When visiting Iceland, we were excited about the thermal springs everywhere. Everyone has heard of the Blue Lagoon located southwest of Reykjavik for obvious reasons, it is a stunning facility where, as a guest, you are pampered. But not many people have heard of the Hveravellir thermal springs. My husband and I (fiance at the time) were looking for something a little less formal. We wanted to go straight into the ground. No finesse, no spa, just pure thermal springs and us. Hveravellir did not disappoint did not disappoint.
Hveravellir Thermal Springs
The Hveravellir Thermal Springs are located in the heart of Iceland, between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers. We rented an all-wheel drive vehicle and were planning on heading north on route F35 to get a good view of the glaciers and camp out somewhere along the way. This thermal spring is located just off of this road. These roads are pretty rough road, so make sure you have a proper vehicle. We forded two streams in our vehicle on the ride north.
How it works
The temperature in the springs is controlled by the guests in the pool at the time. The flow of water is constant, and as such is very clean. The hot water comes up directly from the hot springs and is directed into the pool through a tube. The cold water comes directly from the glacier, and is also directed into the pool through a tube. There was one hot water tube and two cold water tubes. Guests could redirect the flow of any of these tubes out of the pool to change the temperature in the pool.
During our visit, other tourists we were in the pool with increased the temperature of the springs by removing one of the cold water tubes. The water heated up pretty quickly and they brought the second cold water tube back in. It was impressive just how warm the thermal springs are.
Basic Information
There are bathroom and changing facilities for guests to use before and after their visit to the springs. There is a modest fee to get in to the spring (we paid equivalent to $3 US) and there is no time limit on your visit in the spring, or how many times you can go in and come out. Unlike the Blue Lagoon, this is not a heavily trafficked area, so there is a lot more lenience with your visit. It is also a lot cheaper than the Blue Lagoon which starts at 50 Euros.
Where is it located?
The Hveravellir Thermal Springs is located at the end of route F735, Hveravalla afleggjari off of route F35, Kjalvegur; about halfway up the mainland of Iceland.