The Icelandic Highlands is a must-visit destination for adventurers, photographers, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts keen to get off the beaten track. This breathtaking wilderness is a unique and remote region that still sees relatively few visitors, yet it offers unmatched natural beauty, from its volcanic landscapes and glacial rivers to geothermal wonders.

While much of the country’s interior is off-limits for self-drive itineraries outside a brief summer season, tour operators are able to offer excursions year-round. In this article we’ll take a look at how useful the Highland Bus service can be to those who prefer to set their own pace.

What are the Highlands of Iceland?

The Icelandic Highlands, a vast and largely uninhabited interior, stand as a testament to the raw power of nature. This region, distinct from the coastal areas, is characterized by its dramatic interplay of volcanic and glacial forces.

Imagine a landscape where lava fields stretch across the horizon, punctuated by imposing volcanoes and geothermal areas that hiss and steam, revealing the Earth's inner workings. The immense Vatnajökull glacier, Europe's largest, exerts a profound influence, carving river valleys and shaping the terrain, creating a dynamic and ever-changing panorama.

Where are Iceland Highlands?

Situated in the heart of Iceland, the Highlands are essentially the island's elevated interior, generally above 300-400 meters. This region stretches across a significant portion of the country, creating a sparsely populated, if not entirely uninhabited, zone.

Geological history

The Highlands are a product of Iceland's intense volcanic activity and glacial sculpting. The terrain is a dramatic tapestry of lava fields, volcanic calderas, and glacial valleys. This geological history has resulted in a landscape of stark contrasts, from the colorful rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar to the black deserts of the interior.

The presence of glaciers, most notably Vatnajökull, Europe's largest, has played a crucial role in shaping the Highlands. Glacial meltwater feeds powerful rivers, and the movement of ice has carved out deep valleys and dramatic landscapes.

A Landscape of extremes

The Highlands are a place of extremes. Weather conditions can change rapidly, and the terrain can be challenging. This remoteness, however, is part of the region's allure, offering a sense of solitude and a deep connection to nature.

Historically, the Highlands posed a formidable barrier, limiting travel and settlement. While travel through the interior was known in the saga period, later on, superstition, and the harsh environment kept people away. Now, with modern 4x4 vehicles, and careful planning, people from all over the world can experience the wonder

How to Get to the Highlands of Iceland

The allure of the Icelandic Highlands is inextricably linked to its challenging accessibility. This is not a region traversed by smooth, paved roads. Instead, the interior is a network of rough, unpaved tracks, known as F-roads "mountain roads", that weave through lava fields and across glacial rivers. These routes, far from being mere inconveniences, are a defining characteristic, a testament to the Highlands' untamed nature.

During the long Icelandic winter, the Highlands are blanketed in snow, rendering them virtually impassable. Spring brings a thaw, but not a respite. The melting snow transforms the tracks into a quagmire of deep mud, making travel treacherous. It is only during a brief window, typically from late June to early September, that these routes become accessible to the public. Even then, "accessible" is a relative term.

Crossing Rivers in the Iceland Highlands

Driving in the Iceland Highlands often means navigating unbridged rivers, a challenge that requires proper vehicle, careful preparation and caution. Glacial rivers can be unpredictable, with water levels changing due to weather and temperature. A high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is essential. Not all car rental companies allow Highland driving or river crossings.

Rent a car that is suitable for navigating the Highland roads

Navigating the Highlands demands more than a standard vehicle. It requires a robust 4x4, equipped to handle the rugged terrain and unpredictable conditions. Expert driving skills are essential, as river crossings and steep, rocky inclines are commonplace.

The ever-present risk of being stranded adds an element of adventure, but also necessitates meticulous planning and preparation. Travelers must be self-sufficient, carrying ample supplies and possessing a thorough understanding of the terrain. This inherent difficulty of access is precisely what contributes to the Highlands' profound sense of solitude.

The Highland Bus: access to Iceland's most remote areas

The Highland Bus is a useful tool for those travellers who are keen to travel semi-independently but who don’t want to drive themselves to the Highlands region. This budget-friendly option offers three convenient routes: to Skógar, Þórsmörk and Landmannalaugar, all departing from and returning to Reykjavik’s BSI bus terminal.

It’s a cost-effective ans sustainable way of visiting this wonderful part of Iceland. Primarily a summer service, the Skógar and Landmannalaugar services operate from mid-June to mid-September. Meanwhile the Þórsmörk bus begins its scheduled operations a little earlier in June though it wraps up in mid-September just the same as the others.

Plan Ahead: Secure Your Seat on the Iceland Highland Bus

Highland buses fill up quickly. Booking your seat in advance ensures a hassle-free journey, as departures are limited and demand is high. Securing your spot before the season starts guarantees access to remote trails without the stress of last-minute availability issues. Plan ahead and enjoy the adventure without worry!

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The Best way to get to Laugavegur trailhead and return after the trek

The Highland Bus is particularly renowned as the primary transportation to the trailhead of the famed Laugavegur trail for independent hikers. Laugavegur is a multi-day trek that winds through some of Iceland's most stunning landscapes. The Highlabd Bus provides a reliable and cost-effective way for hikers to reach the starting point and return to the capital, Reykjavík, upon completion. However, its appeal extends beyond those undertaking long treks.

The Highland Bus as day tour

Increasingly, travelers have discovered that the Highland Bus offers an ideal solution for shorter day hikes and sightseeing tours. Departing Reykjavík early in the morning, passengers can journey into the Highlands, spend several hours exploring, and return to the city by evening. This allows for a taste of the interior’s grandeur, even for those with limited time. While these destinations are worthy of extended stays, the bus service provides a practical option for experiencing their highlights within a single day.

Beyond the destinations themselves, the bus journey is an integral part of the experience. The route traverses landscapes that are visually arresting, offering panoramic views of volcanic vistas, glacial rivers, and stark, otherworldly terrain. For many, the Highland Bus provides an "absolutely epic sightseeing ride," a window into the heart of Iceland's wilderness. And, for a surprisingly reasonable price, it is a gateway to a world that would otherwise be inaccessible to many.

Exploring Iceland's Highlands on guided tours

While it can sometimes be possible to explore the Icelandic Highlands on your own, there are a number of reasons why you should consider booking the Highlabs Bus or a guided hiking tour that includes transportation.

Firstly, even in summer, the driving is quite challenging, especially for those unused to uneven gravel tracks or routes that ford rivers. Conditions can change rapidly; if you plan to tour this region of Iceland under your own steam then you’ll need to stay abreast of river levels, weather and the current state of the roads via information published on a number of different websites – or you could simply entrust that task to your tour provider.

Leaving the driving to someone else can take a lot of the stress out of such an activity, allowing you to devote your full attention to what’s outside and enjoy the scenery. You’ll also benefit from a guide who’ll add fascinating insights and answer any questions you may have of the landscapes through which you travel. There’s no need to worry about navigating, either, as they’ll ensure you don’t miss any of the highlights.

Guided Multiday Hikes in the Iceland Highlands

For those seeking an immersive adventure, guided multiday hikes like the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails offer the perfect way to experience the Iceland Highlands. With expert guides handling logistics, navigation, and safety, you can focus on the breathtaking scenery. Whether camping or staying in mountain huts, a guided hike ensures a seamless and unforgettable journey through Iceland’s remote wilderness.

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Long distance walks through the Icelandic Highlands: the Laugavegur & Fimmvörðuháls trails

The Icelandic Highlands are the setting for some of the country’s most remarkable long-distance hikes. Among the most famous are the Laugavegur trek and the Fimmvörðuháls hike. While it’s possible to follow either – or both – of these trails on your own, booking a tour allows you to walk with a guide, whose commentary provides valuable context about the landforms, history and culture of this part of Iceland.

If you’re keen to do one of the area’s long distance hikes without a guide, then you might consider booking two separate Highland Bus segments so that you can walk between them. Reserve any overnight hut accommodation well in advance if so; demand often outstrips supply.

The Laugavegur trek is one of Iceland’s most iconic walks. A 56km trail links Landmannalaugar in the heart of the Icelandic Highlands with pretty Þórsmörk. Our five-day trek utilises the mountain huts that punctuate the route and break the hike into manageable chunks. The extraordinarily diverse landscapes along the way – expect views of rhyolite mountains, geothermal hot springs, black sand deserts, magnificent canyons and verdant valleys – make this a must-do.

The Fimmvörðuháls hike is the shorter of the two, a trail that’s about 25km long connecting Þórsmörk to Skógafoss. If you’re fit and used to walking considerable distances, it’s just possible to complete this hike in a single day, using the Highland Bus as transport at either end. However, many travellers prefer not to rush such a scenic route and instead add an overnight stop. Another option involves combining it with the longer Laugavegur trek to make a six-day trip.

It’s also possible to spend four days exploring the trails that lead off the beaten track through the Fjallabak Nature Reserve or in the Thórsmörk Glacier Valley. These moderately challenging multi-day excursions leave Reykjavik behind to enter a magical world characterised by moss-covered lava fields, colourful mountains, majestic waterfalls and tucked away canyons. Relatively few travellers get the chance to see this jaw-dropping wilderness, making it even more attractive to those who do.

Super Jeep tours

Both Þórsmörk and Landmannalaugar can be reached year-round on a super jeep tour. These remarkable vehicles have been specially modified to cope with uneven terrain, making them the perfect choice for getting off the beaten track in the Icelandic Highlands.

Their capabilities when it comes to traversing ice, compacted snow – and of course tackling river crossings – makes them ideally suited to low season excursions when the F-roads are closed to regular traffic.

Whether you’re planning to ride the Highland Bus to Iceland’s interior, or embarking on a more intrepid journey outside its scheduled operating season, careful consideration of your options is vital.

From guided Super Jeep tours, expert-led group hikes to meticulously planned expeditions, a range of possibilities exist. But regardless of your chosen mode of transport, one imperative remains: incorporate this extraordinary region into your Icelandic itinerary.

Iceland Highlands are, in many respects, the very heart of Iceland. Beyond their geographical centrality, they represent the island's untamed spirit, its geological dynamism, and its profound connection to the natural world. Those who invest the time and effort to explore this remote realm often return with a deeper, more nuanced understanding of Iceland than those who confine themselves to the well-trodden tourist trails.