Guided Hiking and Climbing on Three Peaks, Iceland

Top three reasons to go hiking and climbing in Iceland

Climb three different stunning peaks of glaciers and active volcanoes
Hike, climb, and go sightseeing in the 24-hour daylight
Visit most of the major attraction sites, including the diamond and black beaches

If you’ve ever been to Iceland, you know that its beauty is unparalleled and that every trip brings something new, and if you haven’t been, it is definitely on top of your bucket list. It’s no wonder that so many outdoor enthusiasts and seasoned travelers dream of visiting this magical destination on the constantly active geologic border between North America and Europe. The picturesque views of snowy mountains, green valleys, dramatic waterfalls and gloomy beaches leave no one indifferent, and the possibilities are endless under the 24-hour daylight from late May to late July. With so much to see and do in Iceland, it can be hard to choose only one activity, so this adventure combined the best of hiking, climbing, and sightseeing over six challenging, yet rewarding days. Explore majestic volcanoes rising up to 2110 m/6922 ft, witness the beauty of waterfalls and unique beaches, and visit world-famous locations that will simply leave you breathless. Climb three peaks of Iceland and make some lifelong memories along the way!

Season

May through June

Nearest city

The adventure begins in Reykjavik, Iceland

Duration

6 days

Skill level

Intermediate to advanced

Book This Adventure

Combine hiking, climbing, and sightseeing over six days and witness the most beautiful locations Iceland has to offer. Each day brings something new – climb spectacular volcanoes, enjoy the views from the top, and visit lagoons, beaches, and magical waterfalls during rest-days. Your guide will take care of your safety and guide you every step of the way to make sure you have the best trip ever! Enjoy the magnificent scenery, take some photos, and pinch yourself every once in a while because you might think you’re dreaming!

Itinerary

Start your journey with an early morning pick-up at your accommodation in Reykjavik and drive towards the Snæfellsnes peninsula, a region in western Iceland known for its dramatic landscapes. After two hour of driving, you’ll reach the foot of the majestic Snæfellsjökull Glacier. This glacier is a dormant 700000-year-old stratovolcano rising an amazing 1446m (4745ft) above sea level. Spend the rest of the day climbing and after 6-7 hours reach the top — the panoramic views will leave you breathless! After marveling at the views and taking a few pictures, return to the foot of the glacier where a comfy hotel awaits you with dinner and bed.

Today you’ll rest from the summit and go for a day of sightseeing. The Snæfellsnes peninsula features spectacular scenery including the basalt rock formation of Arnarstapi, Djúpalónssandur pebble beach, and the much-photographed mountain Kirkjufell. As you continue driving southward through the Borgarfjörður area, you’ll witness geysers and waterfalls. Explore the wonderful waterfall of Hraunfossar, and reach the Golden Circle which includes Thingvellir National Park, the geothermal area of Geysir, and the majestic Gullfoss waterfall. Your accommodation for today is a hotel at the foot of your next day’s challenge — Glacier Eyjafjallajökull.

Are you ready to climb the famous Eyjafjallajökull? This active volcano is a 1,651m (5417ft) high stratovolcano with a magnificent view from the top. Climb for 9-12 hours before returning to your accommodation where you can relax and enjoy a fresh warm meal.

Explore the beautiful South Coast and some of the most photogenic places on this hemisphere. Visit the world-famous black beach of Reynisfjara with unique basalt rock formations and dramatic scenery, the picturesque village Vík, and the Skaftafell National Park. Don’t miss the glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón and diamond beach named for its magical black volcanic sand beach where icebergs from the lagoon drift ashore like scattered diamonds. After a day of sightseeing, relax at your hotel and prepare for the biggest challenge of this tour!

Basalt rock formations on the volcanic black sand beach at Vik in Iceland. The cliff face is columns of hexagonal rocks. Rock stacks are in the sea. Large waves and spray is being whipped up from the ocean. Rocks lie on the sand and the sky is cloudy and moody.

Expect a long and strenuous day, as you try to ascend Hvannadalshnúkur (2110 m/6922 ft) — Iceland’s highest peak. This will be the most challenging day of the trip with a 2000m (6562 ft) ascension! The pyramidal peak of the Öræfajökull volcano promises an unforgettable climb with rewarding breathtaking panoramas. No special technical skills are required to climb, but prepare for up to 15 hours of walking! In case snow and weather conditions are not good enough for a safe climb, your guide will have to change the itinerary to Hrútsfjallstindar or another similar summit. Once you reach the summit, return to your hotel where a warm meal and bed will await you.

After three amazing and challenging climbs, you will say goodbye to the snowy wilderness and make your way back westward along the scenic south coast of Iceland. Pass beneath Eyjafjallajökull once again and visit the impressive Skógarfoss waterfall, one of the largest and most elegant waterfalls in Iceland. You can expect to be in Reykjavík in the late afternoon.

Meet your guide

Icelandic Mountain Guides

Hiking Guides

Icelandic Mountain Guides offer the perfect variety of experiences to satisfy anyone’s desire for adventure. Whether you want to relax in the unparalleled beauty of Iceland's nature or take a more challenging adventure, we’ve got you covered. The possibilities are endless and the memories will last a lifetime.

Reviews (2)

Kim T about Icelandic Mountain Guides

The next two days were set aside for an expedition to Hvannadalshnjúkur. We got up at 4 am and left from Sandfell. At 1,050 m we built a campsite and practiced self-arrest, snow anchors, avalanche risk assessment and avalanche beacon search both solo and as a group. After spending the night we had glorious weather on summit day. Around noon we were all standing on the highest peak in Iceland, enjoying the blue skies and the sun.

George about Icelandic Mountain Guides

We did the Three Peak Challenge over 6 days. Since I love to hike and climb mountains and I love the landscapes of volcanoes, so the choice was obvious to pick a tour that combined all of these…The tour was ideal for me since I was able to get alpine experience: mountains that have ice and snow especially without having to go up to very altitudes. Iceland has more extreme conditions at lower altitudes, which means that it is not necessary to go through several days, even up to a week of altitude training acclimatisation, before commencing a journey.

Things to know

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Iceland please refer to Iceland’s official Covid website.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get on this adventure:

- An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 6 full days of hiking, climbing, and sightseeing
- All meals during the tour
- Accommodation in twin/dbl rooms in 3* hotels for 5 nights
- Transport in 4×4 minibus
- Safety equipment

Special dietary supplements, such as vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, gluten free or other, can be ordered at some extra cost. The supplement will include meals that meet the requirements of your diet.

What’s not included:

- Transportation to Reykjavík
- Accommodation in Reykjavík before and after the tour

This adventure in Iceland is an advanced tour of three peaks ranging from 1446m (4745ft) above sea level to 2000m (6562 ft). Advanced hikes include full days of hiking and climbing with steep descents and challenging switchbacks. This adventure doesn’t require any technical climbing knowledge or equipment, but you should be prepared to hike between 6 and 15 hours. This tour requires great fitness and endurance, as well as previous hiking experience. Keep in mind, you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
A duffel bag for the transport of your overnight gear between hotels
Day backpack for extra clothes and lunch pack during the day (around a 25-40L bag)

- Hiking poles — optional
- Gaiters — optional but recommended
- Gloves – wool or synthetic 2 pairs of different thickness
- Long sleeve shirt (thermal underwear) – wool or synthetic
- T-shirt (thermal underwear) – wool or synthetic
- Light wool or fleece sweater (2nd layer)
- Warm, down jacket
- Puffy jacket e.g. Primaloft — optional
- Jacket with a good hood – windproof, waterproof and breathable, e.g. Gore-Tex or comparable
- Soft-shell trousers – strong and light material that dries quickly
- Rain trousers – windproof, waterproof and breathable — full raingear is mandatory in Iceland, poncho is not useful because of wind
- Socks – wool or synthetic
- Change of clothes for wearing in the hut
- Sunhat
- Wool hat
- Sturdy hiking boots – waterproof with good ankle support
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Pocket knife
- Aperitif or other heart-warming spirits – liquor laws in
- Sunglasses
- Portable power bank
- Dry-bags for electronics and extra clothing — optional
- Camera — optional (but recommended)

Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans. Iceland is home to infamously unpredictable weather, so you need to be prepared with the right gear.

Group sizes and prices:

- For this group adventure, the usual client to guide ratio is 6:1. Groups can have up to 12 guests.
- The cost is per person and does not decrease as the group grows.

Min. age requirements:

- If you are older than 16, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 16 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has hikers under the age of 16, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

To get to Reykjavik, most people fly into Keflavik International Airport just under an hour away. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to Reykjavik. Your guide will suggest the best place to meet, usually at your accommodation in Reykjavik.

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