Private Superjeep Tour To Landmannalaugar and Hekla Volcano

Landmannalaugar is the main event here, but the route makes the day special. You cross Iceland’s rough interior in a private superjeep, stopping at waterfalls, volcanic lakes, and Hekla, one of the country’s most active volcanoes. I especially like the freedom of a small private group and the chance to adjust the pace with guide Asker. The main drawback is the price: $1,800 per group is a serious spend unless four people share it.

I also like that the tour links several Highland sights that are awkward to reach on your own. Round-trip Reykjavik pickup removes the need to sort out a rental car and uncertain mountain roads. Bring your own lunch and plenty to drink, since neither is included and the day runs about 10 hours.

Key points to know before booking

• Landmannalaugar and Hekla in one day: You get both a famous geothermal area and one of Iceland’s best-known volcanoes.
• A true private outing: Only your group takes part, with room to set the pace and linger at scenic stops.
• A capable superjeep matters: Highland roads and rough access routes are much better suited to this vehicle than a standard car.
• Five major scenic stops: Expect waterfalls at Sigöldugljúfur, blue volcanic water at Bláhylur, lava evidence at Frostastaðavatn, Landmannalaugar, and Hekla.
• Bring food from Reykjavik: Lunch is not included, and the remote route offers no stated meal stop.
• Weather shapes the day: Poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund, so keep your plans flexible.

Why this private Highland route works

This is not a quick photo stop beside a paved road. The tour heads from Reykjavik toward Iceland’s interior, where the sights are spread out and access can be demanding. The superjeep is part of the experience, not just transport. It gives you a practical way to reach places that are difficult to connect by ordinary car.

You leave Reykjavik at 8:30 a.m. and return around 10 hours later. That makes for a long day, but the timing is useful. You have enough daylight and road time to visit several parts of the southern Highlands without changing hotels or arranging separate excursions.

The private setup is a major advantage. With a group of up to four, you are not tied to a large coach schedule. You can spend more time at a waterfall if conditions are good, or move on when the cold and wind have had enough. The guide can also explain what you are seeing as the scenery changes from lowland roads to volcanic uplands.

Asker is identified as the guide, and the tour’s strongest practical asset is his experience in the area. One particularly useful detail is that he has helped another driver get a vehicle unstuck during the route. That does not mean your trip will involve trouble, but it shows why an experienced local driver and a properly equipped vehicle matter in the Highlands.

Sigöldugljúfur, the Valley of Tears

The first major stop is Sigöldugljúfur, a canyon known for its many waterfalls. Its nickname, the Valley of Tears, comes from the water spilling through the gorge. You have about an hour here, which gives you time to walk around, take photographs, and look for the smaller falls that can be missed during a rushed stop.

This is an excellent opening to the day because it introduces the water and rock character of the Highlands before you reach Landmannalaugar. The canyon is more than a single viewpoint. The appeal comes from seeing many streams and falls gathered in one rugged setting.

Bring a waterproof layer even if Reykjavik is dry. Conditions can change quickly in the Icelandic interior, and an hour outside the vehicle is a long time if you have only city clothing. There is no admission charge listed for the stop.

Bláhylur and its dark blue water

Bláhylur Lake, also called Hnausapollur, is a volcanic lake near Landmannalaugar. Its deep blue color contrasts with the surrounding rock and open Highland scenery, making it one of the day’s strongest camera stops.

The name can cause some confusion because Bláhylur is sometimes mistaken for nearby Ljótapollur. The useful point for you is that Bláhylur is easier to access. You get about an hour here, with driving time already built into the overall schedule.

Do not expect a café, indoor shelter, or a developed visitor center. This is a remote nature stop, so snacks, water, and warm clothing belong in the vehicle. The dark water is the main attraction, but take a few minutes to look beyond the lake. The surrounding volcanic forms help explain how much of Iceland’s interior was shaped by eruptions rather than by roads or buildings.

Frostastaðavatn and signs of old eruptions

Frostastaðavatn is another Highland lake, located near both Landmannalaugar and Hekla. The name means lake of the frosty place, though the striking feature is not just the water. Around the shore you can see evidence of past volcanic activity, including mixed lava flows connected with eruptions in 1477.

Those eruptions involved the Torfajökull and Bárðarbunga volcanic systems, and the lava reached down toward the lake. The flows include both rhyolitic and basaltic rock, giving this stop a useful geological layer that goes beyond taking a scenic picture.

You have about an hour here. That is enough time to appreciate the setting, but it is not a geology field course. If volcanic detail interests you, ask Asker questions as you go. The value of a private guide is not only the driving. It is having someone available to connect the bare rock, lake, and eruption story in front of you.

Landmannalaugar, the heart of the day

Landmannalaugar receives the longest stop, about two hours, and rightly so. It sits in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve at the edge of the Laugahraun lava field, formed during an eruption around 1477. The area is known for geothermal hot springs and for the unusual colors and forms of the surrounding mountains.

Two hours gives you a proper taste rather than a rushed arrival and departure. You can walk around the lava field, take in the geothermal setting, and spend time near the hot springs. The tour description highlights geothermal pools, but it does not state that bathing, towels, or changing facilities are included, so treat swimming as an opportunity to confirm with the guide rather than a guaranteed part of the package.

Landmannalaugar is also the northern end of the famous Laugavegur hiking trail. This tour is not presented as a full trek, so do not book it expecting to walk the trail. Instead, you get a short visit to one of its best-known areas without committing several days to a hike.

This stop suits photographers, geology fans, and anyone who wants to see Iceland beyond the usual coastal route. It also rewards patience. Weather can alter the colors, visibility, and mood of the place. On a clear day, the views may stretch across a wide sweep of volcanic terrain. In cloud or rain, the same area can feel more stark and dramatic.

Hekla, Iceland’s active volcano

The final major sight is Hekla, a 1,491-meter active stratovolcano in southern Iceland. More than 20 eruptions have taken place in and around the volcano since 1210, giving Hekla a major place in Icelandic volcanic history. In medieval Europe, Iceland’s Norse population called it the Gateway to Hell, a grim name that helped spread the volcano’s reputation far beyond the country.

You spend about two hours in the Hekla area, including the drive between stops. The tour does not promise a summit climb, and this is important: you are visiting and viewing the volcano rather than signing up for a technical ascent. The mountain forms part of a 40-kilometer volcanic ridge, with its most active section known as Heklugjá.

Hekla’s shape is often compared to an overturned boat, with a line of craters forming the keel. Two craters are usually the most active. That detail gives you something specific to look for as you view the mountain, rather than treating it as just another distant peak.

Volcanic sites are also weather-sensitive. Clouds can cover the upper slopes, and poor conditions may affect the whole outing. The operator requires suitable weather and offers a different date or full refund if conditions force a cancellation. That policy is reassuring, but you still need flexibility in your Iceland schedule.

What the superjeep adds to the day

A standard rental car can be useful around Iceland, but this route is about reaching the Highlands. A superjeep is better suited to rough access roads and changing conditions than an ordinary city car. It also keeps you from having to study every route restriction or worry about taking an unsuitable vehicle into remote country.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and has Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi may seem like a small perk, but it is useful on a 10-hour day. You can stay in touch, check plans, or send a message when service allows. More important, the enclosed vehicle gives you a warm base between outdoor stops.

You should still pack for time outside. The vehicle does not turn Iceland’s interior into a warm-weather outing. Bring a waterproof jacket, sturdy shoes, extra layers, snacks, and drinks. Lunch is not included, and the route is remote enough that you should not count on finding food along the way.

The price and who gets good value

The cost is $1,800 per group of up to four people. At the maximum group size, that works out to $450 per person. For two people, the effective cost is $900 each, which makes the same tour much harder to justify.

I see the value in the price if you are a group of four that wants a private day, direct hotel pickup, a specialist vehicle, and several remote Highland stops in one outing. You are paying for the vehicle, driver, route planning, flexibility, and access, not merely for admission to attractions. The listed stops have no admission charge.

The value drops if you are happy with a larger group, do not care about privacy, or mainly want Landmannalaugar. In that case, compare the cost with other Highland outings before booking. This tour makes the most sense for people who specifically want Landmannalaugar and Hekla together, and who value having a local guide rather than managing the route alone.

The tour is booked an average of 44 days ahead, so it is sensible to reserve early if your dates are fixed. Confirmation arrives at booking. Pickup is offered from hotels in the Reykjavik area, and you are dropped at your hotel or preferred Reykjavik location afterward.

Timing, comfort, and physical demands

The 8:30 a.m. start and 10-hour duration create a full day. You should eat breakfast before pickup and pack a substantial lunch. The vehicle is comfortable, but comfort cannot remove the length of the route or the time spent on rough Highland roads.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is also near public transportation, though pickup is provided. Because the day includes outdoor stops and uneven natural areas, ask the operator about your specific needs before booking if walking or standing is a concern.

The private format helps here. You are not trying to keep up with a large group, and the guide can discuss the pace with you. Still, the basic character remains an outdoor excursion, not a fully accessible city sightseeing trip.

Weather, cancellations, and sensible planning

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions make the trip unsafe or impractical, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

I would avoid scheduling this as your only possible activity on the final day of an Iceland trip. Weather can interfere, and the experience needs a little room to move. Booking it early in your stay gives you a better chance to use an alternate date if one is offered.

Bring a phone or camera, but do not let photography take over the day. Sigöldugljúfur, Bláhylur, Frostastaðavatn, Landmannalaugar, and Hekla each have a different character. The best part is the changing sequence from waterfalls to volcanic lakes, geothermal ground, lava, and an active volcano.

Should you book this Landmannalaugar superjeep tour?

Book it if you want a private, full-day route into Iceland’s Highlands and can fill the vehicle with up to four people. The strongest reasons are the mix of stops, Asker’s local driving experience, the freedom of a private schedule, and the chance to see Landmannalaugar and Hekla on one day.

Think twice if you are traveling as a couple on a tight budget, or if you expect a long guided hike or a guaranteed hot-spring swim. Those details are not promised. For a group of four that wants comfort, privacy, and remote scenery without handling the Highland driving itself, this is a strong and focused choice.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours, including pickup and return to Reykjavik.

What time does the tour start?

Pickup starts at 8:30 a.m.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is offered from hotels in the Reykjavik area. At the end, you are returned to your hotel or preferred location in Reykjavik.

How many people can join the private tour?

The tour costs $1,800 per group for up to four people. Only your group participates.

Which main places does the tour visit?

The route includes Sigöldugljúfur, Bláhylur, Frostastaðavatn, Landmannalaugar, and Hekla Volcano.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should bring snacks, drinks, and food for the day.

Is Wi-Fi available in the vehicle?

Yes. The vehicle includes free Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded.