There’s no place like Iceland anywhere else in the world and exploring its hidden trails is probably the most epic hiking journey we’ll ever get to witness. Far from the tourists and crowded trails, we will traverse through lava fields, surreal rhyolite mountains, jet-black sands, and surreal lakes—just to name a few of the countless gems. Natural hot springs and geothermal pools will be there to relax our muscles, and as the evening falls, we will retreat to our accommodations in the middle of nowhere.
After you land at Keflavik Airport, head to the city at your arrangement. We’ll all meet up at our local guides’ headquarters in the afternoon. After a presentation and briefing about the upcoming adventure, we’ll drive to our accommodation for the night on the South Coast (1h 30’ drive). Make sure to get a good night’s rest—tomorrow the adventure begins!
Accommodation: Private twin rooms in Midgard Basecamp
Rise and shine, we’ve got an incredible day ahead of us! Early in the morning, we’ll depart towards Landmannalaugar. Once there, we’ll hike depending on the weather conditions. In the evening, we’ll drive to Hólaskjól (1h 30’).
Hiking: 8-10 km (5-6.2 mi)
Accommodation: Shared room in a mountain hut with a sleeping bag
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Transfer: 40 km (25 mi)
If the road conditions allow, in the morning we’ll drive towards Langisjór, an incredible lake in the Highlands. Its shape and color against the green mountains seem surreal, and we’ll hike around the Fögrufjöll mountains. After hiking, we’ll drive back to Hólaskjól and spend the night there. Plan B is that we visit the Eldgjá volcanic canyon.
Hiking: 6-10 km (3.7-6.2 mi) or 6-12 km (3.7-7.5 mi)
Accommodation: Shared room in a mountain hut with a sleeping bag
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Again, if road conditions allow, we’ll drive towards the region of Mælifell and hike the
Rauðibötn crater as well as the waterfalls near Hólmsárlón lake. After lunch, we’ll head head towards Mælifell mountain, a verdant mountain emerging from pitch-black soil, and continue onto the Strútur area. That’s where we’ll spend the night.
Hiking: 8-15 km (5.-9.3 mi)
Accommodation: Shared room in mountain hut with sleeping bag
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Transfer: 40 km (25 mi)
In the morning, we’ll depart from Strútur mountain hut and explore the southern Highlands with expert guides. Discover, depending on the weather, different regions: Álftavatn, Öldufell, or Emstrur—all incredibly gorgeous and well worth exploring.
Hiking: 6-15 km (3.7-9.3 mi)
Accommodation: Private twin rooms in Midgard Basecamp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Transfer: 85 km (53 mi)
Today we’ve got a full day of hiking through the surreal Thórsmörk valley! Depending on weather conditions, we’ll settle on the Tindfjallahringur hike, the Valahnúkur hike, or the Fimmvörðuháls approach. Time permitting, we’ll end the day with a hike to the Stakkholstgjá canyon.
Hiking: 6-15 km (3.7-9.3 mi)
Accommodation: Private twin rooms in Midgard Basecamp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Transfer: 50 km (31 mi)
We’ll leave the South Coast in the morning and head towards Reykjavik. Head to Keflavik Airport at your arrangement. Alternatively, if you’d like to stay here longer, that’s totally understandable—keep on exploring this wonder of a country and feel free to ask us for recommendations!
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer: 110 km (68 mi)
Included:
Not included:
This exclusive Iceland tour is designed for individuals in good physical condition who are comfortable hiking on uneven terrain while carrying a daypack. Expect daily hikes of around 20 km (13 miles), with elevation gains exceeding 700 m (2,300 ft), typically requiring 5 to 8 hours of hiking each day.
Endurance, physical resilience, and a strong sense of determination are key to embracing the challenges of this journey. Being able to hike for 5 consecutive days is a must. The route can be demanding both physically and mentally, but you’ll have a local guide by your side the whole way through, who will be there to support you. Still, a positive mindset and a willingness to push through tough moments will make all the difference. Embrace the spirit of adventure, stay motivated, and be prepared for the unpredictable!
Finally, given Iceland’s ever-changing weather, high-quality waterproof mountain gear is highly recommended to stay dry, comfortable, and safe throughout the expedition.
After booking, you will receive a list of all necessary equipment to bring on this exclusive Iceland tour. Prior to the start of the route, the guide together with each traveler will review the material to ensure that everything necessary is available. Here’s a general list of the equipment you need to bring:
Drones are completely forbidden.
Group sizes and pricing
Min. age requirements
To get to the starting point of this exclusive Iceland tour in Reykjavík, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF). The best option is taking a shuttle to reach the city center. You’ll meet up with your guides and your team in the afternoon.
Trip insurance with helicopter rescue coverage is mandatory. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
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 are 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