Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
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Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Þjórsárdalur is a wide valley in South Iceland at the edge of the highlands, home to waterfalls, lava fields and the ruins of Viking-age farms buried by a volcanic eruption. It is about 120 km (around 1 hour 45 minutes) from Reykjavík, free to explore, and best visited as a half-day loop by car.
Þjórsárdalur sits along the Þjórsá river, Iceland's longest, at the point where farmland gives way to the highlands near the mountain Búrfell. In the year 1104, Hekla erupted and buried around 20 farms across the valley in thick ash, ending settlement there for centuries. When archaeologists excavated the farm at Stöng in 1939, they found stone foundations preserved almost intact under the ash, which is why the area is sometimes called Iceland's Pompeii.
The valley lies in Árnessýsla, between the mountain Búrfell, which stands beside the Þjórsá to the east, and Skriðufell to the west. Further in it splits into two arms, an eastern one at Rauðukambar and a western one along the river Bergólfsstaðaá, towards Sandá. The valley floor is flat and covered in pumice and ash from Hekla, one of Iceland's most active volcanoes, which is in clear view on a good day. Downstream lies Þjórsárhraun, the Þjórsá lava, the largest lava field in Iceland.
Today the valley is a loose collection of sights rather than a single stop: the waterfalls Háifoss and Hjálparfoss, the green oasis of Gjáin, and the reconstructed Viking longhouse at Þjóðveldisbærinn Stöng are all within a short drive of each other. It is a good half-day or full-day route for anyone who wants waterfalls and history together, away from the busiest tourist routes.
Before 1104, Þjórsárdalur was home to a string of Viking-age farms making a living from the land. When Hekla erupted that year, one of the first eruptions recorded in Iceland's history, thick ash smothered the valley and made it unfarmable. The largest farm, Stöng, was buried so completely that its stone foundations survived almost untouched until they were excavated in 1939, giving archaeologists one of their clearest pictures of how people actually lived in Iceland's early centuries.
Roads to Háifoss and further into the valley can be unpaved and occasionally rougher, especially outside summer, so check conditions before setting out.
The sights are spread along Route 32 and its side roads. These are the main stops, roughly in the order you reach them from the west.
Older guides mention a hot pool in the valley, Þjórsárdalslaug near Rauðukambar. It has been closed for some years. A new bathing place, Fjallaböðin (the Mountain Baths), is being built in the valley and is planned to open in 2028.
Wear proper walking shoes and bring an extra layer and a waterproof, even in summer. The weather at the edge of the highlands can turn quickly, and the paths at Gjáin and Háifoss are uneven. Protect your camera from spray and blowing pumice dust.
The cliffs in the valley are steep and loose. Stay on marked paths and well back from the edges at Háifoss.
No general facilities across the valley; Þjóðveldisbærinn Stöng has toilets when open. The nearest fuel and shops are around Flúðir or on Route 30.
Most visitors explore Þjórsárdalur as a day trip. The nearest accommodation is around Flúðir, with more options further along South Iceland's Ring Road route.
Yes, the valley itself is free; only the reconstructed farm at Stöng has a separate entry fee.
Waterfalls including Háifoss and Hjálparfoss, the green valley of Gjáin, and the Viking-age farm ruin at Stöng.
Plan around half a day to see the main sights at an easy pace.
Because the 1104 eruption of Hekla buried farms in the valley under ash, preserving their foundations for archaeologists to excavate centuries later.
About 120 km, around 1 hour 45 minutes by car.
Yes. The reconstructed Commonwealth Farm, Þjóðveldisbærinn, was used as a village attacked by wildlings in the series.
Not at the moment. The old Þjórsárdalslaug pool is closed, and the new Fjallaböðin baths are planned to open in 2028.
Háifoss is 122 m high, which makes it one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland.
Tours and trips that include Þjórsárdalur, booked directly with a local travel agency in Iceland.
