The story of Iceland is written in its landscapes and best told through its hiking trails. Get ready for a trek through time—past ancient glaciers, primordial geysers, legendary Viking footpaths, centennial hiker’s huts, and uncover the forces that have shaped the Land of Fire and Ice for millions of years. Follow the historic Kjölur mountain pass used by Iceland’s first settlers in the 9th century. This path shrouded in myth and legend is one of the two roads connecting the country from north to south. At the end of each day, rest your weary feet in cozy huts, enjoy traditional dishes, and unwind in natural hot springs like travelers of old. The legacy of Iceland is one of fire, ice, immeasurable beauty, and mysterious history. Experience it all in a single hike.
See a unique blend of historic landmarks and timeless landscapes
Dive into the island’s culture and delicious traditional cuisine
The Ancient Trail of Kjalvegur is one of the oldest passable highland routes
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
This Icelandic hiking adventure requires decent fitness levels. You’ll be hiking for 4 to 6 full days, covering around 7.5-10 miles (12-17 km) per day with moderate altitude change while carrying a loaded daypack. Your main luggage will be transported with a support vehicle. Keep in mind that you’ll also be covering tricky volcanic terrain, the weather and trail conditions may affect the difficulty and you will encounter several river crossings along the trail.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Your main luggage will be transported with a support vehicle, and you will not have access to it until you reach the huts in the afternoon. Everything needed for the day’s trek must be in your day backpack.
Please do not bring hard suitcases. A soft duffel bag, ca 60 L, is preferable, and please do not exceed 40 lbs (18 kg) per person. Also, keep in mind that the bags might move around or get wet during transport, so pack accordingly.
The huts on the trail are very basic. You will spend your night in shared dormitories with bunk beds. While the beds have mattresses, you should bring a sleeping bag and a liner. Each hut has different facilities but most include gas cooking. Some hut have running water, showers, and toilets, while other have out-houses and no running water.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking in Iceland can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
For this year’s dates, a 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
To get to the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik, the starting point of this tour, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF). From there, you can take a bus, shuttle, or taxi to Reykjavík.
You will be meeting your guide at the BSI bus terminal in central Reykjavik at 10 am, which can be easily accessed by foot or public transportation. From there, you’ll head to the trailhead.
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, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Iceland, please refer to the official guidelines for international travel to Iceland.
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!
