Highland F-roads: Landmannalaugar, Sprengisandur and Þórsmörk

F-roads (F for fjall, mountain) lead into Iceland's highland interior: F208 to Landmannalaugar, F26 across Sprengisandur, F249 into Þórsmörk and others. They are rough, can be steep, and may have unbridged rivers. A 4x4 is required, and rental terms follow that: a two-wheel-drive car on an F-road is a breach of your agreement. SafeTravel adds that some routes need a Land Cruiser-sized vehicle or a super jeep.

No insurance covers damage while crossing a river, so if you are unsure, do not cross. The roads are closed in winter and usually open from about late June or July to mid-September, depending on snow and the year. Vegagerðin keeps a record of past opening dates and the live status is on umferdin.is (phone 1777). Also see SafeTravel's highland driving advice. Off-road driving is strictly forbidden.

If you would rather not drive it yourself, a guided highland trip with an experienced driver is the alternative.