Laugarvatn

This small town between lake and highland is superbly located for exploring both the Þingvellir National Park on the other side of Lyngdalsheiði highland and other pearls of southern Iceland such as Gullfoss and Geysir, Skálholt, Kerið or other destinations. The environs around Laugarvatn are also interesting.

At Laugarvatn you have hot springs which provides steam for a unique natural steambath in addition to geothermally heated greenhouses, hot tubs and swimming pools. You have the lakes and the rivers which are excellent for fishing and boating (/rafting). And a local boat and quad-bike rental can supply you. You can also go golfing and horse-back riding in the area, hike and play paint-ball. At Laugarvatn there are also two hotels, a hostel, a camping ground and a restaurant.

One warning though; The road over the highland seems quite straightforward and many travelers opt for it when going from Þingvellir to Gullfoss and Geysir just northeast of Laugavatn. One should be aware though that it reaches quite some altitude and is not paved, so it is a Real Highland Road, and is impassable most of the year. If you’re traveling in a jeep and have some experience you might still take it and amuse yourself with the tourists as they stop and gawk at the driving-conditions in their first encounter with the Icelandic highlands ;-D