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Volcanic activity has been—quite literally—shaping Iceland from its earliest history up until the present day. Simply put, the country is no stranger to molten rock and volcanic ashes—as can be experienced in the Meradalir Valley. Here you’ll find the sight of the two eruptions that have occurred in the last one and a half years. Now that the Fagradalsfjall volcano has reinstated a ceasefire, you can roam the nearby landscapes dominated by newly formed fields of lava—see the heat waves radiating from the fields, touch the rehardened volcanic rock and smell the burning moss. Learn interesting stories about the country’s past and geology and get to know why Iceland is dubbed the Land of Fire and Ice.

  • Feel the heat radiating from hardened molten rock

  • See and touch the lava fields formed in the recent eruptions

  • Combine Icelandic vistas with interesting stories about the country

Itinerary

Embark on a private guided hike to the Meradalir Valley—the sight of the recent eruptions of the Fagradalsfjall volcano. What awaits you is an outlandish feast for the senses—from vast heat-radiating lava fields to the smell of burning moss. The expert guide will cater you the best possible experience of the otherworldly landscapes while teaching you about Iceland’s history and natural phenomena. Once the hike is over, you can try autochthonous cuisine in Grindavik—a nearby fishing village.

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Meet your guides

Maggnus Viking
5.00
Maggnus Viking
Maggnus Viking is sometimes called the Handstanding Viking because he’s often seen upside down on top of a rock or next to a waterfall. He got his rough traditional Icelandic vibe and behavior from his father, and his soft, academic side from his mother. Maggnus loves adventure and socializing—perfectly connected through guiding adventurers through Icelandic wilderness, he’s a commercial pilot, flight instructor, ship captain and a truck driver.
Norse Adventures
5.00
Norse Adventures
Norse Adventures is a family-run guiding service provider focusing on turning travels to Iceland people only dream of into reality. Travel deep into the mountains and hike the roads less traveled to find hidden gems that you will remember for the rest of your life. Norse Adventures are determined to provide the absolutely best support and enthusiasm to make it happen.

Things to know

  • What you get on this adventure:

      • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
      • A half day of hiking 

    What’s not included:

      • Transportation to the trailhead
      • Lunch and snacks
      • Accommodations
  • The hike is around 3.7 miles (6 km) long in each direction and will take the average person about 1.5 hours to complete (about 3 hours of hiking in total). Despite the area generally being quite flat, there will be some up-hills and one particularly steep part. You can expect an elevation gain of around 1,180 ft (360 m). Apart from the fact that the weather and trail conditions may affect the difficulty, the hike should be easy to anyone with prior hiking experience and slightly tiresome to those without any hiking experience. Keep in mind endurance issues or knee problems make the hike significantly more strenuous.

  • Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

      • Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
      • Hiking shoes and wool or fleece hiking socks
      • Long sleeve shirt (thermal underwear) 
      • T-shirt (thermal underwear)
      • Light sweater (2nd layer)
      • Gloves 
      • Windproof and waterproof jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or comparable)
      • Hiking pants/shorts, something strong and light that dries quickly 
      • Windproof and waterproof trousers 
      • Warm hat
      • Second skin, band-aid, elastic bandage and painkillers
      • Buff around the neck
      • Lunch box and some food
      • Hiking poles — optional
      • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
      • Spare clothes for layering
      • Toiletries (sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
      • Sunglasses
      • 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 avoid wearing cotton—choose clothes made of wool, fleece, or other synthetic materials. Don’t wear jeans.

  • Group sizes and prices:

      • For this private adventure, the maximum client to guide ratio is 14:1. 
      • The cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to hike with friends and family! 

    Hiking to the Meraldir Valley 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.
      • Minors younger than 18 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 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

  • To get to the Meradalir Valley and the Fagradalsfjall volcano, most people fly into Keflavik International Airport, an hour drive from the trailhead.

    From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to the Fagradalsfjall Parking P2, a parking lot recently set up by Icelandic authorities. Here, you will meet up with your guide and start the hike.

  • 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 the Meradalir Valley, Iceland, please refer to these official COVID-19 guidelines for traveling to and from 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!

  • Day Trips Cancellations
    Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
    Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
    Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.

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