Our co-founder Perica went to Iceland on one of Alberto and Monica’s trips about two years ago, and he has not stopped talking about it since. We’ve all enjoyed his many slideshows of the remote trails: Perica standing on jet-black sand, next to lava fields, and insanely green mountains. But we can’t just take his word for it—so we decided to witness these electric colors of Iceland ourselves. Over the course of 8 days, our local Icelandic guides will take us on a journey across Iceland’s reclusive gems. As a recharge point after daily explorations, we will return to lodgings in the middle of nowhere, unwind in natural hot springs, and taste delectable dinners next to otherworldly landscapes.
Literally—flaming-colored relief, lava forests, and even molten, fiery lava can be found
Glistening glaciers, moss-covered hills, pitch-black volcanic ashes, green-hewn rhyolite mountains
Our brilliant local guides will make sure we get a good insight into Iceland—we’ll dip in hot pools and taste local food
There’s no place like Iceland anywhere else in the world and exploring its hidden trails is probably the most epic hiking journey we’ll ever get to witness. Far from the tourists and crowded trails, we will traverse through lava fields, surreal rhyolite mountains, jet-black sands, and surreal lakes—just to name a few of the countless gems. Natural hot springs and geothermal pools will be there to relax our muscles, and as the evening falls, we will retreat to our accommodations in the middle of nowhere.
After you land at Keflavik Airport, head to the city. We’ll meet up and head to our local guides’ headquarters in the afternoon. After a presentation and briefing about the upcoming adventure, we’ll drive to our accommodation for the night on the South Coast. It takes around an hour and a half to get there. Make sure to get a good night’s rest—tomorrow the adventure begins!
Accommodation: Private twin rooms in Basecamp
Rise and shine, we’ve got an incredible day ahead of us. Early in the morning we’ll depart towards Landmannalaugar. Once there, we’ll hike depending on the weather conditions. We’ll end our day with dinner and a dip in the natural hot pools.
Accommodation: Shared room in a mountain hut with a sleeping bag
In the morning we’ll drive towards Langisjór, an incredible lake in the Highlands. Its shape and color against the green mountains seem surreal. Continue onto the Fögrufjöll mountains in the south of Iceland. After hiking, we’ll go to Hólaskjól and spend the night there.
Accommodation: Shared room in a mountain hut with a sleeping bag
On day 4 of our adventure, we’ll drive towards the region of Mælifell. Once there, we’ll hike the spectacular Rauðibötn crater and visit the thundering waterfalls near Hólmsárlón lake. After lunch, we will head towards Mælifell mountain, a verdant mountain emerging from pitch-black soil, and continue onto the Strútur area. That’s where we’ll spend the night. An alternative for the overnight is Hólaskjól.
Accommodation: Private mountain hut for the group with a sleeping bag
We’ll drive to Thórsmörk Valley in the morning with a few stops along the way. Thórsmörk, one of the most beautiful and lush areas in Iceland, boasts incredible hiking opportunities and views—that’s why we’ll stay here for two days. Today we’ll hike to the Stakkholstgjá canyon and waterfall.
Accommodation: Shared room in a mountain hut
Today we’ve got a full day of hiking through the surreal Thórsmörk valley! Depending on weather conditions, we’ll settle on the Tindfjallahringur hike, the Valahnúkur hike, or the Fimmvörðuháls approach.
Accommodation: Shared room in a mountain hut
We’ll leave Thórsmörk in the morning and head towards Reykjavik. Along the way, we’ll detour to the Sky Lagoon hot pools or the Hvammsvik hot pools in Hvalfjörður. This will be the perfect ending to our adventure, allowing us to relax and recharge after a week spent in the wilderness.
Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavik
Our epic Iceland adventure has come to an end. We’ll arrange transport and head together to Keflavik International Airport. If you’d like to stay here longer, that’s totally understandable—keep on exploring this wonder of a country!
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
In case of special dietary needs, please let us know and we can make arrangements.
This tour is ideal for experienced hikers. Each day we will hike between five and seven hours, over the course of a week. The volcanic terrain can be challenging and the weather unforgiving. That said, if you are looking for a rugged adventure and up to the task of multiple days of full-day trekking, you’ll be rewarded immensely.
After booking, your guide will let you know all the necessary equipment to bring. Prior to the start of the route, the guide together with each traveler will review the material to ensure that everything necessary is available. Here’s a general list of the equipment you need to bring:
Drones are completely forbidden.
Group sizes and prices:
For this luxury hike in Iceland, the maximum group size is 12. The cost does not decrease as the group grows.
To get to the starting point of this tour in Reykjavík, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF). From there, you can take a bus, shuttle, or taxi to Reykjavík.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the BSI central bus terminal in Reykjavík or another predetermined location. From there, you’ll head to the trailhead. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.
With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
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/
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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA3-BXYuYrw
A 15% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
