Laugafell

Laugafell, a remote mountain refuge and geothermal hot spring on the Sprengisandur highland route between the Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers in Iceland's uninhabited interior, is one of the most isolated thermal bathing experiences in the country — a silica-rich warm pool at an altitude of around 800 metres in the black sand desert that forms the heart of Iceland's central highlands. The refuge marks one of the traditional crossings of the interior desert used by Icelanders for centuries, and the hot spring provides a vital warming resource in an environment of volcanic rock, snow, and wind where temperatures can drop dramatically even in summer. Laugafell's combination of geothermal warmth and extreme highland isolation makes it an iconic destination for those crossing Iceland's interior by the Sprengisandur route — one of the great wilderness experiences remaining in Europe.