By Monika
Thjorsardalur Valley, Iceland: Best Things to Do + Travel Tips.
If you’re looking to explore a quieter, lesser-known part of Iceland without venturing out to its very remote areas, then Thjorsardalur (Þjórsárdalur) Valley is the perfect place to go.
It’s one of those spots that feels like a secret – wild, beautiful, and not packed with tour buses, even though it’s surprisingly easy to reach.
Þjórsárdalur Valley was my backup plan for a rainy day but I am so glad I ended up there – honestly, it was one of the best surprises of my trip!
In this post, I’ll share the best things to see and do in Thjorsardalur Valley, how to get there, and practical tips to help you plan your visit, so you can experience this quiet, magical corner of Iceland for yourself.
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Where is Thjorsardalur Valley located?
As a very general statement, you can say that Thjorsardalur Valley (also spelled Thjórsárdalur or Þjórsárdalur) is located in Southern Iceland, somewhere between the Golden Circle and Landmannalaugar, at the edge of Icelandic Highlands, along the river Þjórsá – the longest river in Iceland.
How to get to Thjorsardalur Valley?
By car:
Þjórsárdalur Valley can be reached by following route 32. Then you will take side access roads (most of them are gravel) to reach various natural sites in the valley to explore (more on that just below).
The most famous destination in this area is Háifoss Waterfall, so I’ll use that as a reference.
It takes about 2 hours (143 km) to reach the valley from Reykjavík, about 1 hour and 20 minutes (85 km) from Selfoss and about 1 hour (64 km) from Flúðir.
With a tour:
Prefer to visit with a tour? No problem!
While the choices are not as vast as with other, more popular destinations in Iceland, these tours have good reviews and include the Þjórsárdalur sites in their itineraries:
Things to do in Thjorsardalur Valley
So what’s there to see in this off-the-beaten-path mysterious valley?
Here is my list of must-sees:
1. Háifoss Waterfall (& Granni)
Háifoss is by far the best-known destination in Þjórsárdalur Valley.
It is 128 m tall (confirmed by the information sign onsite vs 122 meters given in every other source I consulted) and is the 2nd or 3rd highest waterfall in Iceland (depending on which source you read!), but either way, it is majestic!
How to get to Háifoss?
Follow rt. 32 until you come to a left turn (if you’re driving from Reykjavik or the Golden Circle) – you’ll see a sign for Laxárgljúfur.
Turn onto road 322 there and follow the gravel road for 7 km.
Just a few minutes into your drive you’ll come to a fork with road signs for Stöng, Gjáin and Háifoss – go to the right and follow the road all the way to the Háifoss parking area.
Do you need a 4X4 car?
Technically, no – the access road to Háifoss is not an F-road; however, when I was there, it was VERY bumpy – full of potholes, bigger and smaller, some filled with water, so it was hard to judge their size and depth.
I had an F-road approved medium SUV, and it took me a solid 20 minutes to conquer that road. My advice is to ask your car rental company if you’re allowed to drive on this road.
Watch our drive to Háifoss here:
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Trail to Háifoss from the parking lot
It’s a very easy walk to the waterfall – just follow the path and it will be on your right side.
Prepare to be amazed!
You’ll notice the second, smaller waterfall on the right – it’s Granni.
You can just walk as far on the path as you want, taking in the views, or continue down to the base of the waterfalls. We didn’t do that as it was very wet and cold, but I’m planning to return there to do that hike!
You can also hike to the other sites of Þjórsárdalur: Gjáin and Stöng, but those are long hikes (8.4 km and 7.4 km) so be prepared and plan ahead.
2. Gjáin
Gjáin is a lush green oasis, with caves and waterfalls, tucked deep at the bottom of Þjórsárdalur Valley, where everything is smaller than you’d expect.
The whole Gjáin is small, but so worth visiting!
How to get to get to Gjáin
There are two ways to get there
If you’re coming from Reykjavik/Golden Circle area and are going to Gjáin first, just follow route 32 and take a left turn to route 327. Follow to the end and you’ll come to a small parking area for Gjáin.
If you’re driving from Háifoss, you have two choices again:
- on your way back from the waterfall, you’ll come to the split of the road I mentioned above and IF you have a large SUV and are feeling adventurous, take the road to Gjáin from there
- if you have a smaller SUV (like I had), go back to the main road, take a right on road 32 and after a while, another right to road 327. It’s another gravel road, initially in much better condition that the Háifoss access road.
It does get very bumpy and turns from gravel to more of a rocky track towards the end, so be mindful of your ground clearance.
There is actually a warning sign that you need a large SUV. I wouldn’t go there in anything smaller than a Dacia Duster.
We came upon a small river crossing (or a VERY DEEP puddle?), towards the end, and after watching a Land Cruiser cross it, we decided to leave our hybrid car in a little pullout and hike the last 10 minutes (my GPS showed 3 minutes to the parking lot and I really did not want to get stuck!).
The weather cleared up and we just enjoyed the walk.
Watch our drive here:
Good to know: when we visited in September, the driving time difference between the two options was 28 minutes (taking the track directly from road 322 from Háifoss) vs 45 minutes (going back on the main road).
Helpful hint: you’ll pass by the parking lot for Stöng – you can stop by there now or on your way back. We visited on our way back.
How to visit Gjáin
Gjáin is just a few steps away from the parking lot. Just follow the path and you’ll find yourself looking down into a lush green valley with caves, waterfalls, and tiny ponds.
Take it all in from the top first – it’s the best view, in my opinion.
But then find the stone stairs and go all the way down to see everything up close and wander around – it’s so different from other places you see in Iceland.
When you climb back up, you have choices again:
- retrace your steps and drive back to Stöng (the parking lot will be on your right
- hike the trail to Stöng – it’s a 500 m short hike, just be prepared for a round trip to get back to your car
- if you’re not visiting Stöng, simply head back towards the main road.
3. Stöng
Stöng is a reconstructed Viking log-house, going back to the saga ages in Icelandic history.
The farm was destroyed by the eruption of the nearby Hekla volcano in 1104 and is currently one of Iceland’s more significant archaeological sites.
How to get to Stöng
As I described above, you can reach this site in a few different ways.
If you’re driving directly from road 327 you’ll see two parking lots.
The first, marked by a sign, with a map and information plaque, is a little further from the log house than the second, unmarked one, however the trail is short (1 km), so it doesn’t make much of a difference.
Just cross the bridge and follow the path.
You’ll come upon the excavation site inside an enclosure covered by a clear roof.
It’s a short visit, but to me absolutely worth is because of the historical significance of this place.
If you’d like to see what the settlement looked like before Hekla’s lava and volcanic ashes covered it for hundreds of years, visit a spot that I unfortunately missed, but intend to absolutely visit during my next trip –Þjóðveldisbærinn Stöng“The Commonwealth Farm”.
It’s a museum telling the story of the lives of the first settlers in Iceland, open from May to October, and located about a 30-minute drive from Stöng.
It’s a short detour from route 32 on your way to the next Thjórsárdalur Valley attraction – Hjálparfoss waterfall. You’ll turn left if you’re driving towards the Golden Circle and right in the direction of Háifoss.
4. Hjálparfoss Waterfall (“Help Waterfall”)
It’s a beautiful waterfall, formed by two cascades coming together in a lake at its base. It is surrounded by uniquely shaped basalt columns and also offers river views on the right side.
How to get to Hjálparfoss
It is super easy to reach this waterfall – just watch out for a sign and take the turn from rt. 32.
It will be on your right going towards Háifoss (before you reach any other sites in Þjórsárdalur Valley) and on you left, as the last site, on your way back towards Reykjavik.
Helpful hint: this was THE ONLY parking area with restrooms out of all the sites I visited in the valley! There are no facilities in any of the other parking areas, so plan accordingly!
How to visit Hjálparfoss
Again, it’s super easy – you can see it right from the parking lot, but it’s worth it to follow the path down to the viewing platform, and further down to the lake.
It’s not very tall, but certainly powerful!
Map of Þjórsárdalur Valley attractions
Here is a map of all the Þjórsárdalur Valley attractions mentioned in this guide.
To use the map: Click on the icons for the name of the site and driving directions.
Please note: driving distances and routes will vary depending on the time of year and seasonal road closures.
Best time to visit Thjorsardalur Valley
I recommend visiting in the warmer months, with a generous window of May-October.
You should still check the weather forecast and the road status before you head out, even in the summer, as conditions change suddenly and frequently in Iceland.
Outside of that time frame, you may encounter road closures and limited access to some sites, as the gravel access roads typically do not receive winter maintenance services.
Is Thjorsardalur Valley worth visiting?
Absolutely!
Þjórsárdalur Valley truly surprised me – it’s one of those places that quietly takes your breath away without the crowds or chaos of Iceland’s more famous spots.
Between the stunning cliffs of Háifoss, the fairytale scenery of Gjáin, and the fascinating history of Stöng, this valley packs so much into one small area.
It’s wild, peaceful, and feels almost like a secret, even though it’s not that far from the Golden Circle. I didn’t see a single tour bus all day!
If you’re looking to explore somewhere that still feels authentic and a bit “off the radar,” without having to drive deep into the Highlands, Þjórsárdalur absolutely deserves a spot on your itinerary.
I’m certainly going back to explore it more!
Places to stay near Þjórsárdalur Valley
You have some accommodation options near Hjálparfoss but you can easily choose a place to stay in the Golden Circle area, like Selfoss (we had a great experience at BSG Apartments during one of our trips) or Flúðir.
This time we stayed in Miðdalskot Cottages in Laugarvatn and absolutely loved them!
Nearby attractions:
- Golden Circle
- Landmannalaugar
- Fossabrekkur Waterfall
- Þjófafoss Waterfall (“Thieves’ Waterfall”)
Want a delicious meal after a day of exploring?
Drive to Friðheimar Tomato and Horse Farm for a bowl of their famous tomato soup and to Efstidalur II farm for some amazing ice cream in the company of their friendly cows!
Need help packing for your trip? Check out my tested, practical ICELAND PACKING LIST and be well prepared for your adventure!
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For more Iceland inspiration and travel guides click HERE.
About Monika
An avid traveler and a passionate trip planner, mildly obsessed with being organized and prepared 🙂
Well aware of how precious travel time is, I’m here to share my experience and help you get the most out of your vacation time.
“Taking the hassle out of trip planning”
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