Why you should include Landmannalaugar on your next summer visit to Iceland

Why you should include Landmannalaugar on your next summer visit to Iceland

Why you should include Landmannalaugar on your next summer visit to Iceland

Why you should include Landmannalaugar on your next summer visit to Iceland

The charms of Reykjavik, the must-sees of the Golden Circle and the highlights of Iceland’s ring road lure hundreds of thousands of visitors to the country every summer. Yet, relatively few of them wind up in beautiful Landmannalaugar. Let’s find out why that is and, moreimportantly, learn why you shouldn’t make the same mistake.

You’ll find Landmannalaugar, or the People’s Pools, in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the heart of the Highlands. It is famous for its rhyolite peaks which display a dazzling array of colours, including blue, yellow, red and green. Its rugged Laugahraun lava field is dark and dramatic, evidence of an eruption that took place in 1477. Landmannalaugar is a geothermally active part of Iceland and you’ll discover numerous hot springs and warm rivers. Many years ago, travellers would have needed to cross Iceland on foot or on horseback and they would have stopped here to shelter and rest. Today’s leisure travellers can arrive in comfort but the area is no less appealing.

Why you should include Landmannalaugar on your next summer visit to Iceland

The charms of Reykjavik, the must-sees of the Golden Circle and the highlights of Iceland’s ring road lure hundreds of thousands of visitors to the country every summer. Yet, relatively few of them wind up in beautiful Landmannalaugar. Let’s find out why that is and, moreimportantly, learn why you shouldn’t make the same mistake.

You’ll find Landmannalaugar, or the People’s Pools, in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the heart of the Highlands. It is famous for its rhyolite peaks which display a dazzling array of colours, including blue, yellow, red and green. Its rugged Laugahraun lava field is dark and dramatic, evidence of an eruption that took place in 1477. Landmannalaugar is a geothermally active part of Iceland and you’ll discover numerous hot springs and warm rivers. Many years ago, travellers would have needed to cross Iceland on foot or on horseback and they would have stopped here to shelter and rest. Today’s leisure travellers can arrive in comfort but the area is no less appealing.

Why you should include Landmannalaugar on your next summer visit to Iceland

The charms of Reykjavik, the must-sees of the Golden Circle and the highlights of Iceland’s ring road lure hundreds of thousands of visitors to the country every summer. Yet, relatively few of them wind up in beautiful Landmannalaugar. Let’s find out why that is and, moreimportantly, learn why you shouldn’t make the same mistake.

You’ll find Landmannalaugar, or the People’s Pools, in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the heart of the Highlands. It is famous for its rhyolite peaks which display a dazzling array of colours, including blue, yellow, red and green. Its rugged Laugahraun lava field is dark and dramatic, evidence of an eruption that took place in 1477. Landmannalaugar is a geothermally active part of Iceland and you’ll discover numerous hot springs and warm rivers. Many years ago, travellers would have needed to cross Iceland on foot or on horseback and they would have stopped here to shelter and rest. Today’s leisure travellers can arrive in comfort but the area is no less appealing.

We’ll forgive you if you’re wondering how a place can be this good and yet still remain off the beaten track. It does seem something of a conundrum. But, yes, there’s a catch. Road access to the Icelandic interior for those wishing to self-drive is usually only possible from June to August. Even with a 4x4, driving in the highlands isn’t achievable outside the summer months as the F-roads you’d need to use are shut.

To reach this part of the country in spring, autumn or winter requires local knowledge and a specialist tour operator such as Amazing Tours. Opting for a super jeep tour makes light work of the rough terrain and you can be sure the vehicle can handle heavy snowfalls. We’d argue it’s especially pretty in summer sunshine, but even though the F-roads are open and you could drive yourself, that doesn’t mean you should. Opting for an escorted tour means there’s no danger of you missing the best bits and even if you’re confident of your map-reading skills, geology as interesting as this deserves some commentary.

We’ll forgive you if you’re wondering how a place can be this good and yet still remain off the beaten track. It does seem something of a conundrum. But, yes, there’s a catch. Road access to the Icelandic interior for those wishing to self-drive is usually only possible from June to August. Even with a 4x4, driving in the highlands isn’t achievable outside the summer months as the F-roads you’d need to use are shut.

To reach this part of the country in spring, autumn or winter requires local knowledge and a specialist tour operator such as Amazing Tours. Opting for a super jeep tour makes light work of the rough terrain and you can be sure the vehicle can handle heavy snowfalls. We’d argue it’s especially pretty in summer sunshine, but even though the F-roads are open and you could drive yourself, that doesn’t mean you should. Opting for an escorted tour means there’s no danger of you missing the best bits and even if you’re confident of your map-reading skills, geology as interesting as this deserves some commentary.

We’ll forgive you if you’re wondering how a place can be this good and yet still remain off the beaten track. It does seem something of a conundrum. But, yes, there’s a catch. Road access to the Icelandic interior for those wishing to self-drive is usually only possible from June to August. Even with a 4x4, driving in the highlands isn’t achievable outside the summer months as the F-roads you’d need to use are shut.

To reach this part of the country in spring, autumn or winter requires local knowledge and a specialist tour operator such as Amazing Tours. Opting for a super jeep tour makes light work of the rough terrain and you can be sure the vehicle can handle heavy snowfalls. We’d argue it’s especially pretty in summer sunshine, but even though the F-roads are open and you could drive yourself, that doesn’t mean you should. Opting for an escorted tour means there’s no danger of you missing the best bits and even if you’re confident of your map-reading skills, geology as interesting as this deserves some commentary.

Approaching from the west, the valley of the River Þjórsá greets arriving travellers. Birch woodland and imposing cliffs make this one of the most striking valleys in Iceland. Several waterfalls await, including Háifoss (High Waterfall), one of the tallest in the country, neighbouring Granni and the twin falls of pretty Hjálparfoss. Another must-see is Ljótipollur. It’s an example of an explosion crater, formed by volcanic action. Today, it boasts a 14 metre deep lake which teems with brown trout. Today, it’s a breathtaking sight, thanks in part to its reddish walls, though bizarrely its Icelandic name translates as “ugly puddle”. Once you set eyes on it, you’ll know it is overdue for a rebrand.

Approaching from the west, the valley of the River Þjórsá greets arriving travellers. Birch woodland and imposing cliffs make this one of the most striking valleys in Iceland. Several waterfalls await, including Háifoss (High Waterfall), one of the tallest in the country, neighbouring Granni and the twin falls of pretty Hjálparfoss. Another must-see is Ljótipollur. It’s an example of an explosion crater, formed by volcanic action. Today, it boasts a 14 metre deep lake which teems with brown trout. Today, it’s a breathtaking sight, thanks in part to its reddish walls, though bizarrely its Icelandic name translates as “ugly puddle”. Once you set eyes on it, you’ll know it is overdue for a rebrand.

Approaching from the west, the valley of the River Þjórsá greets arriving travellers. Birch woodland and imposing cliffs make this one of the most striking valleys in Iceland. Several waterfalls await, including Háifoss (High Waterfall), one of the tallest in the country, neighbouring Granni and the twin falls of pretty Hjálparfoss. Another must-see is Ljótipollur. It’s an example of an explosion crater, formed by volcanic action. Today, it boasts a 14 metre deep lake which teems with brown trout. Today, it’s a breathtaking sight, thanks in part to its reddish walls, though bizarrely its Icelandic name translates as “ugly puddle”. Once you set eyes on it, you’ll know it is overdue for a rebrand.

view of landmannalaugar from vihecal's mirror
view of landmannalaugar from vihecal's mirror
view of landmannalaugar from vihecal's mirror

Impressive though these places are, Landmannalaugar is the main attraction and this extraordinary place won’t disappoint. There are numerous hiking trails, some of them longdistance routes like the Laugavegur Trail which links Landmannalaugar with Þórsmörk and Skógafoss waterfall on the well-trodden south coast. But rather than opting to travel on foot, choose to travel in a specially modified jeep with Amazing Tours. It can tackle the slopes of Mount Hekla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. Reaching an altitude of 950 metres above sea level, the outlook on a clear day is nothing short of remarkable.

Impressive though these places are, Landmannalaugar is the main attraction and this extraordinary place won’t disappoint. There are numerous hiking trails, some of them longdistance routes like the Laugavegur Trail which links Landmannalaugar with Þórsmörk and Skógafoss waterfall on the well-trodden south coast. But rather than opting to travel on foot, choose to travel in a specially modified jeep with Amazing Tours. It can tackle the slopes of Mount Hekla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. Reaching an altitude of 950 metres above sea level, the outlook on a clear day is nothing short of remarkable.

Impressive though these places are, Landmannalaugar is the main attraction and this extraordinary place won’t disappoint. There are numerous hiking trails, some of them longdistance routes like the Laugavegur Trail which links Landmannalaugar with Þórsmörk and Skógafoss waterfall on the well-trodden south coast. But rather than opting to travel on foot, choose to travel in a specially modified jeep with Amazing Tours. It can tackle the slopes of Mount Hekla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. Reaching an altitude of 950 metres above sea level, the outlook on a clear day is nothing short of remarkable.

Incorporating Landmannalaugar into your itinerary allows you to delve into a region that relatively few travellers to Iceland have the privilege to see. If you’re keen to turn your Iceland trip into an epic adventure, then why not get in touch with Amazing Tours and let us show you around? Our experience and expertise will add an extra dimension to your Iceland trip and make it even more memorable.

Incorporating Landmannalaugar into your itinerary allows you to delve into a region that relatively few travellers to Iceland have the privilege to see. If you’re keen to turn your Iceland trip into an epic adventure, then why not get in touch with Amazing Tours and let us show you around? Our experience and expertise will add an extra dimension to your Iceland trip and make it even more memorable.

Incorporating Landmannalaugar into your itinerary allows you to delve into a region that relatively few travellers to Iceland have the privilege to see. If you’re keen to turn your Iceland trip into an epic adventure, then why not get in touch with Amazing Tours and let us show you around? Our experience and expertise will add an extra dimension to your Iceland trip and make it even more memorable.

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