Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll
Iceland
Reviews
Character and identity
Set deep in Iceland's Central Highlands on a protected nature reserve, Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll is a 54-key adventure property reborn under Blue Lagoon ownership in 2023 on the bones of a 1930s mountaineering camp and former summer ski school. Accommodation spans hotel rooms, A-frame lodges, huts, a hostel and a campsite, with interiors of blonde wood and lived-in linens, framed archive photos throughout, and cross-laminated larch construction built for the weather. A single restaurant, a hot spring with sauna, and a late-afternoon waffle bar anchor daily life. Service is warm, story-led and proud of the place.
Who's it for
Best for:
Outdoorsy couples and families who want guide-led hikes through the geothermal fields of Hveradalir, e-bike rides to waterfalls, ATV outings, and quiet evenings watching the Northern Lights from a picture window or the hot spring. Travellers who value seclusion, landscape and a strong sense of stewardship over nightlife or shopping.
Should look elsewhere:
Anyone wanting a full-service spa, multiple restaurants, in-room mini bars as standard, or resort-style entertainment. Those with limited mobility will find most activities and trails challenging. And the journey itself, gravel roads and a Super Jeep transfer in winter, rules out anyone short on time.
Bottom line
What you're really paying for is access: a comfortable, design-aware base inside one of Iceland's most protected and hard-to-reach landscapes, backed by genuinely engaged staff and a surprisingly good kitchen. Come May to September for the fuller menu and self-drive access, book a deluxe room or A-frame lodge for the window views, and arrange the hotel transfer in advance.
Location
What this place offers
- Wi-Fi
- Restaurant
- Breakfast
- Breakfast buffet
- Smoke-free property
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Sauna
- Parking