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Hut-to-Hut Hiking Tour of Iceland’s Ancient Trails

Itinerary
Guide(s)
Magnus Viking, Norse Adventures
Trip options

Booking for a group?
Reserve spots for 5 or more people, and get $57 off for each

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Min. number of hikers

It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate.

Itinerary
People
1 Person
Date(s)
--
Duration
6 day
Guide(s)
Magnus Viking, Norse Adventures
Reserve deposit (30%) $0
Second Payment Amount: $0
  • Leave the touristy trails behind and uncover the rich history behind Iceland’s iconic landscapes on this 6-day hiking tour! Explore a spectacular mix of natural landmarks, ranging from geysers and colorful rhyolite mountains to timeless glaciers, while learning about their legacy from a seasoned local guide. Spend your time off the trails unwinding in scenic mountain huts, chilling in saunas, and tasting traditional Icelandic delicacies.  

    • Your guide will pick you up at 10 am at the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik and drive you and your team to the first mountain hut of the trip in the Kerlingarfjöll Mountains (Troll Mountains). Get some rest, meet your team, and cook together a delicious traditional Icelandic meal. In the evening, you’ll relax and soak in the hot geothermal waters in the Highland Baths.

      Meals: Dinner
      Accommodation: Hut

      Steamy rivers and geysirs in front of a mountain
    • After breakfast, pack up your luggage and place it in the car. Today you’ll hike the out-and-back trail to the Hveradalir geothermal area and hike a loop around the valley to soak in all the amazing sights. You’ll encounter a spectacular array of colors, including, yellow, blue, black, green, and red from the iron and the rhyolite that the mountains are composed of. After the hike, get transported to the Hveravellir hut, where you will spend the night. Make sure to take a dip in the nearby geothermal pool before hitting the hay.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Accommodation: Hut
      Hiking: 7 miles / 12 km
      Elevation change: 1,970 ft / 600 m

      Geotermal eruption at Gullfoss Geysir
    • A spectacular hike awaits today along the ancient Kjalvegur route, once used by Vikings, settlers, and farmers. The route winds between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers, and you’ll walk through unique vegetation, grass, flowers, and brush, but also black lava fields, volcanic craters, mountains, and glaciers. Hike to the top of Redhead Mountain and enjoy unrivaled views of the glaciers and rivers snaking their way through the valleys and mountains. Head to the hut.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Accommodation: Hut
      Hiking: 7-11 miles / 11-18 km
      Elevation change: 490-1970 ft / 150-600 m

      A group of hikers enjoying dinner around a table
    • Today, you’ll follow the Kjalhraun lava field while enjoying a spectacular view of the Hrútfell mountain and its gliding glaciers throughout. Watch the Fúlakvísl river roar through a very narrow canyon carved out by lava millennia ago. The scenery around the Þverbrekknamúli hut is so incredible you’ll want to stay there and explore it for days on end.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Accommodation: Hut
      Hiking: 9 miles / 14 km
      Elevation change: 330 ft / 100 m

      A small canyon in Iceland
    • On day 5, you’ll hike to one of the oldest mountain huts in Iceland, Hvítárnes. Built way back in 1930, the hut and its turf roof are protected by Icelandic law because of its age and uniqueness. Follow a trail through vegetated areas interspaced by some deep horse trails and crystal-clear water fountains. The hut is close to the Hvítárvatn glacial lake, which runs from the Langjökull glacier and is the source of both the Hvítá river and Gullfoss falls. Those who dare may take a dip!

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Accommodation: Hut
      Hiking: 10 miles / 16 km
      Elevation change: 880 ft/ 270 m

      Rivers crossing in a valley
    • End your trip with a bang! Today you’ll drive along the Golden Circle and the first stop is the Gullfoss waterfall, one of the most beautiful ones in Iceland. After marveling at its beauty, drive to Geysir geothermal area and witness the geysers erupting boiling hot water high up in the air! After that, you’ll drive to Þingvellir National Park, explore the Mid-Atlantic Rift, and learn about its history. Your guides will then drive you back to Reykjavik and that marks the official end of the tour. If you’d like to stay longer and keep on exploring the area, just ask your guides for some recommendations!

      Meals: Breakfast and lunch

      View across the thundering mist of Gullfoss waterfal
    • What you get on this adventure:

        • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
        • 6 days of hiking
        • Transportation for the duration of the tour
        • Mountain hut accommodations for 5 nights
        • All meals for the duration of the tour (from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 6)
        • Transfer of luggage between huts
        • Charging battery/power bank
        • Sleeping bag

      What’s not included:

        • Transportation to and from Iceland
        • Transportation to the BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavik
        • Accommodations in Reykjavík before and after the tour
        • Personal hiking gear
        • Use of showers in huts — 500 ISK ($3.50 USD), payable on site
        • Alcoholic beverages
        • Meals outside of the trek
    • This Icelandic hiking adventure requires decent fitness levels. You’ll be hiking for 4 to 6 full days, covering around 7.5-10 miles (12-17 km) per day with moderate altitude change while carrying a loaded daypack. Your main luggage will be transported with a support vehicle. Keep in mind that you’ll also be covering tricky volcanic terrain, the weather and trail conditions may affect the difficulty and you will encounter several river crossings along the trail.

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

        • Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
        • Waterproof duffel bag for transporting your overnight gear between huts
        • Quality lightweight hiking shoes with ankle support
        • River crossing shoes — Crocs are a good choice, don’t use open sandals or flip-flops
        • 2-3 pairs of soft wool or fleece hiking socks
        • Long sleeve shirt (thermal underwear, wool or fleece)
        • T-shirt (thermal underwear, wool or synthetic)
        • Light sweater (wool, fleece or similar)
        • Jacket with a good hood — windproof, waterproof and breathable, GoreTex or similar
        • Hiking pants or shorts, something strong and light that dries quickly e.g. soft-shell
        • Rain trousers — windproof, waterproof and breathable, don’t bring a poncho
        • Warm hat and gloves
        • Hiking poles
        • Light towel, easily packable
        • Sunglasses or ski goggles
        • Sun and lip balm
        • Neck buff
        • Wind- and waterproof protective clothes
        • Cash for the showers, normally around 500 ISK per shower
        • Lunch box to pack each days lunch into
        • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
        • Swimwear if you want to bathe in the hot geothermal pool in Landmannalaugar
        • Slippers for indoor use
        • Clothes for wearing in the hut
        • Toiletries (hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
        • Headlamp or flashlight
        • Camera — optional (but recommended)

      Your main luggage will be transported with a support vehicle, and you will not have access to it until you reach the huts in the afternoon. Everything needed for the day’s trek must be in your day backpack. 

      Please do not bring hard suitcases. A soft duffel bag, ca 60 L, is preferable, and please do not exceed 40 lbs (18 kg) per person. Also, keep in mind that the bags might move around or get wet during transport, so pack accordingly.

    • The huts on the trail are very basic. You will spend your night in shared dormitories with bunk beds. While the beds have mattresses, you should bring a sleeping bag (provided) and a liner. Each hut has different facilities but most include gas cooking. Some hut have running water, showers, and toilets, while other have out-houses and no running water.

      Mountain hut in front of a magnificent mountain in Iceland
      Interior of a mountain hut showing the sleeping and common quarters
    • Group sizes and prices:

        • For this group adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 10:1. 
        • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this 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:

        • 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.

    • To get to the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik, the starting point of this tour, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF). From there, you can take a bus, shuttle, or taxi to Reykjavík.

      You will be meeting your guide at the BSI bus terminal in central Reykjavik at 10 am, which can be easily accessed by foot or public transportation. From there, you’ll head to the trailhead. You will return back to Reykjavik after the Golden Circle tour on the last day around 3pm.

    • 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 the official guidelines for international travel to 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!

    • 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://youtu.be/QA3-BXYuYrw?feature=shared

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