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!
Welcome to Iceland! Take an airport bus to the city center and settle into the beautiful hotel room we’ve reserved for you. If you arrive before check-in, you can store your luggage at the hotel and explore the city at your own pace. In the evening, meet your guide and fellow travelers at 6pm for a welcome gathering, followed by dinner in the city.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavik (likely Hotel Óðinsvé)
We will all gather at the hotel in the morning for a full day of exploring the world-famous Golden Circle! For lunch, we’ll visit the Friðheimar tomato farm, where we’ll get a warm introduction to their greenhouse and farm life. In the afternoon, we will relax at the Secret Lagoon before spending the night at a hotel in Hella.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Hella (likely Stracta Hotel)
Rise and shine, the highlands are calling! This morning, we take the 8:30am. Highland Bus from Hella to Landmannalaugar, the stunning “People’s Pools,” arriving around 11:30. We settle into the hut, enjoy some refreshments, and head out for a relaxed hike in the area. After dinner, we can unwind with a soak in the famous natural hot spring or visit the Mountain Mall for a beer and a friendly game of KUBB.
Distance: 5 km (3 mi)
Walking time: 2-3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Hella
Our first day on the Laugavegur Trail! After a hearty breakfast and some morning stretches, we load our main luggage and food boxes into the sturdy luggage transporter and set off on our hike. The first 12 kilometers take us mostly uphill as we gradually leave behind the colorful landscapes of Landmannalaugar and enter Hrafntinnusker, known as Black Obsidian Skerry—a place that feels truly otherworldly.
After a stop at the Hrafntinnusker hut, where we can use the facilities and refill our water bottles, we continue our hike, descending through the gullies of Jökultungur, where steaming hot springs and bubbling mud pools create an incredible landscape. Along the way, we take in breathtaking views of the Álftavatn area (Swan Lake) and the Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. We arrive at Álftavatn hut in the afternoon, where we settle in for the night.
Distance: 24 km (14 mi)
Walking time: 7-8 hours
Ascent: 470 m (1600 ft)
Descent: 490 m (1610 ft)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mountain hut
Today begins like every other day on the trail, with a hearty breakfast and sandwich prep for lunch. Once again, we load our luggage and food into the transporter and set off on our hike through this highland paradise. We cross two glacial rivers today, the first just 30 minutes into the hike—so be sure to have your river crossing shoes in your daypack. Along the way, we pass Hvanngil hut, where we can take advantage of the restroom facilities.
Shortly after leaving Hvanngil, we tackle the second glacial river crossing and continue through the stark beauty of the black desert of Mælifellssandur, framed by vibrant green mountains. By the afternoon, we arrive at Emstur hut, where we settle in for the night. For those up for an extra adventure, we highly recommend the optional evening hike to the breathtaking Markarfljót canyon—an experience not to be missed!
Distance: 16 km (10 mi)
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Descent: 40 m (130 ft)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mountain hut
The last day on the trail! Today, we leave Emstrur and hike toward Þórsmörk, passing through the Almenningar gorge by Mount Einhyrningur (the Unicorn Mountain). Along the way, we’ll still have stunning glacier views before the landscape begins to change. As we get closer, trees start to appear, leading us into the characteristic dense birch forests that make Þórsmörk so special.
Our accommodation for the night is in a truly magnificent location, nestled beneath the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. With our journey complete, it’s time to celebrate finishing the world-famous Laugavegur Trail!
Distance: 17 km (11 mi)
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Descent: 300 m (985 ft)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mountain hut
The last day in the highlands! Explore the magical Þórsmörk valley on foot before bidding farewell to the highlands. Afterward, we’ll change buses in Hella town and head to Hotel Skógar. After dinner, take a visit to the stunning Skógarfoss waterfall, with an optional evening hike on the One Thousand Waterfalls trail.
Distance: 5 km (3 mi)
Walking time: 2-3 hours
Ascent: 150 m (490 ft)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Skógar
Strap on your crampons—it’s time to hike the Solheimajökull glacier, one of Iceland’s most impressive and accessible glaciers! You’ll spend two hours on the ice, experiencing the powerful energy of this massive glacier. In the afternoon, we will explore the legendary Black Sand Beach and the stunning Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon before heading to our hotel near the glacier lagoon for a well-deserved rest.
Distance: 6.5 km (4.5 mi)
Walking time: 3 hours
Ascent: 150 m (490 ft)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hörgsland Guesthouse
Our last day on the road! In the morning, we’ll head to the Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. On our way back to Reykjavik, we will stop by the Eldhraun Lava Field, formed during one of the largest eruptions in recorded history. Then, we’ll visit the unique Seljalandsfoss waterfall and the hidden Gljúfrabúi waterfall. We will fnish the day with a farewell dinner in the city.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavik (likely Hotel Óðinsvé)
The grand finale! Unwind your travel-weary muscles in the soothing baby blue waters of the Blue Lagoon before heading to the airport for your final goodbyes. Book your flight in the afternoon, or if you’d like to extend your stay in Iceland, feel free to take a ride back to the city with your guide.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Not included:
This all-women hiking & sightseeing adventure in Iceland is perfect for hikers with great fitness, and previous multi-day hiking experience is good to have as well. You’ll be hiking for 6 days in a row, up to 9 hours a day, covering up to 24 km (15 mi), while gaining up to 470 m (1,540 ft) in elevation.
While you won’t have to carry your luggage (thanks to luggage transfers), keep in mind that you’ll still be carrying a daypack with all the things you might need throughout the day.
During the hiking portion of the trip, you’ll walk on trails that 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 hike up and down steep slopes that sometimes have loose grounds and require good balance. Muddy areas and volcanic landscapes are also to be expected.
Hikes will involve river crossings on the trail every day except the first. 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.
Clothing, footwear, and things to carry in your backpack (large enough to carry all the items listed below):
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.
You are allowed to take one piece of luggage on the tour. Your guide advises you not to bring a massive one, as the huts don’t have much room to spread out our stuff. There are luggage lockers at four centrally located places in Reykjavik where you can store your extra luggage.
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.
To get to Iceland, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF), located 45 minutes from downtown Reykjavik. From there, the best and the cheapest way is to take one of the public busses like Airport Direct or Flybus. Buses leave 35-40 minutes after the arrival of each flight, 24/7.
Make your way to the beautiful hotel room that your guides will have reserved for you. If you arrive before check-in, you can store your luggage at the hotel and explore the city at your own pace. In the evening, meet your guide and fellow travelers at 6pm for a welcome gathering on Day 1, followed by dinner in the city.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, we partnered up with Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their insurance 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 insurance. 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