Seljavallalaug

In Iceland you will find several hot springs. You can visit most of them, some are free, others require admission. Seljavallalaug is free and non-commercial. This makes the experience even more beautiful. The pool is accessible on foot via a path.

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The route is short, it is about 1,200 meters from the parking lot. The parking lot can be reached from main Road 1. You will see signs at Seljavellir, although they are small. So pay attention. The trail is not signposted, but you can see the path running along the riverbed. You sometimes have to cross a stream, which is easy to do because of the many stones in the water.

The trail runs along several small springs. The strains of steam will give their location away. You also see excessive algae growth. This makes the stream of water coloured bright green. The rocks show a brown colour due to the large amount of iron in the water. It indicates that there is a lot of volcanic activity under the immense Eyjafjallajökull glacier.

While I was there I heard people complaining about the status of the pool. Also about the relatively cold water. It is only warm where the water flows into the pool. However, this pool is free to visit. If an entrance fee were charged, it could be refurbished, for example. But I think it also loses some of its charm.

The location of Seljavallalaug makes it extra beautiful. The surrounding mountains are beautiful, especially in the spring with snow and ice. By the way, you can hike even further into the gorge. I also saw a nice path through the hills. 

In winter you will be surrounded by ice and snow. This winter setting gives an extra dimension to Seljavallalaug. The water is also extra fresh. In the summer, the water does not cool down much. So it is best to visit on a warm day. The downside is that it will be more crowded. The choice is yours.