Do you have a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon on your itinerary? Then I suggest you make a day of it and do the perfect combo. A beautiful hike followed by some relaxation in the dreamy Blue Lagoon.
You start with a hike through the moss covered lava fields around the Blue Lagoon and climb to the top of the popular (but quite small) Mount Þorbjörn. Afterwards you pamper yourself in the lovely warm water of the Blue Lagoon. A wonderful day for both your body and soul. I’m telling you, this is the way to go. The perfect combo.
I have hiked Mount Þorbjörn several times. One sunny day this summer I then decided to check out the trail between the Blue Lagoon and Mount Þorbjörn for the first time. It was a great addition to the mountain hike. I didn’t dip into the Lagoon this time around, but I wish I had. It would have been a perfect end to a lovely hike.
If you do the whole hike from the parking lot at the Blue Lagoon and to the top of Mount Þorbjörn, it’s about 7.2 km/4.5 mi. If you skip the mountain and just do the hike through the lava field to the bottom of the mountain, it’s about 4 km/2.5 mi round trip.
You can see my track of this hike on Wikiloc here.
Beautiful Mini Blue Lagoons
The trail starts behind the Blue Lagoon where you’ll find some beautifully blue and small ponds. Mini Lagoons if you will. I have to say, I was a little bit disappointed to see how the area around these ponds has been trampled down. It looks like people have been walking all over the lava instead of staying on the trail. That means the moss has been destroyed in many places and looks a bit worn out. The environment is therefore not as charming as it used to be. Maybe the trail wasn’t good enough marked from the beginning. I actually don’t know. But no matter the reason, I think it’s a shame. But the ponds are still beautiful and make you look forward to dipping into the real lagoon later on.
Hiking through Moss Covered Lava Fields
The most of the hike is an easy walk on a trail through a moss covered lava field. The trail leads you to Mount Þorbjörn, a very popular hiking spot among the locals. It’s not especially high but it’s rather steep. The elevation is about 256m/840ft and you get a good view over the surrounding lava fields, mountains, the Blue Lagoon, Grindavík (a small town on the other side of the mountain) and even the Atlantic ocean.
Climbing Mount Þorbjörn
There are more than one trail to choose from when climbing the mountain. Actually there are a few different paths on this side of the mountain where you can start but they all lead to the same main trail. One of them starts with a walk through a tiny forest. Ok, a forest may be an exaggeration. But you know, we call it a forest if there are ten trees or more in the same place. So a tiny forest it is!
When coming from the Blue Lagoon, it’s not necessary to go through the forest. There is another path that is closer and therefore makes more sense to take.
When you reach the top, don’t miss the huge crack on the top of the mountain. It may sound weird but people do often miss it. Are simply not aware of this part of the mountain. When I hiked Þorbjörn for the first time, I was accompanied by my girl friend who had hiked there many times before but had actually never explored the crack. She isn’t the only one but she totally agreed with me that this crack adds a whole lot to the hike. It’s pretty awesome to walk around in. It’s located right beneath the radio masts (or whatever these things are called!) so head for those.
The crack is called “The crack of the thieves”. The name originates from back in the day, when there was a group of thieves that stole sheep from the people in the area and then hid in the crack. It didn’t end well for them though as they got caught and were hanged.
Not really a cute story but what can I say? That’s how it went down!
Anyways. When you’ve had enough of the view, it’s time to walk the same way back to your car, get your swimsuit and experience a first class geothermal spa. Get soaked in the hot, blue water with a good drink and a refreshing face mask. Sounds appealing, right?
Is the Blue Lagoon a Tourist Trap?
Some call the Blue Lagoon a tourist trap but I have to respectfully disagree. It may have been hyped a bit but I still find it a very nice place to visit. I definitely recommend you try it out if you like to relax in hot water in a beautiful environment.
Will there be many people there? Yes. Is it expensive? Yes. Do I go there often? No. But I still think it’s really nice once in a while. It’s actually popular for a reason.
Retreat Spa – the Luxurious Version of the Blue Lagoon
I have been to the Blue Lagoon three times in the last four years. Last time was this summer and that was actually my favourite visit to date. This time my family and I decided to go all in and buy the luxurious version. We bought a ticket to the Retreat Spa where they have a smaller but also private lagoon with gorgeous lava walls. They also have a few different kinds of relaxation rooms and a room where you treat yourself with three different body masks. In addition to that they offer a restaurant that serves very good food.
You’d love everything about it. The few people that are there. The private changing room and shower. The cool design of the whole place. The delicious food and the friendly staff.
Just to be clear. I didn’t get paid to write this! I paid full price so this is honestly my opinion. It was a great experience. We all agreed on that. But the regular Lagoon is awesome too. This was just a different experience and I thought you should know about it too if it’s something for you. A perfect option if you really want to pamper yourself.
What Do You Think of the Blue Lagoon?
But no matter what part of the wonderful Blue Lagoon you decide to visit, I truly encourage you to make the most of it by also making time for a refreshing hike in a exotic nature before you relax in the hot mineral-rich water. The perfect Blue Lagoon combo. A wonderfully refreshing day for both your body and soul. Already looking forward to it? You really should!
Other Interesting Sites in the Area
The Blue Lagoon is located on Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. Close to the international airport.
Reykjanes Peninsula is a much overlooked area among our visitors and locals alike. Which is a shame but on the other hand it also means you will be avoiding big crowds. Which in my opinion is always a huge plus when out enjoying nature.
If you’re in the area, why not check out the beach by Reykjanes Viti Lighthouse? Black beaches are a beautiful phenomenon but they aren’t all made of sand. The beach by Reykjanes Lighthouse offers rough but stunning nature. A place where you truly feel the energy from the ocean in a beautiful setting. A shore line with no sand, just amazing pure black lava cliffs and rocks.
Seltún Geothermal Area is also a great stop on your way around Reykjanes Peninsula. Here you’ll find some hot springs and boiling mud pots along the boardwalk. But if you also take it a step further and hike to the top of the hill next to it, you will be rewarded with beautiful views in all directions. The mountains and lakes in the far and the colorful ground and mountain sides all around you.
Well, that’s it for now. If you liked this post and think some of your friends might be interested in reading it too, please help me spread the word. I’d really appreciate it if you’d share it on social media or just send it directly to a friend.
Until next time!
Dagný Stefánsdóttir says
What a wonderful idea! I had never thought about combining this treat with a hike in the surrounding area. I will definitely try to do that next time I plan to visit the Blue Lagoon.