Hiking Adventures in a Surreal Landscape
Southern Iceland Expedition
Overview
Iceland is a mystical world of spouting geysers, blue lagoons, lava fields, and multicolored rhyolite valleys stretching to the sea—these fantasy landscapes must be seen to be believed. On coastal, mountain, and glacier adventures, we explore Vatnajökull National Park and the brooding heaths of saga country, where Viking clans created the world's first parliament. We'll hike high above Skógafoss waterfall, take in the sea views from the Dyrhólæy headland, and witness the visible tectonic plates at Thingvellir National Park, a World Heritage Site. Delights along the way include fresh-caught salmon and Arctic char, and soaks in geothermally heated mineral waters.
Arrive: Reykjavík, Iceland
Depart: Reykjavík, Iceland
Highlights
- Hike in an unearthly landscape of canyons, iceberg-filled lagoons, and geysers
- Explore the dramatic rift valley of World Heritage-listed Thingvellir National Park
- Learn about Iceland's Viking heritage, savor the long twilight of the midnight sun
- Taste savory Icelandic cuisine, soak in a geothermal hot spring
Itinerary
Flowing to the sea through a narrow fjord, Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, makes a dramatic backdrop for our hike to the coast. Lakeside trails bring us along stunning Jökulsárlón Lagoon, with its powder-blue icebergs calved from the Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier.
In Vatnajökull National Park, one of the most spectacular settings in Iceland, we hike among crystalline white glaciers and rushing rivers, and atop towering Dyrhólaey headland, 400 feet above the sea, we'll enjoy fabulous birdwatching above a stunning black-sand beach. One
of our hikes brings us up to the
20-story-high Skógafoss cascade, and
another leads into the hidden gem
of Múlagljúfur, with views across
the gorgeous glacier lagoons of
Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón and the
Vatnajökull Glacier, Europe’s largest.
Thingvellir is home to the world’s
oldest parliament, the Althing, first
held in 930 AD, and this park’s
unique geothermal landscape is a
visual reminder of the meeting point
of the North American and European
plates. This continental rift actually
shows the plates separating—our
hike on this rift is a spectacular grand
finale. We’ll enjoy a luxurious soak
in a geothermal pool in Reykjavík
before departing on Day 8.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is Level 3+, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. It features daily mountain hikes and hotel accommodations throughout. The hikes can be considered strenuous because they are on undefined, steep trails or through some rugged terrain.
The terrain can be very wet. There are many short but steep parts on our hikes, and much up and down. Sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots are essential. Gaiters are not required but will protect your pant legs from getting wet when we hike through boggy areas. Hiking poles are highly recommended (we provide poles to those who do not wish to pack their own).
For your own enjoyment, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. Daily brisk walking and/or regular hiking (or using a stair-climbing machine at your gym) are excellent preparatory exercises.
Temperatures should be in the mid 50s, perfect for hiking. The weather can provide spectacular clear days but can also be very wet, cold, and changeable, and we want you to be well prepared for all you may encounter. Icelandic weather is always unpredictable, so you must come prepared for at least some rain and bring appropriate rain gear. It is unlikely that it will be hot. The winds can be strong and very cold, even on sunny days.
Iceland's weather will dictate our exact hiking itinerary. Trip members need to remain flexible in consideration of inclement weather that may require changes, such as substituting different hiking routes, canceling hikes, or switching the days of certain hikes.
Iceland's weather will dictate our exact hiking itinerary. Trip members need to remain flexible in consideration of inclement weather that may require changes, such as substituting different hiking routes, canceling hikes, or switching the days of certain hikes.
Our nights will be spent at comfortable hotels and inns. Please keep in mind that on this trip we are crossing rural Iceland. The rooms in our hotels and inns will not always conform to international hotel standards and sizes. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
We drive to a starting point for our hike and our vehicle picks us up at the end of the hike to drive us to our night's lodging. Some days combine sightseeing and hiking, but we usually don't spend more than a couple of hours in the van at one stretch. Where possible, those who are not up for hiking can usually opt out and spend time on their own at the hotel.
Client Testimonials
"Really great trip. Relaxing and fun, well thought out, organized. I would definitely take a WT trip again."
Aaron W.
San Francisco, CA
"This trip gets my highest rating in terms of leadership and management of details. Iceland is a delightful and surprisingly beautiful place to visit."
Dennis S.
Oakland, CA
"Superior trip, excellent leadership."
Edgar G.
Syracuse, NY
"The trip far exceeded our expectations in beauty. The moss-covered mountains, waterfalls, gorges, and glaciers were truly gorgeous."
Ellen & Harvey F.
Los Angeles, CA
"A very well balanced trip with excellent guides. I felt safe and comfortable the entire journey. The hiking was excellent, as was the variety of locations and scenery."
Ellen R.
Santa Barbara, CA
"Great itinerary and top quality food, and the locations of all the hotels was excellent."
Fan X.
Jersey City, NJ
"Well conceived and well run trip. Iceland’s a fantastic place."
Gail L.
Chicago, IL
"A wonderful trip in a beautiful place!"
Jeff L.
Sioux Falls, SD
"I was pleasantly surprised with the itinerary that we did so much more than just hiking each day. It was a wonderful blend of hiking and seeing the sights—a great immersion into the country allowing us to gain a great appreciation for its beauty and culture."
Jeff P.
Rescue, CA
"The trip sought out the best of Iceland. The guides were excellent, with wonderful knowledge of the history, geology, and environment, and the participants were all great companions."
Jim Y.
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
"We fell in love with Iceland. It was really hard to leave such a beautiful country and people."
Joyce N.
Fort Mohave, AZ
"The landscape was beautiful and we did some exciting and well thought out hikes to see different sights of Iceland. The guides were excellent thoughout the trip and were very attentive, knowledgeable, and fun to be around."
Kaye R.
The Woodlands, TX
"I loved Iceland. The geographic diversity from day to day made each hike so different, from glaciers and icebergs to swimming in a hot river."
Ken G.
Orlando, FL
"Without a doubt this was the top trip we have taken. The itinerary was varied and the hikes were great. We would do this trip again in a second."
Larry A.
Wymore, NE
"This was an amazing trip. I feel like I am still walking the fjords! The beauty of Iceland will never leave me. Thank you!"
Linda A.
Minneapolis, MN
"This was our first WT adventure and our first attempt at an active (hiking) vacation. It was a great success on all counts."
Lynne F.
Hastings, NE
"Loved the trip, loved the challenge of the hikes, the scenery, and getting to know Iceland and its culture. Would love to go back and see more."
Margie C.
Lake Forest, IL
"We were both very pleased with the trip. We loved having everything organized for us leaving us free to just enjoy the scenery and relax!"
Michelle H.
Sunnyvale, CA
"Iceland was a beautiful country with lovely people, extraordinary scenery, and wonderful remote hikes."
Nancy D.
San Francisco, CA
"This was a marvelous introduction to and overview of a complex country and its people. We were delighted by the diversity of experiences—landscapes, length and difficulty of hikes, variety of foods."
Patricia M.
Asheville, NC
"One of the best trips we've ever taken. The beauty of Iceland cannot be surpassed."
Paul & Joy K.
Phoenix, AZ
"Iceland is one of the most beautiful and natural places we’ve ever been."
Robert V.
Virginia Beach, VA
"I cannot say enough good things about our trip leaders; they were outstanding in all respects. Extremely competent, assured our safety and well-being without being obviously obsessive about it, full of interesting and useful information about Iceland and its people and history, and certainly great fun to be with. The kind of people I'd love to travel with anywhere."
Tom C.
Spokane, WA
"Iceland is a marvelous country and the itinerary was really, really good—from seaside, through glaciers, waterfalls, then geothermals. It didn't hurt that the weather cooperated mightily."
Walter S.
Tucson, AZ
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
Submit the form below to download itinerary
Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.