Herðubreiðarlindir and Askja: The Quiet Majesty of Iceland's Interior

Askja: A Journey to the Center of Stillness

Askja is a massive volcanic caldera formed by a powerful eruption in the 19th century and shaped by centuries of glacial and geothermal forces. At the heart of this dramatic landscape lies Víti, a striking blue crater lake surrounded by steep ochre-colored walls. Its name means "hell" — but the place is anything but.

On a calm day, Víti reflects the sky in surreal tones. Some intrepid travelers hike down the slope for a dip in its warm, geothermally heated waters, though conditions change quickly, and caution is always essential.

Beyond Víti, the Öskjuvatn lake — Iceland's second-deepest — stretches out, often partially frozen even in midsummer. The silence here is vast. It feels like walking on the moon, which is why NASA trained Apollo astronauts here in the 1960s. They came to learn how to navigate unknown terrain. You come to remember how small we are.

Herðubreið and Herðubreiðarlindir: Queen of the Highlands

To reach Askja, many travelers pass through Herðubreiðarlindir, a lush oasis in the middle of the Ódáðahraun desert. It sits at the base of Herðubreið, often called the "Queen of Icelandic Mountains." With its perfectly symmetrical shape and steep sides, Herðubreið rises like a crown out of a stark, broken landscape — regal, remote, and unforgettable.

Herðubreiðarlindir itself is a rare patch of green. Springs bubble up from beneath lava, feeding small streams and grassy meadows that offer respite for birds and travelers alike. Historically, this was a place of shelter for outlawed men in the sagas—those who had no home but the wilderness.

Today, a hut and camping area exist for those venturing into the highlands. It's one of the few places in the interior where you can pause, refuel, and look up at a mountain that has inspired poetry, paintings, and quiet awe for generations.

Getting There — and Getting It Right

Accessing Askja and Herðubreiðarlindir is no small feat. These highland destinations are only accessible by 4x4 vehicles during the summer months, and even then, weather, river crossings, and road conditions can change quickly. The routes (F88, F910) require slow, careful driving and, ideally, some experience navigating F-roads.

But the journey is part of the reward. The further you go, the quieter it gets. This isn't sightseeing. It's a pilgrimage into the Icelandic interior, and with that comes a responsibility: to tread lightly, to stay on marked trails, and to leave no trace.

Why It Matters

At Key to Iceland, we believe the country's soul isn't only found in the popular stops but also the silence between them. Askja and Herðubreiðarlindir are not for every traveler, and that's what makes them so precious.

They offer no easy comforts.

But they give back something deeper: perspective, wonder, and a sense of being truly present.