Private Þjórsárdalur & Háifoss A quieter road toward the Highlands.
A private day through one of South Iceland’s most underestimated valleys — waterfalls, volcanic history, an unexpected green oasis and the 122-metre Háifoss dropping into Fossárgil beside its neighbour Granni.
From Reykjavík into Þjórsárdalur — with the Highlands waiting beyond.
This is a visual route overview only. The exact day is adjusted to weather, road conditions, daylight and what you want to spend time on.
It feels like Iceland opening up before you reach the real Highlands.
Þjórsárdalur is not one single attraction. It is a sequence of very different landscapes: green pockets, basalt, waterfalls, old farm history, wide volcanic views and roads that gradually feel more remote.
The point is not to rush between pins. We use the valley as the journey — and Háifoss as the dramatic high point of the day.
Depending on the conditions and your interests, I can slow the day toward photography, history, short walks, geology or simply giving you more time in the landscape.
Four very different reasons to take this road.
The order can change. So can the time we spend at each place.
Háifoss + Granni
Háifoss falls 122 metres into Fossárgil and is commonly listed as Iceland’s third-highest waterfall. Just east of it is the slightly lower Granni — two falls sharing one vast canyon view.
Gjáin
A small green world of streams, lava formations and waterfalls hidden inside a much harsher volcanic landscape. It feels almost impossible until you are standing in it.
Hjálparfoss
A very different waterfall stop, where two branches meet among dark basalt formations. Easy to combine with the deeper valley without turning the day into a checklist.
Þjóðveldisbærinn & the old valley story
Þjórsárdalur is also a cultural landscape. The reconstructed Commonwealth-era farm gives us a way into the story of settlement, farming and the destruction caused by Hekla’s eruptions.
Háifoss is suddenly getting international attention.
After appearing in the latest season of Stranger Things, online searches for Háifoss reportedly jumped dramatically. The Icelandic Tourist Board has said the waterfall could become one of the country’s most popular destinations in the coming years.
That makes this an interesting moment to experience it — still as part of a wider valley journey, rather than as one isolated photo stop.
Green oasis. Black basalt. High waterfalls. Open interior.
The photographs below are all from the route and its possible continuation toward Landmannalaugar.
Add Landmannalaugar to the day.
If the F-roads are open and the conditions are right, we can extend the route deeper into the Highlands and make Landmannalaugar the final major destination. This becomes a substantially longer, more demanding day — but also a very different one.
Same valley. Different day.
This route adapts particularly well to guests who want photography, history, a slower landscape day or a first taste of the Highlands.
Included in the private tour
- Private Icelandic guide throughout the day
- Toyota Land Cruiser for the usual 3–4 guest setup
- Pickup and drop-off at your Reykjavík accommodation
- Fuel and normal parking costs
- Route adapted to road conditions, weather and your interests
- Local history, geology context and photography help
- Larger private vehicles available on request
Private Þjórsárdalur + Háifoss
Want a day that starts in the valley — and can keep going toward the Highlands?
Send me your date, group size and what matters most: Háifoss, photography, short walks, Icelandic history, hidden landscapes or adding Landmannalaugar. I’ll shape the right version of the day around you.