Glacier, Cave and Steam Superjeep Tour (Borgarfjörður)

This adventure gives you a little taste of everything Iceland is renowned for: glaciers, caves and hot springs, with the odd waterfall here and there along the route.
From the hotel we head towards Thingvellir National Park – which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thingvellir is the setting of the world’s oldest parliament, the Althing. It is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia come together, forming fissures, crevices, as well as Iceland’s largest natural lake, Thingvallavatn. The fissures of the valley are a must-see for all visitors to Iceland.
We depart Thingvellir to the north where the road soon turns to gravel and up along a route known as Uxahryggjaleið. This road will take us to the second largest glacier in Iceland, Langjökull. Arriving at Langjökull we have a few options depending on weather, time of year and the overall conditions of the glacier.
From Langjökull we descend into the valley of Húsafell and up towards a lava cave called Surtshellir. At a mile long, it is the longest cave in Iceland. We venture into the cave (torches/flashlights and helmets provided) exploring parts of the 10-meter high ceiling, hoping to catch a glimpse of ghosts or perhaps Surtur, a fire breathing giant for which the cave was named (lucky guy). The rock formations in the lava walls are an added bonus.
As we head back towards Reykjavík, we will make a few stops along the way notably at the waterfall of Hraunfossar the powerful Deildartunguhver hot spring and through one of Iceland’s longest fjords, the scenic Hvalfjordur (Whalefjord).

Soon after crossing the Hvítá Bridge, we arrive a Europe’s largest hot spring, Deildartunguhver. Providing hot water for the surrounding farms and villages, water gushes out a record high of 180 liters per second. And for our most curious guests, yes, it is hot, just below the boiling point at 97°C so use caution particularly for those traveling with small children.

Hraunfossar is a series of small picturesque waterfalls that flow into the river Hvítá. A subterranean water system flows underneath the lava field that is over 1000 years old. This makes the falls very unique, since no river is visible.

Nearby Barnafoss, Children’s waterfall, had once a natural arch that collapsed and caused a tragedy.

From the waterfalls, we arrive at Húsafell, a valley with lush vegetation of birch trees, which is a popular recreational area. The nearby mountains provide great opportunities for hiking and other outdoor activities. Here you can find a hotel, a few restaurants, a local swimming pool, camping ground and a golf course. The hill Ók, which reigns over the valley, was once a small glacier, which has in recent years melted so much that it lost its glacier status. With a bit of luck, we still might see snow on the very top.

Viðgelmir is one of the best-preserved lava caves in Iceland. Thanks to the ice build-up, which had closed the only access to the cave, lava formations here were destroyed a long time ago in other lava caves.  The exact date of the start and end of the eruption during which the cave was formed is unknown. The legend says that the troll Hallmundur, after whom the lava field, Hallmundarhraun, is named, offered Grettir the hero to stay with him in the cave with his daughter. A visit to the cave is a memorable experience in a secluded environment that will expand your horizons.

We depart Húsafell to the south where the road soon turns to gravel and up along a route known Kaldidalur (Cold Valley). This road will take us past the second-largest glacier in Iceland, Langjökull. Arriving at Langjökull we have a few options depending on weather, time of year and the overall conditions of the glacier, notably the Into the Glacier tour (possible extra).

The scenic route leads us through the mountainous interior, where we pass some iconic mountains, notably the Skjaldbreiður, a textbook example of a shield volcano, rising above the valley in nearly-perfect cone shape.