Natural Pool

The South


Boardwalks from Landmannalaugar's info hut lead to a geothermal hot pool flanked by volcanic hills. It's not officially a 'bathing area', but visitors are fine to take a dip in the water at their own risk. Signs around the area warn that the water is not disinfected, and entirely natural. Swimmer's Itch has been previously identified in these waters – but that doesn't stop the hordes of hikers bathing here every day.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The South attractions

1. Stútur

0.57 MILES

Roughly translated as 'bottleneck', the Stútur crater sits on the Norðurnámshraun lava field and is signposted off the F224 road. Two fairly steep trails…

2. Hnausapollur

4.48 MILES

Sitting behind a volcanic ledge, right off the road to Landmannalaugar, hides an enormous crater. Hnausapollur erupted around 11,000 years ago, now it's…

3. Hekla Volcano

18.5 MILES

One of Iceland's most active volcanoes, Hekla stands at 1491m, and has erupted 20 times since 874, most recently in the year 2000. In a 4x4, it's possible…

4. Gjáin

23.22 MILES

A walking path from Stöng farm takes you a couple of kilometres to a lovely little lush valley, Gjáin, full of twisting lava, otherworldly caves and…

5. Stöng

23.72 MILES

Buried by white volcanic ash in 1104 during one of Hekla’s eruptions, this ancient farm once belonged to Gaukur Trandilsson, a 10th-century Viking who…

6. Háifoss

23.9 MILES

Iceland’s second-highest waterfall, Háifoss is a magnificent 128m-high cascade that plunges off the edge of a majestic plateau into an undulating lava…

7. Katla Geopark

23.94 MILES

In 2011 Iceland formed its first ‘geopark’ to protect a region of great geological importance, promote local culture and sustainable development, and…

8. Mýrdalsjökull

24.1 MILES

This gorgeous glacier is Iceland’s fourth-largest ice cap, covering 700 sq km and reaching a thickness of almost 750m in places. The volcano Katla snoozes…