This area is 600 meters above sea level and is the largest geothermal area in Iceland apart from the great Grímsvötn area on Vatnajökull. Natural hot springs created by both hot and cold water from beneath Laugahraun (a lava field) should not me missed in any case. This area is really so special that you could literally spend days there constantly discovering something new and amazing.

Ideal day trip destinations: Laugahraun and Brennisteinsalda ('Burning stones crest'), Frostastaðavatn which is immediately north of Landmannalaugar itself. Bláhnjúkur (Blue Peak) which is 943 meter high and located south of the main camp site. You should also look at Ljóti Pollur ('Ugly pool') which is really a full days trip. Also there is yet another day trip to the 200-metre peak Tjörvafell and the crater lake Hnausapollur.

Getting there: You can get there via BSÍ buses that operate daily (based on river conditions) trips between Reykjavik and Skaftafell during July through August. Departure is 08:30 AM and there are numerous stops along the way, but arrival is around 12:30 with departure at 2:30 PM. You can get a one-way fare and stay at this area if you like, the Landmannalaugar hut can accommodate 115 people but it's often booked, in that case there is always the camping area (which is free and shares facilities with the hut). This route is next to impossible to complete on a non-4WD vehicle in any conditions (there are several unbridged rivers that have to be crossed).