Rjúpnavellir campsite is the start of the hiking trail to Landmannalaugar. But it also works well as a base for a bus trip to this beautiful place. See what it offers and how to use it.
Where Rjúpnavellir campsite is located
Rjupnavellir is a campsite in the valley of the Ytri-Ranga River, just off Route 26, about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Hella and about 135 km (85 mi) from Reykjavik.
Importantly, Rjupnavellir is the last campsite on the paved road on the bus route going from Reykjavik to Landmannalaugar – Fairytale Rainbow Mountains. That’s why travelers who drive around Iceland on their own, but don’t have a 4×4 or don’t want to risk driving into Landmannalaugar itself, can conveniently leave the car here and continue by off-road bus.
Map: the two routes from Rjupnavellir to Landmannalaugar — click to open the interactive map
Just 7 km (4 mi) north of the campsite, the F225 – the shortest route to Landmannalaugar – branches off paved Route 26 to the east. This is the road the buses from Reykjavik take.
Admittedly, there are several fords on successive streams along the way, but for off-road coaches traveling on this route this is not a problem. On the other hand, tourists driving small 4×4 cars most often enter Landmannalaugar from the north, because the road there – the F208 – does not go through any streams.
Rjupnavellir is also the beginning of the hiking route to Landmannalaugar. This route is the Hellismannaleid trail, which we described in a separate article. The trail is normally spread over 3 days, but it can also be walked in two. Hikers on the Hellismannaleid take a morning bus to Rjupnavellir and start from there. Their first stop is the Afangagil campsite, 17 km (11 mi) away – typically 5 to 7 hours of walking.
Hellismannaleid: trail route and elevation profile
Buses from Reykjavik arrive here at 9:20 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., and return buses to Reykjavik leave at 4 p.m., 4:50 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
So, depending on your other plans, you can arrive here on one of the morning buses and go straight to the trail (this is the most common solution), or arrive on an afternoon bus and, for example, go on a hike towards Hekla – the Queen of Iceland’s Volcanoes, and set off on the trail the next morning.
Highland Bus: RVK – Landmannalaugar
This bus stops in Rjupnavellir on its way to Landmannalaugar and you can start or end your trip there. The fare is 10,000 ISK (about $80) per person, one way. See all the details on the linked page.
Those following the Hellismannaleid trail in the opposite direction – from Landmannalaugar to Rjupnavellir – should have no problem catching the first return bus at 5 p.m. From the previous campsite – Afangagil – they have only 17 km (11 mi) to go, mostly downhill.
The main attraction of the area is the valley of the Ytri-Rangá River, on which the campsite lies. About 6 km (4 mi) upstream, to the northeast, is the pretty Fossabrekkur waterfall, and about 3 km (2 mi) to the northwest is Thjofafoss – Thieves’ Waterfall (Icelandic: Þjófafoss).
For more attractions in this region, see this list: the area around the Hekla volcano.
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What Rjupnavellir campsite looks like
Rjupnavellir campsite works much like the campsites along Route 1, so in many ways it differs from the campsites on the Laugavegur, Fimmvorduhals, Hellismannaleid or any other mountain trail in Iceland.
Rjupnavellir campsite buildings
For those driving around Iceland by car, Rjupnavellir is an ordinary campsite, like many others. But for those following one of the trails mentioned above, it is a unique campsite – not only because it is easy to reach by bus, but also because:
- At the Rjupnavellir campsite, you can recharge your phone, camera, watch, power bank and whatever else completely free of charge and with no time or quantity restrictions;
- There is a container where you can warm up, dry off, cook and eat a meal or wait for the bus. It is no beauty, but it protects you from rain, wind and cold and has comfortable seats and a kettle – and some other campsites don’t even have a tent for this purpose;
- A shower costs only 400 ISK (about $3.50, 2023); admittedly, it will probably get a little more expensive in the following years, but certainly not as much as at the campsites on Laugavegur (1,100 ISK, about $9, in 2027);
- An overnight stay at a campsite here is about 500 ISK ($4) cheaper than at Landmannalaugar, and an overnight stay in one of the cottages is almost half the price of a night in the Landmannalaugar hut (7,700 ISK versus 13,000 ISK, 2024 prices – that’s about $60 versus about $100; in 2027 a night in the Landmannalaugar hut costs as much as 18,000 ISK, about $150);
- The cabins are equipped with a toilet and shower inside – when spending the night in a cabin, there is no need to use outdoor toilets;
- The campsite is flat, grassy and not badly sheltered from the wind;
- There is free Wi-Fi for all guests throughout the campsite (though it works best near the reception);
- The camp store sells snacks and drinks, like the campsites on Laugavegur, but also ordinary groceries – rice, pasta, tuna, sauces, bread, butter, etc.
Compared to other campsites on Road 1, or popular places in Iceland in general, Rjupnavellir lacks a public kitchen or laundry facilities. However, for those coming down from the mountains, it really is a welcome return to civilization.
Rjupnavellir campsite – detailed information | |
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| region | South Iceland |
| GPS coordinates | N 64°2.0511, W 19°50.0693 64.034185, -19.834488 |
| altitude | 175 m (575 ft) above sea level |
| season | May – September (exact dates depend on the weather) |
| contact / reservations | Website: Rjúpnavellir Camping & Cottages +354 783 7141 [email protected] |
| cost of accommodation (prices for 2024) | cottage: 7,700 ISK (about $64), camping: 1,800 ISK ($15), shower: 400 ISK ($3.50) |