Landmannalaugar and Hekla, Colours and Calderas

Colours and Calderas is a Super Jeep excursion into the Icelandic interior, run by Boreal from Reykjavik. A Boreal driver-guide does the driving and guests ride as passengers, so this is a guided day rather than a self-drive trip. It is a small-group tour, lasts 10 to 12 hours and covers about 400 to 420 km, with pick-up at 8:30.

The destination is Landmannalaugar, a rhyolite volcanic area in the Torfajökull Caldera that the operator describes as rich in colour, with green, yellow, blue, purple, pink, brown, black and white across the hills. The name refers to the hot springs scattered through the area, which Icelanders have used for centuries. Landmannalaugar is part of the Fjallabak nature reserve, and the tour spends some time there.

On the way the route passes through the fertile southern countryside and the historic Þjórsárdalur valley. It then climbs onto mountain trails through craters and volcanoes in a moon-like landscape, crossing recent ash, pumice and lava fields from Hekla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. The route can vary with the season, the road, snow and weather conditions.

Boreal recommends good shoes, warm wind and waterproof clothing and sunglasses, and suggests bringing swimming gear, although soap is not allowed in the pond. The tour is given in English, with other languages on request, and meals are not included. Departures from hotels outside Reykjavik are available on request, as is a private tailor-made version. Price is not published on the page, so contact Boreal for a quote.