From Reykjavik: Landmannalaugar & Háifoss Waterfall Tour

GYG

From Reykjavik: Landmannalaugar & Háifoss Waterfall Tour

★ 4.8(341 reviews)

• Guide works in English
• Duration per the operator: 13 hours

from $233

See dates, price and what is included at the operator

Thirteen hours from Reykjavik into the highlands

This is a long day, even by Icelandic standards. You leave Reykjavik and head east, passing through the village of Vik í Mýrdal on the south coast before turning inland toward the highlands. The tour runs for 13 hours and reaches two very different destinations: the waterfall Háifoss, one of the tallest in the country, and Landmannalaugar, the geothermal valley known for its rhyolite mountains and natural hot springs. The trip is sold as a small group and is guided in English throughout. It is not wheelchair accessible. You meet in Reykjavik and return there at the end of the day. The price starts at 233 USD, which makes this one of the more substantial investments in a day tour, but it covers a route that would be difficult to manage on your own in a single day.

Photographs from the operator BusTravel Iceland. They show the listing, not your day.

What the price covers and what it does not

The 233 USD entry price buys you transport from Reykjavik, the guide, and the full loop through the south coast and the highlands. Food is not included, so you need to bring your own lunch and snacks for the day. Hotel pickup is also not included, which puts this tour in a minority within its category. You make your own way to the departure point in Reykjavik. The operator offers free cancellation, though no deadline is given. The only additional cost that could come up is if you choose to stay overnight at Landmannalaugar, where the mountain hut charges 17,000 ISK per adult per night. That is not part of this day tour, but the figure is worth knowing if you are planning a longer trip in the area. No other fees apply to the places on the itinerary.

A strong score backed by a solid number of reviews

The tour holds a rating of 4.8 out of 5, based on 341 reviews. That number of ratings matters. In a category of 28 highland tours, this listing ranks third by how many people have reviewed it, which means the score is not resting on a handful of opinions. It is one of the most-reviewed tours in its group, and the score has held up well across that volume. By price, it sits in the middle of the field, ranking tenth of 28, with the group ranging from 115 to 2,083 USD. You are paying above the cheapest options, but you are also getting a full 13-hour day with a guide and a route that covers both the coast and the highlands.

Warm months, long daylight

The tour runs in the season when the highland roads are open, which in Iceland means roughly June through September. The chart above shows Reykjavik temperatures peaking in July at 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit) and staying above 10 degrees from May through September. For a 13-hour day that takes you into the mountains, those are the months to book. In May and September, expect highs around 10 to 11 degrees, with lows near 4 to 6 degrees. The long daylight of the Icelandic summer helps, since a day this long needs the sun to cooperate. You will spend much of the daylight hours on the road or on your feet, so the warmest part of the day, typically the afternoon, is when you will likely be at the waterfall or walking in the highlands.

What to expect at the stops

The day begins in Reykjavik, where you board the coach. The route takes you past Vik í Mýrdal, a village on the south coast, before turning toward the interior. At Háifoss, you will have time to take in the waterfall, which drops from a considerable height. The ground around the falls stays damp, so sturdy footwear is essential. At Landmannalaugar, the geothermal area offers hot springs, and the guide will lead the group on a walk through the colorful rhyolite hills. The weather in the highlands can change quickly, and the guide has the final say on the route. If conditions close a road or make a path unsafe, the tour adjusts. The stops are in natural, open areas without facilities beyond what the mountain hut at Landmannalaugar provides.

Who should take this tour

This tour suits travelers who want to see two distinct parts of Iceland in one day without arranging their own transport. The 13-hour length means you need to be comfortable with a long day and willing to spend a good portion of it on a coach. If you prefer a shorter version of the highlands, the Landmannalaugar Hike and Hot Springs from Reykjavik and Hella runs 13 hours as well but starts from a different point and costs less at 207 USD. If you want more time at Landmannalaugar specifically, the Reykjavik Landmannalaugar Highland Hike and Hot Springs offers flexibility from 5 to 14 hours at 193 USD, though it has fewer reviews behind its rating. This tour is not for anyone with limited mobility, as it is not wheelchair accessible and involves walking on uneven ground. It is also not the cheapest way to see the highlands, so if budget is the priority, the alternatives above offer lower entry prices.

GYG

From Reykjavik: Landmannalaugar & Háifoss Waterfall Tour

Dates, remaining places and the current version of what is included are at the operator. This page reflects the state of the catalogue, not the state of this morning.

from $233

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