Kerlingarfjöll Highlands Day Tour in a 4X4 from Akureyri

Another Iceland waits beyond the paved roads. This full-day trip from Akureyri takes you into the remote Kjölur highlands, where Hveravellir’s hot springs and smoking geothermal ground lead to the colorful mountains of Kerlingarfjöll. I like the chance to reach two difficult places in one day, and I like that hotel pickup, transport, and a driver-guide are included. The main drawback is the long drive, roughly four hours each way, so this is a big day in the vehicle.

I also like the small-group setup, which can make the journey feel personal rather than like a highway procession. Guide Reynir is praised for safe driving, friendly company, and explanations of Iceland’s nature. Still, check the final group size when booking: the tour is described as limited to four people in one part of the information, while the formal maximum is listed as 12.

Key points to know before you book

• About 12 hours from Akureyri: Pickup begins around 8am, with return to your hotel near 8pm.
• Two very different highland stops: Hveravellir brings hot water, fumaroles, mud pools, and lava fields. Kerlingarfjöll brings rhyolite mountains, ravines, snowdrifts, and glacial passes.
• A real 4×4 outing: The vehicle is important here, since the route reaches remote highland terrain between Langjökull and Hofsjökull.
• Bring swim gear: A swimsuit and towel let you use the naturally warm Hveravellir pool.
• Lunch is extra: Restaurants are available at Hveravellir and Kerlingarfjöll, but food and drinks are not included.
• The best fit is an active, patient sightseer: You need sturdy walking shoes, moderate fitness, and a willingness to spend much of the day on the road.

Why this highlands trip is worth the long drive

Iceland gives you plenty of waterfalls and black beaches close to major roads. Kerlingarfjöll is a different proposition. It is a remote mountain area reached by the Kjölur route, between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers. The reward is a harsher, stranger setting, with brightly colored rhyolite mountains, ravines, glacial passes, snowdrifts, and broad views across the highlands.

From Akureyri, this is not a quick side trip. The day lasts about 12 hours, and the drive to Kerlingarfjöll can take around four hours. That sounds demanding because it is. Yet the road time is part of the experience, giving you a long look at the open interior of Iceland rather than a quick stop at a roadside viewpoint.

The 4×4 matters too. This is not simply a standard coach ride with a short walk at the end. You are heading into a remote area where a high-clearance vehicle is suited to the route. It also keeps the group together and lets the guide adjust the day around road conditions and weather, within the limits of the fixed schedule.

I would choose this trip for the sense of getting far from ordinary sightseeing. You are not just looking at one famous feature, then returning to town. You are crossing a large, exposed region and seeing how geothermal heat, lava, glaciers, and colorful volcanic rock shape the interior.

The 8am departure from Akureyri

Pickup begins at about 8am, with collection from your Akureyri hotel. Hótel Kea by Keahotels on Hafnarstræti is the listed meeting point, and pickup can take up to 15 minutes. If you are not using a pickup location, Star Travel is listed as the starting point for the activity.

That early start is useful. You need the full day to reach the highlands, spend meaningful time outside, and return to Akureyri around 8pm. I would eat breakfast before pickup and bring water and snacks, since lunch and drinks are your own responsibility.

The vehicle and guide shape much of the day. A good driver is especially important on a long highland outing, and Reynir receives particular praise for friendly service, safe driving, and clear explanations about Iceland’s natural setting. The guide is not simply there to point out the next stop. The drive gives you a chance to understand the geology around you as the scenery changes.

The small-group promise is attractive. A group of four would allow easy conversation and more flexibility at photo stops. The formal activity information also gives a maximum of 12, so the exact group size may vary. If having a very small vehicle and a highly personal feel is important to you, confirm this before paying.

Hveravellir: warm water beside an ancient lava field

Hveravellir is the first major stop, with about 1 hour and 15 minutes scheduled there. This geothermal area sits among ancient lava fields, with smoking fumaroles and bubbling mud pools showing that Iceland is still busy below the surface.

I like this stop because it combines things that are often separated on other day trips. You can walk through a geothermal area, see the ground steaming and bubbling, and then use a natural warm pool in the same place. The experience is less polished than a city spa. Its appeal comes from sitting in warm water while looking across the Kjalhraun lava field toward Langjökull glacier.

Bring your swimsuit and towel. The information specifically recommends both, and skipping the bath would mean missing one of the trip’s most distinctive moments. You should also bring sturdy walking shoes because the visit involves walking across old lava terrain and around geothermal features.

The time here is long enough for a walk and a soak, but not so long that you can wander without watching the clock. Stay on the marked or clearly used paths around hot ground, and follow the guide’s instructions. The combination of steaming vents, mud pools, rough lava, and glacier views gives Hveravellir a strong sense of place.

There are restaurants at Hveravellir, so you may be able to eat here. Food is not included, however, and the schedule continues to Kerlingarfjöll. Ask your guide about the best time to buy lunch rather than assuming every option will suit your timing.

The road through Kjölur and the glacier country

The route follows the Kjölur highlands between Langjökull and Hofsjökull. Along the way, the guide makes stops for views and photographs, though the exact roadside locations are not specified.

This part of the outing rewards patience. You may find long stretches with little built development, then sudden changes in color and texture as the route moves through lava, snow, glacial terrain, and volcanic mountains. The open views are the point, but they also make the ride feel long if you expect constant attractions.

I would pack layers rather than dress only for the weather in Akureyri. The tour requires sturdy shoes and moderate physical fitness, and the highlands can feel very different from town. The data does not promise a set number of walks or a specific hiking distance, so think of this as a sightseeing tour with walking stops, not a full hiking excursion.

The 4×4 ride also means you should be comfortable with a long day on the road. If you dislike rough or extended driving, the trip may test your patience. If you enjoy watching the country open up outside the window, the journey helps make the destination feel earned.

Kerlingarfjöll: Iceland in bold colors

The main stop at Kerlingarfjöll lasts about three hours. This is where the day shifts from geothermal sightseeing to mountain country.

The area is known for multi-colored rhyolite mountains, ravines, glacial passes, and snowdrifts. Rhyolite often produces strong bands of color, and here those tones are set against the pale, open highlands. The result can feel almost unreal, which explains why the experience is often compared to another planet.

You will have time to walk around the Kerlingarfjöll site and take in the views. The supplied details do not promise a specific hiking trail, elevation gain, or viewpoint, so do not book this expecting a demanding mountain trek. You should expect outdoor walking over highland ground, with the guide showing you where to go and explaining the natural features.

Three hours is a useful amount of time. It gives you room to look beyond the first viewpoint, take photographs, and absorb the scale of the area without rushing straight back to the vehicle. It also leaves enough time for lunch at a local restaurant in the highland resort, though lunch is at your own expense.

I would save some camera space for this stop. The most interesting images may not be the broadest views. Look for the contrast between colored slopes, dark ravines, patches of snow, and the empty space around them. The area is spectacular without needing a long list of attractions.

Lunch, comfort, and what you pay for

The price is $535.83 per person, which is a serious amount for a day trip. Lunch, drinks, and entrance fees are not included, although admission to the listed stops is free.

The value depends on what you are comparing it with. You are paying for a full day from Akureyri, hotel pickup and drop-off, a 4×4, a driver-guide, and access to remote highland places that are not simple to reach independently. You are also avoiding the work of planning the route, checking conditions, arranging a suitable vehicle, and managing the long return drive.

I would not call this a bargain in the usual sense. It is better described as a practical way to reach an expensive-to-access part of Iceland without hiring your own 4×4. The value improves if you care about the geothermal bath and Kerlingarfjöll equally, since the tour joins both in one day.

The price makes less sense if you want a relaxed day with lots of free time or if your main interest is simply soaking in warm water. Hveravellir is one part of a much longer outing. The strongest reason to pay is the complete highlands experience, not one individual stop.

Who should book this day in the interior

I would recommend it to you if you:

• Want to see the Kjölur route and the remote interior from Akureyri
• Enjoy unusual geology more than standard city sightseeing
• Like the idea of combining a geothermal walk, a hot spring, and colorful mountains
• Can handle a long day with several hours in a vehicle
• Have moderate physical fitness and can walk in sturdy shoes
• Prefer a guided trip instead of arranging a highland vehicle yourself

I would hesitate if you have limited mobility, need a short outing, or dislike spending much of a day on the road. The available information calls for moderate fitness and does not provide accessibility details, so ask the operator directly if you have specific walking or vehicle needs.

This is also weather dependent. If poor weather forces cancellation, Star Travel Iceland offers another date or a full refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of people, so a cancellation for that reason brings the same choice. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Practical packing advice for the highlands

Keep your preparation simple but deliberate:

• Wear sturdy walking shoes.
• Pack a swimsuit and towel for Hveravellir.
• Bring food or money for lunch and drinks.
• Carry layers suited to changing highland conditions.
• Leave room in your schedule for the full 8am to 8pm day.
• Bring a camera, but do not let photography replace time simply looking at the mountains.

The operator offers English-language service, and confirmation is provided when you book. Hotel pickup is included, with the stated pickup location at Hótel Kea in Akureyri.

Should you book the Kerlingarfjöll tour?

Book it if your Iceland plans include one bold day in the interior and you want the logistics handled for you. The combination of Hveravellir’s warm pool, geothermal ground, glacier views, and Kerlingarfjöll’s colorful mountains is unusually strong.

Skip it if you want a cheap or easy excursion. The price is high, the drive is long, lunch costs extra, and the day depends on good weather. For an adventurous sightseer who values remote scenery and a capable guide, though, this is one of the more distinctive ways to leave Akureyri behind.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The listed meeting point is Hótel Kea by Keahotels, Hafnarstræti 87-89, 600 Akureyri. Hotel pickup is also offered.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 8am. Pickup can take up to 15 minutes.

When does the tour return to Akureyri?

The tour is expected to end around 8pm, with drop-off back at your hotel or the meeting point.

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately 12 hours.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. Restaurants are available at Hveravellir and Kerlingarfjöll.

Can I swim during the tour?

Yes. You can bathe in the naturally warm waters of the Hveravellir hot springs. Bring a swimsuit and towel.

What should I wear?

Sturdy walking shoes are required. You should also bring swimwear and a towel.

How large is the group?

The tour description presents it as a small-group experience, limited to four people, while the formal maximum is listed as 12 travelers. Confirm the expected group size when booking.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. A minimum number of participants is also required, and a cancellation for that reason brings the same options.