Landmannalaugar and the Valley of Tears

The Essential Landmannalaugar
Embark on a journey to one of Iceland’s most captivating destinations Landmannalaugar, located in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the Highlands of Iceland, famous for its breathtaking landscapes such as vibrant colored rhyolite mountains, bubbling hot springs, lava fields and epic hikes.

The lava fields and the rhyolite mountains are the result of thousands of years of volcanic activity. Laugahraun lava field was formed in a volcanic eruption in 1477 consisting of vast erratic black obsidian which is known for its smooth, sharp edges and unique appearance, and famed in the TV series Game of Thrones as “Dragon Glass”. Rhyolite is a type of volcanic rock that is made of quartz and silica and with minerals such as iron and sulphur adding extra color to the mountains. Brennisteinsalda or “the Sulphur Wave” is a very good example of this.

We will stay over 3 hours in Landmannalaugur and we offer approx. 2 hour guided hike through the obsidian fields up to Brennisteinsalda, but you are welcome to explore the area on your own within the given time frame. You can take on different trail or just relax and stay longer in the natural hot pool – just don’t forget to bring your swim suit and a towel on the trip!

The natural beauty and unique geology of this area will leave you in awe and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Itinerary
Hjálparfoss - Help's fall
Hjálparfoss is a beautiful, two stepped waterfall that cascades down into a large plunge pool that is surrounded by very unique basalt rock formations.

The surrounding area is called Hjálp or “help” because when people had to travel from the north to the south over the highlands of Iceland they had to travel through the harsh and desolated Sprengisandur route. It was usually very hard to find a place in this desert route to feed the horses and when arriving to the the lush area near Hjálparfoss people thought of it as a help, because finally there was grass for the horses to bite after this long journey.

Landmannalaugar - Hike and natural pool
Here we do a little hike and bathe in a natural hot spring.
Welcome to Landmannalaugar in Iceland. We will stop here for a few hours. The guide will offer you a hike up to Brennisteinsalda. During the hike your are surrounded by nature so peculiar that you would hardly be surprised if you saw an elf running by. The colorful rhyolite mountains and some small hot springs scattered all over close to Brennisteinsalda with a mystical steam rising up from them. When returning to the huts, after about two hours of hiking, there still is enough time to take a bath in the natural pool.

Sigöldugljúfur - The Valley of Tears
The magical Sigöldugljúfur canyon has become one of the main instagram spots in Iceland. It is quite an extraordinary natural wonder with its many small spring-fed streams, small ponds, crystal clear waterfalls, colorful vegetation, and fascinating cliffs.

• English speaking guide
• Hiking
• Bathing in a natural hot pool
• Landmannalaugar facility fee
• Transfer to/from Reykjavik
• Free WiFi in the bus

• Warm outdoor clothing
• Hat and gloves or mittens
• Sturdy shoes
• Rain gear
• Backpack
• Water bottle
• Bathing suit
• Towel
• Camera/Phone

• Infants must not sit on laps
• Infant seats unavailable
• Not suitable for pets
• No public transportation nearby
• Not stroller accessible
• Not wheelchair accessible

For all bookings of day tours, a minimum of 24 hours' notice prior to your scheduled departure is required in order to receive a full refund. If a cancellation is made with less than 24 hours notice, no refund is given.

For all bookings of multi-day and custom private tours, a minimum of 72 hours' notice prior to your scheduled departure is required in order to receive a full refund. If a cancellation is made with less than 72 hours' notice, no refund is given*

*Note that in the event the client requests a refund for any reason, Tour Desk reserves the right to charge a 3% administration fee to cover costs incurred.

Cancellation and refund requests need to be sent in writing to info@tourdesk.io