Mælifellssandur

Imagine a perfectly conical green mountain rising like an island from an endless sea of black volcanic sand. Welcome to Mælifellssandur, one of the most surreal and cinematic landscapes in Iceland — and possibly the entire planet.

This remote black desert, sculpted by glacial floods and volcanic ash, is home to Mount Mælifell, a vivid green volcano blanketed in moss. Surrounded by the vast emptiness of Mælifellssandur’s volcanic plains, the contrast is startling — a living painting of black, green, and sky.

Reaching this otherworldly location is an adventure in itself. Accessible only in summer and only by 4x4, the journey involves river crossings, winding tracks through lava fields, and jaw-dropping scenery at every turn. The isolation? That’s part of the magic.