Private Þjórsárdalur Valley Tour
Waterfalls, Viking ruins, and a hidden oasis — all in one extraordinary private day.
The Þjórsárdalur Valley private tour guides you through one of Iceland's most historically rich and geologically dramatic landscapes, combining ancient Viking heritage with some of the country's most striking natural features over an 11-hour journey.
This region was shaped by centuries of volcanic activity, most notably the 1104 eruption of Hekla that buried entire farming communities under ash and preserved them for future generations to discover. The valley holds layered stories of early settlement, renewable energy innovation, and raw wilderness that few visitors take the time to fully explore.
The tour is designed for travelers who want context alongside scenery. A private guide accompanies you throughout, offering historical and geological insight at each stop rather than a surface-level overview.
The itinerary balances well-known viewpoints with less-visited corners of the valley, including a walk into Gjáin, a secluded gorge that rewards visitors with unusual rock formations, vibrant moss, and two waterfalls in an almost otherworldly setting.
Tour Highlights
Stand at Háifoss, Iceland's third tallest waterfall at 122 meters, alongside its smaller companion Granni in a dramatic gorge setting.
Explore the 11th-century Viking longhouse ruins at Stöng, destroyed by the Hekla eruption of 1104 and excavated in 1939.
Enter Gjáin, a hidden valley oasis with lush greenery, basalt formations, and two waterfalls shaped by four volcanic eruptions.
Visit Búrfellsvirkjun hydroelectric station and learn how Iceland generates clean energy from its glacial rivers.
Photograph Hjálparfoss, a two-tiered waterfall formed where the Fossá and Þjórsá rivers meet against a backdrop of basalt columns.
Discover Þjófafoss and Fossabrekkur, two lesser-visited waterfalls in the valley's remote interior with legends and landscapes to match.
Option to visit Þjóðveldisbærinn, the Commonwealth Farm reconstruction built in 1974, including a replica house of prayer based on local archaeological finds.
Itinerary Overview
The tour opens at Hjálparfoss, where the rivers Fossá and Þjórsá converge to form a two-tiered waterfall framed by dark basalt columns. From there, a visit to the Búrfellsvirkjun hydroelectric power station offers a look at how Iceland harnesses glacial river flow to generate renewable electricity.
The excavated remains of the Stöng longhouse date to the 11th century, when Gaukur Trandilsson farmed here before the Hekla eruption of 1104 buried the site under volcanic ash. A short distance away, Þjóðveldisbærinn offers a full-scale reconstruction of the farm, with an optional entrance fee giving access to turf buildings and a replica chapel.
A walk from Stöng leads into Gjáin, a sheltered gorge filled with moss-covered lava formations, birch growth, and two waterfalls including Gjárfoss. The unusual geology here reflects the cumulative impact of four separate volcanic eruptions on the valley floor.
At 122 meters, Háifoss ranks as Iceland's third tallest waterfall, plunging into a narrow gorge flanked by cliff walls. Granni, standing at roughly 40 meters, sits directly adjacent and provides a contrasting but equally compelling perspective of the gorge.
A midday stop at Hrauneyjar Highland Center allows the group to rest and eat at the on-site grill and café. The surrounding highland scenery makes this a natural transition point between the valley's upper and lower sections.
Fossabrekkur descends in stepped cascades where the western branch of the Ytri-Rangár river meets its eastern counterpart in the Rangárbotnar region. The final stop at Þjófafoss, near Búrfell mountain, closes the day with a powerful waterfall whose name — meaning thief's waterfall — reflects a local legend about hidden plunder.
What Is Included
Included
- Private expert guide for the full 11-hour tour
- All transportation during the tour
- Stops at Hjálparfoss, Búrfellsvirkjun, Stöng ruins, Gjáin, Háifoss, Granni, Fossabrekkur, and Þjófafoss
- Guided walk into Gjáin oasis
- Lunch break at Hrauneyjar Highland Center (meal cost not included)
Not Included
- Meals and beverages
- Entrance fee to Þjóðveldisbærinn Commonwealth Farm (optional, paid on-site)
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for the guide
Important Information
Reserve Your Private Valley Tour
This private full-day tour offers an unhurried, in-depth look at Þjórsárdalur Valley — from Viking-age ruins and hidden gorges to Iceland's most powerful waterfalls. Places are limited to your group only.
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