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.
Conquer several classic Icelandic trails in a single hiking tour
Unwind in Iceland’s cozy and soothing hot springs
From massive glaciers to obsidian beaches, the landscapes are out of this world
Arrival day! Take one of the airport buses to the city center and get settled in your lovely room at hotel Room With A View. In the evening at 18:00 you will meet the rest of the group and your fearless guide for a welcome meeting and later on, a dinner in the city.
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. For lunch, you will visit the Friðheimar tomato farm where you will get a friendly introduction of their greenhouse and their life on the farm. Later in the afternoon, you’ll will have plenty of time to unwind at the Secret Lagoon. Spend the night at a Hotel in Hella.
Rise and shine, the highlands are calling! Today we take the 8.30 am Highland Bus from Hella to the highlands. We arrive at the colorful Landmannalaugar, the “People’s Pools”, around 11:00. Take the opportunity to bathe in the region’s famous natural hot spring and/or visit the Mountain Mall for some beers and a friendly game of KUBB.
Distance: 5 km (3 mi)
Walking time: 2 – 3 hrs.
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 (24 km) journey, so make sure you’re well-prepared.
Distance: 24 km (14 mi)
Walking time: 7 – 8 hrs
Ascent: 470 m (1600 ft)
Descent: 490 m (1610 ft)
Hike the 9-mile (15 km) trail from Alftavatn to Emstrur. It’s a much easier hike than yesterday’s as it is fairly flat most of the time, with plenty of green meadows, black deserts, and scenic river crossings. Spend the night in the Emstrur hut with an optional evening hike to the breathtaking Markarfljótsgljúfur canyon.
Distance: 15 km (10 mi)
Walking time: 5 – 6 hrs
Descent: 40 m (130 ft)
Rise to the blue skies and bright sunshine and get ready to hike the last part of the trail, 10 miles (16 km) from Emstrur to Thorsmork. Cross Emstrur river and follow the massive Myrdalsjökull 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: 16 km (11 mi)
Walking time: 6 – 7 hrs
Descent: 300 m (985 ft)
Explore the magical Thorsmork valley by foot before saying your goodbyes to the highlands. You will change buses at Hella town and head to Hotel Skógar. After dinner, visit the Skógarfoss waterfall with an option to do an evening hike called the One thousand waterfalls trail.
Distance: 5 km (3 mi)
Walking time: 2 – 3 hrs
Ascent: 150 m (490 ft)
Strap on your crampons, it’s time to hike the Solheimajökull glacier—one of the most impressive and accessible glaciers in Iceland! You’ll spend 2 hours on ice, taking in the energy of this massive glacier. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the legendary Black Sand Beach and Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon before arriving to your hotel near the glacier lagoon for a good night’s rest.
Distance: 6,5 km (4,5 mi)
Walking time: 3 hrs
Ascent: 150 m (490 ft)
Your last day on the road! In the morning, drive to Glacier Lagoon and the Diamond Beach. On your way back to Reykjavik, stop by the Eldhraun Lava Field, created in one of the greatest eruptions in recorded history. Finally. visit the unique Seljalandsfoss waterfall and the hidden waterfall Gljúfrabúi. 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)
The grand finale! Relax your tired travel muscles in the baby blue waters of the Blue Lagoon before you head to the airport and say your final goodbyes. If you didn’t have enough of the majestic landscapes, explore more hiking tours 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 you get on this adventure:
Note: Any special dietary requirements (gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian) can be accommodated, just let us know in advance!
What’s not included:
This moderate tour is meant for hikers with good fitness levels. You will be hiking for 7 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.
The trails are not paved, but in some places, paths have formed. Some trails are rocky but are easily accessible to anyone used to hiking in uneven terrain. Participants will need to cross rivers every day on the trail except on the first day. The water level in the rivers changes from time to time due to seasonal conditions. In some cases, you will be able to step from stone to stone to get to the other side. In other cases, you will need to take your shoes and socks off, put on river-crossing shoes and wade the rivers. Neoprene socks and sandals or neoprene shoes (beach shoes) are the best choice. Your guide will provide you with advice for river crossing, as well as help you to cross the river. Trekking poles might come in handy when wading rivers, as well as crossing with a partner.
In your daypack – large enough to carry all the items listed below (around a 25-40L bag):
In your luggage:
Your main luggage will be transported by transport vehicle, and you will not have access to it until you reach the huts in the afternoon. This also includes your sleeping bag. Everything needed for the day’s trek must be in your daypack. All technical glacier hiking equipment will be provided by your guide.
For your own well-being and safety, we strongly suggest following the advice of this equipment list. This includes having good quality rain gear, tops, and bottoms. Cotton clothing is not appropriate for any strenuous outdoor activity – nor are jeans and cotton t-shirts. Modern outdoor clothing is by far more comfortable and will greatly improve your experience.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking in Iceland can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
For regular dates, 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:
All policies regarding cancellation will be clearly laid out by your guide after booking your adventure.
To get to Iceland, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport, located 45 minutes from the city center. From there, the best and cheapest way is to take one of the public buses like Airport Direct or Flybus. Buses leave 35-40 minutes after the arrival of each flight, 24/7.
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel on the morning of the tour.
