Laugavegur Photography Jeep Tour

Bring plenty of memory cards. This full-day Super Jeep outing takes you through Iceland’s raw southern highlands, where Landmannalaugar’s striped rhyolite hills and broad glacier views give you far more than a quick roadside stop. I like the clear photography focus, and I like that a local guide leads a small group of no more than 10 people. The main drawback is the price: at $590 per person, this is a serious splurge, and lunch is not included.

You’ll cover a huge amount of ground in 12 hours, beginning near Hekla and ending with views toward Þórsmörk. I especially like the range of scenery, from volcanic lakes and black lava to ice caps and deep river-cut valleys. You should also know that this is an outdoor day in Iceland’s highlands, so poor clothing or weak footwear can make the long outing tiring.

Key points at a glance

• Landmannalaugar is the visual centerpiece: Expect colorful rhyolite mountains, dark lava fields, and a geothermal bathing pool.
• The route reaches beyond one famous stop: Hekla, Dómadalur, Frostastaðavatn, Ljótipollur, glaciers, Emstrur, and Þórsmörk all feature in the day.
• Photography comes before speed: The tour is designed to give you time at several locations for different types of images.
• A small group helps: With a maximum of 10 people, you get a more personal setting than a large coach tour.
• The day starts and ends in Hella: Meet at the Bus Stop Hella parking lot, in front of the glass building.
• Pack your own food and weather gear: Lunch is not included, and warm waterproof clothing is essential.

Why this highland tour is different

Many South Iceland outings focus on waterfalls, black beaches, and easy stops along Road 1. This trip takes you away from that familiar route and into the highlands, where the scenery changes quickly and access requires a capable Jeep.

That matters if you want more than a few postcard views. You’ll photograph volcanic country, mountain valleys, lakes, geothermal ground, glaciers, and a major river canyon in one long circuit. The reward is variety. The tradeoff is time in the vehicle, since these are remote roads and the route covers a lot of ground.

The tour is built around photography rather than a tight checklist. You are encouraged to explore each stop through your own lens, and the local guide adds context about the area’s less obvious features. That makes the day suitable for a keen amateur with a camera phone as well as someone carrying more serious equipment.

The small group limit is important here. A maximum of 10 people gives the outing a quieter feel and should make it easier to ask questions, find a good angle, and hear the guide without a coach full of people moving around you.

Starting under the shadow of Hekla

Your meeting point is the Bus Stop Hella parking lot, in front of the glass building. From there, the journey heads toward Hekla, one of Iceland’s best-known volcanoes.

Hekla is sometimes called the Gateway to Hell, a name that tells you something about its dramatic place in Icelandic folklore. Even before the more colorful highland stops, the volcano gives the day a strong sense of place. You are not simply driving toward a scenic overlook. You are entering a region shaped by eruptions, lava, ash, and geothermal forces.

For photography, Hekla offers a powerful opening subject, especially if you like broad volcanic forms and stark surroundings. The precise views depend on weather and the route conditions, so you should treat this part as the beginning of the visual story rather than a guaranteed single photograph.

Dómadalur, Frostastaðavatn, and Ljótipollur

From Hekla, the Jeep continues through Dómadalur valley toward Frostastaðavatn and Ljótipollur. This section gives you a useful change of scale. Instead of focusing on one mountain, you can work with valley lines, water, volcanic slopes, and shifting color.

Frostastaðavatn is one of several highland lakes that help break up the dark volcanic terrain. Ljótipollur, despite its unflattering name, is known for striking scenery. The contrast between water and the surrounding red or dark volcanic earth can give you strong compositions, especially on a day when clouds create changing light.

The value of this part of the itinerary is the range of subjects. You might find yourself framing a distant ridge at one stop, then concentrating on the shape of a lake or the texture of the volcanic ground at the next. If you usually photograph only famous landmarks, this is a good reminder to slow down and look at the spaces between them.

Landmannalaugar’s color and black lava

Landmannalaugar is the major stop, and it earns the attention. The area is known for colorful rhyolite mountains, a rock type that can produce shades of red, yellow, green, and muted brown. Against those tones, the black lava fields look almost graphic.

The combination is particularly useful for photography because it gives you natural contrast. You can work with wide views of the mountains, then switch to closer details in the lava or slopes. The guide can also point out features you might miss if you were visiting without local help.

A geothermal bathing pool sits in the area, bordered by steep black lava fields. The tour information does not say that bathing is included, so treat it as a scenic feature rather than planning your day around a swim. Bring your camera gear carefully, since Icelandic weather can change quickly and wet conditions are always possible.

This is also where the tour may feel most rewarding for people who want time rather than speed. The stated focus is to let you explore the scenery through your lens, and Landmannalaugar offers enough visual variety to justify a substantial stop. You should still ask the guide about the day’s exact timing, since weather and road conditions can affect how long the group stays at each place.

Driving the Laugavegur route toward Reykjadalir

After Landmannalaugar, you return to the Jeep and continue toward the famous Laugavegur trail. The name is familiar to hikers, but this outing gives you access to part of the highland world without requiring a multi-day trek.

The route continues through Reykjadalir valley, an area with geothermal features. Here, the ground itself becomes part of the subject. Steam, unusual colors, and rough volcanic surfaces can give your photographs a different mood from the open lake and mountain views earlier in the day.

This section is a reminder that the tour is not only about grand panoramas. Iceland’s highlands are often most interesting when you look at the details: mineral colors, water, rock, and traces of heat rising from below. A guide’s local insight is useful here because the most photogenic feature may not be obvious from the road.

You’ll also begin to see Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. Their appearance adds scale to the route. After volcanic valleys and geothermal ground, the white ice caps bring a cooler, more distant element to your photographs.

Glacier views at Emstrur hut

As the Jeep moves closer to Road 1, the scenery changes again. Large ice caps come into view near Emstrur hut, offering broad panoramas and a clear sense of Iceland’s highland geography.

Emstrur is associated with the Laugavegur hiking route, but here it functions as a viewpoint within a much longer photography day. The glacier views are especially useful if you want a wide composition with several layers: foreground terrain, distant valleys, and ice beyond.

You should keep your expectations flexible. The tour promises access to these views, but Icelandic weather can affect visibility. Even when the glaciers are partly covered by cloud, the mood may still suit dramatic photography. The guide can help you make the most of the conditions rather than waiting for a perfect blue-sky scene.

This is one of the strongest reasons to choose a Jeep tour instead of staying on the main southern coast. You reach scenery that feels more remote and less familiar, while still returning to Hella at the end of the day.

The final views toward Eyjafjallajökull and Þórsmörk

Near the end, the route offers views of Eyjafjallajökull and Þórsmörk valley from the west side of Markarfljótsgljúfur. It is a fitting finish because the day comes back to the meeting point of ice, volcanoes, and deep-cut terrain.

Eyjafjallajökull is famous for its 2010 eruption, but the appeal here is visual rather than simply historical. The ice cap and surrounding valley create a large-scale scene, while Markarfljótsgljúfur adds depth and rugged shape.

Þórsmörk is another name familiar to hikers, and seeing it from the west side gives you a perspective that is different from the usual trail descriptions. You may still have room on your memory card by this point, but bring extra storage anyway. A 12-hour photography day can use more space than you expect.

The tour ends back at the Bus Stop Hella meeting point. That makes the start and finish simple, though you’ll need to arrange your own way to Hella before the tour and plan what you’ll do after a very full day.

What the photography focus means for you

The word photography matters here. This is not just a sightseeing drive with a few quick photo breaks. The stated aim is to visit several highland locations and give you a broad range of subjects.

That should suit you if you enjoy deciding how to frame a scene, waiting for a better patch of light, or comparing a wide view with a close detail. It also works if you use a phone, since Iceland’s colors and strong shapes do not require professional equipment.

Still, you should not expect a specialist camera workshop unless the guide specifically confirms that in advance. A local guide is included, and the guide’s role is described as showing you the best spots and sharing local secrets. The information does not promise formal instruction in exposure, lenses, or editing.

I would bring a camera with a secure strap, spare batteries, and more storage than you think you need. Keep equipment protected from rain and spray, and use a waterproof bag or cover. These are practical precautions for any Icelandic highland outing, especially one built around taking pictures outdoors.

Clothing, food, and the long day

The recommended clothing is not optional. Wear warm outdoor layers, a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear, gloves, and proper hiking boots or shoes.

You may spend time outside at several locations, and the highlands can feel cold even when conditions look mild at the meeting point. Good footwear also matters because the stops include volcanic ground and outdoor terrain, not just paved viewpoints.

Lunch is not included. Bring a substantial packed meal and snacks, along with water if appropriate for your plans. A photography day can pass quickly, and relying only on a late meal after returning to Hella would be uncomfortable.

The 12-hour duration is both a benefit and a warning. You get a full route with many major sights, but this is not a gentle half-day outing. It suits you if you are happy with a long day in a vehicle and outdoors. It may not suit you if you prefer short excursions with plenty of downtime.

Children under 6 are not permitted. The small group size, English and Icelandic guiding, and outdoor focus make the tour a better match for adults and older children who can handle a full highland day.

Is $590 a fair price?

At $590 per person, this is expensive. Lunch is extra, and the listed inclusion is the local guide. You should look closely at the value you place on reaching several highland areas in one day, rather than judging the price against a basic sightseeing trip.

The cost makes more sense if you would otherwise need to arrange separate transport, learn the highland route yourself, and decide which places are worth stopping at. The small group and local guidance also matter to photographers who want a less crowded setting and more useful help with choosing locations.

It is less compelling if you mainly want to see Landmannalaugar and take a handful of quick pictures. In that case, a shorter or less specialized outing may offer better value, though the supplied information does not provide another tour for direct comparison.

The strongest value here is access plus variety. Hekla, Landmannalaugar, Reykjadalir, glaciers, Emstrur, and Þórsmörk are not a small cluster of easy roadside stops. You are paying for a long day that links them into one photography-focused route.

What past praise tells you about the guide

The most repeated positive point is the guide. One person described the day as a once-in-a-lifetime experience and praised the guide’s passion, local insight, and ability to make the setting feel connected to Icelandic culture.

Another person specifically praised the guide’s friendly manner and clear explanations. Those comments fit the design of the outing, where local context is a key part of the value rather than an afterthought.

No guide name is provided, so I cannot tell you who will lead your departure. What you can reasonably expect is English or Icelandic guiding in a small group. If clear explanations and local stories matter to you, this is one of the tour’s strongest reasons to book.

The overall rating is 5 out of 5 from four reviews. That is encouraging, especially since the praise focuses on the guide and the quality of the day. It is still a small sample, so I would use it as a positive signal, not a guarantee that weather, road conditions, or personal preferences will line up perfectly.

Should you book the Laugavegur Photography Jeep Tour?

I would book this if you want a full day in Iceland’s highlands, care about photography, and value a local guide who can connect the views to the area. It is particularly appealing if you want Landmannalaugar plus glaciers, geothermal sites, lakes, and Þórsmörk in one outing.

I would hesitate if $590 feels too high, if you need lunch included, or if a 12-hour day sounds exhausting. The route is ambitious, and the weather may not deliver clear glacier views or perfect light.

Bring serious weather protection, pack food, and arrive ready for a long day. If you do, this tour offers a strong mix of Icelandic color, volcanic drama, and wide highland views that a standard South Coast stop cannot match.

FAQ

Where does the Laugavegur Photography Jeep Tour start?

It starts at the Bus Stop Hella, in the parking lot in front of the glass building.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point in Hella.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts 12 hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $590 per person.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should bring your own meal and snacks.

What language is the tour guided in?

The live guide speaks English and Icelandic.

How large is the group?

The tour is limited to 10 participants.

What should I wear and bring?

Bring warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear, gloves, suitable hiking boots or shoes, and snacks.

Are young children allowed?

The tour is not suitable for children under 6 years old.