Hellulaug

What to expect

Hellulaug is a single, small geothermal pool on the beach of Vatnsfjörður, the fjord at the western end of Breiðafjörður in the southern Westfjords. It sits a few steps below Route 60, close to Hotel Flókalundur, but it is tucked below the roadside bank, so you cannot see it while driving past.

The pool is roughly 4 by 3 m (13 by 10 ft) and about 60 cm (2 ft) deep, with flat stone slabs around the edge. Warm water comes from a borehole on the slope above. The Westfjords tourism office puts it at 100°F38°C and the hotel at 100 to 104°F38 to 40°C, which is a long-soak temperature, not a quick dip. Sit back against the rocks and the fjord is right in front of you, a few metres away, with birch-covered slopes on both sides.

There is nothing else: no hut, no shower, no toilet, no attendant. That keeps the setting simple, and it also means everyone who uses it has to look after it. It is small, so in summer, when the Baldur ferry unloads a few kilometres away, you will rarely have it to yourself.

Getting there

Hellulaug is on Route 60 (Vestfjarðavegur), where it runs along the head of Vatnsfjörður.

• From the Baldur ferry at Brjánslækur: Drive east on Route 62 to Flókalundur, where it meets Route 60. The pool is about 6.5 km (4 miles) from the ferry terminal and about 300 m from the hotel.
• From Dynjandi and the north: Come south on Route 60 over the Dynjandisheiði plateau. The tourism office puts Dynjandi about 30 minutes away, though the hotel quotes closer to an hour, depending on road works and conditions.
• From Patreksfjörður and Látrabjarg: Follow Route 62 east along Barðaströnd. Látrabjarg is about 1.5 hours away by car.

Look for the small parking area on the shore side of Route 60 near Flókalundur. From the lot, a short path leads down to the beach and the pool in a minute or two. The hotel describes it as a five- to eight-minute walk from its door. The path is short but can be wet, so wear shoes rather than going barefoot.

When to go

June to August is the easy season. Hotel Flókalundur, its restaurant and the campsite are all open, the roads are at their best, and the light runs late into the night. It is also the busy season, with ferry passengers and road-trippers stopping on the way to Látrabjarg or Dynjandi.

Early morning and late evening are the quiet hours. The pool is open at all times, so on a bright June night you can soak at midnight with the fjord glowing.

Winter is a different trip. The pool stays warm, but the hotel closes after September, the campsite after mid-September, and the routes over Dynjandisheiði and Kleifaheiði can be icy, snowbound or closed. Check umferdin.is and the weather forecast at vedur.is, carry food and warm clothes, and do not count on services nearby.

Rules and etiquette

There are no posted fees or opening hours, but the usual Icelandic standards apply, and this small pool depends on them more than most.

• Swimsuits on. Westfjords guides note growing problems with nude bathing here. The pool is a few steps from a highway and a hotel.
• No soap or shampoo in the pool. A pool this size cannot clear the film.
• Rinse before you get in. There is no shower, so wash at the campsite or your lodging first if you can.
• Leave a donation. Use the box in the parking area to help with upkeep.
• Keep your stay reasonable when others are waiting.
• Take everything out with you. There are no bins at the pool.
• Stay off the vegetation. Vatnsfjörður is a nature reserve covering about 20,000 hectares of birch woodland and barren uplands. Keep to the path.

Where to stay nearby

• Hotel Flókalundur: The family-run hotel next to the pool, built in 1966, opens from 1 May to 30 September in 2026. Its restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily from 12:00 to 21:00.
• Flókalundur campsite: Open 20 May to 15 September, with power, toilets, hot showers and dishwashing. In 2026 camping costs ISK 2,400 per person, ISK 1,800 for seniors and nothing for ages 16 and under, plus ISK 1,500 per vehicle for electricity.
• Barðaströnd: Further west along Route 62, the Birkimelur pool and guesthouses on the coast make a second base. See our Birkimelur pool guide.
• Patreksfjörður: The main town of the southern Westfjords, with shops, fuel and more places to stay.

Safety notes

• Water quality: The pool is not treated or monitored like a town pool. Westfjords guides warn that heavy use has left some natural pools unable to keep themselves clean. Keep your head out of the water, and skip it if the water looks cloudy or smells off.
• Footing: The rock slabs and the path get slippery, and icy in winter. Step in slowly.
• The sea: The beach is right beside the pool. Keep an eye on children near the water’s edge.
• No supervision: There is no attendant or lifeguard.
• Remote roads: Services in the southern Westfjords are spread out. Fill up with fuel when you can and tell someone your plans in winter.

Nearby stops worth adding

Flókalundur takes its name from Hrafna-Flóki, the Norse settler who, according to tradition, landed in Vatnsfjörður and gave Iceland its name. Dynjandi, the tiered waterfall on Arnarfjörður, is the obvious next stop north. To the west, the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg and the pink-gold sands of Rauðisandur make a full day. The Baldur ferry from Brjánslækur crosses Breiðafjörður to Stykkishólmur, with a stop at Flatey island about an hour out.