Get your hearts ready, my friends, because I’m about to share one of the best kept secrets on the South Coast.
Midgard Basecamp is a South Coast Iceland accommodation, restaurant, bar, and tour operator based in Hvolsvöllur, between Seljalandsfoss and Vík. It’s best known for its Þórsmörk (Thorsmork) super jeep tours, and it’s one of the few places where you can combine a highlands adventure with a comfortable place to eat, drink, and sleep afterward.
Between Seljalandsfoss and Vík sits a little village called Hvolsvöllur. You’d normally drive right by it without a second glance, but after this post, you’ll have another stop to add to your South Coast itinerary.
I’m officially partnered with Midgard Adventure now (more on that below), and this is my full recap of staying at their basecamp and taking their Þórsmörk Super Jeep Tour.
What Is Midgard Basecamp?
Midgard Basecamp is accommodation, restaurant, bar, chill-out space, and tour operator, all in one location. In this post I’m walking through my experience on their Þórsmörk Super Jeep Tour, and spoiler alert, it’s amazing.
What to Expect on the Þórsmörk Super Jeep Tour
The day starts with a debrief covering the stops, safety information, and a chance to ask questions before you head out. You’ll pile into one of the biggest SUVs you’ve ever seen and set off toward Þórsmörk.
You might assume the tour drives straight into Þórsmörk, but it doesn’t. There’s a stop along the way at a location only certain vehicles and guides have access to, which is one of the real advantages of taking a guided tour instead of trying this route on your own.
Group sizes stay small, and your guide shares stories about the South Coast and Icelandic culture along the way, which is part of what makes a small group tour worth it.
Driving Into Þórsmörk
If you’ve followed my Highlands series, you already know I love Þórsmörk, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the country. I’d been there before, but never in snow, and it’s a completely different experience covered in white. Mountains, glaciers, snow, all in one place. On the day I visited, the weather cooperated too: clear skies, almost no wind, which is rare in Iceland and made the drive even better.
Lunch at Volcano Huts and the Hike to Langidalur
The tour stops at Volcano Huts, where you can buy lunch or bring your own. Afterward, there’s time to hike, and the exact trail depends on conditions that year. On my visit, we hiked from Volcano Huts to Langidalur, a manageable route that felt a bit more challenging in the snow, but worth every step for the scenery.
Þórsmörk is closed for roughly half the year and requires a specialized vehicle to reach safely. Taking a guided tour solves both problems: you get a knowledgeable guide, safe transportation, and access to a part of Iceland most travelers never see.
Stakkholtsgjá Canyon
After several hours (this is genuinely a full-day tour), the drive back out of Þórsmörk includes one more essential stop: Stakkholtsgjá, a canyon that looks like it belongs in a fantasy film. It keeps going back further than you’d expect, with a river running through it and snow clinging to the walls. It’s one of those places where you just stop and take it in.
Worth noting: no two tours are identical. Your stops depend on the season, road conditions, and what your guide decides is worth seeing that day. That’s part of what makes each trip feel personal rather than scripted.
Back at Midgard Basecamp: Food, Drinks, and the Rooftop Hot Tub
After a full day outdoors, Midgard’s on-site bar and restaurant is exactly what you want, plenty of cozy spots to sit, decompress, and let your legs recover. Their burger, in particular, hits the spot after a long hike.
Then there’s the rooftop hot tub. Soaking with that view is one of those moments that reminds you why you travel to Iceland in the first place.
Why Midgard Basecamp Works So Well in Winter
Midgard runs tours throughout the year, but their winter excursions deserve special mention. Winter travel in Iceland already comes with logistical challenges, so having an operator that handles both your day trip and your accommodation, food, and drinks in one place removes a lot of that stress. You don’t have to book everything Midgard offers to make it worth a stop, even just one tour or one night is enough to see why people keep coming back.
What the Midgard Team Says
I’ll let Björg, part of the Midgard team, explain why this basecamp location works so well:
“For me, this is such a privilege, to live here. To have a backyard like Þórsmörk and Seljalandsfoss. Being in close connection to it, and having this access to it. If you start the tour from here, it only takes 10 to 15 minutes to arrive at the first big spot, so you can be ahead of the crowds. People come in the morning, get free coffee, join the tour, and come back to a place that’s full of life. It’s basically our family here. We love showing people what we love, and leaving them a little changed from when they arrived.”
Accommodation Options at Midgard Basecamp
Midgard offers both bunk and private accommodation. Bunks are a good fit for groups or budget-conscious travelers who don’t mind shared space. Private rooms with private bathrooms are also available if you’d rather have your own space after a day of adventure.
Beyond the Þórsmörk Super Jeep Tour, Midgard also runs cycling tours, hiking tours, multi-day tours, private tours, and guided group tours. If you’re anywhere along the South Coast, it’s worth building into your itinerary. They’ve become more popular in recent years, so booking ahead, especially in summer, is a good idea.
How to Save on a Midgard Adventure Tour
I’m thrilled to share that I’ve officially partnered with Midgard Adventure, the same highlands and super jeep crew I stayed with on the South Coast. If a highlands day trip, a multi-day trek, or a guided hike is on your list after reading this, you can now save on your booking with my discount codes below.
Midgard Adventure Super Jeep & Hiking Day Tours
Midgard Adventure is a South Coast basecamp offering super jeep tours, hiking, and multi-day adventures into the highlands, run by a team that knows Þórsmörk and the surrounding terrain intimately. I’ve stayed and toured with them personally, which is exactly why I keep sending readers their way.
Use code IWAV10 to save 10% on any of the day tours below:
- Þórsmörk, Valley of Thor Super Jeep Tour
- Þórsmörk Super Jeep Tour (from Reykjavík)
- Landmannalaugar Highlands Super Jeep Tour
- Fjallabak Super Jeep Tour
- Fimmvörðuháls Hiking Tour
- Þórsmörk Hiking Tour
Midgard Adventure Multi-Day Adventures
Want more time in the highlands? These all-inclusive multi-day trips combine transportation, guiding, and accommodation into one seamless package.
Use code IWAV7 to save 7% on:
Midgard Adventure Multi-Day Guided Treks
For hikers who want to go deeper into the highlands over several days, Midgard’s guided treks are the real deal, remote terrain, small groups, and experienced local guides every step of the way.
Use code IWAV5 to save 5% on:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a 4×4 to visit Þórsmörk myself?
Yes. Þórsmörk requires a specialized vehicle to cross the river crossings safely, and the area is closed for roughly half the year. A guided super jeep tour like Midgard’s is the easiest way to visit without renting specialized equipment yourself.
Is Midgard Basecamp good for winter travel?
Yes, and it’s arguably one of the best options for winter South Coast trips. Having a single operator handle your tour, meals, and accommodation removes a lot of the logistical stress that comes with winter driving in Iceland.
Can I book just one tour without staying overnight?
Yes. You don’t need to book accommodation to take a day tour with Midgard, though staying overnight lets you take advantage of the restaurant, bar, and rooftop hot tub afterward.
Final Thoughts
Thank you so much to Midgard for having me and my husband. This has become one of my favorite home-away-from-home stops for South Coast road trips, and I’m excited to now offer readers a discount on top of a recommendation I already believed in.
Happy planning,
Iceland with a View only partners with companies I’ve personally visited and would recommend to friends and family. This post contains affiliate links; if you book through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Jeannie is the founder of Iceland with a View, an Iceland trip planning resource she launched in 2015 after moving to Iceland. Having lived in Iceland for nearly 11 years, she shares firsthand travel advice through in-depth articles, guidebooks, maps, itineraries, and a YouTube channel with over 110,000 subscribers. Her mission is to help travelers confidently plan unforgettable Iceland trips with practical, experience-based guidance.
