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Iceland’s story begins 18 million years ago when volcanic activity started shaping the country. Partnered with glaciers, it has given birth to countless geologic marvels—and you’re about to see them up close! Snaking along the country’s perimeter, the 1,328-kilometer Ring Road connects Iceland’s major cities and tourist spots in one rideable loop of pure sightseeing pleasure. With each new stop, you’ll immerse yourself in Iceland’s wide palette of colors, ranging from black sand beaches and fiery reds of the Námaskarð Pass to turquoise ice caves and glaciers dressed in brilliant blues. After touring geologic curiosities by day, go hunting for Northern Lights at night. Thanks to Iceland’s extremely dark nights, winter is the ideal time to chase them.

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  • Tick off all of Iceland’s pristine peculiarities from your bucket list

  • Hike on volcanoes during the day, chase Northern Lights by night

  • Unparalleled blend of glacial and volcanic terrain in the Land of Ice and Fire

Itinerary

What better way to spend 9 days than by visiting the hottest locations in the Land of Ice and Fire? Join a group of like-minded adventurous women and explore the most Instagrammable winter wonderland in the world! If you’re on your own, no worries—this is the perfect opportunity to forge meaningful friendships in a safe and welcoming environment. Enjoy rugged landscapes by day and elegant hotels by night, all while keeping an eye out for that magical glow of the Northern Lights in the sky.

  • Meet your guide around 6 p.m. at the 22 Hill Hotel in Reykjavik. You’ll have an introductory meeting about the itinerary and a welcome dinner with your fellow hikers. Get to know your group and have a good night’s sleep for the adventure ahead of you.

    Meals: Dinner

    Vedute of Reykjavik during winter.
  • Every day you’ll be hitting the road between 8 and 9 a.m. Kick off the trip with a Golden Circle tour, a 190-mile route of Iceland’s three major natural attractions. Walk in the seismic rift valley of the Thingvellir National Park, marvel at the highly active Geysir Geothermal Area, and feel the drizzle of the 105-foot-tall Gullfoss, the golden falls.

    Next stop is the Friðheimar greenhouse—learn how they use geothermal heating to grow vegetables, pick fresh tomatoes from above your table, and have lunch. End your day by unwinding in the Secret Lagoon, the oldest geothermal pool in Iceland surrounded by natural hot spring baths. As a cherry on top of each day, you’ll be on the hunt for Northern Lights every single night!

    Meals: Breakfast and lunch

    Spectacular well timmed capture of geotermal eruption at Gullfoss Geysir, The Great Geysir or Stokkur Geyser the most energetic spouting spring up to 40 meters in Iceland after sunset in twilight. Shot on Canon EOS 60D, 11mm wide lens, f4, ISO 800.
  • Today you’re taking a deep dive into Iceland’s Southcoast. Visit the 200-foot-high Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and if the weather allows you, go behind it to capture that iconic viewpoint through the hole. Continue onto the mighty Skógarfoss waterfall, after which you’ll do around 3 hours of glacier hiking on the Sólheimajökull glacier, sitting atop the Katla volcano.

    Walk along on black sand beaches, then hike through the Fjaðrárgljúfur, a lush green canyon with a river carving through jagged cliffs. Spend the night in Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Waterfall Seljalandsfoss in winter, reflection in river. Iceland.
  • New day, new natural phenomena. With an off-road drive in a massive jeep, you’ll reach ice caves, formed in glaciers. Take a tour of 700-year-old ice formations with an expert guide and see turquoise-tinted crystal caves. Next stop is the Glacier Lagoon, after which you’ll head to Diamond Beach. Its black sand and glistening icebergs are like no other place on Earth. Finally, retreat to your hotel in Höfn, the lobster capital of Iceland, and look forward to a delicious dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast

    People walking underneath ice in an icecave
  • This day is dedicated to cultural exploration of East Fjords. Visit old houses along the coast and numerous quaint villages, such as Djúpivogur. Take a 3-mile hike to Hengifoss, a 420-foot-tall waterfall dropping into a gorge. Spend the rest of the day and the night in Egilsstaðir, East Iceland’s largest town, and get to know its local culture!

    Meals: Breakfast

    Drone panoramic photo of the beautiful tall Hengifoss waterfall hidden in the layered canyon at East Iceland
  • Start off the day with a drive to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, fed by a river flowing from the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. Tour the waterfall and pass by the highest inhabited point in Iceland. Next up is the Námaskarð geothermal area, a Mars-like zone with no vegetation, but with a palette of vivid colors streaking through the earth.

    Continue to Lake Mývatn, where you can take a dip in the hot springs! Walking through the lava field nearby will give you serious Game of Thrones vibes. Second to last stop is Goðafoss, “Waterfall of the Gods”, a symbol of Iceland’s conversion from Norse mythology to Christianity. As you reach Akureyri, your stay for the night, feel free to stroll around the city and explore its selection of Icelandic cuisine.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Godafoss waterfall in winter when half of the lake beneath it starts to freeze
  • Put on a warm flotation suit and board a fishing boat in Dalvik! Sail through the fjords for three hours and spot some whales along the way. Following the boat ride, drive through Tröllaskagi, the Troll Peninsula, a beautiful road trip area offering something new at every turn you take. End your day in Laugarbakki, a charming village offering a hotel with hot tubs and great food.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Whale tail on the surface of water
  • Tour the Snaefellsnes peninsula in West Iceland and a volcanic crater. See Kirkjufell, the actual Arrowhead mountain of Game of Thrones and pass the center of the Earth, at least according to Jules Verne. Head to the Ytri Tunga beach, one of the best places for spotting seals in Iceland! Head back to Reykjavik and have a goodbye dinner with your group.

    Meals: Breakfast and dinner

    Seal resting on Ytri Tunga beach
  • Book your flight in the afternoon so you can take a dip in the Blue Lagoon, only a 15-minute drive from the airport. As a perfect ending to your trip, swim in this turquoise geothermal spa located inside a lava field. If you want to stay a bit longer in the land of ice and fire, feel free to go back to Reykjavik with your guide. However, if you’re ready to go home and eager to comb through all the incredible photos from the journey, there’s going to be arranged transportation to the airport.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Steaming natural spring in Iceland
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Meet your guides

Saga Líf
5.00
Saga Líf
Local guide and owner of Viking Women
Local guide and owner of Viking Women
A self-described nature addict, Saga has always been drawn to the beauty of Iceland’s natural world. She became a guide to help other women unleash their inner Valkyries and make meaningful connections through awe-inspiring adventures. Her company Viking Women focuses on all-female trips that combine wellness with Iceland’s otherworldly landscapes.
Viking Women Tours
5.00
Viking Women Tours
Viking Women Tours is an exclusive women’s travel group based in Iceland and operated by experienced local female adventurers. They are very passionate about the outdoors, traveling, and being able to introduce and explore their home to travelers worldwide. Their guides have traveled extensively through Iceland and are always honored to assist you in customizing the perfect experience in the land of fire and ice!
5.00 (9 reviews)
Steacie Lachance

Sigurn Sol is an experienced guide, knows the land and the history and truly cares about her clients. I would follow her anywhere.

Inez T Hart

Absolutely splendid! Saga knows how to ‘break the ice’, tells nice stories about the places you visit and gives a bit of insight in Icelands culture. She’s a great driver (snowstorms…) and makes you feel safe with your crampons on. Beautiful tour through this breathtaking country. I’ll be back (again!)

Cris & Janine (source: Guide’s Website)

Saga was our tour guide in December 2019 – we don’t normally go on tours, but not wanting to drive in Iceland in winter and not knowing the language or culture we thought it best to try a tour. Definitely the best decision ever!!! Saga was brilliant!!! She’s friendly, young, full of energy without being over the top, competent, knowledgeable, accommodating (we had someone with a broken foot on our tour and the lengths Saga went to, so that she could participate, were so far above & beyond the call of duty it was phenomenal). Saga also had a wonderful way of incorporating a relevant story of Icelandic Culture into whatever adventure we were embarking on – we could’ve listened to so many more hours of her stories (and Love the accent!). Absolutely fantastic – Highly recommended!!

Madelon (source: Guide’s Website)

Saga guided us through beautiful Iceland. I was impressed by Iceland, but also impressed by Saga! Very engaging lady with many talents: from active walk guide, and cool driver, to relaxing meditation mentor, with beautiful storytelling about the history and culture of Iceland. Takk fyrir, Saga!

Mandy Martin

Incredible experience, incredible adventure. I recommend Viking Women to everyone traveling to Iceland!

Kathryn Romsos

Absolutely wonderful experience. I would love to travel with Viking Women again. We had a wonderful tour of Iceland. Beautiful country with a great tour guide. I would love to travel with Viking Women again.

Kelly B. (source: Guide’s Website)

I spent a week traveling around the gorgeous scenery of Iceland with Saga and let me say–she is an incredible host. Not only is her knowledge of the country vast, she is also patient and caring for all of her guests. As a solo female traveler, Saga made me feel like I was just on a holiday with friends! Whether it was a glass of wine, history lesson, or trek on a glacier – she guided us through those experiences with ease and intrigue. Her itinerary was the perfect combination of adrenaline-packed adventures and relaxation. All said and done, I can’t recommend Saga and Viking Women enough, solo female travellers and friend groups alike.

Patricia Dean

Saga was amazing. She was informative and interesting telling us about where we were, where we were going as well as fascinating stories of Icelandic folklore and culture. I also need to give her props for her incredible driving skills. It was just amazing. hiking on an iceberg, going to an ice cave, hiking up volcanoes and all the fabulous waterfalls. A vacation I will always remember.

Joanne Jensen

Sigrun Sol Olafsdottir was personable and considerate and a very careful and smart Viking Woman PERSONAL guide for our group! So perfect! So many iconic experiences and several very special personal glimpses of Icelandic life.

Things to know

  • 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 traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Iceland, please refer to the official COVID-19 guidelines for traveling to and within 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!

  • What you get on this adventure:

    • An experienced, local hiking guide and driver with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 9 days of guided sightseeing and hiking in Iceland
    • Transportation during the tour with a minibus (Wi-Fi, headset)
    • Accommodation at hotels
    • Welcome and goodbye dinner
    • Breakfasts at hotels
    • All special equipment
    • Greenhouse visit with lunch, secret lagoon, glacier hike, ice cave visit, whale watching, blue lagoon
    • All other mentioned activities from the itinerary
    • Drop off at the airport

    Note: Special dietary requirements can be accommodated.

    What’s not included:

    • Transportation to and from Iceland
    • Pick-up from the airport
    • Travel insurance
    • Gratuities (optional)
    • Lunches and dinners not mentioned in the itinerary
  • This winter hiking tour in Iceland is beginner-friendly! No special skills are required, as you’ll be walking and sightseeing for the majority of the tour. You’ll only do two hikes lasting around 3 hours, but other than that, you’ll be leisurely exploring Iceland!

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

    • A small day pack large enough to carry the essentials
    • Luggage for clothes and other personal belongings
    • Clothing appropriate for winter conditions
    • Hiking poles — optional
    • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
    • Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
    • Spare clothes for layering
    • Waterproof rain jacket
    • Bathing suit and towel for hot springs
    • Sunhat
    • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
    • Headlamp or flashlight
    • Sunglasses
    • Travel pillow (optional)
    • Camera — optional (but recommended)

    As you’ll tour Iceland in a minibus, you can leave all your belongings there during your walks. Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

  • Group sizes and prices:

    • For this guided winter hike in Iceland, the max client-to-guide ratio is 10:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 6 people for a tour to operate. The cost does not decrease as the group grows.
    • In case you would like to ensure a room for yourself, and not share it with anybody, there is a possibility of a single room for an additional fee.

    Hiking in Iceland 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.
  • To get to Reykjavik, the starting point of this tour, most people fly into Keflavik International Airport. 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 on day 1 at 6 p.m. at the 22 Hill Hotel, where you’ll have an introductory meeting and a welcome dinner with your fellow hikers.

  • 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 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

  • For regular dates, a 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the 30% deposit is no longer refundable.

    In the event that the minimum number of people to confirm the trip is not reached, your guide can cancel the departure at most 2 months before the start of the trip. In that case, 90% of the total amount is refundable. Please note the dates for this year and next year are expected to reach the minimum number of people soon, and the likelihood of trip not happening is very low.

    Once the trip is confirmed, the cancellation policy below applies:

      • 90% of the price of the trip is refundable before the group is guaranteed
      • 70% of the tour price is refundable if canceled 59 days or more before departure, once the trip has been confirmed
      • 50% of the tour price is refundable if canceled 30-59 days before departure
      • 25% of the tour price is refundable if canceled 16-29 days before departure
      • 0% of the price of the trip if it is canceled 15 days before departure.

    All policies regarding cancellation will be clearly laid out by your guide after booking your adventure.

    Secure your spot for the following season with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you’ll be the first one to know. Pick the month that suits you best and we’ll let you know once the dates are live—don’t risk missing out on your bucket list adventure!

      • 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 set dates for the following season are live, you can confirm your booking by the end of this year by paying another 20% of the total amount.
      • The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
      • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy applies.
      • 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 any time in case the dates don’t suit you.
      • Once the dates for 2024 are set, you can confirm your booking by the end of this year by paying another 20% of the total amount.
      • The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
      • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy applies.
    Secure your spot for 2025 with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you can rest assured you’ve booked your dream adventure in time.
    • 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. This can be done by the end of the year.
    • Another 20% needs to be paid by the end of this year.
    • The remaining balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
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