01 / Days one and two: arrive without rushing
Allow time for the journey into the highlands and a practical group briefing. The first walk should make the pace and equipment feel familiar. Confirm whether transfers, the first evening meal and camping equipment are part of the quoted price.
02 / The middle days: a changing landscape
Geothermal valleys and coloured ridges give the journey its character. Ask which walks are proposed, how much ascent they involve and whether you carry overnight equipment. Stay on the routes confirmed by the guide and respect local access instructions.
03 / The final days: protect the return
A shorter final walk can make room for packing and the transfer back. Do not infer a precise itinerary from a gallery. Get the day-by-day plan and return time from the operator before committing to a flight connection.
A shorter final walk can make room for packing and the transfer back.
04 / Questions worth bringing
Ask about campsite facilities, food arrangements, luggage transport and weather alternatives. Tell the guide about relevant experience and access needs early. Those conversations are more useful than choosing a route from its grade alone.
When the highlands open
Kerlingarfjöll sits in the central highlands, and the roads set the season. The way in is Kjalvegur, Route 35, from Gullfoss.
Long light, cold nights
On 15 July 2027 Reykjavík has 19 h 45 min of daylight, from 03:40 to 23:25, and still 16 h 26 min on 15 August, from 05:18 to 21:44. The figures come from the US Naval Observatory for Reykjavík.
What a Grade 3 week asks
Highland Crossing is Grade 3 on our effort key: up to 7 hours of walking and up to 1,000 m of ascent on the hardest day, and a route takes the grade of its hardest day. Not every day is that long.
Photographs and seasons
The steaming ridge after fresh snow on this page was photographed in late September, after the July and August dates of this trip. Expect the same valleys in summer conditions, and weather that can still change quickly in any month.
