In my opinion Iceland is the best country in the world for an adventure due to the amazing and diverse number of landscapes located over such a small area.
It’s a place that all landscape photographers should aim to visit, but it’s one of those locations where one visit will never be enough as there’s so much to see. There’s an abundance of waterfalls, hiking trails, glaciers, mountains, volcanos and geothermal areas, all of which change dramatically with the seasons. Then you have the Iceland highlands which is worthy of a trip in itself, with landscapes so ridiculously epic you feel as though you’ve discovered another planet!
Photography Guide to the Highlands In Iceland
Iceland is a place we keep returning to, and this is our third trip, where we spent 10 days exploring the highland areas.
Plans can quickly change in Iceland due to weather so it’s wise to keep a loose itinerary. When we first landed in Iceland we had plans to stock up and enter the highlands, but it was raining heavily over the first few days, so we headed towards the coast first where the weather was slightly better.
Always have a backup plan and check Roads.is for road updates and closures. Literally two days after we left Iceland there were glacial floods which closed nearly all roads off into the highlands, and road 1 between Vik and the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
We like to travel Iceland with a camper van as it gives us the flexibility of spending more time in locations, without having to worry about driving long distances to find somewhere to dine and sleep. For this trip we needed a 4×4 adapted camper van due to the terrain we planned on crossing, as well as a number of deep rivers.
We started our trip off by visiting some of the glaciers before heading into the highlands. Our first stop was a coffee fueled hike around Svinafellsjokull glacier. There are many glaciers around Iceland and most of them will be less crowded than the main glacier lagoon, Jokulsarlon. We hiked there in the morning and had the whole place to ourselves.
Glaciers and Coastal areas
We made a few stops off along the coast before visiting our first location in the Iceland highlands. We headed towards Maelifell, a large volcanic peak surrounded by a sea of black sand and glacial rivers. The journey there took us through some amazing landscapes of black sands, and fluorescent green mosses, which take hundreds of years to grow. There are some glacial river crossings en-route to Maelifell , as well as a waterfall crossing. I couldn’t resist flying the drone here!
Maelifell
When we arrived the stormy weather was beginning to clear, however the wind swept valley surrounding the volcano was kicking up a dust storm, as sand and cloud swirled around the peak giving the whole area an otherworldly feel to it. There was also an unusual amount of glacial flood water surrounding the area which added another dimension to the landscapes, however it was a little tricky crossing all those rivers.
Apple Crater
When we arrived at the top of the apple crater it was raining hard, this didn’t stop me from flying the drone though! The moody weather only adds to the dramatic landscapes of Iceland and the rain makes the colours really pop. Can you see our camper at the top of the crater? Such epic scale!
The volcano gets its colour from the wooly green moss known as lichen. The moss can take hundreds of years to grow and is an important part of the unique biodiversity than can be found all over Iceland. The red colour is caused by the oxidation of iron in the lava, the iron is heavier than rock so struggles to flow down with lava.
Haifoss
On our way up to the next area in the highlands we visited one of our favourite waterfalls in Iceland, Haifoss Waterfall.
The view from the top stretches all the way across the valley and is a sight to behold. This time we decided to hike down to the base of the waterfall.
The hike is relatively easy, with some steep sections. During summer the area is awash with colour from all the wild flowers, some of which we tried to incorporate into our photograph.
It’s free to park at Haifoss, although the road to get there is a little bumpy, especially if you aren’t in a 4×4. The walk to get the view from the top is just a short 5 minute walk from the car park. If you want to hike down to see the waterfall from within the canyon then you will need to allow about an hour and a half.
Langisjor Lake
Our favourite area to explore in the highlands was around Langisjor Lake, we really enjoyed exploring the black deserts surrounded by green mountain peaks, and hiking to the different viewpoints. It was also our favourite place to camp, you can’t beat waking up next to the lake to enjoy morning coffee and breakfast. We honestly could have spent longer here, as there was so much we didn’t explore.
Into Iceland’s Highlands
As we drove through the highlands there were numerous places to stop and fly the drone from. It’s really hard to get the scale of the landscapes in the highlands, but believe me the whole place is like a scene from a Jurassic Park film! There are some volcanoes that can be hiked up for epic views, so make sure to stop off where you can to stretch the legs and fully appreciate the surreal landscapes.
We couldn’t believe how entirely surreal some of the highland areas were when we got the drone up in the air. To reach some of these places we had to venture down some pretty unnerving farmers tracks, most of which are only accessible with a higher clearance 4×4.
Unfortunately there are many visitors who will attempt river crossings and difficult terrain in unsuitable vehicles. We’ve seen cars disappear into rivers and wheels completely detached from others. Many of these areas are completely isolated and can be cut off in an instant, so please check road and weather conditions before a trip.
Kerlingarfjoll
Kerlingarfjoll is a geothermal area located up in the mountains. The roads to get there are pretty tough, with so many potholes! However it is worth the effort and the views along the way are breathtaking. There are various hiking trails around Kerlingarfjoll, many of which take you through the sulphur dense geothermal valleys. There are also some fantastic mountain hot springs, a great place to recharge the batteries after a long hike!
Ofaerufoss Waterfall
We were deep in the highlands when the road increased in elevation and we were engulfed by the surrounding clouds. We had no visibility for around 10 minutes, until we started to descend. Suddenly the landscape started to come into view and it was jaw dropping. We found the small turning that took us to the start of the hike to falls and there was no-one else around.
A 30 minute hike took us to the base of these magnificent falls and we were amazed to have such a beautiful spot to ourselves. It was like something out of Lord of the Rings as we were deep in a gorge, with moss covered rocks and a crystal clear stream.
Landmannalaugar
Another stunning region in the highlands with its multicoloured, layered mountains. The magma in the area contains a mineral called rhyolite which gives the mountains their unusual coloured appearance. The whole area is epic and it’s a great place to hike around, taking in the multiple viewpoints along the way. If you want to explore the area extensively I recommend at least two days here, and there is a campsite with facilities at the base.
Due to the popularity of Landmannalaugar, they have introduced a parking fee for the summer of 2024, between 20th June and 15th September. This must be booked online, in advance of your visit, if you plan to arrive between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm. If you arrive outside of those times, you can just turn up and park.
We were able to book online in the morning of both of visits, but on a sunny Saturday, it had sold out by 11:00 am and we saw people being turned away as we drove up.
The price is at a reduced rate of 450 isk (~£2.50/3 euros) in 2024 due to it just being introduced, but it is likely to be double that in 2025. You can book your spot online here.
