Women’s Great Hiking Voyage in Iceland
Top three reasons to go hiking in Iceland
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Conquer several classic Icelandic trails in a single hiking tour
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Unwind in Iceland’s cozy and soothing hot springs
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From massive glaciers to obsidian beaches, the landscapes are out of this world
Iceland feels like it was crafted by hikers for hikers. The island hosts nearly 500 hiking trails sprawling across three national parks and countless well-preserved nature reserves. Its legendary hikes such as the Golden Circle and the Laugavegur Trail take travelers across ice-riddled obsidian beaches, breathtaking volcanic valleys, and endless glacial expanses. The trails are well-routed and well-maintained, the huts are comfortable, and when your feet start hurting from all the hiking, just dip them in one of the countless warm geothermal pools. Join a group of women hiking enthusiasts and form new friendships as you hike through world-class landscapes straight out of a fantasy movie! Find out more about hiking Laugavegur—one of the best hiking trails in Iceland that you will discover on this trip—from your guide and founder of Viking Women, Saga Líf.
SeasonJune through September |
Nearest cityThe tour starts in Reykjavik, Iceland |
Duration9 days |
Skill levelIntermediate |
Book this adventure
The Great Voyage Hiking Tour of Iceland
This 9-day Icelandic expedition of a lifetime will lead you to some of Iceland’s most renowned trails, such as the Golden Circle and Laugavegur, with a seasoned local guide leading the way. Explore Iceland’s otherworldly waterfalls, glaciers, black beaches, and hot springs, and spend your evenings eating local delicacies and re-energizing in stunning hotels and huts!
The Great Voyage Hiking Tour of Iceland 2023
Join a group of daring women on a 9-day hiking expedition of a lifetime! This Icelandic adventure will take you through some of Iceland’s most renowned trails, such as the Golden Circle, Thorsmork, and the Diamond Beach with a professional local guide leading the way. Explore otherworldly waterfalls, glaciers, famous trails, and hot springs, and spend your evenings sharing a meal with new friends and re-energizing in stunning locations!
Itinerary for 2022
Day 0: Prepare for a trip of a lifetime
Arrive at Reykjavik a day earlier and spend the night in a hotel. Check your equipment, get some rest and prepare for 9 days of adventure!
Day 1: The Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in the morning. Get ready for a full day of exploring the world-famous Golden Circle, with plenty of time to unwind at the Secret Lagoon, the oldest swimming pool in Iceland fed by naturally occurring hot springs located at Hverahólmi. Spend the night in the cozy southern town of Hella.
Distance: 6,5 km (4.5 mi)
Walking time: 3- 4 hrs.
Ascent: 385 m (1256 ft)
Day 2: Hella to Landmannalaugar
Rise early and take the 8.45am Highland Bus from Hella to the highlands. You should arrive at the colorful Landmannalaugar, the “People’s Pools”, around 11.30. Get settled in your mountain hut, have lunch and enjoy an exploratory hike of the area. In the evening, take the opportunity to bathe in the region’s famous natural hot spring.
Distance: 24 km (15 mi)
Walking time: 7-8 hrs.
Ascent: 470 m (1600 ft)
Descent: 490 m (1610 ft)
Day 3: Landmannalaugar to Afltavatn
After a hearty breakfast, pack your bags, put your backpack on and get ready for the longest hike of the trip! Today, you’ll hike to the Alftavatan lake in the middle of Laugavegur. It’s a 14-mile (25 km) journey, so make sure you’re well-prepared.
Distance: 15 km (10 mi)
Walking time: 6 – 7 hrs
Descent: 40 m (130 ft)
Day 4: Afltavatn to Emstrur
Hike the 9-mile (14 km) trail from Afltavatn to Emstrur. It’s an easier hike than yesterday’s, with plenty of green meadows, black deserts, and scenic river crossings. Spend the night in the Emstrur hut.
Distance: 16 km (11 mi)
Walking time: 6 – 7 hrs
Descent: 300 m (985 ft)
Day 5: Emstrur to Thorsmork
Rise to the blue skies and bright sunshine and get ready to hike the 10-mile (15 km) Emstrur-to-Thorsmork section of the Laugavegur trail. Cross Emstrur river and follow the massive Myrdasjökull glacier, with stunning views of the surrounding area. If you’re lucky, you might see a sheep or two! Spend the night in Thorsmork.
Distance: 6,5 km (4,5 mi)
Walking time: 3 hrs
Ascent: 150 m (490 ft)
Day 6: Thorsmork to Vik
Explore the magical Thorsmork area by foot before departing for the village of Vik with the Highland Bus. On your way to your hotel, you’ll visit the majestic Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, and Skogafoss waterfalls. Spend the following night in Hotel Skogar.
Day 7: Solheimajökull
Put on your crampons and hike the Solheimajökull glacier, one of the most impressive and accessible glaciers in Iceland. You’ll spend around 2 hours on the ice, taking in the energy and beauty of this massive glacier. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the legendary Black Sand Beach and head back to your hotel near the glacier lagoon for a good night’s rest.
Day 8: The Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach
Drive to Glacier Lagoon and the obsidian Diamond Beach. On your way back to Reykjavik, stop by the Eldhraun Lava Field, created in one of the greatest eruptions in recorded history, and Fjadrargljufur canyon, a beautiful, dramatic canyon with the Fjadra river running through its basin. After a goodbye dinner, spend your final Icelandic night in Reykjavik.
Distance: 6,5 km (4,5 mi)
Walking time: 3 hrs
Ascent: 150 m (490 ft)
Day 9: Goodbye
Time to go! Pay a visit to the geothermal paradise that is Blue Lagoon before heading to the airport.
Itinerary for 2023
Day 0: Prepare for a trip of a lifetime
Arrive at Reykjavik a day earlier and spend the night in a hotel. Check your equipment, get some rest and prepare for 9 days of adventure!
Day 1: Landmannalaugar
Rise early and take the 8.45am Highland Bus from Hella to the highlands. You should arrive at the colorful Landmannalaugar, the “People’s Pools”, around 11.30. Get settled in your mountain hut, have lunch and enjoy an exploratory hike of the area. In the evening, take the opportunity to bathe in the region’s famous natural hot spring.
Day 2: Landmannalaugar to Afltavatn
After a hearty breakfast, pack your bags, put your backpack on and get ready for the longest hike of the trip! Today, you’ll hike to the Alftavatan lake in the middle of Laugavegur. It’s a 14-mile (25 km) journey, so make sure you’re well-prepared.
Day 3: Afltavatn to Emstrur
Hike the 9-mile (14 km) trail from Afltavatn to Emstrur. It’s an easier hike than yesterday’s, with plenty of green meadows, black deserts, and scenic river crossings. Spend the night in the Emstrur hut.
Day 4: Emstrur to Thorsmork
Rise to the blue skies and bright sunshine and get ready to hike the 10-mile (15 km) Emstrur-to-Thorsmork section of the Laugavegur trail. Cross Emstrur river and follow the massive Myrdasjökull glacier, with stunning views of the surrounding area. If you’re lucky, you might see a sheep or two! Spend the night in Thorsmork.
Day 5: Thorsmork to Vik
Explore the magical Thorsmork area by foot before departing for the village of Vik with the Highland Bus. On your way to your hotel, you’ll visit the majestic Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, and Skogafoss waterfalls. Spend the following night in Hotel Skogar.
Day 6: Solheimajökull
Put on your crampons and hike the Solheimajökull glacier, one of the most impressive and accessible glaciers in Iceland. You’ll spend around 2 hours on the ice, taking in the energy and beauty of this massive glacier. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the legendary Black Sand Beach and head back to your hotel near the glacier lagoon for a good night’s rest.
Day 7: The Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach
Drive to Glacier Lagoon and the obsidian Diamond Beach. On your way back to Reykjavik, stop by the Eldhraun Lava Field, created in one of the greatest eruptions in recorded history, and Fjadrargljufur canyon, a beautiful, dramatic canyon with the Fjadra river running through its basin.
Day 8: The Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon
Get ready for a full day of exploring the world-famous Golden Circle, with plenty of time to unwind at the Secret Lagoon, the oldest swimming pool in Iceland fed by naturally occurring hot springs located at Hverahólmi. After a goodbye dinner, spend your final night in Reykjavik.
Day 9: Goodbye
Time to go! Pack your bags and say goodbye to the stunning Icelandic panoramas before heading to the airport.
Meet your guides
Saga Líf
Local guide and owner of Viking Women
Local guide and owner of Viking WomenSaga Líf
Local guide and owner of Viking Women
Viking Women Tours
Viking Women Tours
Reviews (4)
My time in Iceland was truly life-changing and I have to give a special thanks to Saga for leading such a memorable experience! From her passion for her country, the culture, and adventure in nature, every moment was truly inspiring. Now when I think of “happy places”, my favorite memories are our hike up Reykjadalur Valley to the hot river and our walk on Sólheimajökull Glacier that ended with a meditation underneath the sun and a rainbow! I will absolutely be back to explore even further with Viking Women.
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!!
Iceland is a spectacular country! Spending 10 days with an amazing group of women and seeing it through our guide Saga’s eyes was magical. Saga is so welcoming, knowledgeable, supportive and made every activity a fun adventure. All of our accommodations, transportation, food, and activities were flawless. From hiking the Laugavegur Trail to walking on glaciers, experiencing the power of Iceland’s countless waterfalls, exploring on horseback, sea kayaking around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and soaking in the many relaxing hot springs, I had the trip of a lifetime!
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!
Things to know
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, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Iceland, please refer to Iceland’s official COVID-19 travel guidelines.
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’s included?
What you get on this adventure:
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- An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- Six days of hiking and glacier exploration
- Three days of sightseeing and easier walks around Iceland
- Transportation for the duration of the tour
- Transportation from Reykjavik to Keflavik Airport after the tour
- Accommodations for the duration of the tour
- Food for the duration of the tour (lunch on days 7, 8, and 9 not included)
- Glacier hiking equipment
- Secret Lagoon and Blue Lagoon entrance fees
What’s not included:
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- Transportation from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik
- Personal hiking and camping equipment
How fit do I need to be?
This moderate tour is meant for hikers with good fitness levels. You will be hiking for 6 days, covering up to 14 miles (24 km) a day on varied and sometimes glaciated terrain. Keep in mind, the weather can vary and you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.
What do I need to bring?
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
- Sleeping bag
- Hiking poles — optional
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
- Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
- Wind and waterproof pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
- Spare clothes for layering and 9 days of hiking
- Sunhat
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
All technical glacier hiking equipment will be provided by your guide.
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 age requirements
Group sizes and prices:
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- For this adventure, the max client-to-guide ratio is 16:1.
- It takes a minimum of 8 participants for the tour to operate. The cost does not decrease as the group grows.
Hiking in Iceland can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
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- 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.
Deposits and cancellation policy
A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies, and deposits are no longer refundable. The remaining 70% of the amount is paid the latest 3 months (90 days) prior the departure.
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. Please note the trips for 2022 and 2023 are expected to reach the minimum number of people soon, and the likelihood of trip not happening is very low.
In case you need to cancel the trip, the following cancellation costs would be incurred:
- 100% 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.
Getting there and meeting location
To get to Reykjavik, the starting point of this tour, most people fly into Keflavik International Airport 45 minutes away. From there, you can take a bus or cab to Reykjavik.
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel on the morning of the tour.
SECURE YOUR SPOT
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Cancel in the first 48 hours for FREE
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Trip is run by local, vetted, certified guides
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Fast, secure, risk-free booking guaranteed