Þórsmörk valley bears the name of the Norse god, Thor. It’s situated in the southern highlands between three glaciers: Tindafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull. Þórsmörk is one of Iceland’s most beloved hiking areas.
The Icelandic government made Þórsmörk a protected area in 1921 under the care of the Forestry Service. Þórsmörk is famous for its great variety of natural features. Interestingly, the weather here is often warmer than other areas since the three surrounding glaciers protect it. As a result, the sheltered valley is green with moss, ferns and birch trees.
One of the many enjoyable hikes you can do is a visit to Stakkholtsgjá canyon and its waterfall. The nature reserve also is a great overnight base for day hikes to the summits of the surrounding peaks. Þórsmörk is also a starting or ending point for the famous Laugavegur hiking route. This trail takes several days to complete and has amazing views.
The 2010 eruption
Due to Þórsmörk‘s close proximity to many volcanoes, its landscape has been molded and affected by eruptions and floods. During the infamous 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, much of the area was covered in a thick layer of volcanic ash. It took several months for the area’s fragile nature to return to normal.
Can you overnight in Þórsmörk?
Yes, there are several options. You can stay in several splendid camping sites. There also is an option to enjoy glamping in tents with furniture and heating. You can also stay in dormitory style mountain huts or in summer cottages. All of these options are very popular, so you should reserve them in advance. During the summer months, the LavaGrill and Restaurant in Þórsmörk’s Húsadalur area offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and packed meals.
How to get to Þórsmörk?
Visiting Þórsmörk requires driving directly through unbridged glacial rivers in a very large 4WD vehicle like a highland bus or a huge jeep. Moreover, crossing glacial rivers can be very dangerous, especially if a person does not have experience with driving through rapid rivers.
Instead, we recommend that you take advantage of the summertime daily highland bus service between Reykjavík, Hvolsvöllur village, and Þórsmörk. The buses are perfectly designed to handle the rough roads and river crossings. You can safely leave your car parked in a free parking area and enjoy a scenic, adventurous ride to Þórsmörk. It is a great way to experience Þórsmörk for one day or for many days.
In addition, several tour operators offer year-round guided SuperJeep day tours from Reykjavík or from Hvolsvöllur. SuperJeep tours offer a small group size and good flexibility. They may include even guided hikes within Þórsmörk and visits to other sites along the way. You can even join SuperJeep tours that overnight in Þórsmörk.
