Fjallabak Super Jeep Tour: Hekla, Mælifell, and Iceland's Remote Interior
A private journey through volcanic deserts, glacier valleys, and the most dramatic corners of Iceland's highlands
The Fjallabak Super Jeep Tour is a private, full-day expedition into one of Iceland's most remote and visually striking regions. Over approximately eleven hours, you travel from volcanic wastelands at the foot of Hekla to the vivid green slopes of Mælifell, with stops at glacier-fed lakes along the way. This tour is purpose-built for those who want authentic access to landscapes that ordinary roads simply cannot reach.
The Fjallabak Nature Reserve sits in the central highlands of Iceland, a region characterized by its extreme contrasts: jet-black lava fields, turquoise glacial water, and moss-covered volcanic cones standing against a wide open sky. A Super Jeep is the only practical vehicle for navigating the river crossings and rough highland tracks that connect these locations. Without it, most of these sites would remain inaccessible to visitors.
Hekla, rising to 1,488 meters, has been Iceland's most active stratovolcano for centuries, and the terrain surrounding its base reflects that violent geological history. The approach to the mountain passes through extensive lava fields and ash deserts that feel genuinely remote. Further into the highlands, the lake at Álftavatn provides a moment of calm in an otherwise dramatic landscape, offering reflections of surrounding peaks that reward patient photographers.
Mælifell completes the tour with one of Iceland's most photographed contrasts: a symmetrical, moss-covered volcano rising from a broad black sand desert against the face of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The mountain served as a navigation landmark for early Icelanders crossing the interior, and standing at its base, the reason becomes immediately clear. The scale and stillness of this place are difficult to convey in words and far more powerful in person.
Tour Highlights
Approach Hekla, Iceland's most historically active volcano, through its surrounding lava fields and black ash deserts.
Visit Mælifell, a moss-covered volcanic cone that rises dramatically from a black sand plain beside the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
Stop at Álftavatn, a secluded glacial lake set in an ancient valley along the Laugavegur hiking trail corridor.
Access premier photography locations across three distinct landscape types in a single private day tour.
Travel in a Super Jeep capable of river crossings and highland F-roads that standard vehicles cannot legally or safely use.
Explore the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, a protected highland area renowned for its geological diversity and isolation.
Enjoy a fully private tour limited to your own group, with the flexibility to linger at locations that matter most to you.
Itinerary Overview
Your guide collects your group in the Super Jeep and heads toward the Icelandic highlands. The drive south and inland gives way quickly to increasingly remote and open terrain.
The tour reaches the base of Hekla and the vast lava fields that surround it. You will have time to walk, photograph, and absorb the raw atmosphere of one of Iceland's most powerful geological features.
Midway through the journey, the route descends into the valley holding Álftavatn lake. The setting is quiet and panoramic, with mountains reflected in the still water and wide views across the surrounding terrain.
The route continues to Mælifell, where the green moss-covered cone of the volcano meets the dark sands of the surrounding desert. This is the visual centrepiece of the tour and a location unlike anywhere else in Iceland.
The group returns along highland tracks, completing the round trip in approximately eleven to twelve hours total. Your guide will adjust the pace throughout the day based on conditions and the interests of your group.
What Is Included
Included
- Private Super Jeep vehicle for the full day
- Professional guide throughout
- Pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavik
- Access to all sites visited on the route
- Flexible itinerary tailored to group interests
Not Included
- Meals and beverages
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for the guide
- Any personal purchases during the tour
Important Information
Reserve Your Private Highland Journey
This private Fjallabak Super Jeep Tour accommodates groups of one to six people, making it a practical choice for families, couples, and small groups seeking an exclusive look at Iceland's highlands without a shared itinerary.
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