people, you like to use toilets, your total cost will be 2500ISK per person/per night. After you register in the office you will be given a wristband, which will say that you have paid for the usage of toilets.
I honestly didn’t understand why the prices weren’t including all facilities, but then again, not my country, not my rules.
The best thing about this campsite has to be the natural hot springs. After a day of hiking coming back to soak in the tub is one of the best feelings. The steam from the springs is clearly visible from the campsite and the rotting egg smell is very distinct, especially when the wind is blowing your way.
Best day hikes in Landmannalaugar
Landmannalaugar is where the popular multiday Laugavegur Trek starts. This 55km trail leads all the way to Thorsmork through some of the most dramatic landscapes in the highlands.
I learned about this hike from others staying at the campsite in Landmannalaugar and I definitely plan on doing it in the future when I return to Iceland.
In this post I will cover a couple of awesome day hikes I have done and highly recommend.
1. Laugahraun lava field
There’s an awesome loop of the Laugahraun lava field which was formed during an eruption around the year 1477. It starts near the northern point of the campsite and is very rewarding the closer you get to Mt. Brennisteinsalda.
You’ll see the steaming fumaroles coming out of the vents near the base of Brennisteinsalda and you will be able to smell it before you’ll learn to pronounce its name.
The hike is relatively easy with very little elevation gain and shouldn’t take longer than 2 hours.
2. Mt Bláhnjúkur (Blue Peak)
My favourite hike, where most of the photos published in this guide were taken from, takes you up the Bláhnjúkur mountain to the southwest of the campsite.
Bláhnjúkur translate to Blue Peak in English and got its name from the shimmering blue-black colour of its sides.
The views from the top are jaw dropping. This rugged terrain literally rose from the lava and ashes of the surrounding volcanoes.
Once you get to the top you’ll get the 360-degree view of the Laugahraun Lava field and the colourful rhyolite peaks encircling it. Truly a photographers paradise.
The hike up Bláhnjúkur can be turned into a loop. From the summit, you can continue along the ridge line to the other side of the mountain, down into the valley and back to the campsite past the Laugahraun Lava field.
It’s only around a 5km loop and can be done in 3 hours. It’ll probably take you a lot longer with photography stops though.
To get to the top of the peak it took me around 1,5 hours. The terrain is really sandy, but the path is very well-maintained and easy to follow. The trailhead is easy to find and the hiking path to the summit of Blue Peak is visible from the campsite.
I’ve done the hike up Bláhnjúkur twice in one day. The first one was during the day, turning it into a loop, which I mentioned before, and the second time I went up for sunset.
Soaking in the nearby hot springs afterwards felt twice as good afterwards!
A few packing essentials for a trip to Landmannalaugar
I visited the highlands in August, some would say the middle of the European summer. However I don’t think summer ever comes to Iceland. The temperature at night was around 0 degrees and daytime wasn’t exactly t-shirt weather either.
Camping equipment
If you plan on camping and don’t want to freeze at night I would definitely recommend bringing a warm sleeping bag, an insulated sleeping pad and a lightweight three-season tent with a decent waterproof rating.
All products I have linked to are the ones I own myself and highly recommend. I’ve used them extensively on my hiking trips across Canada and New Zealand and tested them in all kinds of weather conditions.
Clothing
As for clothing goes I don’t go out on hikes and outdoor trips without my Fjallraven trousers and jacket. I also always bring windproof gloves and a buff especially on morning or evening hikes when the temperatures can vary greatly between daytime and nighttime.
I hope I convinced you to get off the beaten path in Iceland and visit Landmannalaugar!
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments below! Have fun in Iceland!
Planning another trip to Iceland this summer and Landmannalauger is high on our list. Is it possible to just sleep in our rented 4×4 campervan instead of tent camping or staying in the lodge?
Hi Allison. I have seen people with their 4×4 there, sleeping in rooftop tents, so yes as long as you pay for the site, sleeping in your car should not be an issue.
Thank u so much for the info. Do you have idea how soon we have to purchase the bus if we are to go in early August?
Hi Kandy. Thanks for visiting. I don’t know. The place became quite popular in recent years so I’d say the sooner the better!
I love this blog – it is my go-to for adventures. After using it to help with my NZ trip in 2018, and the rockies, I’m looking into your Iceland and Dolomites guide to help me plan my next trip.
Regarding the tenting options here, you mention it is first come first serve.. is there a limit on how many tents they’ll allow? I’m used to the reservation systems in Canada and actually enjoy it because it doesn’t overrun with people in the summer time. I’m just wondering how busy the trek you mention would be in July/August if they don’t have a reservation system.
Thanks
Lis
Hi Lis! Thanks so much for your feedback and for using my guides. I am still working on my Dolomites guide and simultaneously doing research for a Norway guide so keep visiting! 🙂 As for your question because the access to Landmannalaugar is only limited to 4×4 vehicles there is less tourist traffic there, but at the same time, you can expect the campsite to be quite busy. I was there in 2016 and when seeing the campsite from the Blue Peak it looked a bit like a small tent festival. To be fair I am surprised that there still isn’t a reservation system in place which tells me that there still isn’t a need for it as there still is enough space to accommodate everyone. Whilst the blue peak is one of the most popular treks around here, if you leave early enough from the tent side you can still expect plenty of solitude. I hope that helps!
surprised to hear that a 5km loop takes 3 hours…..but taking shots and admiring the surroundings explains it 😁
Hi Phillip. The time is only given as a guideline. There are people who could do it in half the time and people who will need 4-5 hours to do a 5km hike. Taking shots definitely slows me down loads too 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!