Must-sees and hidden gems: what to see and do in Landmannalaugar?
In Landmannalaugar, the heart of the Icelandic Highlands, everything begins with a sensation, it’s like walking across a painter’s palette. The ground crunches under your feet, the rhyolite mountains shift from salmon pink to moss green, steaming vents breathe out sulfur-scented steam, and warm water waits in the hollow of a valley. Accessible only in summer on rough highland roads, this place takes effort to reach, which is also part of what protects it. Here are eight practical ideas for what to see and do in Landmannalaugar.
1. Soak in the natural hot spring
The must-do experience is a warm soak at the foot of the rhyolite mountains. Slip into the water after a hike, when your legs are a little tired and the cool wind stings your cheeks. The milky, gentle water wraps around you as steam drifts above and hikers speak softly, like in an open-air mountain hut.
Come early or in the evening for a quieter atmosphere. Local tip, be careful, the bottom is uneven and can be slippery. And take time to look up, the colors change with every passing cloud.
2. Hike to Brennisteinsalda, the “sulfur mountain”
The best first taste of Landmannalaugar is Brennisteinsalda and its steaming slopes. The trail climbs quickly, and the air fills with the smell of sulfur, like a match just struck. Along the way, solfataras hiss, the ground turns bright yellow, and the landscape feels almost unreal, between black ash and pastel ridges.
It takes about two to three hours for a round trip, depending on your pace. In clear weather, the view over the Laugahraun lava field is striking, like a frozen, rugged ocean that still feels alive.
3. Cross the Laugahraun lava field
Here, you understand that Iceland is still being shaped by fire, Laugahraun is a lava flow that's still young, geologically speaking. The path winds between twisted black rocks, sometimes covered in neon-green lichen. Around every bend, a new view opens onto the colorful mountains, as if someone were changing the scenery.
It’s a short, accessible hike, ideal with kids or for a first walk in the area. After rain, the stones turn darker and shinier, and you can hear water dripping into the hollows.
4. Climb to the top of Bláhnúkur for sweeping views of the Highlands
The viewpoint everyone agrees on is Bláhnúkur, the “blue peak.” The climb is steep and the ground can be loose, but the reward is genuinely breathtaking. Below, Landmannalaugar looks like a painting, with layers of pink, ocher, and gray, and distant plateaus that seem to stretch on forever.
Choose a day with stable weather, as the summit is exposed to the wind. Bring hiking poles if you have them, the descent can be tough on the knees. And try not to speak for a few minutes, just to listen to the silence.
5. Follow the trail to Ljótipollur, a turquoise crater lake
The most photogenic spot is Ljótipollur, a volcanic crater filled with a blue-green lake. The contrast is sharp, brick-red volcanic scoria, calm water that looks almost soft, and grasses catching the light. You reach it on a gradual, pleasant walk across open plains.
Walking around the crater is well worth it, especially if clouds are moving fast, the colors change right in front of you. It’s a perfect place for a simple, quiet picnic, with only the wind rustling the moss.
6. Walk through the quiet canyons of Grænagil and Vondugil
For a more hidden moment, the small canyons of Grænagil and Vondugil reveal another texture of Landmannalaugar. You leave the wide-open views behind and slip between striated walls, sometimes green with moss, sometimes red like rust. Your footsteps echo, the air feels cooler, and you feel wonderfully small.
These short loops are easy to combine with other routes. After rain, the colors deepen and the streams sound livelier. It’s an ideal way to avoid the crowds while staying close to camp.
7. Hike part of the Laugavegur Trail, Iceland’s great classic trek
Landmannalaugar is the gateway to a legend, the Laugavegur Trail, one of Europe’s most beautiful long-distance hikes. Even if you don’t take on the full four-day route to Þórsmörk, walking the first few hours gives you a powerful preview, sandy plains, multicolored ridges, wooden footbridges, and that feeling of being far from everything.
Head toward the first open landscapes in the direction of Hrafntinnusker, then turn back. Your local agency can adjust the timing and check the conditions, which is essential here, as the weather changes quickly and fog can roll in without warning.
8. Watch the evening light and sleep close to the site
The real luxury is staying overnight and seeing the area after the crowds leave. In the evening, low light highlights the folds of the mountains, shadows stretch across the lava, and all you hear is the zip of jackets and the river’s gentle splashing. In the early morning, you step outside to an almost private peace.
Between the hut and the campground, planning matters, especially in peak season. Be sure to book ahead, pack light, and stay on marked trails, the vegetation is fragile. Here, every step leaves a trace and a memory.
Add Landmannalaugar to a tailor-made Iceland trip
With Evaneos, you’ll work directly with a local, English-speaking expert based in Iceland. They know the roads, schedules, huts, and very best seasons, the ones when the light catches the mountains just right. The result is fewer surprises, more time out in the field, and practical advice tailored to your pace.
Together, you’ll design a custom-made trip including Landmannalaugar, its steaming hot springs and multicolored hikes, then add other Icelandic highlights based on what you love, family time, photography, volcanoes, wide-open spaces, or great food stops.
