Hjörleifshöfði is a spectacular cape, just 15 minutes from little town of Vík, in the south of Iceland. The cape looks like a mountain island in the middle of the black desert of Mýrdalssandur. It stands 221 meters high with lush green hills and black lava hills with tuff rock formations and huge vertical cliffs. There is a large cave on the southwest side that opens against the seemingly endless black plain ahead, making the landscape unearthly and exotic. Few hundred meters from the cape, there is a boulder in the sand called Lásadrangur, a prominent feature in the otherwise barren landscape. Further away is another boulder called Arnardrangur that gives a similar effect. There are many locations around and on top of the cape, such as a panoramic view of the black sands, the entrance to a cave, the cave itself, green hills and very interesting locations on top of it. Hjörleifshöfði is truly a magical place where the desolation is almost complete.
Hjörleifshöfði
South Coast, Iceland
Photos and videos
Climate
The South Coast of Iceland is known for its unpredictable and ever-changing weather. The region is characterized by a subarctic oceanic climate, which means that the temperatures are relatively mild, but the weather can be quite stormy and windy.
Data source Temperature averages
Lighting
The longest day in Iceland is multiple days from May through July when the sun doesn't set. The daylight hours in Iceland on the shortest days of the year are 4-5 hours per day (December to January).
Data source Accessibility
Route no 1 leads you straight to this location. Driving down to the main carpark takes 5 minutes down a sandy, bumpy road that can be difficult due to the sand. 4x4 is advised. All offroad driving is strictly forbidden.
Permits
Want to film hassle-free? Partner up with the local production studio through Massif and let them
handle all the paperwork.
Learn more
Basecamp and facilities
There are two areas on the west side of the cape that make for good basecamps. With the right permit and permission from the Environmental Agency, you could have a tech base closer to the cave, but otherwise all offroad driving is strictly forbidden. There are no facilities on site, and everything needs to be brought into the area. Phone coverage is good.
Risk factors
The sand can be strenuous to work in and walk through. The cape sides are steep and dangerous. They are palagonite rock, unstable and prone to collapsing. Staying close to the edge is not advised and should be assessed with a trained safety and rescue crew.
Visitors
Hjörleifshöfði lies on Iceland’s most frequented route, along the south coast, so many tourists go through here. The cape is a popular tourist attraction, where people stop for a long time, hike and take in the scenery. With the right permit, you could easily manage the traffic of hikers and tourist within the area.
Where does our information come from?
In collaboration with a team of experienced producers, we scoured through every location on
massif.network to bring you the most relevant and up-to-date information.
We provide photos and videos and all other location information.
Know something we don’t?
Noticed wrong information about permits? Is there a restaurant closer nearby? Tell us anything that may be wrong or missing.
