A DAY ON ANOTHER PLANET
Spend a day in a landscape most people never get to see. Kerlingarfjöll is a mountain range deep in Iceland's central highlands. Hveradalir, its steaming geothermal valley, is the reason most travellers make the journey: colourful rhyolite mountains, striking orange and red ridgelines, and hot springs sending up steam in every direction. Many compare it to walking on another planet.
BEYOND THE PAVED ROADS
Reaching the highlands normally takes planning, a capable 4x4, and experience on rough gravel roads. On this tour, we handle all of it. Board our bus in Reykjavík and relax while a driver who knows these roads and the highland weather takes you into the interior. Icy rivers and snowy peaks fill the windows long before you arrive. We make the journey easy. The highlands stay as wild as ever.
On the way, we stop at Gullfoss, one of Iceland's most famous waterfalls and a highlight of the Golden Circle. Watch the glacial river Hvítá thunder down two drops into a deep canyon before we leave the paved roads behind.
THE FULL HIGHLAND EXPERIENCE
At Kerlingarfjöll, we head straight up to Hveradalir for a guided hike through the hot spring valley. Your English-speaking guide leads you along the ridgelines and down among the vents, boiling streams, and mineral-painted slopes, sharing the geology that shaped them. There is nothing else like it. Afterwards, you have free time at Highland Base, our village in the mountains. Explore the area, or grab lunch or freshly made waffles at Highland Base Restaurant. Then sink into the Highland Baths, included in your ticket, and let the warm pools do their work while you take in the mountain views. Few places let you soak outdoors this deep in the wilderness.
On the way back, we visit another Golden Circle favourite: the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes.
Places like Hveradalir usually take days of planning to reach. On this tour, we handle the roads and the route. The hike, the weather, and the feeling of standing somewhere truly wild are all yours. One day, another planet.
The tour runs June through September, while the highland roads are open. Dress in layers for changing weather, and bring sturdy shoes and swimwear.
ITINERARY:
08:30 | Depart from Reykjavik
10:15 | Gullfoss sightseeing
12:00 | Kerlingarfjöll
12:30 | Guided hike around Hveradalir
14:00 | Arrival at Highland Base
Free time to explore the Highland Base area and buy lunch or waffles at our restaurant
15:00 | Highland Baths
17:00 | Departure from Highland Base
18:15 | Drop off for guests departing at Gullfoss
18:30 | Geysir sightseeing
20:30 | Arrival in Reykjavík
