Nýidalur is a great place to stop while traveling through the mountains. It is the perfect place to experience the truly remote, often extreme conditions of the Icelandic interiors. See what unique attractions it offers.
Nyidalur (New Valley) or Jokuldalur (Glacier Valley) are two names for the same valley in the Icelandic highlands, jutting into the Tungnafellsjokull glacier massif, between the larger: Vatnajokull to the east and Hofsjokull to the west. The area is about 800 meters above sea level and is already inside Vatnajokull National Park.
The volcano Bardarbunga (Bárðarbunga) can also be seen from here. The latest eruption of this volcano, which lasted from August 2014 to February 2015, was the largest volcanic eruption in Iceland in more than 200 years. To this day, smaller earthquakes have been observed there almost constantly.
To the east of the refuge lies the Vonarskard caldera, with many beautiful places created by Bardarbunga activity. These include the Hverabotn hot springs, the beautiful “smoky” Snapadalur valley, the Kviarvatn mountain lake and many small volcanic cones. We can admire the surroundings from two parking lots – Gjósta and Svarthöfði.
It is worth spending at least one or two nights here, renting a cottage or a bed in a hostel. Especially since the hostel is also an excellent base for hiking, for example, to the geothermal areas in and around Vonarskard.
Menu at Nyidalur Shelter
A camping site also operates next to the hostel. As befits the middle of the wild interior, the hostel and campground do not offer luxuries. Simple, though clean, bathrooms are arranged in a separate container. A small kitchen and a dining room in the hostel are available for guests’ use.
Contact for the hostel: +354 860 3334 (a guard is present only during the season).
The hostel also offers a narrow selection of the most basic (somewhat) products – sodas, candy bars, canned soup, pasta, etc. (depending on availability).
Nevertheless, you will pay for EVERYTHING at the hostel by card.
Map of Nyidalur area
Nyidalur is located almost in the middle of the F26 road cutting Iceland in half, in a north-south direction. Getting here is only possible in a four-wheel-drive car, but the streams and fords on the road are not particularly difficult or deep (but it’s wild Iceland, so anything is possible), so it doesn’t need to be some particularly powerful or high-slung car.
When driving on the F26, it’s worth deviating to the F752 and F881 roads if possible, and resting at the hot spring at the Laugafell refuge.
In summer you can also get here by bus on the route from Reykjavik and Landmannalaugar to Myvatn via the so-called Sprengisandur Route, the F26 road.
