Private Kerlingarfjöll Highlands Tour
Journey into Iceland's most dramatic geothermal wilderness, where rhyolite mountains meet ancient glaciers.
This Private Kerlingarfjöll Highlands Tour takes you deep into the heart of the Icelandic highlands, where steaming fumaroles, multicolored volcanic mountains, and a legendary geothermal pool create a landscape unlike anywhere else on Earth. Completely tailored to your group, the experience offers access to two of Iceland's most extraordinary highland destinations in a single full-day journey.
Hveravellir Nature Reserve sits along the ancient Kjölur highland route, flanked by the glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull. The reserve is renowned for its sky-blue boiling pools and sulfurous fumaroles that punctuate the stark lava fields of Kjalhraun. A soak in the communal geothermal pool here, fed by both hot and cold springs, is a rare and restorative experience in one of Europe's last true wildernesses.
Kerlingarfjöll rises to 1,477 meters above the highland plateau and forms part of a 100-square-kilometer tuya volcano system. The rhyolite mountains shift through vivid shades of red, orange, yellow and green, stained by minerals carried upward through countless hot springs and rivulets. Snowdrifts cling to passes and ravines even in summer, creating a striking contrast with the geothermally heated ground below.
Because this is a fully private tour, the pace and focus of the day are shaped around your group's interests. Whether you choose to linger beside a steaming vent at Hveravellir or hike deeper into the Kerlingarfjöll resort area to explore its hot spring channels, the itinerary adapts to give you the most meaningful connection with this remote highland terrain.
Tour Highlights
Bathe in the iconic Hveravellir geothermal pool, where natural hot and cold springs combine for a perfectly temperate soak surrounded by volcanic scenery.
Explore the Kerlingarfjöll mountain range, a rhyolite wonderland painted in vivid mineral hues rising dramatically above the highland plateau.
Witness active fumaroles and boiling sky-blue pools at Hveravellir, one of the most visually striking geothermal areas in the world.
Travel the legendary Kjölur highland route, an ancient track linking Iceland's north and south between two massive glaciers.
Experience the dramatic contrast of snowdrifts and glacial remnants set against geothermally heated ground in the highland interior.
Discover a landscape that genuinely feels like another planet, with mineral-colored ground, volcanic rock formations, and near-total solitude.
Enjoy the full experience as a private group, with flexibility to explore at your own pace and focus on the sites that interest you most.
Tour Itinerary
Your private tour departs and heads inland toward the Kjölur highland route, one of Iceland's most storied tracks crossing the interior plateau. The landscape transitions quickly from the coastal lowlands to the open, austere highland terrain.
You reach Hveravellir, nestled between Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers on the Kjölur route. Time is spent exploring the smoking fumaroles and vividly colored boiling pools that define this unique nature reserve.
The highlight at Hveravellir is the natural geothermal bathing pool, fed by both hot and cold springs that allow comfortable swimming for over 20 people. Surrounded by lava fields and views of Langjökull, this is a genuinely extraordinary place to pause and immerse.
The tour continues to Kerlingarfjöll, a highland resort area centered around Iceland's most powerful hot spring concentration. The approach reveals the extraordinary color range of the rhyolite mountains rising above the plateau.
On foot, you move through ravines, past hot spring channels and still pools, with snowdrifts visible on the upper passes. The mineral-stained ground shifts from yellow to red to green as you follow the geothermal activity deeper into the valley.
The private tour makes its way back across the highland plateau, retracing the Kjölur route as the interior landscape gives way once more to the lowlands. The 12-hour day concludes with a return to the starting point.
What Is Included
Included
- Private guided highland tour
- Transport in a suitable highland vehicle
- Access to Hveravellir geothermal pool area
- Guided exploration of Kerlingarfjöll resort area
- Professional guide throughout the full 12-hour day
Not Included
- Meals and beverages
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for guide or driver
- Any personal purchases or souvenirs
Important Information
Reserve Your Private Highland Day
Secure your place on this exclusive private journey through two of Iceland's most remarkable highland destinations, from the geothermal pools of Hveravellir to the colorful volcanic peaks of Kerlingarfjöll.
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