The Reykholtsdalur-Round tour leads from Borgarnes to Reykholt, Húsafell and back.
Here we go...
This day tour leads from Borgarnes on the R 1 towards Varmaland. After about 10 km turn left to Reykholt and on to Húsafell. Here you have to decide whether to drive westwards to Borgarnes on the other side of the Hvítá or take the Kalidalur slope. In this case, keep right at the end of the slope towards Borgarnes.
in the Reykholtdalur there are numerous hot springs. The largest, the Deildartunguhver, has an output of 180 liters per second and the water is 97 degrees Celsius. Hot water piplines run from here to Akranes and Borgarnes.
Reykholt is one of the few preserved cultural monuments in Iceland. It is the bath of the Edda poet Snorri Sturluson from the 12th century. An underground corridor 100 m long led from his house to the source.
At Hraunfossar Many small waterfalls plunge from a lava wall over a length of one kilometer into the river Hvítá. The upper layer of the lava is permeable to water. But if it hits an impermeable layer, the water then seeks its way. Just a little further is the Barnafoss waterfall. Here the Hvítá flows through a rugged gorge.
It goes on after Húsafell. The place consists of a courtyard, a church, a gas station, a summer cottage settlement, a swimming pool and a campsite in a birch forest. It is one of the largest forests in Iceland.
To the northeast of Húsafell is the lava field Hallmudarhraun. It is 1200 years old. There are many lava caves here, the most famous of which is Surtshellir. Melt water that has seeped in creates beautiful ice formations here. You should only enter it if you have at least one flashlight with you. Sturdy shoes and warm clothing are necessary as the temperature in the cave is below 0 degrees. You should also not go too far into it, as there is a risk of getting lost! These caves were created by lava flows. The surface cooled, but beneath it the lava continued to flow until the stream stopped.
Shortly after Húsafell begins the shortest highland slope, the Kaldidalur (F 550). It is only 40 km long and is often called the "highlands for beginners". There are no rivers to cross and it is accessible with a normal car. If you are traveling with a rental car (without all-wheel drive), you should definitely check with the rental company beforehand whether this route can be driven! The slope leads through a rough, wild, partly desert-like area and when the weather is nice you have a great view of the glaciers of Langjökull, Thorisjökull and Ok.
