Iceland Expedition

Hiking Adventures in a Surreal Landscape

Overview

Iceland is a mystical world of spouting geysers, blue lagoons, lava fields, and multicolored rhyolite valleys stretching to the sea—these fantasy landscapes must be seen to be believed. On coastal, mountain, and glacier adventures, we explore Vatnajökull National Park and the brooding heaths of saga country, where Viking clans created the world’s first parliament. We’ll hike high above Skógafoss waterfall, across the Dyrhólaey headland, and along the clearly visible tectonic plates at Thingvellir National Park, a World Heritage Site. Delights along the way include fresh-caught salmon and Arctic char, and soaks in geothermally heated mineral waters.

Itinerary at a Glance

Days 1-2
Reykjavík / Höfn / Vatnajökull Glacier / Jökulsárlón Lagoon

Flowing to the sea through a narrow fjord, Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, makes a dramatic backdrop for our hike to the coast. Lakeside trails bring us along stunning Jökulsárlón Lagoon, with its powder-blue icebergs calved from the Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier.

Fosshotel Vatnajökull
Höfn, Iceland
Day 1 (1 night)
Hotel Klaustur
Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Iceland
Day 1 (1 night)
Hotel Smyrlabjörg
Skálafell, Iceland
Day 1 (1 night)
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon (June departure)
Jokulsarlon, Iceland
Days 2 to 3 (2 nights)
Hotel Skaftafell (August departure)
Öræfi, Iceland
Days 2 to 3 (2 nights)
Days 3-6
Vatnajökull National Park / Skógafoss / Múlagljúfur

In Vatnajökull National Park, one of the most spectacular settings in Iceland, we hike among crystalline white glaciers, rushing rivers, and upland heaths. Our hike on the towering Dyrhólaey headland, 400 feet above the sea, is a chance to see fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, and gannets, and we’ll follow a trail up to the thundering 20-story-high Skógafoss cascade, flowing down from the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. Our hike in the hidden gem of Múlagljúfur, a dramatic canyon with plunging waterfalls, brings us views across the gorgeous glacier lagoons of Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón and the Vatnajökull glacier, Europe’s largest.

Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon (June departure)
Jokulsarlon, Iceland
Days 2 to 3 (2 nights)
Hotel Skaftafell (August departure)
Öræfi, Iceland
Days 2 to 3 (2 nights)
Hotel Rangá
Hella, Iceland
Days 4 to 5 (2 nights)
Hotel Fludir
Fludir, Iceland
Days 4 to 5 (2 nights)
Hotel Glymur
Akranes, Iceland
Day 6 (1 night)
Days 7-8
Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir is home to the world’s oldest parliament, the Althing, first held in 930 AD, and its unique geothermal landscape is a visual reminder that Iceland is the meeting point of the North American and European plates. The continental rift is clearly visible, with deep chasms showing the plates separating—our hike on the rift is a spectacular grand finale. We’ll enjoy a luxurious soak in a geothermal pool in Reykjavík before departing on Day 8.

Highlights

Highlights

Hike in an unearthly landscape of canyons, iceberg-filled lagoons, and geysers
Explore the dramatic rift valley of World Heritage-listed Thingvellir National Park
Learn about Iceland’s Viking heritage, savor the long twilight of the midnight sun
Taste savory Icelandic cuisine, soak in a geothermal hot spring

Details

Length: 8 days
Cost From: $6995  
Arrive: Reykjavík, Iceland
Depart: Reykjavík, Iceland
Lodging: 7 nights hotels
Meals: All meals included as indicated in the Detailed Itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
Activity: Hiking / Trekking
Trip Level:

Moderate to strenuous hiking, some steep sections, 3-8 hours a day, optional glacier walking, van support