The highlands

Select Month

start planning

The highlands southwest of Egilsstaðir are a spectacular detour on an Iceland Classics trip, forming a huge, wild, and impressively bleak expanse of moorland around the edges of the Vatnajökull ice cap. Overlooking everything is the permanently snowcapped, sharply ridged peak of Snæfell which, at 1833 m, is the highest freestanding mountain in Iceland, formed from the eroded core of a long extinct stratovolcano. While climbing Snæfell requires experience and equipment, you can approach the base on the way to the Kárahnjúkar hydro dam, built to provide power for an aluminium smelter down on the coast in Reyðarfjörður. You’ll also pass by Snæfell if you’re hiking the increasingly popular five day route through Lónsöræfi. Either way, keep eyes peeled for reindeer, geese, and whooper swans, which breed and feed up here in large numbers.

Trip ideas for Iceland

Crafted with by local experts

Horse in Iceland
Crafted by Èric

5 days

view trip ⤍
Aurora Borealis in Iceland
Crafted by Èric

14 days

view trip ⤍
t
Crafted by Othman

9 days

view trip ⤍
Iceland Landscape
Crafted by Othman

16 days

view trip ⤍
g
Crafted by Othman

7 days

view trip ⤍
Skogafoss waterfall, southern Iceland
Crafted by Èric

5 days

view trip ⤍
dyrh
Crafted by Èric

9 days

view trip ⤍
Waterfalls Iceland
Crafted by Èric

8 days

view trip ⤍
Fjord in Iceland
Crafted by Othman

12 days

view trip ⤍
g
Crafted by Othman

11 days

view trip ⤍
Iceland Horses
Crafted by Othman

7 days

view trip ⤍
x
Crafted by Othman

6 days

view trip ⤍
j
Crafted by Othman

7 days

view trip ⤍
Skaftafell
Crafted by Èric

7 days

view trip ⤍
See all Iceland trip ideas

Snæfell

On clear days, Snæfell looks stunning, the black-streaked flanks rising above desolate moorland to a brilliant, snowy pyramidal tip – a view worth building into 14-day Iceland trips if the weather cooperates; sadly, the usual vista is of the lower base vanishing into cloud. There’s a sealed road running south off Route 910 which ends up at a viewpoint above the little Kelduá reservoir, just 5km east of Snæfell; the white glow south from here is Vatnajökull, and the 15km-long valley in between is Eyjabakkar, annual nesting grounds for upwards of three thousand pairs of pink-footed geese. Original plans to flood this valley for hydropower caused such widespread protests from environmentalists that the site was shifted to Kárahnjúkar.

The main road to Snæfell’s base is the four-wheel-drive-only F909, which winds out via several river crossings to the mountain’s west side. Once there, a 30km hiking track circuits Snæfell, which is also at the start of the long hike south to Lónsöræfi.

Tip from Rough Guides: Learn about the best ways to get to Iceland.

Top image: Roadtrip in Vatnajokull National Park, Iceland © Nokuro/Shutterstock

Rough Guides combines destination expertise with tailor-made travel planned by vetted Iceland local experts. You can use our city and regional guides as a starting point, then receive up to 3 personalized trip plans created from scratch around your preferred pace, experiences, and route through the country. The final itinerary is refined directly with the local travel agent instead of being selected from a fixed package.

For over 40 years, Rough Guides has been a trusted name in travel, offering expert-curated guides, inspiring articles, and tailor-made trips. Our passionate team of writers and local travel specialists provide in-depth insights into destinations worldwide, from iconic landmarks to hidden gems. We help you travel smarter and experience the world authentically.