Reykjavík: Landmannalaugar Hike and the Valley of Tears

Landmannalaugar feels like Iceland turned the color dial too far: sulfur-yellow slopes, red and green rhyolite, black obsidian, steaming ground, and wide volcanic silence. I especially like the two-hour hike through Laugahraun and the chance to soak in a natural hot pool afterward. The stop at Sigöldugljúfur, the Valley of Tears, adds a cool contrast with clear streams and many small waterfalls.

The catch is the ride. This is an 11-hour day with long stretches on rough Highland roads, and the back of the vehicle can feel cramped and bumpy. Weather can also change your hiking plans, so bring proper rain gear and view the hot spring as part of the day, not a guaranteed substitute for good walking conditions.

Key points to know before booking

• Landmannalaugar gets more than a quick photo stop: You spend over three hours here, with time for a guided hike, your own walk, or a bath.
• The two-hour route is generally beginner-friendly: It crosses obsidian and lava fields toward Brennisteinsalda, but wind, rain, and uneven ground still matter.
• The ride is part of the adventure: A 4WD minibus or Super Jeep handles roads that ordinary rental cars cannot use.
• The Valley of Tears is a real highlight: Sigöldugljúfur has clear waterfalls, spring-fed streams, small ponds, and colorful plant life.
• Guides add the most value when the weather turns: Guides such as Eddi, Tomasz, Sarah, Eddie, Bessi, and Einar have been praised for safe driving, geology, stories, and flexibility.
• Pack lunch and motion-sickness medicine if needed: Food is not included, and the Highland road is famously rough.

Why Landmannalaugar is worth the long ride

At $210 per person, this is not a cheap sightseeing bus. But Landmannalaugar is difficult to reach without a suitable 4WD vehicle, and the tour handles the driving, route finding, guiding, and vehicle requirements in one package.

I see the value in the combination. You are not simply driven to one viewpoint, given ten minutes, and sent away. You get a substantial stay at Landmannalaugar, a guided walk, access to a natural hot pool, two scenic stops, and a full day in a part of Iceland that is far less accessible than the coast.

The trade-off is time. From Reykjavík, the journey takes roughly two hours each way according to the stated transport schedule, with additional driving through the Highlands. The full outing lasts 11 hours, so you should be ready for an early start and a late return. This is best treated as your main Iceland activity for the day.

The Highland drive from Reykjavík

Pickup is offered at selected Reykjavík hotels and bus stops, including City Hall, the Reykjavík Bus Terminal, Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, Storm Hotel, ODDSSON hotel, and several downtown stops. You should be ready at 7:30 AM, though the vehicle can take up to 30 minutes to arrive depending on your pickup point.

The exact vehicle may be described as a comfortable Super Jeep or a minibus. Either way, this is the right kind of transport for the route. The roads toward Landmannalaugar include rough gravel and Highland F-roads, where a normal city car is not suitable.

I would choose a seat near the front if you are prone to motion sickness. Several people have found the road very bumpy, and the back seats can be noisy or cramped on such a long day. Bring medicine if you know rough roads affect you, and do not plan on sleeping through the ride.

Free Wi-Fi and USB ports are provided on board. The guide may also play music, and some guides make the drive lively with jokes, local stories, and explanations of the terrain. The quality of the commentary can vary, so it is worth asking questions when the vehicle stops. A working mobile phone with data access is important because the operator needs to reach you if there is a pickup problem.

Hjálparfoss, a gentle first stop

The first listed stop is Hjálparfoss, a two-level waterfall dropping into a broad pool surrounded by unusual basalt formations. It is a good opening stop because it gives you a chance to stretch your legs before the rougher roads and longer time on foot.

The name Hjálparfoss means Help’s Fall. The nearby area, Hjálp, was useful to people crossing the harsh Sprengisandur route between northern and southern Iceland. After traveling through a dry, difficult part of the Highlands, they could find grass here for their horses.

You will have time for photos and a short walk rather than a long hike. The waterfall is attractive in its own right, but its setting also helps explain how people once moved through this difficult part of Iceland. It is a modest stop compared with Landmannalaugar, yet it breaks up the drive well.

Landmannalaugar’s colored mountains and black lava

Landmannalaugar sits in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, an area shaped by volcanic activity, heat, ice, and water. Its most famous feature is the contrast between pale and strongly colored rhyolite mountains and the dark lava fields spread across their base.

Rhyolite contains quartz and silica. Iron and sulfur in the rock add yellow, red, orange, and green tones. Brennisteinsalda, whose name means Sulfur Wave, is one of the best examples. From the walking route, you may see small hot springs sending up steam near the mountain, with the colors shifting as clouds and sunlight move across the slopes.

The Laugahraun lava field formed in the 1477 eruption. Its black obsidian is smooth, glossy, and sharp-edged. This is the volcanic glass often called dragon glass by Game of Thrones fans. It looks dramatic, but do not handle it carelessly. The edges can be very sharp, and the area is protected.

The scenery here does not look like the familiar green valleys and black beaches around Reykjavík. It feels raw and remote, with bare volcanic ground, bright mineral colors, and steam rising from the earth. That difference is the main reason to make the trip.

The two-hour hike toward Brennisteinsalda

The guide offers a roughly two-hour walk through the lava and obsidian fields toward Brennisteinsalda. You can stay with the group, choose another marked route within the available time, or remain near the huts and natural pool.

The walk has been described as manageable for beginners, including people who are not regular hikers. Still, easy in Iceland does not mean paved or flat. Expect uneven volcanic ground, wind exposure, and weather that can shift quickly. Hiking shoes are essential, and a daypack is more useful than a handbag or small city backpack.

I like the length of this walk. Two hours gives you enough time to see the rock formations and colored slopes without turning the day into a serious trek. It also leaves time for the bath, photos, food, and a little independent exploring.

The group pace may be adjusted, and guides have offered alternative walks when conditions or fitness levels differ. In poor weather, you may decide to shorten the route. One past outing took place in heavy rain and strong wind, making the hot pool a more sensible choice than pushing on. That flexibility is valuable, but you should not book this trip expecting perfect walking weather.

Some guides, including Eddi, Tomasz, Sarah, Eddie, Bessi, and Einar, have received particular praise for explaining geology, driving carefully, helping with photographs, and giving people time to enjoy the area. A few people have found the bus audio hard to hear or wanted more explanation on the road and at Landmannalaugar. If the commentary is unclear, ask the guide directly rather than missing the information.

The natural hot pool after the walk

The natural pool is one of the tour’s smartest features. After walking over rough lava and exposed ground, you can sit in warm geothermal water near the huts and let the weather wash over you.

Bring a swimsuit and towel. Neither food nor drinks are included, and you should not count on buying lunch as part of the tour, so bring food from Reykjavík. A plastic bag for wet swimwear is also practical, although that small packing tip is not listed as a formal requirement.

The pool is not a luxury spa. It is a simple natural bathing spot in a remote setting, and its appeal comes from the combination of hot water, volcanic scenery, and a long day outside. You may want more time there, but the schedule has to allow for the hike and the later canyon stop. Keep an eye on the meeting time so the group does not have to wait.

Sigöldugljúfur, the Valley of Tears

Sigöldugljúfur is the final major sightseeing stop and, for many people, the visual surprise of the day. The canyon contains several small spring-fed streams, clear waterfalls, ponds, green plant life, and colorful cliff walls.

The name Valley of Tears suits the scene. Water appears in many small channels rather than one huge drop, so the place rewards a slow look. Clear blue-green water runs through the canyon, and the combination of cliffs, vegetation, and small falls feels very different from the black lava at Landmannalaugar.

This is mainly a photo and sightseeing stop, not another long hike. That is a good thing after the main walk. You get one more chance to move around, take pictures, and see a softer side of the Highlands before returning to Reykjavík.

The canyon has become popular on social media, but it still earns its place on the route. It is not just a convenient roadside viewpoint. The water, plant life, and volcanic rock make it a distinct natural feature. The stop also helps prevent Landmannalaugar from becoming the only memory you take home.

How the schedule feels in practice

The day is long, but the timing is fairly well judged. The drive is broken up by Hjálparfoss and other views along the road, then you have several hours at Landmannalaugar instead of a rushed visit.

You will likely spend the largest part of the day at Landmannalaugar, with about two hours for the guided walk and time afterward for the pool or your own route. The remaining stops are shorter and mainly focused on scenery and photos.

The long return can feel tiring, especially after swimming and hiking. That is normal. You should book this because you want a full Highland day, not because you expect a relaxed coach outing. The rough roads are a genuine part of the experience and not a minor footnote.

Price, group size, and guide quality

At $210, the cost makes the most sense if you do not have a suitable 4WD vehicle or do not want to drive Iceland’s rough Highland roads yourself. You are paying for transport into a difficult area, an English-speaking local guide, the guided walk, photo help, pickup and drop-off, and the chance to visit Sigöldugljúfur in the same day.

The small-group format should make it easier to ask questions and adjust the pace than on a large coach tour. It also gives the driver-guide room to respond to weather and road conditions. The strongest part of the service is often the person behind the wheel. Einar has been praised for handling difficult roads, while guides such as Eddi and Tomasz have been singled out for geology, humor, safety, and care with the group.

There is some inconsistency in the guiding experience. At least one outing had weak sound and limited commentary, and another person wanted more information on the road and at Landmannalaugar. That is worth considering if detailed interpretation is your main reason for booking. The places themselves remain the core attraction.

What to pack for this exact day

Pack as if you may get four seasons in one morning. You need hiking shoes, rain gear, warm outdoor clothing, gloves, and a hat. A swimsuit and towel are essential if you want to use the pool.

Bring lunch, snacks, and water because food and drinks are not included. A camera is useful, but protect it from rain and sharp volcanic rock. A small daypack keeps your hands free on the walk.

I would also bring motion-sickness medicine if rough roads bother you. The route can be especially bumpy in the back of the vehicle, and the ride is long enough for discomfort to spoil the day.

This activity is not suitable for children under 10 or wheelchair users. It suits people who can walk over uneven ground and manage a full day away from Reykjavík.

Should you book the Landmannalaugar and Valley of Tears tour?

I would book it if you want to see Iceland’s Highlands without renting and driving a 4WD vehicle. The strongest reasons are the unusual geology, the generous time at Landmannalaugar, the hot pool, and the rare chance to pair it with Sigöldugljúfur in one day.

I would skip it if you dislike bumpy roads, want a quiet spa day, or prefer short outings with little time in a vehicle. You also need to accept that rain and wind may change the walking portion.

For most reasonably active visitors with one full day available, this is a strong use of $210. Bring lunch, sit toward the front, wear proper shoes, and keep your plans flexible. The ride may test your patience, but the black lava, sulfur-colored mountains, steaming ground, and waterfall-filled canyon make the effort worthwhile.

FAQ

How long is the Landmannalaugar tour from Reykjavík?

The activity lasts 11 hours. The listed transport portions include roughly two hours by bus or coach, with additional time spent at Hjálparfoss, Landmannalaugar, Laugahraun, the natural pool, and Sigöldugljúfur.

Is the hike suitable for beginners?

The guided hike lasts about two hours and has been described as beginner-friendly. You still need hiking shoes and outdoor clothing because the route crosses uneven lava and obsidian ground and conditions can be windy or wet.

Can I swim in a natural hot spring?

Yes. You can bathe in the natural pool at Landmannalaugar after the walk. Bring your own swimsuit and towel.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, so bring lunch and snacks with you. One practical suggestion is to buy lunch before pickup in Reykjavík.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available at selected Reykjavík hotels and bus stops, including City Hall, the Reykjavík Bus Terminal, Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, Storm Hotel, ODDSSON hotel, and several central bus stops. Be ready at 7:30 AM, and allow up to 30 minutes for the vehicle to arrive.

Is the tour suitable for children and wheelchair users?

The activity is not suitable for children under 10 years old or wheelchair users. It includes a rough Highland drive and walking over uneven volcanic ground.