Þórsmörk — “Thor’s Forest” — is a sheltered valley surrounded by three glaciers: Mýrdalsjökull, Eyjafjallajökull, and Tindfjallajökull. The glaciers block the harshest weather, creating a microclimate where birch trees, wildflowers, and moss thrive in a landscape that looks nothing like the barren Highlands just a few kilometres away. It is one of the most beautiful and least accessible day-trip destinations in Iceland.
Getting there requires multiple unbridged river crossings, including the notoriously challenging Krossá river. These are not puddles — they are glacial rivers with shifting channels that can change depth within hours. A private tour in our Toyota Land Cruiser, driven by a guide who crosses these rivers regularly, is the only safe and practical way to visit Þórsmörk in a single day from Reykjavik.
The river crossings alone make a compelling case: every summer, rental cars get stuck in the Krossá, requiring expensive rescue operations. But beyond the driving challenge, a guide opens up the hiking possibilities. Þórsmörk offers trails ranging from easy ridge walks with panoramic glacier views to steeper climbs into the Stakkholtsgjá canyon, a narrow gorge with a hidden waterfall at the end.
Your guide knows which trails match your fitness level, which viewpoints offer the best perspectives of Eyjafjallajökull (the volcano that grounded European air traffic in 2010), and where to find quiet spots for lunch. This is not a place you want to rush through — every ridge reveals a new angle on the surrounding ice caps and valleys.
For the full picture of Highland touring, read why private tours are best in the Icelandic Highlands on our blog. And if this trip inspires you to see more of the interior, our Landmannalaugar and Kerlingarfjöll tours offer equally dramatic but very different landscapes.
Why is Þórsmörk so difficult to reach? Getting to Þórsmörk requires crossing rivers and other unbridged glacial streams that shift constantly. These crossings demand a capable 4x4 and an experienced driver who knows the current conditions.
What canyons can you explore in Þórsmörk? The tour includes Nauthúsagíl, a narrow canyon requiring chain-assisted passage through cold water, and Stakkholtsgjá, a wide gorge with towering cliffs and a hidden waterfall at the end.
Can you see glaciers from Þórsmörk? Yes, Þórsmörk sits between three glaciers: Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, and Tindfjallajökull. Views from Valahnúkur summit include all three ice caps.
What makes Þórsmörk different from other highland areas? Unlike the barren highlands, Þórsmörk is a sheltered valley where birch trees, wildflowers, and moss thrive thanks to protection from the surrounding glaciers.
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