Kerlingarfjöll (Highland Base)

Kerlingarfjöll is the mountain group south-west of Hofsjökull, seen from the Kjölur road as a cluster of pale peaks; the nature agency gives it as about 140 km², with summits above 1,400 m, inside a 367 km² protected landscape area declared in 2020. The stop on a route is Highland Base, the hotel, lodges, huts, campsite and baths at Ásgarður, and above it the geothermal valley of Hveradalir.

On a highland plan it is a detour off road 35 on the Gullfoss–Hveravellir stretch, or a night of its own. The operator's route page, read today, puts it about 200 km and roughly 3½ hours from Reykjavík in the best conditions, on road 35 past Gullfoss and then F347. In summer the operator says cars and buses can reach the base; in winter the roads are not cleared and only its super jeeps, driven by professionals, go in.

The practical line: the base has a restaurant and the Highland Baths, open to day visitors from 15 June to 30 September at ISK 5,500 for adults and ISK 900 for children aged 2 to 11 (bring your own towel); the huts, campsite and campsite service house are open in summer only, by the operator's page. Vegagerðin's table shows the Kjölur road between Gullfoss and Hveravellir opening between 30 May and 14 June in 2021–2025; F347 is not in that table; its live status is on road.is and the 1777 line.

Safety: the operator asks visitors to check the weather and road conditions on safetravel.is, vegagerdin.is and vedur.is before setting off, and states that leaving the marked trails in Hveradalir is prohibited and dangerous. Hire contracts often exclude F-roads; read yours.