Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll

On a recent stay at Highland Base, concierge Evgeniya gave an excellent briefing about the area’s hikes and filled us in on the hotel’s underground passage to the hot pools. After an exhilarating hike to an area that was a cross between Iceland’s Geysir area and Utah’s The Wave, we luxuriated in the lovely room with views of the landscape. Our dinner was good…not great…and the service was slow with inexperienced staff, but the resort’s location and beauty more than makes up for that issue. I hope to return and take family members to one of Iceland’s iconic spots.

Incredible facility and staff located at least 60 miles from nearest civilization. Amazing scenery and hiking! Take the bus or special transportation to get to the hotel. Drove by 6 cars with flats on the Rocky road. The best spent money of the entire trip was for Ruben to be our guide! He led us safely and with a perfect pace for the weather and terrain. He provided the right poles and crampons for our safety! He had a satellite phone in case of emergency. He asked if we could stop briefly to watch an unguided group, hundreds of feet below, cross a river safely due to their bridge being washed out. It was so nice having him navigate, especially when we ran into whiteout conditions!

We had an unforgettable stay at Highland Base – truly one of the highlights of our Icelandic journey. The hotel is beautifully designed, perfectly located in the heart of the Kerlingarfjöll (roads are pretty tough, only 4x4 or you can use hotel transfer). From the warm hospitality to the delicious food and relaxing hot tubs with panoramic views – everything was exceptional. What made our experience truly special, however, was the private hiking tour we booked through the hotel. Our guide, Boris, exceeded all expectations. He shared fascinating stories about the landscape, geology, and Icelandic culture, all while keeping the atmosphere light, friendly, and engaging. Thanks to Boris, we discovered places we would’ve never found on our own and felt a genuine connection to the area. We highly recommend both Highland Base and the private hiking experience with Boris to anyone looking for a nice hiking with balance of challenge and enjoyment.

We stayed in a lodge - warm and comfortable . An incredible environment- It's the very beginning of the summer season but there are rangers available each morning to advise you, and hotel guides to take you on treks. But you can see and do lots, including lolling in the heated pools there and using the sauna. The menu is limited but the cooking excellent and adventurous. Highly recommended.