Landmannalaugar Hike & Hot Springs from Reykjavik

Iceland's Multicolored Mountains & a Natural Hot Pool in One Day

You're picked up from your hotel and driven into Iceland's highlands to hike among multicolored rhyolite mountains and soak in a natural hot pool. The guide leads a two-hour walk up Brennisteinsalda, but you can also explore at your own pace or skip the hike entirely and relax in the geothermal water. Lunch and all transport from Reykjavik are included, and the bus returns you to your hotel by evening.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Iceland's highlands and natural hot springs without renting a car or navigating rough mountain roads yourself — the group transport and fixed itinerary handle all the logistics, and the three hours in Landmannalaugar gives you time to hike, soak, or both.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Landmannalaugar hike and hot springs

• Travel from Reykjavik to Landmannalaugar
• Join guided hike to Brennisteinsalda mountain
• Explore rhyolite mountains and lava fields
• Relax in natural hot pool
• Return to Reykjavik

The Experience

The black obsidian lava field stretches for miles — the same volcanic glass that Game of Thrones called Dragon Glass — and it's the first thing you notice when the bus climbs into Iceland's highlands. You're headed to Landmannalaugar, and the landscape doesn't look like anywhere else on earth. The drive from Reykjavik takes time, but the window keeps changing: first the lowlands, then the terrain gets rougher, and then suddenly you're in a place where the mountains are striped with rust, yellow, and purple. That's the rhyolite, a volcanic rock loaded with iron and sulfur that makes each ridge look painted.

Once you arrive, you have over three hours to spend however you want. Most people join the guided hike up Brennisteinsalda — it's about two hours, and the guide points out how the minerals in the rock create those colors, how the 1477 eruption that formed the lava field is still shaping what you're standing on. But you don't have to follow the group. Some travelers skip the hike and just walk the easier trails, or sit by the natural hot pool and soak. The water is warm year-round, which is why the instruction to bring a swim suit and towel isn't optional — it's the whole point. You can float in geothermal water while looking at mountains that look like they shouldn't exist.

The bus has Wi-Fi and air conditioning, which matters because the highlands can be cold and the drive is long. Pickup from your Reykjavik hotel is included, so you don't arrange transport yourself or worry about finding the trailhead. Lunch is part of the day, and you're back in the city by evening. The total time is around ten hours — most of that is travel, but that's how far Landmannalaugar is, and it's the reason you need a guided group rather than trying to rent a car and navigate the rough roads alone.

Top questions

How long is the hike at Landmannalaugar?

The guided hike up Brennisteinsalda takes about two hours. You can join it or explore other trails on your own during the three-plus hours you spend in the area.

Is the hot pool included?

Yes. The natural hot pool is part of the Landmannalaugar area. You'll have time to soak if you bring a swim suit and towel.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup from Reykjavik, transportation, a guided hike option, lunch, and all entry fees and taxes. The bus has Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

How long is the total day?

Around ten hours, including drive time from Reykjavik. Most of that is travel to and from the highlands.

Do I have to hike?

No. You can join the guided hike, take a different trail, or stay in the area and relax without hiking.

What are the rhyolite mountains?

Rhyolite is a volcanic rock made of quartz and silica with minerals like iron and sulfur that create the striped colors — rust, yellow, and purple — you see on the mountains.

What is the black lava field?

The Laugahraun lava field was formed in a 1477 volcanic eruption. It's made of black obsidian, the same material featured in Game of Thrones as Dragon Glass.

Is this tour suitable for beginners?

Yes. The hike is optional, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. The guided hike is moderate, and you can choose to explore at your own pace instead.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Reykjavik, round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned bus with Wi-Fi, entry to Landmannalaugar, a guided hike option up Brennisteinsalda, access to the natural hot pool, lunch, and all fees and taxes. You'll spend over three hours in the area and return to Reykjavik by evening.