Sprengisandur Highland Track

Sprengisandur earned its name – ‘Burst Sand’ – from the way this route breaks both vehicles and spirits crossing Iceland’s most unforgiving highland desert. The track stretches across 150 miles of black volcanic sand and scree between Europe’s largest glaciers, following ancient horse trails where travelers once froze to death or starved crossing this moonscape. Multiple unbridged river crossings including the notorious Tungnaá and Kjallfellsá can trap vehicles for days when snowmelt or storms turn them into raging torrents. The landscape stays dead flat and featureless for hours, broken only by distant glacier peaks and the occasional emergency shelter.

This is expert-level overlanding requiring proper 4WD, recovery gear, satellite communication, and serious expedition preparation. Open only July through early September, with river conditions changing hourly. Carry spare tires, extra fuel for 200+ miles, emergency food, and warm gear – rescue can take days. Weather turns lethal fast with zero shelter from wind or storms. But complete this crossing and you’ve tackled one of the world’s most remote overland routes, experiencing the raw emptiness that shaped Icelandic character for a thousand years.