Hikers on rocky landscape in IcelandIcelandic river with grassIcelandic landscape with brown rocky hillsHikers standing near Icelandic geyserRocky cliffs with waterfallRaging waterfall with grassy cliffsIcelandic geyserHikers standing over landscape

Best of Iceland Lodge Based

Reykjavík, Iceland
4.8 (6 reviews)

Trip Highlights

  • Comprehensive Iceland Itinerary
  • Charming Icelandic Villages
  • Glaciers & Icebergs
  • Geysers & Hot Springs
  • Stunning Waterfalls
  • Lava Fields & Stunning Landscapes
  • Cozy, Inviting Accommodations
  • Diversity of Hikes

Description

The Best of Iceland Lodge-based 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; and do it in style with a high level of comfort! 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 the luxury of hot showers and warm beds in cozy lodges, hotels and inns. 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.

Read more …
From USD
$5980 Per Person
$1115 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

$1115 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Trip Type: Inn-Based Hiking Tour
Difficulty Level:
Solitude Level:
Group Size: 4-12 Guests
Trip Length: 8 Days
Distance: 20+MI / 32+KM

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2

Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult

SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY
This trip features a variety of hikes, some strenuous and some easy to moderate. It is ultimately between Level 2 and 3 in difficulty. Days 3 and 7 – with hikes requiring significant elevation gain/loss (up to 3000 feet) – are closer to Level 3, but the overall average skews slightly toward Level 2.

Hiking Distances:

Up to 10 mi

Backpack Weight:

8-12 lbs

Terrain:

Lightly Rugged

Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:

3000 ft

Heights Exposure:

Light

Please Note: Terrain, Elevation Gain and Heights Exposure ratings reflect the section or day of the trip with the maximum difficulty of each. Much of the trip is at easier levels. See the trip itinerary for more detailed information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP

  • Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
  • Maintaining balance and footing on variable, uneven terrain
  • River and creek crossings
  • Hiking in potentially cold, rainy, windy conditions
* For an official and complete list of physical requirements, please see our Essential Eligibility Criteria.

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.

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 65-60 days before the departure date.

Private Trips

Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!

Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.

Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations. 

Private Rates FOr This Trip

  • 4-5 people: rate x 1.5
  • 6-10 people: rate x 1.15
  • 11-12 people: standard rate

*all rates are per person and single supplements apply

Receive Emails about Wildland Trekking Promotions, Updates, and Discounts:

We’re here to help. If you have any questions, call 800-715-HIKE or contact us online.
PDF Trip Itinerary Packet Book online
Or fill out a Reservation Request
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private Trips
Receive Emails about Wildland Trekking Promotions, Updates, and Discounts:

Itinerary

Itinerary

Day 1

On this Iceland hiking tour, we provide you with a public bus shuttle (flybus) voucher to get from Keflavik International airport near 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. The orientation meeting is time to ask questions, meet other expedition members, 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, your guide will make suggestions for fantastic dinner spots in Reykjavik, as dinner is on your own this evening.

Please 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. If a private airport shuttle is desired, please reach out to our adventure consultant team to quote and arrange this service for you.

Icelandic buildings on far side of water

Day 2

  • Driving Duration: 4 hours
  • Hiking Mileage: 1-2 miles
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal
  • Trekking Duration: 1-2 hours

This morning, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and begin driving to the stunning Icelandic country side along the South Coast. After passing a few villages, we will reach the wonderful Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. We will then head to the Dyrholaey Cliffs and/or the Reynisfjara black sand beach with its stunning basalt columns. We will then drive east to the village of Vik, one of the most charming settlements on the Southern Shore. Further East, we reach the Kirkjubaejarklaustur village after spending time exploring vast, moss-covered lava fields. After a long day of scenic travels, photographing, exploring and hiking, we will check into our hotel, which will become our base for the next three nights.

Hikers on grass cliff overlooking water

Day 3

  • Driving Duration: 2 hours
  • Hiking Mileage: 5-10 miles
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: 1000-3000 feet
  • Trekking Duration: 6-8 hours

After a hearty breakfast, we will head east and soon leave the moss-covered lava fields for landscapes filled with glacial deposits. Today’s hike is dedicated to the Skaftafell area, in Vatnajökull National Park. We will start by the Svartifoss waterfall and move on toward a breathtaking glacial valley (Morsardalur) and/or a summit overlooking an extraordinary glacier (Kristinartindar). Eventually we will return to our hotel for a relaxing dinner after a memorable day and discuss the next day’s potential activities (which will partially depend on the weather forecast).

Icelandic puffins

Day 4

  • Driving Duration: 3 hours
  • Hiking Mileage: 3-5 miles
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal
  • Trekking Duration: 3-5 hours

Today is a day of options – all of them unforgettable. After breakfast we’ll journey to a world of ice! Along the Southern Shore, we will drive East between snow covered peaks, glaciers, and the coastline to Jokulsarlon, an amazing glacial lagoon. Arctic terns, great skuas, geese and Eider ducks are a few birds we are likely to see today.

Enter the hiking options. After exploring Jokulsarlon area, we can hike out toward Mulagljufur Gorges or we can hike and explore the Kviarjokull moraine – a ridge of debris dumped from the receding Kviarjokull Glacier. Depending on weather, we’ll enjoy a longer hike or several shorter ones.

Icelandic glacier and water

Day 5

  • Driving Duration: 4 hours
  • Hiking Mileage: 5-8 miles
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: 600-1000 feet
  • Trekking Duration: 4-6 hours

After breakfast, we will pack up our gear and begin our journey west, to the highlands of the Fjallabak area. Today’s highlight will include Eldgja Chasm and its famous Ofaerufoss waterfall. We will then keep driving north on a rugged jeep track, cross a dozen or so creeks, traverse gorges and finally reach Landmannalaugar, a popular hot spring area surrounded by colorful mountains. Our hike today will lead us through stunning and colorful rhyolite mountains, obsidian lava fields and geothermal features. After the hike, we will enjoy a hot soak in the creek before departing to our hotel, where we will stay for the next 2 nights.

Icelandic landscape

Day 6

  • Driving Duration: 3-4 hours
  • Hiking Mileage: 2-5 miles
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: 200-500 feet
  • Trekking Duration: 2-4 hours

After yesterday’s big day we will enjoy a more laid back morning today. We will start the day with a short hike to the impressive Haifoss waterfall. After the Haifoss we will travel through the Thjorsardalur Valley, toward Gullfoss, for the first site of the famous Golden Circle. We will then continue on to a nearby geyser, where water bursts every 5-10 minutes. After enjoying the geyser, we will return to our hotel for a relaxing dinner.

Erupting Icelandic geyser

Day 7

  • Driving Duration: 3-4 hours
  • Hiking Mileage: 3-5 miles
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: 1200 feet
  • Trekking Duration: 3-4 hours

This morning we head toward Thingvellir National Park and the Parliament Plains. This destination is an important historical site and also a mythical spot, geologically speaking. The lakes contain literally crystal clear water, which makes for spectacular reflections of the sky and clouds. We will continue on to Hvalfjordur and hike to the Glymur waterfall or to another hot spring in the Hengill Mountain area, depending on the group’s preference. After our hike, 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 airport (Flybus) Shuttle for departure to Keflavik International Airport. Thanks for choosing Wildland Trekking!

Please Note: If a private airport shuttle is desired, please reach out to our adventure consultant team to quote and arrange this service for you.

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: lodging/campground availability, extreme weather, political or bureaucratic obstacles, earthquakes, fires, flooding and more. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.

Trip Dates & Booking

TRIP DATES & BOOKING

Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.

Available to Book

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

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

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

Trip Details

What's Included

  • A detailed trip packet that takes the guesswork out of your travel, training, packing, and preparing for the trip
  • Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
  • Airport shuttle on a public bus service with a Flybus voucher regardless of Arrival/Departure flights
  • Transportation for the duration of the tour starting on Day 1 and ending on the day you depart
  • Lodging for the duration of the tour (double accommodations or single supplement)
  • Use of a day pack and trekking poles
  • All meals from Breakfast on Day 2 through lunch on the last day of the trekking portion of the trip
  • Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device

What's Not Included

  • Flights to/from Iceland
  • Dinners in Reykjavik
  • Private airport shuttle(s), available for an additional fee
  • 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, rain gear, and footwear (see recommendations)
  • Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
  • Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
  • Guide gratuities are optional and at the discretion of each customer. A suggested guideline is to reward outstanding service with a tip of 5-10% of the total trip cost. Please tip your lead guide and they will distribute responsibly to the crew. Local currency is preferred, or USD is also appreciated.

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. For the most part we’ll be enjoying in-town meals for dinner and some breakfasts and carefully-selected restaurants and lodges, and lunches are prepared on the trail 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.

It is common in Iceland that restaurants do not allow groups to order from an a la carte menu; a set menu is created, and guests do not have the option of ordering differently from the set menu.

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
  • Company-issued first-aid kit
  • Emergency communication device(s)

Guest Packing List

When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.

Trip Logistics

Trip Logistics

How Do I Register?

Ready to hike? In the Dates section of this trip page, the green 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 ($500).

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 (airport shuttle) voucher for you to exchange for a free ticket to the hotel when you arrive at the Keflavik International Airport near Reykjavik, Iceland. After checking into the hotel rooms, you are free to explore the capital city on your own. Reykjavik’s city center is small and very walking friendly. Our Iceland communications team 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.

Travel to Iceland

BOOKING 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 anytime on the final day of the tour or later.

Flights to and from Keflavik International 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.

Pre and Post-trip On Request Lodging

We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Reykjavík, Iceland as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.

Safety Precautions

Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.

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.

Essential Eligibility Criteria

Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.

Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.

The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.

Guides

Our approach to international travel is to combine the best of two worlds: the dialed-in details, professionalism and consistency Wildland trips are known for; and the cultural immersion and intimate regional knowledge that only locals can provide. To excel with this approach, we vet and hire the best local guides, welcome them into the Wildland family and train them to meet our standard of excellence with every aspect of a trip. But along with managing logistics and safety, your guides will teach you about the area’s history and culture, and provide a level of familiarity and intimate detail only locals can.

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.

Age Restrictions

Age restrictions on this trip 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: [email protected]
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.

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

Accommodations

FOSSHOTEL RAUÐARÁ

FOSSHÓTEL RAUÐARÁ

FOSSHOTEL RAUÐARÁ
0-4 NIGHTS

In central Reykjavík, this premier hotel is easy walking distance to the main shopping district, many great restaurants, and a wonderful city park.

HÓTEL KLAUSTUR

0-3 NIGHTS

Hótel Klaustur is a modern, stylish, and charming hotel found in the South-Eastern part of Iceland. It is situated near the Eldhraun lava fields and has no shortage of nature access for visitors. The hotel is conveniently located within the Kata UNESCO Global Geopark. Offering a restaurant with modern Icelandic cuisine and eco-friendly operation, Hótel Klaustur will be a welcomed stay for all visitors.

HÓTEL GEYSIR

1 NIGHT

This family run hotel is on the doorstep of a geothermal area in the beautiful and historic Haukadalur valley. Made up of seventy-seven rooms and six suites, Hótel Geysir’s aesthetics blend with the surrounding atmosphere. The hotel’s large windows and magnificent views will be a wonderful way to celebrate the beauty of Iceland.

HÓTEL HÁLÖND

1 Night

Hótel Hálönd boast fantastic views over Akureyri and comfortable double and twin rooms. With a modern flair, each room offers a contemporary Icelandic take on comfort and hospitality. In the winters Hlíðarfjall becomes a skiers paradise and in the summer, an oasis for cyclists.

FOSSHÓTEL REYKJAVIK SAGA

0-4 NIGHTS

Hotel Reykjavik Saga is located just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from the photogenic lake Tjörnin, the Reykjavik art museum, cathedral, and many restaurants and shops. This hotel’s design and accommodations takes into account the surrounding buildings in a modern, Icelandic style. Touting deluxe accommodations and a kitchen and bar, Hotel Reykjavik Saga has something for everyone.

* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.

Trip Reviews

Trip Reviews

  • Average Customer Ratings:

  • 4.8 (6 reviews)
Hope H
5.0

Excellent

8 months ago

Michael and Ursula, the guides, were very responsi ve to any questions beforehand, and attentive to our needs on the trip. The schedule allowed for flexibility to make adjustments if necessary for the weather on any given day. Hotels and meals were excellent. Iceland is an amazing country and our guides introduced us to the foods and culture of Iceland, as well as the landscape. I will definitely travel with Wildland again in the future!

Mary Z
5.0

Sensational Experience

9 months ago

Wildlandtrekking has a top notch team in Iceland. They go far beyond what is expected. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and skills made for a sensational experience.

Callie W
5.0

Thrilled!

2 years ago

This was our first Wildland Trekking trip after doing over 8 REI Adventures trips and could not be happier! I would give this trip a 10/10, the food was great, accommodations excellent, guides were knowledgable and passionate, and our group was fun! I loved the longer hiking days. So thrilled we are already planning next years adventure!

See All Guest Reviews!

Go to our reviews page

Related Trips

Receive a PDF info packet via email which includes:
 
 
 
Receive Emails about Wildland Trekking Promotions, Updates, and Discounts:
 
Privacy Policy: Click Here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*