Kerlingarfjöll: Highland Baths Admission

Mountain bathing gets wonderfully remote here. At Highland Base in the Ásgarður Valley, you can soak in geothermal water at the edge of Kerlingarfjöll, with broad mountain views replacing the usual spa scenery. The setting is the main event: quiet, open, and far from Iceland’s busier bathing spots.

I especially like the three steaming pools and the sauna, which gives you several ways to warm up after hiking. I also like the cold plunge, a brisk counterpoint to the hot water. The main drawback is simple: at $49 per person for two hours, this is not a cheap soak, and you must bring your own towel and swimwear.

Key points to know before you go

• Three hot pools create more room to settle in, rather than relying on one central bathing area.
• The sauna has a spectacular mountain view, so the warm-up is part of the scenery.
• A cold plunge pool adds a sharp Icelandic ritual to the gentle pace of the baths.
• The facility sits in Ásgarður Valley, at the edge of the remote Kerlingarfjöll area.
• Underground passageways connect the baths with Highland Base Hotel, linking bathing, food, and overnight comfort.
• The two-hour admission works well after a hike, but the price makes the experience best for a planned stop rather than an impulse visit.

Why the Highland Baths feel different

Iceland has no shortage of geothermal pools. Many are easy to reach, heavily promoted, and crowded with people taking the same photograph. The Highland Baths offer a different mood. Their appeal comes from the setting at Highland Base, where the surrounding highlands do most of the decorating.

You are not bathing beside a city or a resort strip. You are looking toward the mountains of Kerlingarfjöll, an area known for dramatic geothermal scenery and hiking routes. The baths give you a calm way to experience the region without spending every minute on a trail.

That matters because Kerlingarfjöll can be demanding. Hiking, changing weather, and long days outdoors take energy. A warm pool at the end of the day is not just a luxury. It can be the most pleasant part of your schedule.

The facility opened in July 2023, so it has a relatively fresh feel. The setup includes three hot pools, a sauna, a cold plunge pool, changing rooms, and underground passageways leading to Highland Base Hotel. The design connects the practical parts of a remote base with the pleasure of a proper bath.

Arriving in Ásgarður Valley

The location is both the attraction and the limitation. Highland Base is in the Ásgarður Valley at the edge of Kerlingarfjöll, in Iceland’s Southern Region. The setting gives you the mountain views you came for, but it also means you should think of the baths as part of a highland outing.

This is not an ordinary stop you casually add between urban attractions. The experience makes most sense when you are already visiting Kerlingarfjöll for hiking, scenery, or a stay at Highland Base. The bath admission lasts two hours, giving you a defined period to relax without taking over your whole day.

I like that the bath facility is tied to the wider base rather than treated as an isolated pool. You can pair it with a meal at the Highland Base Restaurant, use it after a hike, or make it a quieter part of a longer stay. That flexibility gives the admission more value than a quick dip alone.

The remote setting also shapes your expectations. You come for stillness and views, not a large entertainment complex. If you want slides, crowds, or a long list of water features, this is not the right choice. If you want warm water in a striking highland setting, it fits much better.

Three hot pools with room for a slow soak

The trio of steaming pools is the heart of the experience. Having three pools gives you some choice in how you spend your two-hour visit. You can move between them, find a comfortable place to sit, or simply settle into the warmth and look out toward the mountains.

The supplied details do not give separate temperatures or special features for each pool, so I would not book this expecting three radically different bathing zones. Think of them as a group of geothermal pools designed for resting, conversation, and views.

The natural heat is the point. Iceland’s geothermal bathing tradition works because it slows you down. You arrive from a day of outdoor activity, change, and let the warmth ease the transition from exertion to rest.

The mountain view adds something a standard indoor pool cannot offer. Even if you spend much of the time looking down at the water, the setting remains present. The quiet of the area is a major part of the appeal, and one direct account praised the outdoor bath for its mountain views and peaceful atmosphere.

That peace may be the strongest reason to choose this facility. You are paying for the setting as much as for the water. The three pools help make the price easier to understand, especially if you stay for most of the full two-hour period.

The sauna and cold plunge pairing

The sauna gives you another way to enjoy the highland setting. Its spectacular view means you can warm up while still looking toward the mountains, rather than retreating completely indoors.

I like this arrangement because it gives the visit a clear rhythm. Soak in the hot water, sit in the sauna, cool down, then return to the pool. You can keep the routine gentle, or make it more invigorating with the cold plunge.

The cold pool is not a minor extra. It changes the character of the visit. After the warmth of the baths and sauna, a brief cold plunge wakes you up and gives the experience a traditional Icelandic bathhouse feel.

You should use it at your own pace. The activity description presents the cold pool as a way to invigorate yourself, not as a challenge you must complete. If cold water is not your thing, the hot pools and sauna provide enough to fill the visit.

The contrast between heat and cold also makes the two-hour period feel more varied. Without the plunge and sauna, the experience would be mainly one long soak. With them, you have several simple choices and can build a routine that suits your energy level.

Clean facilities and useful practical touches

The baths include changing rooms, so you have a proper place to get ready before entering the pools. One particularly useful detail from the on-site experience is that the showers are clean and effective. Products from Blue Lagoon are available in the showers, which is a pleasant touch after spending time outdoors.

Those details matter more than they might seem. A beautiful pool can lose some of its appeal if the changing area feels neglected. Clean showers and good products help the whole visit feel organized and comfortable.

Bring a towel and swimwear. Neither is included in the admission, so you should pack both before heading to the baths. This is the kind of small omission that can spoil an otherwise easy stop if you assume towels come with the ticket.

The underground passageways to Highland Base Hotel are another thoughtful feature. They connect the bathing area with the hotel without making the facility feel like a separate attraction. The information provided does not explain exactly how every visitor uses these passageways, so you should treat them as a connection to the base rather than expect a guided underground tour.

Pairing the bath with hiking

The best way to use the Highland Baths is after a hike in Kerlingarfjöll. The area has trails from one kilometer to 50 kilometers, with both guided and unguided options. That range allows you to build a short scenic walk into your day or plan a serious mountain outing before your bath.

A three-hour hike through the geothermal valleys is specifically suggested as one option. You can also spend a full day reaching the highest peaks of Kerlingarfjöll. The bath fits both styles, but the timing feels different.

After a short hike, you may still have plenty of energy for dinner or more sightseeing. After a full day on the trails, the pools become the main reward. You will probably appreciate the sauna and hot water more after a longer outing, while a short walk leaves you free to enjoy the area at a slower pace.

The two-hour limit is useful here. It gives you enough time to bathe properly without turning the entire visit into an unstructured afternoon. Still, check the available starting times before you plan a hike around it. Admission is valid for two hours, and the schedule may shape when you need to leave the trail.

If you are visiting only for the baths, the surrounding hiking options remain a bonus rather than a requirement. You do not need to commit to a 50-kilometer route to justify the stop. The range of trails simply makes it easier to combine bathing with the kind of outdoor day you prefer.

Add a meal at Highland Base

Food can make this experience better planned and better valued. Highland Base Restaurant has 80 seats and offers several styles of dining, from coffee and waffles to bistro comfort food and buffet meals.

I would consider adding lunch or dinner if your schedule allows. A meal before or after the bath turns a two-hour admission into a larger highland outing. It also gives you a warm indoor pause in a remote area where you may not have many other dining choices.

The food description suggests a relaxed range rather than one fixed restaurant format. You might want coffee and waffles after a shorter outing, or something heartier after hiking. Buffet dining can also make sense when you want a filling meal without spending time making a complicated choice.

The restaurant is optional, so it does not inflate the $49 admission automatically. That is helpful for budget control. You can keep the visit focused on the baths, or add food when the setting and schedule make a longer stop worthwhile.

Is $49 good value?

At $49 per person, the Highland Baths sit in the premium part of the geothermal bathing market. You should not compare the price only with the cost of entering a local swimming pool. The admission includes access to a remote highland facility with three hot pools, a sauna, a cold plunge, changing rooms, and mountain views.

The value depends heavily on how you use the two hours. If you arrive, take one quick dip, and leave, the price will feel steep. If you use the pools, sauna, cold plunge, changing facilities, and views after a hike, the cost becomes easier to justify.

The setting is what separates this from a basic public bath. You are paying for comfort in a place where the surrounding environment can feel rough and remote. Highland Base provides a warm refuge, and the bath gives you a direct way to enjoy the area without needing another major activity.

Still, I would budget honestly. Towels and swimwear are extra in the sense that you must provide them yourself, and food at the restaurant is not part of the ticket. The admission is strongest for people who already value the Kerlingarfjöll visit and want one restorative experience added to it.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the booking gives you some protection if plans change. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are arranging several Iceland activities ahead of time.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the Highland Baths to you if you want quiet geothermal bathing, mountain scenery, and a gentle finish to an outdoor day. It suits couples, solo visitors, and small groups who care more about setting and calm than about a long list of facilities.

It is also a good match for hikers. The trails range from one to 50 kilometers, so you can pair the pools with anything from a short walk to a full mountain day.

The experience may be less appealing if you are watching every dollar, dislike remote outings, or want a full-day water attraction. Two hours is enough for a satisfying visit, but it is not designed to fill an entire day on its own.

The bathing area is also a sensible choice for people who want to see Kerlingarfjöll without making every part of the trip strenuous. You can enjoy the views from the pools and sauna, then add only as much hiking as feels right.

What to bring and how to plan the visit

Pack swimwear and a towel. These are specifically required items for your visit, and neither is included with admission.

Allow the full two hours if you want to try all parts of the facility without rushing. A simple plan could be:

• Start with a soak in one of the geothermal pools.
• Move between the hot pools as you settle in.
• Spend time in the sauna with its mountain view.
• Try the cold plunge if you want a sharper change of pace.
• Return to the warm water before using the changing rooms.

You can also plan a meal at Highland Base Restaurant before or after the bath. If hiking is part of your day, check the bath start time first so you do not finish a trail with too little time left for your booking.

The highland setting deserves a little respect. Keep your schedule flexible enough to enjoy the bath rather than treating it as a rushed box to check. The quiet, the views, and the contrast between outdoor exertion and warm water are the reasons to come.

Should you book the Highland Baths?

Book this if you are already heading to Kerlingarfjöll and want a calm, scenic way to recover from the highlands. The peaceful mountain setting, clean showers, three hot pools, sauna, and cold plunge give the experience more substance than a simple soak.

I would skip it if $49 feels too high for a two-hour activity or if you are not interested in hiking, mountain scenery, or remote geothermal bathing. For everyone else, it is a well-focused addition to a Kerlingarfjöll day, especially when paired with a meal or a trail.

FAQ

Where are the Highland Baths located?

The Highland Baths are at Highland Base in the Ásgarður Valley, at the edge of Kerlingarfjöll in Iceland’s Southern Region.

How long is admission valid?

Admission is valid for two hours. Starting times are available to check when you plan the booking.

How much does admission cost?

Admission costs $49 per person.

What does the ticket include?

The ticket includes admission to the Highland Baths.

Are towels included?

No. You need to bring your own towel.

Do I need to bring swimwear?

Yes. Swimwear is listed as an item you need to bring, and it is not included.

What facilities are available?

The facility has three geothermal pools, a sauna, a cold plunge pool, changing rooms, and underground passageways connecting with Highland Base Hotel.

Can I hike in the Kerlingarfjöll area?

Yes. The area has guided and unguided trails ranging from one kilometer to 50 kilometers.

Can I eat at Highland Base?

Yes. Highland Base Restaurant has 80 seats and offers coffee and waffles, bistro comfort food, and buffet dining. Food is optional and is not included with bath admission.