Iceland’s Highlands are one of the country’s last true wilderness areas: vast lava fields, colorful rhyolite mountains, steaming hot springs, black deserts, and glacier rivers cutting through untouched valleys. Visiting this region is unforgettable—but it also requires a bit more planning than a typical Ring Road trip.
Here are practical tips for visiting Iceland’s Highlands, plus how to use Ourhotels.is properties like Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, and Ísafjörður Inn as comfortable “basecamps” before and after your highland adventures.
The Highlands are only accessible a few months a year, usually from late June to early September, depending on snow and river conditions. Before you go, always check road openings and conditions on safetravel.is and road.is. Many of the interior routes are F-roads—mountain roads that are rough, often unpaved, and sometimes require river crossings. These are only legal to drive with a suitable 4×4 vehicle.
Because the Highlands are remote, it’s smart to break up your journey with stays in well-located towns on the edge of the wilderness. In West and Northwest Iceland, Ourhotels.is offers exactly that: comfortable inns where you can rest, repack, and get local advice before heading inland.
Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, near Borgarnes, is a great starting point if you’re coming from Reykjavík and planning to explore the interior routes of West Iceland. The Borgarfjörður region is known for its hot springs, lava fields, and glacier-fed rivers, and it’s a natural gateway to highland tracks leading toward Langjökull glacier and the interior. Staying at Hvítá Inn lets you enjoy a peaceful countryside setting, stock up on supplies in nearby Borgarnes, and talk to staff who know the local roads and weather patterns. It’s an ideal first or last night stop when you’re combining the Highlands with a West Iceland road trip.
If you’re heading toward the central Highlands from the Snæfellsnes Peninsula or the northwestern side of the country, Stykkishólmur Inn is another excellent base. The charming harbor town of Stykkishólmur is famous for its views over Breiðafjörður Bay and its colorful old houses, but it’s also a strategic stopover between coastal adventures and inland routes. From here, you can explore Snæfellsnes—often called “Iceland in Miniature”—before turning your attention to the Highlands. Returning to Stykkishólmur Inn after a few days in the interior gives you a chance to unwind with good food, a hot shower, and a comfortable bed, while still staying in a small, atmospheric town.
Farther north, Ísafjörður Inn in the Westfjords is perfect if you’re combining the remote Westfjords with highland travel. While the Westfjords themselves are not part of the central Highlands, they share the same sense of isolation and raw nature. Many travelers choose to loop from the Westfjords down toward interior routes, and Ísafjörður is the natural hub for that. Staying at Ísafjörður Inn gives you time to reorganize your gear, check the latest forecasts, and enjoy the town’s cafés and harbor views before tackling the next leg of your journey.
When planning your highland trip, pack as if the weather could change every hour—because it often does. Even in midsummer, you can experience sun, wind, rain, and near-freezing temperatures in a single day. Layered clothing, waterproof outerwear, sturdy hiking boots, and warm hats and gloves are essential. Because services in the Highlands are limited, bring extra food, water, and a fully charged phone and power bank. Many travelers use Ourhotels.is properties as staging points to repack: leaving unnecessary luggage in the car or at the inn and taking only what they need for a few days in the interior.
Driving in the Highlands demands caution. F-roads are rough, and river crossings can be dangerous if you’re inexperienced. Never attempt a crossing you’re unsure about, and always check the depth and current first. If you’re not comfortable driving yourself, consider joining a guided super-jeep or bus tour into the Highlands while basing yourself at one of the Ourhotels.is inns in West Iceland. That way, you can experience places like Landmannalaugar, Kerlingarfjöll, or the interior tracks without worrying about navigation or vehicle damage.
Respect for nature is especially important in the Highlands. Stay on marked tracks and trails, never drive off-road, and follow Leave No Trace principles. The fragile moss and volcanic soil can take decades to recover from damage. Using established accommodations like Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, and Ísafjörður Inn instead of wild camping near sensitive areas helps reduce your impact while still letting you enjoy the wild feeling of the interior during the day.
One of the best ways to structure a trip is to create a loop that connects the coast, the Highlands, and comfortable overnight stops. For example, you might start in Reykjavík, drive to Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður for your first night, explore West Iceland’s waterfalls and hot springs, then head inland on an F-road for a couple of days of hiking and hot spring bathing in the Highlands. Afterward, you could continue to Stykkishólmur Inn for a relaxing evening by the sea, or push farther north and eventually make your way to Ísafjörður Inn if you’re including the Westfjords.
By using Ourhotels.is as your network of basecamps, you get the best of both worlds: the raw, untamed beauty of Iceland’s Highlands during the day, and warm, welcoming inns to return to at night. Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, Stykkishólmur Inn, and Ísafjörður Inn each offer a different slice of West and Northwest Iceland, but all give you what you need most on a highland journey—rest, reliability, and local knowledge.
With thoughtful planning, the right gear, and smart overnight stops, your visit to Iceland’s Highlands can be both safe and unforgettable. The wilderness will feel a little more accessible when you know that a cozy room, a hot shower, and a good breakfast are waiting for you at one of the Ourhotels.is inns on the edge of the wild.
