Heydalur (Hotel Heydalur hot pools)

What to expect

Heydalur is a farm turned country hotel at the head of Mjóifjörður, a narrow fjord off Ísafjarðardjúp in the Westfjords. The valley is about 6 km (3.7 miles) long, with birch scrub, meadows and a river running down the middle. The family that runs it has planted more than 120,000 trees over the years, and signs around the property mark 43 bird species. It feels like a working farm that happens to have very good hot water.

Hot water was drilled twice in the valley with good results, and the hotel now uses it in three ways.

• The greenhouse pool. The old sheep house has been turned into a greenhouse full of subtropical plants, and a swimming pool sits inside it. Heydalur gives the water as 73 to 82°F23 to 28°C. The same geothermal heat grows vegetables and fruit for the kitchen. There is also an indoor hot tub in the greenhouse.
• The hot pots. Two outdoor tubs built from beach stone and shell sand sit right beside the greenhouse. The water is pumped from the ground and runs at around 104°F40°C, depending on the weather. In autumn and winter this is where guests wait for the northern lights.
• The natural pool. Across the Heydalsá river is a much older bathing spot. Heydalur says it has been known since the 12th century, and local tradition holds that Bishop Guðmundur the Good blessed it, after which people came to bathe there in the hope of a cure. The water is also around 104°F40°C.

None of this is a spa. There are no wristbands, no swim-up bar and no booking slots. You change, shower, and sit in warm water in a quiet valley, often with nobody else around.

Getting there

Heydalur is on the inner shore of Mjóifjörður, off Route 61 (Djúpvegur), the main road along Ísafjarðardjúp.

• From Hólmavík: Follow Route 61 north over the Steingrímsfjarðarheiði pass and around Ísafjarðardjúp. Cross the bridge over Mjóifjörður and turn left into the fjord. The hotel is about 12 km (7.5 miles) in. Heydalur puts the trip from Hólmavík at about 110 to 120 km (68 to 75 miles).
• From Ísafjörður: About 130 km (81 miles) along Route 61, through Súðavík and around the fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp. Allow around two hours, more with stops.
• From Reykjavík: Around 320 km (199 miles). Most people break the drive in Hólmavík or come via the Þröskuldar pass from Route 60.

The hotel’s GPS point is N65°50.626, W22°40.706. Parking is next to the buildings, and the greenhouse pool and hot pots are a few steps away. Ask at reception for the way to the natural pool across the river.

When to go

June to August is the easy season. The roads are clear, the campsite is open (1 June to the end of October), and the evenings stay light for hours. It is also when you can combine a soak with kayaking or a ride.

September and October are quieter, with darker nights. On a clear evening the outdoor hot pot is a comfortable place to watch for the northern lights.

Winter is possible. The Westfjords tourist board lists the hotel as open year-round, and travel agencies sell winter northern lights stays here. But Heydalur warns that the passes at Þröskuldar, Steingrímsfjarðarheiði and Vatnsfjarðarháls may be impassable. Check road.is and the weather forecast before you set off, and keep your plans loose.

Prices and rules

Pool access is included for anyone staying in the hotel, the cottages or the campsite. Visitors who are only passing through pay a day price. On the hotel’s price list, labelled 2025, that was:

• Adults: ISK 1,500
• Children aged 7 to 15: ISK 500

The list was still labelled 2025 in October 2026, so confirm the amount at reception. The hotel’s English page says the greenhouse pool is open 24 hours. Check with staff about times for the outdoor pots and the natural pool, especially if you are not staying.

The rules are short:

• Use of the pools is at your own risk. There is no lifeguard.
• Young children must be supervised by an adult in the pool area at all times.
• Shower before you get in. As at every Icelandic pool, wash fully without your swimsuit first.
• Swimsuits on. These are shared pools beside a hotel.

Where to stay nearby

• Hotel Heydalur: The Westfjords tourist board lists 19 rooms with 59 beds, all with a private toilet, plus three summer cottages. The restaurant is in the old barn and serves local food.
• Heydalur campsite: Open from 1 June to the end of October, with warm showers, flush toilets and electric hookups for campervans and trailers. Campers can use the pools.
• Súðavík and Ísafjörður: The nearest villages with more beds and shops are along Route 61 toward Ísafjörður. Ísafjörður, about 130 km (81 miles) away, has the most choice.
• Hólmavík: To the south, Hólmavík is the service town for Strandir, with fuel, a supermarket and guesthouses.

Other things to do at Heydalur

The hotel runs its own activities, with 2026 prices on its website:

• Horse riding: ISK 10,900 for one hour, ISK 14,800 for two hours, ISK 25,900 for a full day, and ISK 4,000 for a 15-minute led ride for children.
• Sea kayaking: A guided two-hour trip is ISK 9,700 and leaves from Látrar, 14 km (8.7 miles) from Heydalur. A five-hour trip is ISK 25,900. Experienced paddlers can rent kayaks from ISK 5,000 for a half day. Trips do not go out in strong wind.
• Hiking: Marked routes, listed in the Wapp app, run from the valley to the sea, up Eyrarfjall and into the next fjords. Leave a route plan at reception before a mountain walk.
• Fishing: Permits are sold for Ausuvatn, a trout lake about 400 m (1,300 ft) up and two hours’ walk away, and for Fremra Selvatn, about 10 km (6 miles) away by 4WD.

Safety notes

• Heat: The hot pots and natural pool are around 104°F40°C. Keep soaks short after a long drive, drink water and get out if you feel dizzy.
• River crossing: The natural pool is across the Heydalsá. Ask staff how to reach it, and do not wade the river when it is high after rain or snowmelt.
• Gorges: Heydalur warns that the gorges in the valley can be dangerous, especially in winter and spring. Stay on marked routes.
• Children: There is no lifeguard at any of the pools. Keep children within reach.
• Winter roads: Carry warm clothes, food and a charged phone. Weather in the Westfjords changes quickly, and help can be a long way off.