Mælifell Volcano sits deep in the southern Icelandic Highlands, it's incredibly beautiful and adventurous to get to. The lush green cone stands out against the black volcanic sands of the Mælifellssandur plains and makes for dramatic photos, but this is not a quick pull-off stop like many Iceland attractions.

To reach Mælifell you must have a high-clearance 4×4, and the roads are only open in summer when snow and flooding have receded. That’s because the F-roads that lead here, mainly F210 and sometimes F261 or F232 depending on your route, are rugged and unpaved, with multiple unbridged river crossings and rough terrain.

There are a few ways to approach it:

• From the west via F261 then F210: very scenic but involves river crossings and more challenging sections.

• From the south/east on F232 then onto F210: often considered easier because it can avoid the biggest fords, though the road is still rough and has river crossings.

No matter which way you go, you’re driving through classic Highland landscapes and you can’t avoid river crossings on these tracks, so experience with F-roads and river fording is important. If you're not up for this, there are some tours that will take you here! :)

Once you arrive, parking is informal off the gravel track near the base of the volcano. From there, short walks around the base give you great angles of Mýrdalsjökull glacier in the background.

There are no facilities, services, or marked trails, so plan for the full experience, fuel up before you go, bring food, water, and layers, and only attempt this if you’re comfortable with Iceland’s highland driving conditions!!