What you get in this adventure: An experienced, qualified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area Transportation in a minibus Accommodation in twin/double rooms in 3 star hotels for 5 nights Full board Safety equipment Special dietary requirements can be accommodated. If you require a special diet, let us know upon booking. What’s not included: Technical backcountry ski touring equipment Transportation to and from Iceland Accommodation in a single room in 3 star hotels for 5 nights Accommodation in Reykjavík before and after the tour

How fit do I need to be?

To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to be in excellent physical shape. You will be on your feet for 4-12 hours a day for 6 full days, covering 6-10 miles (10-15km) of terrain every day. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain. Clients takes full responsibility for meeting the physical fitness level requirement of the trip. Clients that are physically unfit or not equipped for their tour can be dismissed from the tour at their own expense.

What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

To participate in this tour, you need to have previous powder skiing experience. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain for 5-7 hours every day. Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe.

What equipment do I need to bring?

For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring: Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins (can be rented) Touring boots and poles (can be rented) Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented): Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon Lightweight snow shovel Avalanche probe Harness for glacier travel (for advanced touring) For personal items, we recommend bringing: Helmet Sunglasses or ski goggles Gloves and hat Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended) Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended) Down jacket or vest Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people) Water bottle and 1L of water Thermos with a warm beverage — optional Food you can eat on-the-go First aid kit Sunscreen Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack) Camera — optional

Can I rent equipment?

All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent: Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel and probe from Fjallakofinn Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented from Fjallakofinn Splitboards can be rented from Fjallakofinn Keep in mind that renting ski touring equipment in Iceland can be tricky, and you’re better off bringing your own equipment if possible. Ski rental locations are in Reykjavik and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and prices: The guest to guide ratio for this hiking tour is usually 4 to 12 guests and two guides. Pricing is per person, and the cost does not decrease as your group grows. If your skiing party is larger than six people, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements. Because this tour requires a minimum enrollment of four people, if you are booking alone, your reservation is subject to change up until the last day if the minimum enrollment is not reached (but fear not, as that is rarely the case!). Min. age requirements: Anyone over the age of 18 can join this adventure. Minors older than 14 may join the tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to Reykjavik, most people fly into Keflavik International Airport, about 45 minutes away. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service. Once you get to Reykjavik, your guide will pick you up before heading out of the city towards the Snæfellsnes peninsula

Covid measures in Iceland

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 read the Official COVID-19 updates by the Icelandic Government . 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!

Reykjavik | Iceland

The Ultimate Volcano Ski Touring in Iceland

5.00 ()

A two-hour drive takes you to the foot of the Snæfellsjökull Glacier

Icelandic volcano peaks present the ultimate backcountry adventure

Skaftafell is a wilderness area in Iceland's Vatnajökull National Park

From $3,810 ()

Duration

6 days

Season

May through June

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Intro
Itinerary
Brochure
Guides
Reviews
Things to know

Nestled in Iceland’s wilderness, just a few hours from its capital, 3 stunning glacier-covered volcanoes are just waiting to be explored! With an endless number of slopes and challenging ascents, Iceland’s volcanoes present the ultimate ski touring adventure. Discover remote parts of Iceland formed by forces of rivers, glacial ice, and volcanic and geothermal activity, and see the sights along the way. Ascend three stunning peaks: the iconic Snæfellsjökull Glacier on the beautiful Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the world-famous Eyjafjallajökull Glacier, well known for the troubles it caused for air travel during its eruption in 2010, and Iceland’s highest summit, Hvannadalshnúkur (6,921 ft), towering over Vatnajökull icecap—the largest one in Europe. Freeriders will definitely enjoy shredding fresh, world-class powder from the top, so take full advantage of the snowpack and enjoy the stunning variety of Icelandic mountain scenery!

Adventure highlights

Enjoy sensational panoramic views from the top of three volcanoes
Engaging terrain with varied steepness guarantee that you’ll never get bored
Deep, cold snowpack perfect for skiing spring powder and corn all the way to sea level

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Itinerary

Take on Iceland’s magnificent glacier-covered volcanoes on this ultimate six-day ski touring adventure! Join your experienced local guide as you overcome three stunning volcanic peaks, taking in the breathtaking variety of Iceland’s mountain scenery on the way. Spend your nights in hotels, and your days conquering challenging and rewarding volcanic objectives, culminating with a summit attempt on Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland’s highest peak!

Start the tour with an early morning pick up in Reykjavík and head out towards the Snæfellsnes peninsula. A two-hour drive takes you to the foot of the Snæfellsjökull Glacier, a 700,000 years old dormant volcano, rising 1446 m/4,744 ft above sea level! Start ascending the glacier and in about 6-7 hours you will be rewarded with a sensational panoramic view from the top. Return to the foot of the glacier and enjoy a hot meal and a warm bed.
Spend your second day skiing on the Snæfellsnes peninsula and afterwards, head south to explore the fascinating waterfalls of Hraunfossar. Discover the well known Golden Circle, including Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir. Spend the evening in a hotel at the foot of the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier.

Note: The days skiing will be based on weather and snow conditions but there are plenty of greater slopes on the Snæfellsnes peninsula to choose from.
On day three, it is time for the second challenge—the famous Eyjafjallajökull glacier (sometimes referred to as E15) that caused a lot of problems for air travel when it erupted in 2010. The glacier is 1651 m/5,417 ft high, and boasts magnificent views from the top. The ascent will take about 8-10 hours. After reaching your goal for today, return to the foot of the glacier and enjoy a well-deserved dinner.
Spend Day 4 sightseeing the South Coast, relax, and prepare for the final challenge. Heading further east along the beautiful south coast of Iceland, enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way. The highlights include the black sand beach of Reynisfjara, the picturesque village Vík, Skaftafell national park and the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón and its spectacular diamond beach. Once you reach Hvannadalshnúkur, have dinner with your group and rest for tomorrow’s challenges!
There’s a long day ahead of you! Today’s challenge is Hvannadalshnúkur (2110m / 6922ft), the highest peak of Iceland. With a climb of 2000 m/6562 ft that will take about 10-12 hours, this is the biggest undertaking of this trip. Still, with great challenges come great rewards—once you’re up there, you’ll officially be standing on the top of Iceland with a panoramic view like no other. The ultimate reward, however, will be skiing down the 2000 m/6562 ft slope! Once you’re all skied out, return to your accommodation and savor the delicious dinner and reminisce about today’s victories.

Note: In case snow/weather conditions are not good on Hvannadalshnúkur, your guide will have to change the itinerary to another similar summit in the area.
After five days of fun and adrenaline-inducing adventure, it is time to head back to Reykjavík. Stop by the impressive Skógafoss waterfall along the way and head back home in the late afternoon.

The Ultimate Volcano Ski Touring in Iceland

Adventure Brochure

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If you have questions or need help with planning a trip, schedule a call with one of our adventure experts.

Meet your guide

5.00

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, they’ve got you covered. The possibilities are endless and the memories will last a lifetime.

5.00 (3 reviews)

Cindy M. (source: Facebook)

We had the absolute best, professional, and very knowledgeable guides. I highly recommend you book your tours/excursions through Icelandic Mountain Guides!

Phil C. (source: Facebook)

Small group. Expert leadership. Friendly and informative. Aware of the needs of the slowest members in the group. I’m often very critical and these guys were so good that I could not think of a single thing to improve. So yeah, 5 stars for Tryggvi and Hallþór!!!

Elizabeth C. (source: Facebook)

I have no way to compare them to any other guide company, but I honestly can’t imagine there’s one better than Icelandic Mountain Guides. Everyone was very professional, friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and funny, all while taking their responsibility for our safety very seriously. I can’t recommend them enough! Fabulous group!

Things to know

What you get in this adventure:
- - An experienced, qualified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - Transportation in a minibus
  - Accommodation in twin/double rooms in 3 star hotels for 5 nights
  - Full board
  - Safety equipment
Special dietary requirements can be accommodated. If you require a special diet, let us know upon booking.

What’s not included:
- - Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
  - Transportation to and from Iceland
  - Accommodation in a single room in 3 star hotels for 5 nights
  - Accommodation in Reykjavík before and after the tour
To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to be in excellent physical shape. You will be on your feet for 4-12 hours a day for 6 full days, covering 6-10 miles (10-15km) of terrain every day. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

Clients takes full responsibility for meeting the physical fitness level requirement of the trip. Clients that are physically unfit or not equipped for their tour can be dismissed from the tour at their own expense.
To participate in this tour, you need to have previous powder skiing experience. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain for 5-7 hours every day. Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
- - Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
  - Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
  - Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
    
    Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
    
    Lightweight snow shovel
    
    Avalanche probe
    
    Harness for glacier travel (for advanced touring)
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
- - Helmet
  - Sunglasses or ski goggles
  - Gloves and hat
  - Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
  - Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
  - Down jacket or vest
  - Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
  - One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
  - Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
  - Water bottle and 1L of water
  - Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
  - Food you can eat on-the-go
  - First aid kit
  - Sunscreen
  - Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
  - Camera — optional
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
- - Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel and probe from Fjallakofinn
  - Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented from Fjallakofinn
  - Splitboards can be rented from Fjallakofinn
Keep in mind that renting ski touring equipment in Iceland can be tricky, and you’re better off bringing your own equipment if possible.
Ski rental locations are in Reykjavik and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes and prices:
- - The guest to guide ratio for this hiking tour is usually 4 to 12 guests and two guides.
  - Pricing is per person, and the cost does not decrease as your group grows.
If your skiing party is larger than six people, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Because this tour requires a minimum enrollment of four people, if you are booking alone, your reservation is subject to change up until the last day if the minimum enrollment is not reached (but fear not, as that is rarely the case!).

Min. age requirements:
- - Anyone over the age of 18 can join this adventure.
  - Minors older than 14 may join the tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Reykjavik, most people fly into Keflavik International Airport, about 45 minutes away. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service. Once you get to Reykjavik, your guide will pick you up before heading out of the city towards the Snæfellsnes peninsula
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 read the Official COVID-19 updates by the Icelandic Government.

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!
Deposits

You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

Secure your early bird spot with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you will be the first one to know about any new upcoming dates. Pick your preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out!
- - Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure anytime in case the dates don’t suit you.
  - Once the dates are set, you can confirm your booking by paying another 20% of the total amount.
  - The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
Cancellations

Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

Basic
- - In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  - For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.
Flexible
- - In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  - For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 30-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, there is no refund.
Super Flexible
- - In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  - For cancellations 30 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
All rates are based on current purchasing prices in Iceland. Your guides reserve the right to change prices without notice due to inflation, changes in oil prices, government taxes, or any other cost increases that are outside the guide’s control. Your guides will absorb an amount equivalent to 5% of the price. Amounts that exceed the 5% will be charged and clients will be entitled to cancel their booking with a full refund if the surcharge exceeds 10%. Eventual changes in rates will not be made with less than 4 weeks’ notice before departures or on bookings already made and confirmed.

Your guides reserve the right to alter tours and itineraries due to weather or road conditions. All programs can be changed or cancelled at any moment during the trip to assure the safety of the clients and staff. No responsibility is accepted for losses, expenses due to delays, changes of flights, or other services or because of strikes, accidents, sickness, damage, negligence, weather, war, changes in schedules, or other similar causes.
57hours partners with Redpoint Travel Protection, offering you a fully integrated program with a single point of contact for all your needs, from emergency services to travel assistance and protection claims. We highly recommend purchasing a comprehensive protection policy from Redpoint, which will protect you both before and during your travels. Before your departure, your investment is protected by the trip cancellation benefit. Once you depart, your policy provides coverage for trip interruption, medical assistance and rescue, baggage loss, trip delay, and more. Once you complete booking with 57hours, we'll create bespoke quote for you (and your group), making sure you're fully protected for the adventure ahead.