Ancient Trails hiking tour guided

Hiking the Ancient Trails of Iceland

Iceland’s real story isn’t found in guidebooks—it’s carved into the land itself. So, what lies ahead is no ordinary hike. It’s a 6-day journey past ancient glaciers, forgotten Viking paths, and 100-year-old huts. Out here, far from the modern world, the line between legend and reality quietly fades.

Hiking hut-to-hut, we’ll cross the Highlands—a surreal, shifting landscape tucked between two mighty glaciers. Expect impossibly green valleys, steaming geothermal vents, endless lava fields, and massive glaciers pouring down the mountainsides.

Iceland off the map

Most days, you won’t see another soul besides your fellow hikers and maybe a few curious sheep or roaming horses. While the popular trails draw crowds, you’ll be far off the map—but well taken care of.

This is a fully supported trek: no heavy packs, no logistics to worry about. Your gear is transported hut-to-hut, your meals prepared for you, and your small group is led by two certified local guides.

Along the way, they’ll lead you to natural hot springs and serve up Icelandic food the way locals enjoy it. And around the table—or on the trail—they’ll share the stories that shaped this land: tales of elves, trolls, outlaws, Vikings, and more, where history and myth intertwine.

  • HOT SPRINGS SOAKS
  • TREK 60 KM (38 MI)
  • 6 DAYS IN THE WILD
  • RUSTIC HUT STAYS
  • SMALL GROUPS
  • AUTHENTIC MEALS
Ancient Trails adventure in 2 minutes—see what the hype’s about.

A journey into Iceland’s history & folklore

In a land as remote and rugged as Iceland, it’s no surprise that countless sagas, legends, and strange tales have taken root. This adventure offers more than just surreal, otherworldly landscapes—with two local guides eager to share their stories, you’ll step into the rich world of Icelandic history, folklore, and hidden creatures.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF VIKINGS

Step into the footsteps of Vikings long before roads existed—where millennium-old cairns guide you across treacherous wilderness no vehicle dares to enter.

ELVES, ICELAND’S HIDDEN PEOPLE

The Hidden People are said to live in these hills, unseen unless they choose to appear. And many believe they do: over half of Icelanders think elves are more than just a myth. Keep an eye out!

THE OLD WOMAN’S MOUNTAINS

Stand between steaming vents and fiery peaks of Kerlingarfjöll—the ‘Old Woman’s Mountains.’ Legend says a giant woman was turned to stone here, forever watching over this wild Icelandic land.

ICELAND’S INFAMOUS OUTLAW

After a few days in the Highlands, you’ll wonder how Fjalla-Eyvindur—Iceland’s legendary outlaw—vanished into these wilds for 20 years. You’ll walk where he once hid.

WHERE TROLLS ROAM

Iceland’s trolls are big, strange, and a little clumsy—but full of magic. Legend says they roam these rocky hills at night, always careful to avoid the sun… or risk turning to stone forever.

Iceland hut in the middle of nowhere
The location of the Laugavegur trail on the full map of Central and North Europe.
The Laugavegur trail on a zoomed map of Iceland.

Rest & fuel for the trail

AUTHENTIC MOUNTAIN HUTS

The huts are simple and cozy, heated by gas with basic cooking facilities. We will often have the whole place to ourselves, surrounded by the quiet vastness of the Highlands. Shared dorm-style rooms offer just enough comfort to rest after long days on the trail.

With no power outlets and limited showers, life here feels refreshingly stripped back. Whether helping with meals, playing cards, or stepping outside to explore, the huts create a close-knit vibe—perfect for disconnecting and soaking in Iceland’s remote wilderness.

Hut atmsophere meal
Cute mountain hut on the trek

DELICIOUS LOCAL MEALS

This isn’t trail food—it’s the kind of meal you’d expect at a high-end restaurant, prepared fresh by your guides throughout the trip. Breakfasts and lunches are simple but satisfying, while dinners stand out—generous, flavorful, and often the most memorable part of your day.

You’ll enjoy dishes like marinated Arctic char, traditional Icelandic lamb soup, and a Viking-worthy grilled leg of lamb. Paired with fresh salads and classic sides, every meal offers an authentic taste of Iceland’s culinary heritage.

Breakfast in Iceland
Dinner, Ancient Trails

Where nature and legend meet

Beyond the usual trails

And while history, myth, and small group experience shape much of this journey, the landscapes are every bit as wild and spectacular as you’ve imagined Iceland to be.

One day we’ll stand between two tectonic plates, and then watch a geyser blast sky-high. The next, we’ll hike through steaming vents, bubbling mud pools, and maybe even wade across a river or two.

Six days of hiking, hot springs, good food, and even better company—plus a few unexpected stories along the way. It’s the kind of trip where you end up with tired legs, a full belly, and a head full of Icelandic legends you won’t forget anytime soon.

  • ICELAND SEEN RIGHT
  • OFF THE BEATEN PATH
  • JUST YOU & YOUR TEAM
  • SUPERB LOCAL GUIDES
  • LIFELONG MEMORIES
  • TRAIL STORIES & FRIENDS

Local guides from Iceland

Magnus Viking—yes, that’s really his name—was made for adventure and meeting people, so guiding suits him perfectly. When he’s not leading trips, he’s a commercial pilot, flight instructor, ship captain, and truck driver. And on every adventure, by his side without fail, is his Siberian husky: Fenris the White Wolf.

Magnus has gathered a fantastic team of guides who share his passion for Iceland’s wilderness and history. Arni, Arnar, Jonas, Stefan, Dadi, Johann, Ingolfur, Thorbjorn, Gunnar—you might meet any of them on this trip. They’re all certified, experienced, and there to keep you safe—but just as importantly, they’re great company on the trail!

Magnus Viking and dog Norse Adventures guides
Ken Duncan

Magnus was fantastic! From beginning to end of our 6 day backcountry hiking trip, he shared history, culture, little known facts of Iceland’s story from the beginning until today. He offered previews of what we could expect on the days hike, the evening meals, how the food came to be commonplace in Iceland. And it just got better as our time together progressed. From sharing stories soaking the geothermal pools, to the laughs and jokes we enjoyed, we made memories that will last a lifetime. I haven’t stopped sharing the stories with family and friends since we returned. Magnus’ partner “Hillae” handmade heavy packs, transporting it Hut to Hut, preparing and arranging meals. We experienced Iceland in its raw form, walking among rivers, mountains, glaciers, lava fields, it was magnificent. I cannot say enough about Magnus and Hille’. In 6 days we walked among ancient trails, ancient rock cairns, breathing the freshest air, drinking the freshest water you’ll find anywhere. We didn’t just drive through Iceland, we experienced it up close, personally, complete with shared quotes from LOTR in many appropriate locations, lol. I don’t know how this trip could ever be topped. Seriously.

Doug Swenson

Our guide Jonas & Arnar were spectacular. They took this excursion to another level with their cooking skills, knowledge and great sense of humor. The best guides ever!!

Jane Bailey

Magnus was extremely informative, patient with all of our questions and took great care of us in the harsh weather conditions of our hikes. Addi was the perfect behind the scenes guide tending to the logistics, driving us safely through the ever-changing terrain and supplying the scrumptious food. Fenris, the Siberian Husky, was the perfect companion on our spectacular hikes!

Steve Heath

He was great. I have a new brother

Teri Hauserman

Magnus is an amazing guide. Not only did he plan an exciting trip, he imbued the experience with the history and culture of Iceland. We came away with a deep respect for the country and people of Iceland.

Laurie Bonnici

Magnus, Fenris, and Arni were awesome guides. Just the right amount of history and information were shared to inform each day\’s route. They also engaged with our group during the evenings, joining in conversation and telling stories to entertain us. Thanks, guys!

Mark Etrheim

Magnus and Addy (driver and all around guide in training) were very good at their jobs. Safe driving, a bit of site seeing and a moderately challenging hike and truly authentic huts to sleep. Food was exceptional considering where we were and the lack of anything resembeling a kitchen.

Kay Cynamon

Magnus is a very attentive and talented guide: he kept track of the group while allowing each of us the leeway to explore a bit. Wonderful personality for leading

Brian Wit

Magnus, Addie and Fen ris were great guides. They took very good care of us, kept an eye on all level of hikers. Very personable and easy to talk with. The norse mythology that they taught us was fun and informative. Lodgings were very comfortable. Meals were exceptional!! Fantastically delicious, You would think that you were eating at a friend\’s house in Iceland on Sunday afternoon.

Patricia Haupt

Jonas was nothing less than awesome! Such a joy to be with from the moment we meant him. He was full of adventure, fun and shared stories. Incredible fit and kept the right pace for the hike.

Chris Baldini

Had a most wonderful adventure with Jonas as guide! His knowledge of Iceland and the Highlands was fabulous and he generously shared his knowledge with us!

David Winningham

Friendly, knowledgeable, and fun.

Kelly McCrae

Magnus was a great guide for our group. Easygoing and readily sharing the history of the area. Hilli was also integral to the success of our trek!

Christina O’Brien

Magnus from Norse adventures was the absolute best! He told us tons of stories about the region and made the whole trip fun! We had amazing traditional Icelandic food every day! You could not have a better experience!!

Kate Fischer

Magnus (Norse Adventures) was terrific! Had everything planned and organized, shared a lot of history and stories, cooked delicious traditional meals, and ensured everyone in the group had a great time and was safe! I would give 10 stars if available.

Jacqueline Hager

Thanks again for such a great time and all the extra information you provided about Iceland.

Jeanni Foss

Incredible! He knew exactly the best hikes and had a great personality! We felt safe and had the trip of a lifetime!!! Thank you, “Maggs” Maggnus!

Jeanni Foss

What a genuinely nice guide with an amazing hike trip that surpassed all of our expectations! Great communication and fun energy. A really great way to see Iceland that is not a touristy trap. So many great photos and really adventurous hikes! What a great trip so many excellent photo shots and a great workout!!

DAVID GRIMM

Magnus and Arnie were great guides and very informative while we were backpacking through the Icelandic Highlands on the KJALVEGUR Trail. The food was amazing, all of our meals were traditional Icelandic meals like Grilled Lamb, Meat Stew, Grilled Char and an amazing Cod Gratin on the last night. Our adventure was awesome. we started with a drive to our first start point in the highlands. however while travelling to the start point, we hiked through Þingvellir National Park, the original Parliment site dating back to 930 AD. This is also the site of the rift valley and we had the opportunity to hike between the North American and Eurasian Tectonic Plates. We next visited a traditional farm that has embraced agro-turism and had a delightful lunch and farm made ice cream. We continued on to a geyser and then on to Gullfoss Nature Reserve Park that had a large waterfall. Next we drove to the first hut that we were staying in. It was a beautiful hike that had us cross glaciers, high meadows and deserts as well as lava fields. Absolutely breathtaking.

Trey Noble

Magnus and Arni were gracious guides who listened to customer requests and worked hard to make sure we had the opportunity to have input on our custom trip. They are very knowledgeable outdoorsmen who obviously enjoyed sharing their love of Iceland\’s history and landscape with our group. I hope to share another adventure with them in the future. The Ancient Trails trip was a perfect alternative for our group who wanted to avoid crowds and to visit some lesser known portions of Iceland. The terrain was not difficult and the weather cooperated nicely (late June 2023). The overnight huts met all our needs comfortably. The day hike in the Troll Mountains (Kerlingarfjoll) was amazingly beautiful and breathtaking.

Joyce Godbey

Our guides were Maggnus Viking and
Arni Odinsson of Norse Adventures. They were excellent! They were knowledgeable, patient, kind and wonderful hosts!

Thomas Lipinski

Maggnus is a consummate professional guide. I knows what we needed and always provided it. He knew the routes and took us to some amazing places. We always felt safe. Maggnus and Husky Fendris have personality, smarts and skill. We saw some amazing places on our hike.

James Brown

Our guides were amazing. Jonas Valdimarsson was the perfect person to have as a guide on the Kjalvegur trail hike. He told us stories, showed us what to notice in terms of vegetation and landscape. He was perfect. Arni Odinnson was also incredible. He cooked us great food and made sure we were taken care of every step of the way in the huts. These two made the trip so much fun, and they taught us a lot about Iceland. Aside from our first day, we didn\’t see another hiking group during our trip. It was great to have these trails to ourselves, which was one of the reasons we chose the Kjalvegur trail. The hike at Kerlingarfjöll was challenging, but it was really worth it. And the hikes after that were less challenging but gorgeous.

Bruce Griffith

We were quite happy with the adventure, the meals were great, our two guides were great and the trails and scenery were fantastic. After just hiking the Laugavegur we really appreciated being the only hikers on the trail. The only thing that was difficult for me personally was the lack of beds in the huts, our western culture has us expecting a little more room! A suggestion for improvement would be to only take 8 clients at a time to help with bed space. Overall, loved the trip. I would gladly return to hike with your crew, the north western part of Iceland interests us greatly.

Sheldon Cohen

Both Magnus and Stephan were funny, talented, and overall amazing tour guides!
-Kyle

Definitely one I will be remembering for years to come.

Robert Glanville

Six family members (two parents, 4 of our kids) travelled to Iceland from Aug 8th to 14th and experienced a hiking tour from Reykavik through the Highlands down to the southern black sand beaches. We were fortunate as to weather — one day with a short rain shower, one 1/2 day of rain (on the glacier) — and even more fortunate with our guide, Maggnus, his fearless and playful canine companion Fenris, and his excellent support crew (led by Unnur and Tristan). The hikes were of the right distance and difficulty for our family, the overnight locations (hotels vs cabins) were clean / enjoyable / friendly / well run, the food and drink excellent, and Iceland showed off some of her most beautiful locations to us. Highlights of the tour included (with some the GoT locations!):

Pre-hiking tour day in Reykavik, including a helicopter tour (Litli-Hurtur Reykjanes area) via AlantsFlug — well worth the time and $ — great introduction to Iceland and its (every changing) geology
Efstidalur farm lunch, Thingvellir national park, and some reasonably predictable geysers
Two nights at the newly built Highland Base Hotel at Kerlingarfjoll, with a short hike to its geothermal pool alongside a glacier-fed stream
2/3rds day long hike into the Hveradalir geothermal valley
Surface of the moon drive from the Highlands to the south leading to a climb of Hekla (aka “Mordor”)
Intra-family soccer at the Basar Cabins, Thorsmork mountain ridge, Merkurker ravine, Stakkholtsgja canyon
Overnight at Midgard Base Camp hotel (wonderful dinner, great staff, very hot hottub), six person communal bunk rooms…
Solheimajokull glacier, Reynisfjara black sand beach, Raufarholshellir lava cave
Our family would strongly recommend following Maggnus and Fenris on a guided walking /hiking tour of Iceland!!

The Glanville Family

 

Eric Hmielewski

Magnus & Norse Adventures were the perfect fit for the adventure we were looking for. Magnus adapted to our personalities, abilities, and desires throughout the trip and made small adjustments along the way to enhance our experience. This often meant adding small detours to other scenic sites that were not originally on the itinerary. Magnus has the experience and drive to show any group a one-of-a-kind adventure.

Nicole Flynn-Rowland

Magnus and Arnie were exactly the personality type to make this trip enjoyable. They were super laid back and the trip was perfectly planned. Ooo and the food was amazing. Never ate like that backpacking.

Katy Austin

Arne was pleasant and knowledgeable.

Bonnie Rozycki

Magnus and Arni were fantastic guides. They made sure everyone was comfortable and adapted to meet everyone\’s needs. Would highly recommend doing a tour with them. As a bonus Magnus brought his dog who provideda lot of entertainment. From the amazing hiking to the incredible food it was an unforgettable adventure. The entire experience was well planned and executed. The trail was gorgeous with a diverse landscape. The huts were cozy and fun to stay in. The first couple of days of excellent meals were provided by a farm and restaurants. After that Arni and Magnus were the chefs and they surprised us with their cooking skills. There was so much food- soup, salmon and lamb, that was always prepared perfectly in the small hut kitchens. Would highly recommend getting off the beaten path and hiking the Ancient Trails with Norse Adventures.

William Smith Jr

Magnus and his crew are the best, though Fenris (The Albino Husky) is the star of it all! Great food, great fun and great people! 10 stars and by far the best trip to take!

Sharon Mikkelson

I had an amazing time. I would highly recommend Magnus; he is an amazing and fun tour guide!

Lisa White

The guides were amazing. Very informative and down to earth. The adventure was incredible. Iceland is so beautiful. The accommodations were interesting and adequate. The food provided was excellent.

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