Best of Iceland Camping Tour
Reykjavík, Iceland
5.0 (1 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Comprehensive Iceland Itinerary
- Stunning Landscapes
- Geysers & Waterfalls
- Hot springs & Glaciers
- Fantastic outdoor cuisine
- Wonderful Camping Accommodations
- Charming Icelandic Villages
Description
The Best of Iceland Camping Tour is perfect for first time visitors to Iceland looking to have a fantastic hiking experience; explore an amazing diversity of scenery, sites and highlights; have an all-around outdoor experience; and take advantage of the most affordable way to experience the wonders of the South Coast! This tour combines stunning day hikes to must-see Icelandic destinations including glaciers, waterfalls, lava fields, geothermal features, black sand beaches, glacial lagoons with icebergs and wildlife, mountains with phenomenal views and more! We also visit several small Icelandic villages that our guests love! Each evening we enjoy hearty dinners prepared by your guide and comfortable basecamp amenities. This tour is the total Icelandic package!!!
Another major highlight of this tour is the fascinating knowledge your guide will pass on to you as you hike – information about the geology, ecology, glacial history, volcanic activity, and climatic phenomena of Iceland. We’ll also discuss the human habitation of Iceland, which began in the 9th century when the Norse created permanent settlements on the long-uninhabited island.
$4250 PER PERSON
$200 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 10-15 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 1-12 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 3000 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 3000 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- The trails on this trip are well-trodden dirt and rock paths.
- Additional:
- This trip has some long days (up to 12 miles) with significant elevation gain and loss (up to 3000 feet). However, hiking in Iceland is generally at low elevations – often near or just above sea level – which makes the hiking more moderate than many higher elevation destinations.
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- exercise several times per week
- be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 15-pound backpack
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Iceland hike a solitude 2. You can expect to have as much as an hour of solitude at a time while hiking.
Learn More about our Rating SystemBOOKING FLIGHTS
For our Iceland treks you will need to fly into Keflavik International Airport on Day 1, no later than 3 P.M. Your guide will rendezvous with you at our hotel (we provide a shuttle voucher for transport from the airport to the hotel). An orientation meeting and accommodations are included on Day 1. Your return flight can be scheduled for anytime on the final day of the tour or later.
Flights to and from Keflavik Airport are the guest’s responsibility. Multiple airlines operate flights into Keflavik from many U.S. and European international airports. Some of the primary U.S. departure cities include Denver, Portland, Boston, Washington DC, San Francisco, New York and Minneapolis. The duration of nonstop flights is 6-9 hours.
Your flight on the final day of the trip can depart at any time.
Minimum of 4 Guests
We require a minimum of 4 guests to confirm this trip. If a trip date is not confirmed yet, you can register and will be notified when the trip is officially confirmed. We recommend not making final travel arrangements until your trip meets the minimum number of guests and is confirmed.
In most cases, if a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 45 days before the departure date.
Private Trips
Traveling in perfect company is a wonderful thing! With our private trip offerings you can book a trip exclusively for your group. Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, private trips are a fun and enriching way to explore the outdoors.
Private trip pricing is based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of people in your party. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax and national park fees (where applicable) or guide gratuity. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE to get the ball rolling!
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2
- 3 People: Rate x 1.5
- 4-5 People: Rate x 1.3
- 6-7 People: Rate x 1.2
- 8-10 People: Rate x 1.1
- 11-12 People: Rate x 1
*all rates are per person and single supplements apply
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsItinerary
DAY 1
On this Iceland hiking tour, we provide you with a shuttle voucher to get from Keflavik International airport in Reykjavik, Iceland to tonight’s hotel. After checking into your hotel room (included), you are free to explore the capital city on your own. Reykjavik’s city center is small and you can travel everywhere on foot. Your guides will designate a time to conduct the pre-trip orientation meeting and check into our hotel rooms. The orientation meeting is time to ask questions, meet the other guests, check over gear, and review the itinerary. Icelandic weather can be cold and rainy so be sure to follow the gear list closely! After the orientation meeting, we’ll give you some of our favorite recommendations for a quintessential Icelandic dinner (not included).
NOTE: If your flight lands in the morning, your hotel room will not be ready for you to check in. However, you will be able to store your luggage and start your city exploration.
DAY 2
- Driving Duration: 4-5 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 1 mile
- Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal
- Trekking Duration: 1-2 hours
This morning, we will pick you up at your hotel and begin driving to the Icelandic country side along the South coast. After passing a few towns, we will reach the wonderful Seljalandsfoss waterfall and keep heading east along the Southern coast and its black sand beaches. After a couple more waterfalls, we will check out the Dyrholaey cliffs or the Reynisfjara black sand beach. We will continue on to the village of Vik, where the scenery changes dramatically. We will encounter vast moss-covered lava fields and immense glacial deposits. Continuing on, we will reach the Skaftafell area of Vatnajokull National Park, where we will set up our Base-camp for 3 nights.
DAY 3
- Hiking Mileage: 5-13 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 3000 feet
- Trekking Duration: 5-7 hours
Today’s hike is dedicated to the Skaftafell area. After breakfast we will head to the Svartifoss waterfalls and on toward a glacial valley (Morsardalur) or a summit overlooking a glacier (Kristinartindar), and snow covered peaks.
DAY 4
- Driving Duration: 1-2 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 4-6 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal
- Trekking Duration: 3-5 hours
This morning we journey to a world of ice! Along the southern shore, we will travel East between snow covered peaks, glaciers, and the coastline on the other side of the road. We will arrive at Jokulsarlon, an amazing glacial lagoon. Arctic terns, great skuas, geese and Eider ducks are a few birds we are likely to see today. We will head back to our base camp for our last night in the Vatnajokull National Park.
DAY 5
- Driving Duration: 3-4 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 2-5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1500 feet
- Trekking Duration: 3-5 hours
This morning we will break down base camp and head west to the highlands of the famous Fjallabak Nature Reserve. We will take a beautiful hike to the stunning Eldgja Chasm. We will then keep driving north on an unpaved road, cross a dozen or so creeks, traverse gorges and valleys and finally reach Landmannalaugar, where we will set up camp for 2 nights and unwind in the hot springs!
DAY 6
- Driving Duration: minimal
- Hiking Mileage: 4-12 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 2400 feet
- Trekking Duration: 5-8 hours
After breakfast, we will begin our hike through stunning and colorful rhyolite mountains, obsidian lava fields and geothermal features. We will have a lunch break in the middle of the day before continuing on. There is nothing better than a soak in the hot creek upon return from our day hike. We will have dinner and your guides will tell you the plan for the next day.
DAY 7
- Driving Duration: 4 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 1 mile
- Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal
- Trekking Duration: 1-2 hours
After breakfast, we will break down camp and get back on the Domadalur dirt road. We nickname our first destination Iceland’s Niagara Falls and you will definitely understand why! We will then head to Geysir, the one that gave its name to all the “geysirs” on the planet, where water bursts every 5-10 minutes from the famous Strokkur Geysir. The original, namesake “Geysir” doesn’t erupt regularly anymore.
We’ll continue on toward Thingvellir National Park and the Parliament Plains, a fantastic historical site and also a fascinating geological phenomena. The lakes contain crystal clear water and there are multiple, scenic waterfalls in the area. After enjoying the stunning scenery of Thingvellir, we’ll shuttle back to Reykjavik, check into our hotel rooms (included) and your guide will make dining suggestions, as dinner is on your own this evening.
DAY 8
Today is the final day of the Wildland Trekking Best of Iceland Tour. We will ensure you get on the proper Flybus Shuttle for departure to Keflavik International Airport. If you are remaining in Iceland, please let us know. We can help you arrange extra activities in Iceland. Thanks for choosing Wildland Trekking!
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however occasionally trips are subject to itinerary changes based on a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to: extreme weather, political or bureaucratic obstacles, earthquakes, fires, flooding and more.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- A detailed trip packet that takes the guesswork out of your travel, training, packing, and preparing for the trip
- Access to our Adventure Consultant team 7 days a week
- Transportation for the duration of the tour starting on Day 1 and ending on the day you depart
- Lodging before and after the trekking portion of the trip
- All camping gear (tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, shelters, dining tent…etc.)
- Use of a day pack and trekking poles
- All meals from breakfast on Day 2 through lunch on the last day of the camping/trekking portion of the trip
- Professional, certified Wildland Iceland hiking guides
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Flights to/from Iceland
- Dinners in Reykjavik
- Trip insurance that includes medical coverage and at least $200,000 in evacuation and repatriation coverage (strongly encouraged)
- Bar bills, drink bills, extra snacks, telephone bills , wifi bills and other personal expenses (shopping/ laundry)
- All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. flight cancellation, personal illness, strikes, etc. (we recommend trip insurance coverage for these variables)
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (Oboz hiking shoes and boots recommended)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Gratuity for guide(s) and crew (industry recommendation is 10-20% of total trip cost; please tip your lead guide and they will distribute responsibly to the crew. USD or local currency is acceptable.)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
MEALS: WHAT TO EXPECT
This Iceland hiking tour features a combination of in-town meals and meals prepared by your guide. Most meals are prepared on the trip by your guides.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables. In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We can often accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee, and in some countries may be more difficult to accommodate than others. Please inquire with us for more information about the specific trip you’re interested in.
GEAR WE PROVIDE
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Backpacks
- Trekking poles
- Sleeping bags, sleeping pads & tents
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Satellite phone
WHAT GEAR TO BRING
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter water bottles per person and basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
WHAT CLOTHES TO BRING
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
Trip Logistics
HOW DO I REGISTER?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
WHERE DO WE MEET?
Wildland Trekking will provide a Flybus voucher for you to exchange for a ticket to the hotel when you arrive at the International Airport in Reykjavik, Iceland. After checking in the hotel rooms, you are free to explore the capital city on your own. Reykjavik’s city center is small and very walkable. Your guide will contact you approximately 45 days before your trip begins to answer any questions you have and coordinate a time to conduct the pre-trip orientation meeting.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Your safety is our top priority. This trek is led by professional hiking guides along with additional support staff. All of our guides are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and all tours carry a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
In the interest of your safety, it’s important to refer to the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date recommendations on immunizations before your trip.
GUIDES
Your tour will be led by trained, experienced professionals with solid guiding backgrounds, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
GUIDE WORKING PARAMETERS
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
GROUP SIZE AND AGE RESTRICTIONS
The standard group size on this hiking tour is 12 guests and 2 guides. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
TRIP INSURANCE
For your protection, we strongly recommend the purchase of field evacuation, repatriation, and medical trip insurance. International travel is expensive, and the modest cost of trip insurance is a sound investment in an uncertain world.
If you wish to purchase trip insurance, we recommend IMG/iTravelinsured. They are one of the world’s leading providers of travel insurance.
For information on recommended IMG/iTravelinsured policies please click here.
For even greater information, or if you simply prefer communicating with a real, live person, feel free to contact our exclusive agent Michael Bennett. Michael will help you identify the best product for your needs, and there is no cost associated with his assistance. You may contact him at:
Email: WildLandTrekking@EasyToInsureME.com
US by Phone: 877-305-9083
Direct/International by Phone: 702-448-3664
If you already have insurance or wish to purchase from anyone other than IMG/iTravelinsured, we recommend careful consultation with the provider to ensure appropriate coverage. This is because many providers have a number of policy exclusions.
If you secure an insurance policy please bring a copy of it to provide to your guides at the orientation meeting.
WEATHER IN ICELAND
The weather in Iceland is generally cool, and the country has what is considered a temperate climate. The relatively warm North Atlantic Current makes Iceland’s temperatures more temperate than many places of similar latitude. It can be quite cool, rainy and windy in the summer, so being prepared with the proper rain gear and warmth layers is critical.
The average temperatures and precipitation in Iceland are:
| Average Iceland Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||
| Month | Hi | Low | Wet Days | |||
| June | 54° F | 45° F | 15 days | |||
| July | 60° F | 50° F | 15 days | |||
| August | 57° F | 48° F | 16 days | |||
| September | 52° F | 43° F | 18 days | |||
Accommodations
FOSSHOTEL RAUÐARÁ
2 NIGHTS
In central Reykjavík, this premier hotel is easy walking distance to the main shopping district, many great restaurants, and a wonderful city park.
Camping Accommodations
5 Nights
This tour includes 5 nights of comfortable camping in top-of-the-line tents, with outdoor meals prepared by your guide(s). Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued their own tents.
* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.
Trip Reviews
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Alison E.
We Thoroughly Enjoyed Every Moment!
Well organized, detail oriented, family and kid friendly and delicious meals! Our family was laughing and learning the entire time. We thoroughly enjoyed each and every single moment! Thank you Mike and John for giving us the trip of a lifetime!!!
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