Laugarfell Hot Springs

What to expect

Laugarfell is a small highland lodge on the moors of Fljótsdalsheiði, in the eastern part of the Icelandic Highlands, a little north of Mount Snæfell. It takes its name from the warm springs that rise beside it, and its two outdoor pools are the reason most passers-by stop.

The pools are built from natural stone in the old Icelandic way, rather than poured concrete, so they look more like a farm bathing pool than a resort lagoon. The operator gives the larger pool as 99 to 102°F37 to 39°C, which is comfortable for a long soak, and the smaller one as 108 to 111°F42 to 44°C, which is hot enough that most people only manage a few minutes. They sit in front of the lodge with open views over the moorland. Reindeer graze in the area, and Visit Austurland notes that you can often see them wandering near the lodge.

The lodge itself has room for about 30 guests, in eight twin rooms, a bunk room and two family rooms, with shared bathrooms. It is heated with geothermal water. There is a camping area with separate spaces for tents and vans, and the lodge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is a simple, friendly base rather than a hotel.

Overnight guests use the pools for free. Day visitors pay at the lodge.

Getting there

Laugarfell is about an hour from the Ring Road, on the road that runs into the highlands toward the Kárahnjúkar dam.

• From Egilsstaðir: Take Road 931 along the west side of Lögurinn (Lagarfljót) toward Hengifoss. Continue a few minutes on Road 933, then turn right onto Road 910 and climb onto the heath. After about 40 minutes on Road 910, look for the Laugarfell sign and turn off.
• From the south (Djúpivogur): The operator also describes a route over Öxi on Road 939 and then Road 95 to reach the Fljótsdalur valley.

Road 910 was built for the hydro project and is paved up to the Laugarfell turnoff. The last 2 km (1.2 miles) to the lodge are gravel. Visit Austurland says there is good access in summer for all kinds of vehicles, and a 2024 hut listing adds that there is no ford to cross coming from Egilsstaðir or Lagarfljót. In winter the road is closed to normal traffic and the operator says access is by super jeep only.

Hikers can also walk in. The Icelandic Wilderness Center, down in the valley, runs a guided walk up the Jökulsá river past its waterfalls to Laugarfell; it takes about six hours.

When to go

Laugarfell opens from 1 June to 30 September. Outside those dates it only opens by agreement for private winter rentals of the whole house, and the road is closed, so plan around summer.

July and August are the most reliable months for weather and road conditions. Early June can still have snow patches on the heath, and late September brings shorter days and the first autumn storms. Highland weather changes fast at any time of year. Check vedur.is for the forecast and umferdin.is for road conditions before you drive up.

The pools are rarely crowded in the way Golden Circle spas are. The busiest time is late afternoon and evening, when hikers come back from the Waterfall Circle and overnight guests settle in.

Prices and booking

The operator’s current price list for the hot springs:

• Adults (13 and over): ISK 2,700
• Children (12 and under): ISK 1,900
• Seniors: ISK 1,900
• Overnight guests: included

The list is not dated, so treat these as the rates shown in October 2026. You do not need to book the pools, but rooms and dinner should be reserved in advance, especially in July and August. A 2024 listing for the hut gave breakfast at ISK 2,500 and dinner at ISK 4,400 per adult, and noted that special diets need to be flagged before 16:00 on the day; check current prices with the lodge.

The operator does not publish day-visitor hours for the pools. If you are arriving late in the evening, email info@laugarfell.is first.

Rules and etiquette

The usual Icelandic bathing rules apply. Shower before you get in, and keep the water clean for the next people; the operator does not say the pools are treated like a city pool. Wear a swimsuit unless the lodge tells you otherwise; this is a family place with guests coming and going past the pools. Keep glass away from the water, and leave the pools as you found them for the next group.

Hiking from Laugarfell

The Waterfall Circle is an 8 km (5 mile) marked loop that starts and finishes at the lodge. It passes five waterfalls and a canyon, including Kirkjufoss and Faxi, which the operator calls among the most powerful in East Iceland. Allow a few hours, then finish with a soak. The lodge says there are other marked trails around Laugarfell, from easy walks to the long approach to Snæfell, and it rents horses and mountain bikes.

Where to stay nearby

The obvious choice is the lodge itself, which is the only accommodation on this part of the heath. It has rooms for about 30 people and a campsite with showers and toilets for tents and vans.

Down in the valley, Fljótsdalur and the Hengifoss area have farm stays and guesthouses, and Egilsstaðir, about an hour away, is the main town in East Iceland with the widest choice of hotels, shops and fuel. Hallormsstaður, on the east side of Lögurinn, has forest campsites and a hotel.

Nearby stops worth adding

Hengifoss, one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, is on the way up from Egilsstaðir via Road 931. Beyond Laugarfell, Road 910 continues to the Kárahnjúkar dam and the Hálslón reservoir. Past the dam the road becomes the F910 highland track, which leads to the wild hot waterfall at Laugarvellir. That stretch needs a 4x4.

Safety notes

• Hot water: The small pool runs at 108 to 111°F42 to 44°C. Keep children out of it, keep your own soaks short and drink water.
• Footing: Natural stone edges and floors can be slippery. Step in slowly.
• Highland weather: Even in summer, wind, rain and cold can arrive quickly at this altitude. Bring warm layers for after the soak.
• Remoteness: Egilsstaðir is about an hour away. Fill up with fuel and food before you drive up, and tell someone your plans if you are heading on into the highlands.