Overview
Nature has outdone herself in Iceland, a world of spouting geysers, blue lagoons, moss-covered lava fields, and multicolored valleys stretching to the sea—the geographic diversity and fantasy landscapes must be seen to be believed. On our journey of coastal, mountain, and glacier adventures, we explore UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park and the brooding heaths of ancient “saga” country, where Viking clans created the world’s first parliament. We’ll hike high above breathtaking Skógafoss waterfall, across the spectacular Dyrhólaey headland, and to the otherworldly black-sand beach at Reynisfjara. We’ll also experience the welcoming Icelandic culture, sampling local delights from arctic char to fresh-caught salmon, and enjoying soaks in geothermally heated mineral waters—join us!
This was a marvelous introduction to and overview of a complex country and its people. We were delighted by the diversity of experiences—landscapes, length and difficulty of hikes, variety of foods.
— Patricia M., Asheville, NC
Days 1-2
Reykjavík / Höfn / Vatnajökull Glacier
Flowing to the sea through a narrow fjord, Vatnajökull is Europe’s largest glacier and our dramatic backdrop as we hike to the coast among fascinating geologic formations.
Reykjavík / Höfn / Vatnajökull Glacier - Days 1-2
Fosshotel Vatnajökull
Day 1 (1 night), Höfn, IcelandWith wide views of Vatnajökull Glacier, Fosshotel Vatnajökull is a peaceful hotel set in a valley eclipsed by mist shrouded mountains. Guestrooms are clean and modern, with heated floors in the bathroom and Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. The lobby has a welcoming seating area with floor-to-ceiling windows looking across the plains. Enjoy a drink from the hotel bar and if you’re lucky, watch local bands play on the outdoor deck—a true Icelandic experience.
Hotel Klaustur
Day 1 (1 night), Kirkjubæjarklaustur, IcelandHotel Kalustur is a simple lodge in the small village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. This lodge has a very convenient location for our hikes in Skaftafell National Park. It is basic, with rooms on the small side, but clean and comfortable.
Hotel Skaftafell
Days 2 to 3 (2 nights), Öræfi, IcelandThis lodging is truly in “the middle of nowhere,” near the tongue of the huge Vatnajökull Glacier on the edge of spectacular Skaftafell National Park. Lava fields stretch out in front of the hotel, and on a clear day, you can see the ocean. Rooms are small and simply furnished but cozy and comfortable. Have a drink at the tiny upstairs bar for a fantastic glacier view.
Days 3-6
Jökulsárlón / Vatnajökull National Park / Skógar / Reynisfjara
Waterside trails bring us along stunning Jökulsárlón Lagoon, with its powder-blue icebergs calved from the Breidamerkurjökull Glacier, and we boat between the bergs as we cross the lagoon for our picnic lunch. We also hike across Skaftafellsheidi, past the tumbling Svartifoss waterfall, and across the ice of the Skaftafellsjökull Glacier. In tiny Skógar, we sample beer from a microbrewery, hike up above the breathtaking Skógafoss cascade, with its legends of buried treasure, and visit the black-sand beach of Reynisfjara in Vík, considered one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world.
Jökulsárlón / Vatnajökull National Park / Skógar / Reynisfjara - Days 3-6
Hotel Skaftafell
Days 2 to 3 (2 nights), Öræfi, IcelandThis lodging is truly in “the middle of nowhere,” near the tongue of the huge Vatnajökull Glacier on the edge of spectacular Skaftafell National Park. Lava fields stretch out in front of the hotel, and on a clear day, you can see the ocean. Rooms are small and simply furnished but cozy and comfortable. Have a drink at the tiny upstairs bar for a fantastic glacier view.
Hotel Rangá
Days 4 to 5 (2 nights), Hella, IcelandHalfway between Reykjavík and Vík along the south coast, the Hotel Rangá has a wonderfully isolated setting. The Rangá offers spacious, well-appointed rooms, and a good restaurant that serves some of the freshest fish imaginable. The hot tubs have amazing views.
Hotel Fludir
Days 4 to 5 (2 nights), Fludir, IcelandSet near three national parks and offering fantastic views of the Icelandic countryside, Hotel Fludir takes pride in its peaceful location outside of Reykjavík. The single-story hotel has clean and comfortable guestrooms, and each room has private access to the hotel’s garden—a rustic outdoor area with tables, fireplaces, and two hot tubs framed by large boulders and basalt columns. Fludir has its own greenhouse that grows many of the vegetables they use for the restaurant, and they serve a hearty breakfast. If you have time, be sure to unwind with a drink on the garden’s deck beneath the Midnight Sun, or enjoy a soak in their hot tubs.
ION Adventure Hotel
Day 6 (1 night), Nesjavellir, IcelandWith a remote wilderness setting amid lava fields, the ION offers comfortable guest rooms and tasty meals, mostly locally sourced. Views from the hotel's stylish Northern Lights bar have an edge-of-the-earth feeling, and there is a spa, sauna, and a large outdoor hot tub for soaking under the stars.
Days 7-8
Thingvellir National Park / Blue Lagoon
We follow trails through the Reykjadalur, a valley with steaming hot springs, and marvel at the spectacular terrain of Thingvellir National Park, a World Heritage Site, where we can walk right between tectonic plates. After a soak in the famed thermal waters of the Blue Lagoon, depart on Day 8.
Thingvellir National Park / Blue Lagoon - Days 7-8
Icelandair Marina Hotel
Day 7 (1 night), Reykjavík, IcelandSet in Reykjavík’s marina district, close to the shops and restaurants, the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Marina has guest rooms with colorful and “quirky” modern décor combined with maritime antiques. The common spaces that take up the entire ground floor include a restaurant and renowned cocktail bar, cafe, gym room, and cinema. The hotel is within walking distance to the Harpa concert hall.
Iceland Expedition
Highlights
Highlights
Details
8 hiking days on moderate to strenuous trails, some steep sections, 3-8 hours a day, optional glacier walking, van support (for luggage or if you wish to skip a day’s hike).
