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- Gjáin — A tiny, emerald oasis tucked into a lava field: pools, small cascades, mossy cliffs and weird basalt shapes. It feels like a fairy-tale corner of Iceland and is great for quiet photos or a slow picnic; sunrise/late afternoon light is magic. (Hidden gem — gets fewer bus tours than the big falls.)
- Háifoss — One of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls (about 122 m) plunging into a rugged canyon carved by the Þjórsá tributaries. The viewpoints above feel raw and vast — dramatic geology and wind in your face; pair it with the short drive to Granni.
- Granni — The “neighbor” fall right next to Háifoss; lower and closer-up, with different angles and intimate viewpoints. Walking the ridge between the two gives you two very different waterfall moods in one stop.
- Hjálparfoss — A fan-shaped twin waterfall
- Gjáin — A tiny, emerald oasis tucked into a lava field: pools, small cascades, mossy cliffs and weird basalt shapes. It feels like a fairy-tale corner of Iceland and is great for quiet photos or a slow picnic; sunrise/late afternoon light is magic. (Hidden gem — gets fewer bus tours than the big falls.)
- Háifoss — One of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls (about 122 m) plunging into a rugged canyon carved by the Þjórsá tributaries. The viewpoints above feel raw and vast — dramatic geology and wind in your face; pair it with the short drive to Granni.
- Granni — The “neighbor” fall right next to Háifoss; lower and closer-up, with different angles and intimate viewpoints. Walking the ridge between the two gives you two very different waterfall moods in one stop.
- Hjálparfoss — A fan-shaped twin waterfall set in a basalt-column amphitheatre where two streams meet the Þjórsá. Short walk from the parking area, nice for golden-hour shots and easy access without the crowds of the bigger attractions.
- Þjóðveldisbærinn Stöng (reconstructed Viking-age farm) — A carefully reconstructed turf longhouse based on the medieval farm found nearby; you can see how people lived before modern Iceland. It’s a tactile cultural stop — turf architecture, thatch, and the sense of why people chose this valley.
- Stöng archaeological site (the original ruins and tephra layers) — The actual foundations and ruins of the farm that was buried by Hekla’s 1104 eruption, with visible ash/tephra layers; excellent for anyone into archaeology or volcanic history. Quiet, evocative and much less busy than the main visitor sites. (Hidden gem — local history in situ.)
- Búrfell (the mountain) and nearby ridges — A compact, hikeable mountain overlooking Þjórsárdalur that gives sweeping views of the valley, river braids and Hekla on clear days. Locals hike here for sunset and solitude — steeper than it looks but rewarding. (Hidden gem — fewer visitors than the waterfall loop.)
- Þjórsá river braids and terrace landscapes — Walking the gravel banks and terraces of Iceland’s longest river feels uniquely Icelandic: ever-changing channels, big light, and a real sense of scale. It’s not one single “spot” but the living riverscape that shapes the valley — great for photography, river textures, and seeing how glacial rivers sculpt land.
- Little waterfalls, ponds and lava features around Gjáin — Beyond the main pool, explore the tiny side-steps: basalt alcoves, hidden plunge pools and micro-waterfalls that reward wandering. These are intimate landscape details you won’t get on a roadside-only tour.
- Visiting local farms and seasonal haymaking / turf buildings — The valley still functions as agricultural land: summer hayfields, turf outbuildings and small farms you can generally observe (and sometimes chat with owners about). It’s a low-effort way to connect with how people have worked this valley for centuries — bring boots and polite curiosity. (Hidden gem — authentic, local pace of life.)
Personal favorite: Gjáin — it’s compact, weirdly lush, and somehow feels like a secret even when people do show up.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.