All-Women Hiking in Iceland: A Festive Winter Retreat

Things to know

• What's included?

  Included:

  • • Experienced, local guides dedicated to creating a meaningful experience
    • All-women winter hiking tour, either a 7-day Christmas adventure in Iceland or 7-day New Year’s adventure in Iceland
    • Guided hikes that challenge and inspire, as in the itinerary
    • Accommodation for 6 nights that balances comfort with nature’s embrace
    • Entrances to hot pools
    • Thrilling snowmobile adventure
    • Guided glacier walk and ice climbing experience
    • City walking tour
    • Transportation for all activities
    • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
    • All scheduled activities and entrances

  Add-ons:

  • • Single supplement — $530, available to add at checkout

  Not included:

  • • Flights to Iceland
    • Airport transfers
    • Accommodations prior to and after the tour
    • Some meals (detailed in the itinerary)
    • Travel and medical insurance — optional
    • Guide gratuities — optional
• How fit do I need to be?

  These Iceland Northern Light package holidays are beginner-friendly! These will be exciting and festive tours, giving you the opportunity to explore Iceland’s natural wonders as well as its culture and traditions during Christmas and New Year’s time. You will walk a couple of hours a day, one day you’ll even go on a glacier hike (and possibly ice climb!), but it’s all suitable for beginners.

• Will we see Northern Lights?

  The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, so while a sighting cannot be guaranteed, December & January are one of the best times to see them in Iceland due to the long, dark nights. During your 7-day tour, mostly in Reykjavík and along the South Coast, you’ll have good chances—especially in rural areas with minimal light pollution.

• What do I need to bring?

  Here’s a list of clothing & footwear you need to bring:

  • • Waterproof hiking boots (with padded ankle and good arch support, well broken in, suitable for rocky terrain and snow)
    • Casual clothing for the evenings
    • Down jacket
    • Winter pants
    • Underwear
    • Synthetic or wool thermals
    • Long-sleeved synthetic or wool shirt
    • Towel & swimsuit
    • Synthetic or wool fleece
    • Sun & rain hat
    • Wool hat
    • Gloves (wool or pile)
    • Waterproof membrane gloves
    • Wool socks
    • GoreTex rain/wind jacket
    • GoreTex rain/wind pants
    • Buff or face covering

  Here’s a list of personal items & equipment you need to bring:

  • • Daypack (large enough to fit all items you might need throughout the day)
    • Main luggage (which will be transported to the hotels)
    • Waterproof cover for your daypack
    • Sunglasses
    • Water bottle or water bladder
    • Sunscreen
    • Hand sanitizer
    • Hiking poles (optional)
    • Camera (optional)
    • Medicine
    • Hygiene and beauty products
    • Towel
    • Cash or a debit/credit card

  Your main luggage will be transported by transport vehicle, and you will not have access to it until you reach your accommodation in the afternoon. Everything needed for the day’s trek must be in your daypack.

  You are allowed to take one piece of luggage on the tour. Your guide advises you not to bring a massive one—there are luggage lockers at four centrally located places in Reykjavik where you can store your extra luggage.

  For your own well-being and safety, we strongly suggest following the advice of this equipment list. This includes having good quality rain gear, tops, and bottoms. Cotton clothing is not appropriate for any strenuous outdoor activity—nor are jeans and cotton t-shirts. Modern outdoor clothing is by far more comfortable and will greatly improve your experience.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and prices:

  • • For these Iceland Northern Lights package holidays, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 16:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 6 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 16 participants.
    • Solo travelers are welcomed and encouraged to sign up—you can either opt for a single supplement or you can choose to share a room with one of your fellow travelers! Note that a single supplement will never be enforced—in case there’s an odd number of travellers, solo travellers will take turns staying in single rooms.

  Iceland Northern Lights package holidays can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to Reykjavik, the starting point of your Iceland Northern Lights package holidays, fly into Keflavik International Airport (KEF). From there, you have a 45-minute drive to Reykjavik by bus or a cab. Buses leave the airport every hour, 24/7, so you don’t have to worry about getting delayed.

  You’ll meet your guide and your group on Day 1 of the tour! It’s recommended that you either pick an early-morning flight so you get to seize the day or spend the night in Reykjavik a night prior to your adventure.

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, we partnered up with Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

  Redpoint tailors their insurance packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

  Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s insurance. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• On recent volcanic activity in Iceland

  Iceland, the “Land of Fire and Ice”, has forever lived with volcanic activity. Minor and major eruptions have occurred every few years since the island was formed. Some of Iceland’s appeal, aside from sheer natural beauty, surely stems from this very fact.

  However, every new eruption, such as the recent Reykjanes Peninsula fissure, will make some travelers, tourists, and adventurers uneasy, especially given the fact that sensationalist media is not immune to misinformation and speculation.

  Since we work with a number of expert local guides in Iceland, we thought we’d share their input and fill you in on what’s actually going on.

  • • First of all, air traffic has not been affected. Flights to and from Keflavík International Airport and Reykjavík Domestic Airport are operating as they always do.
    • Second, the effects of volcanic activity have been localized, with some roads closed, and all services in Iceland are operating as usual. Reykjavik, the capital, is around 40 km (25 miles) away from the volcanic fissure, and life there is as normal as ever.
    • And third, trips offered by 57hours are taking place much further away, and are thereby even less likely to be affected by the volcanic activity, being perfectly safe for adventurers. Naturally, the authorities (and guides) are monitoring the situation and doing everything possible to keep both local residents and visitors safe and well informed.

  In case you have any additional questions or dilemmas, feel free to get in touch with either your guide or 57hours. For more information, please visit:
  https://safetravel.is/ and https://www.visiticeland.com/article/volcano-info

  Or watch the video with Dr. Matthew Roberts from the Icelandic Meteorological Office explaining the recent volcanic activities in Iceland:
  https://youtu.be/QA3-BXYuYrw?feature=shared

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

  Basic

  • • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If canceled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Flexible

  • • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If canceled 30-59 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If canceled within 29 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Super Flexible

  • • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If canceled 30 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If canceled within 29 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.