Wilderness Center
Heritage Sites, Outdoors, Hikings
Laugarfell, Fljótsdalshérað, East Iceland
Langisjór — ‘long lake’ — is a slender glacial lake 20 km long and up to 2 km wide, lying at 662 m elevation in Iceland’s Central Highlands, southwest of Vatnajökull. Its clean blue-green water and the surrounding Fögrufjöll mountains (whose name means ‘beautiful mountains’) make it one of the most visually striking highland destinations in Iceland, yet it remains far less visited than Landmannalaugar.
The lake is excellent for hiking, kayaking, and fly-fishing for arctic char. The Sveinstindur peak (1,037 m) on the lake’s eastern shore rewards climbers with panoramic views over the glacier and the highland interior. The entire area forms part of the Vatnajökull National Park buffer zone.
Access requires taking the F208 and F235 highland roads, suitable for high-clearance 4WD vehicles only, with several river crossings. The roads open approximately mid-June and close in September–October. Prior planning and a GPS device are essential.
