Halo in Iceland: Where Was the Series Filmed?
“Halo” is a science-fiction series set in the 26th century, based on the universe of the iconic Xbox game franchise. At the centre of the story are Master Chief and humanity’s war against the Covenant, an alien alliance that wants to destroy humankind. For some, it is mainly an on-screen version of a famous brand; for others, it is a surprisingly interesting excuse to see Iceland as a natural film set for a world that is supposed to feel harsh, alien and unsettling.
If, while watching season 2, you had the feeling that some of the outdoor scenes looked like “another planet”, that was no coincidence. Season 2 was officially filmed in Iceland and Budapest, and Icelandic media later narrowed down the two strongest on-the-ground leads: Kvernufoss in the south of the island and Reykjanes / Krýsuvík in the southwest.
Those two directions are the easiest way to build a sensible, honest and readable post for a traveller. Not a list of “all Halo locations”, which nobody has publicly confirmed, but a solid guide to places that genuinely connect to the series and that you can add to your own Iceland itinerary.
OndaTravel hub
Film tourism – more Iceland locations and beyond
Start with the film tourism hub if you want to connect series, films and real places with practical Iceland itinerary planning.
Table of contents
Halo TV series – season 2 – Paramount+
What is the “Halo” series about
Where was “Halo” filmed in Iceland
Which episodes and scenes make the Icelandic trail easiest to spot
Kvernufoss – the most tangible series location
Reykjanes and Krýsuvík – an alien planet near Reykjavík
Behind the scenes and production trivia
How to add “Halo” locations to your Iceland itinerary
Check out my YouTube and travel with me.
Follow me here:
Hi, I’m Krystian from OndaTravel.pl
Do you enjoy my content?
Buy me a coffee on buycoffee.to/ondatravel and support the creation of more travel stories, guides and filming-location content.
What is the “Halo” series about
“Halo” is a science-fiction series from Paramount+, based on one of the most recognisable brands in gaming. The story takes place in the 26th century, when humanity is fighting a devastating war against the Covenant, a powerful alliance of alien races. At the centre of the story stands Master Chief, a supersoldier from the Spartan program whose face is known to almost every Xbox fan.
If you are not deeply immersed in Halo lore, the easiest way to think about the series is this: it combines military sci-fi, a war-for-survival story and the journey of a man who gradually regains agency under the control of the system. In season 2 the show becomes noticeably darker, more terrain-driven and more “planetary” in visual terms, and that is exactly where Iceland starts to matter in a big way.
- Title: Halo
- Platform: Paramount+
- Genre: science fiction / military sci-fi
- Based on: the Halo game universe
- Production stage most relevant to Iceland: season 2
- Main character: Master Chief / John-117
- Main conflict: humanity versus the Covenant
That also matters from a travel perspective. Iceland is not playing the role of “pretty Iceland from a brochure” here. It plays places that are supposed to look like the edge of the world, a landscape after a disaster or a planet where humans are not meant to feel safe. And that is exactly why it fits Halo so well.
Halo in Iceland: key facts
- Season 2 was officially filmed in Iceland and Budapest.
- The strongest confirmed Icelandic on-the-ground leads are Kvernufoss and Reykjanes / Krýsuvík.
- The official image announcing the start of production shows Spartans at Kvernufoss.
- Riz’s training scene from the clip “Halo S02 E02 Clip | Riz Fails During Training” takes place at Kvernufoss.
- In the sneak peek for season 2, episode 1 “Sanctuary”, you can see the cliff and rock formations of Indjánahöfði above Kleifarvatn.
- Local media also reported the temporary closure of Krýsuvíkurvegur because of filming, which ties the whole thread strongly to Reykjanes.
That matters, because thanks to those clips and official materials, you no longer have to rely only on a general “Icelandic vibe”. This post can now point not only to regions, but also to specific scenes connected to specific places, without guessing and without assigning the show locations that nobody has confirmed.
That is why this text rests on two pillars: Kvernufoss in the south of the island and Reykjanes / Krýsuvík / Kleifarvatn near Reykjavík. One gives you a canyon and waterfall mood hidden in the rocks. The other offers bare cliffs, a lake, geothermal landscapes and scenery that looks like a planet from a sci-fi series with almost no effort.
Where was “Halo” filmed in Iceland
The two most reliable and best-documented places today are:
- Kvernufoss – a hidden waterfall near Skógar, very close to Skógafoss, on Iceland’s south coast.
- Reykjanes / Krýsuvík – a geothermal and volcanic area in the southwest of the island.
This pairing also makes visual sense. Kvernufoss gives a more organic, stony and almost mystical atmosphere. Reykjanes and Krýsuvík work in a completely different way – more like the landscape of a volcanic planet where the ground steams, colours feel unnatural and the scenery looks as if something bigger than humanity has interfered with it.
If you are interested in the route itself along the south of Iceland, also check my guide to the South Coast and Ring Road. That is where Kvernufoss and the Skógar area fit most naturally.
Which episodes and scenes make the Icelandic trail easiest to spot
This is the question that comes up most often. The production has not published a complete table saying “every scene = exact location”, but thanks to official clips and what can genuinely be recognised in the frames, several very specific moments can now be linked to Iceland.
- Season 2, episode 1 “Sanctuary” / sneak peek “Cliff Face” – the cliff-climbing scene and the shots of the team can be linked to Indjánahöfði above Lake Kleifarvatn on Reykjanes. This is one of those moments when Iceland really is not pretending to be anything gentle – it plays a raw, rocky world on the edge.
- Season 2, episode 2 “Sword” / clip “Riz Fails During Training” – Riz’s training scene takes place at Kvernufoss. That is an important piece of proof, because here we are no longer talking only about a “probable vibe”, but about a very specific place that can be recognised from the waterfall itself and the shape of the canyon.
- Official image announcing the start of season 2 production – four Spartans stand at Kvernufoss, which further strengthens the series’ connection with south Iceland and the Skógar area.
- Reykjanes / Krýsuvík – beyond the clip from episode 1, local media also confirmed filming activity in the area and the temporary closure of Krýsuvíkurvegur, so the whole southwestern thread of the series now stands on much stronger ground than a simple fan theory.
In other words: today you can say something much more concrete than just “Halo was filmed somewhere in Iceland”. You can point to Riz’s scene at Kvernufoss and to the cliff scene from episode 1 at Indjánahöfði above Kleifarvatn. And that is exactly what makes the biggest difference in a post like this.
It is still not a complete map of every shot from the series, but from a reader’s perspective it is already a very strong base for travelling in Halo’s footsteps – and much more than a simple fun fact that the production was once in Iceland.
Kvernufoss – the most tangible series location
If you want to point to one place that is most strongly connected to Halo in Iceland, it is Kvernufoss. That is where the official photo announcing the start of filming for season 2 was taken, and that is also where Riz’s training scene from the clip “Halo S02 E02 Clip | Riz Fails During Training” takes place.
That is a very strong piece of confirmation, because Kvernufoss is no longer just “a filming location”. It becomes a place that is genuinely visible in a specific scene tied to a specific episode. If someone watched season 2 and wants to stand later in a real place from the series, this is currently the clearest trail.
Kvernufoss lies in a small canyon near Skógar and very close to Skógafoss. That matters, because in practice it is not a separate “expedition”, but a great addition to a classic day on the south coast. You can combine it with one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls and at the same time see a place with a real on-screen connection to Halo.
The atmosphere of Kvernufoss itself fits the series very well. You have a gorge, a high rock wall, a waterfall dropping into a natural amphitheatre and a path that leads close to the curtain of water. This is not a landscape that works like an ordinary postcard. The place has rawness, half-shadow and natural stage design that works extremely well with military sci-fi.
If you want to develop this travel angle further, the best way is to pair this post with my guide to Skógafoss and Kvernufoss. That way the reader does not end on a film fun fact, but immediately gets the practical answer: how to get there, how much time to plan and how to fit it into a day itinerary.
Full guide
Skógafoss and Kvernufoss – how to see both places in one day
If you want to combine the series trail with practical sightseeing, this guide will show you the approach, parking, timing and the most sensible order for Skógafoss and Kvernufoss.
Reykjanes and Krýsuvík – an alien planet near Reykjavík
The second pillar of Icelandic Halo is Reykjanes, or more precisely the area of Krýsuvík and Kleifarvatn. That is where local media reported the closure of Krýsuvíkurvegur for filming. And now, thanks to the clip from episode 1, this lead can be tied down even more strongly.
In the sneak peek “Halo Season 2 Episode 1 Exclusive Sneak Peek”, you can see a cliff scene that can be recognised as the Indjánahöfði rock formations above Lake Kleifarvatn. It is a very distinctive place on Reykjanes – rocky outcrops above dark water, a treeless landscape and a sense of space that looks more like the edge of an alien planet than a classic postcard from Iceland.
I should add that scenes for the Apple series Foundation were also filmed at Indjánahöfði.
If you have ever been by Kleifarvatn, in Seltún or at other geothermal stops in this part of the island, you immediately understand why Halo could land here. It is a landscape that effortlessly looks like a cinematic world after a catastrophe: bare cliffs, wind, a lake, dark lava fields and colours that sometimes seem unnatural even in real life.
The best part is that, unlike many “film locations”, this place is very practical for travellers. You can add Reykjanes to the beginning or the end of your trip, especially if you stay in Reykjavík or are driving the route to or from KEF airport. That means the Halo thread does not have to be a separate expedition – it can simply become part of a well-planned Iceland itinerary.
There is already a natural internal link for that on the blog: my guide to the Reykjanes Peninsula. And that is exactly where it makes sense to send the reader after the section about Krýsuvík, Kleifarvatn and Indjánahöfði. Then they immediately get the extension: what else to see, how to connect the area with other stops and whether it is worth planning half a day or a full day for it.
Full guide
Reykjanes – a volcanic day trip from Reykjavík
See my Reykjanes guide if you want to connect Krýsuvík, geothermal areas, lava and the most “cosmic” landscapes of southwest Iceland.
Behind the scenes and production trivia
The strongest behind-the-scenes detail is simple and very concrete: the official announcement of the start of season 2 production shows four Spartans in full gear right at Kvernufoss. That is not a leak, not a fan photo and not a theory, but material released directly by the brand.
Today there is also a second very important confirmation: Riz’s training scene from the clip for episode 2 takes place at Kvernufoss, and the cliff sneak peek from episode 1 leads to Indjánahöfði above Kleifarvatn. That means the post no longer relies only on promotional materials, but also on genuinely recognisable frames from the season.
The third important clue is Krýsuvíkurvegur, the road in the Krýsuvík area. Icelandic media wrote about its temporary closure because of Halo filming. It may seem like a small detail, but it says a great deal about the scale of the shoot and about the fact that Reykjanes was not just a brief background stop.
The contrast between those two pillars is also interesting in itself. Kvernufoss gives the production a more stony, hidden and watery atmosphere. Reykjanes, Kleifarvatn and the Krýsuvík area work like a volcanic and geothermal world – much rawer, more hostile and more “otherworldly”. Thanks to that, Iceland is not a monotonous background here, but a tool for building different moods.
That is what is worth pulling out most strongly in the text: Halo does not use Iceland like a postcard. It uses it like a ready-made visual language for sci-fi.
How to add Halo locations to your Iceland itinerary
The simplest and most logical layout looks like this:
- Reykjanes / Krýsuvík – as half a day or a full day trip from Reykjavík, best at the beginning or the end of the journey.
- Kvernufoss / Skógar – as part of a South Coast day, together with Skógafoss and the onward route toward Vík.
That is exactly why the Halo theme connects so well both to the film tourism hub and to ordinary Iceland travel guides. A reader may enter through the series angle, but in the end they get something more useful: a concrete itinerary idea.
If someone is planning their first trip, it also makes sense to point them to my broader Iceland hub as well as ready-made itineraries such as Iceland in 4 days or Iceland in 7 days. That way a post about Halo does not end as a filming trivia piece – it becomes a real entry point into travel planning.
And if someone wants to keep following Iceland through the lens of film after this post, the natural next step is The Odyssey and Icelandic locations in Nolan’s films and the post about where “King and Conqueror” was filmed in Iceland.
FAQ: Halo and Icelandic filming locations
Was the Halo series filmed in Iceland?
u003cpu003eYes. Season 2 of the series was officially filmed in Iceland and Budapest, and the strongest confirmed Icelandic leads are Kvernufoss and Reykjanes / Krýsuvík / Kleifarvatn.u003c/pu003e
Where exactly was Halo filmed in Iceland?
u003cpu003eThe most reliable places are Kvernufoss in south Iceland and the Reykjanes, Krýsuvík and Kleifarvatn area. In the clip from episode 1 you can also recognise the Indjánahöfði rock formations above Kleifarvatn.u003c/pu003e
Which Halo scene was shot at Kvernufoss?
u003cpu003eRiz’s training scene from the clip u0026quot;Halo S02 E02 Clip | Riz Fails During Trainingu0026quot; takes place at Kvernufoss. Today that waterfall is the most recognisable Halo location in Iceland.u003c/pu003e
Which scene from episode 1 leads to Reykjanes?
u003cpu003eThe sneak peek for season 2, episode 1 u0026quot;Sanctuaryu0026quot; leads to the Indjánahöfði rock formations above Lake Kleifarvatn on Reykjanes. It is one of the most distinctive Icelandic traces in the series.u003c/pu003e
Can you visit Halo locations during a normal Iceland road trip?
u003cpu003eYes. Reykjanes, Krýsuvík and Kleifarvatn are easy to combine with Reykjavík or the airport, while Kvernufoss fits best into a South Coast day together with Skógafoss.u003c/pu003e
Read more / continue
Hi, I’m Krystian “dziadzia przewodnik” from OndaTravel.pl!
The North is my greatest passion, but the world is far too beautiful to stay in just one climate. On my blog, I combine the raw landscapes of Iceland and Norway with the exotic energy of Thailand or Vietnam, showing you how to travel authentically — with passion and a camera in hand.
What will you find on OndaTravel.pl?
Visual storytelling: As a photographer and filmmaker, I don’t just describe places — I take you there with professional photos and video.
North expert: Ready-to-use road trip plans for Iceland and Norway, smart tips for budget travel, and my original Northern Lights Radar (locations and forecast).
Travel through the lens of cinema: I track down filming locations — from icy scenes in Interstellar to tropical frames from world cinema.
New direction: Exotic destinations: I love contrast, so the blog is featuring more and more practical knowledge about Vietnam and Thailand. I’ll show you how to find your way around Southeast Asia and come back with your best memories.
P.S. follow me here
