Discover spectacular hiking trails and scenic coastline in Iceland, a land where the primeval forces of volcanoes and glaciers rule.

Iceland is a land of contrasts more extreme than any place we’ve visited. Vast, desolate lava fields are interrupted by lush moss-carpeted valleys. Giant cascading waterfalls give way to vibrantly colored rhyolite mountains. From the other-wordly landscapes of the south coast, to the mystical power of Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the west, our overland expedition takes in the most beautiful and inspiring areas of Iceland.

Hiking on the south coast leads us through fairytale landscapes and past dramatic waterfalls, under the powerful presence of Europe’s largest glaciers, while an amphibious boat trip brings us up close to icebergs. A visit to the site of the ancient Viking parliament, a glacier exploration, and an optional ride on the famed Icelandic horse round out our adventure. In between, we spend a day crossing the interior highlands of Landmannalaugar, soaking in hot streams and hiking colorful mountains – an experience not to be missed. Testaments to the constantly evolving earth are everywhere – lava fields, hot rivers, craters, and glaciers dominate our views daily. In the evenings, we return to comfortable accommodations and enjoy relaxing in “hot pots” (Icelandic hot tubs) or taking nighttime strolls under the midnight sun.

Days 1-4: Meet in Reykjavik, Iceland. Hike past steaming fissures and tremendous waterfalls. Soak in a natural hot river and visit picturesque Vik. Hike above endless lava fields. View Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, from one of our favorite trails. Explore an iceberg-filled lagoon by boat.

Day 5:  Embark on an overland expedition through the fjallabak, or "route behind the mountains," taking time to soak in the views of Landmannalauger from the comfort of a hot river.

Days 6-7: Explore Thingvellir, both the historic setting of the world's first parliament and the best place to view the rift between the Eurasian and North American plates. Ride Icelandic horses on the beach at low tide, or hike to a beautifully shaped crater. Enjoy the inspiring presence of the mystical Snaefellsjokull during our explorations of the peninsula.

Day 8: Relax in the famed Blue Lagoon, a unique area of geothermally heated waters and mineral sands that offers a fitting end to our journey through the land of fire and ice.

• A passion for travel. Simply put, we love to travel, and that is woven into every one of our journeys.
• Unique, award-winning itineraries. Our flexible, hand-crafted journeys have received accolades from the world’s most revered travel publications.
• Insider connections. There is simply no substitute for traveling with a knowledgeable insider.
• Small groups. We tread softly, and our average group size is just 6-8 guests.
• Flexibility to suit your travel style. We offer both small-group departures and Private Collection trips, so that you can choose which works best for you.
• Customer service that goes the extra mile. There is no request that is too big – or too small – for our staff to handle.
• Sustainability. We are committed to traveling responsibly – striving to preserve traditions and cultures around the world, and to protect fragile natural habitats.

Most Convenient Airport:
Keflavik International Airport, Keflavik, Iceland (airport code KEF)

Meeting Time and Place:
Your guide(s) will meet you on the first day of your trip at 9 a.m. in the lobby of Hotel Borg in downtown Reykjavik.

Departure Time and Place:
Your guide(s) will provide drop-offs at your choice of downtown Reykjavik locations by noon or the Keflavik International Airport by 2:00 p.m. on the last day of the trip.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Physical Activity
Boundless Journeys’ trips are designed for energetic and flexible individuals who like to be active and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. The Land of Fire and Ice is rated 2+, easy to moderate, on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most strenuous).  The hikes on this trip are 2-5 hours long, on occasionally rough hiking trails with minimal vehicle support. On a few days there are elevation gains and losses of about 1,000 feet. Because of the nature of the trails, we sometimes hike out and back on the same trail. There will likely be four days on this trip with options for more or less hiking.

Preparing for this Trip
It is very important that you realistically assess your physical condition with regard to the demands of this trip. The more well prepared you are for the activities on this trip, the more you will enjoy yourself! Please engage in moderate aerobic activities (hiking, jogging, or cycling) for at least 30-45 minutes several times a week for 4-6 weeks before the trip. If you live in a flat area, try to incorporate some stairs into your workout, or use a treadmill with varying incline capability. Consult your doctor before undertaking any new fitness programs.  

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
There is an amphibious boat excursion on Day 4, beginning with a short drive along the shore before driving directly into the water of the Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. The boat holds about 25 people, and there is plenty of room to move around and enjoy the views. The trip last 1/2-2 hours, on a smooth glacial lagoon, offering a unique opportunity to learn about glaciers and experience Iceland’s unusual beauty.

The Icelandic Horse
Riding is a favorite pastime of many Icelanders, and the Icelandic horse is an ideal breed for novice and experienced riders alike. The optional horseback ride takes place at a small horse farm on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The terrain is fairly flat, and the hour-long ride will either be across grassy fields toward the mountains, or if the tide is low, we may ride on the beach. There are horses suitable for all levels, and your riding guide will ask you about your previous experience before choosing your horse. Helmets are provided but you may wish to bring an old pair of shoes or boots with a low, square heel as your hiking boots may get wet if we ride through water. The cost for riding is $50 per person, and should be reserved at least 45 days ahead of your trip. Please call 1-800-941-8010 or e-mail info@boundlessjourneys.com to request this optional activity.

While we will make time for one optional horseback riding opportunity during the trip, additional rides can usually be arranged for evenings or if you choose to skip a hike. Simply discuss the possibilities with your guide(s) early in the trip so they can make arrangements. For those who are not interested in riding, a hike will be offered.

The Glacier Walk
A half-day glacier walk is included, weather permitting. All necessary equipment is provided, including crampons and ice axes. Boots are available for rental although your hiking boots should suffice. The Icelandic mountain guides we will hike with are experienced mountaineers with a great deal of knowledge about glaciers and safety procedures. After being fitted with gear and brief safety instructions, we head onto the ice itself for a unique perspective on the importance and beauty of glaciers. If the weather makes this adventure unsafe, a traditional hike will be offered instead.

Driving Distances
Although Iceland is a relatively small country, the distances from one place to another are sometimes long, due to actual miles covered or, in some cases, the conditions of the road. We have tried to strike a balance between the importance of experiencing certain unique places – Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, the interior highlands of Landmannalaugar, and the bucolic Snaefellsnes Peninsula – and the importance of taking time out of the vehicle to hike, explore, and immerse ourselves in the country’s diverse landscapes. On a few days, there may be total driving times of up to five hours; but rest assured that they are well broken up with opportunities to explore, and that both the drives, and the destinations, are well worth the effort.

When to Go
Summer in Iceland is short, and the best weather is generally from June through September. Early summer brings vibrant greens, 24-hour daylight, and the greatest concentrations of migratory birds. Midsummer brings wildflowers, and later in the summer the low-growing plants covering the hillsides begin to change colors in a display that rivals New England foliage. While it is often bright and sunny, cool, wet weather is possible any time of year.

Overview:  Comfortable, modern small hotels, all with private baths. Accommodations in Iceland’s countryside are scarce, and ours are chosen for charm and location, rather than extensive amenities.

Nights 1 & 2:  Hotel Skógar
Hvolsvöllur, Iceland

A small, charming hotel near the base of one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls, with a great outdoor hot tub and sauna.

Nights 3 & 4:  Hotel Laki
Kirkjubaejarklaustur, Iceland

Nestled between the mountains and the sea at the base of the Kaldbakur range, Hotel Laki offers both modern-style hotel rooms and traditional cottages.

Night 5:  Hotel Fludir
Fludir, Iceland

A comfortable 32-room hotel with spectacular views across the south coast plain and a restaurant serving locally-produced fare, in an ideal location for exploring Thingvellir National Park.

Nights 6 & 7:  Hotel Framnes
Grundarfjordur, Iceland

Well-located on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Hotel Framnes is tucked in a traditional fishing village and offers simple but tasteful decor.

DAY 1 
Hengill Volcano

Hike – moderate, 4-5 hours on hiking trails and rocky terrain.  There will be stream crossings.

Upon meeting our guide in Reykjavík we head for Hengill Volcano. This active volcanic ridge is filled with the hot springs, striking colors, and bizarre lava formations that define the “land of fire and ice.” We begin our first hike in a geothermal field, where sulfurous vapors rise from the ground. We eventually come to a viewpoint overlooking a lush green valley and the amazing sight of a steaming hot river. From here, we hike downhill and enjoy a picnic lunch and perhaps a dip in the naturally warm water. After lunch, we continue down the trail past bubbling steam vents, taking in views across the southern plains to the northern Atlantic.

On the way to our hotel, we stop at Seljalandsfoss, where we can hike behind the falls. This afternoon we arrive in the Skogar area, and our country hotel for the next two evenings awaits.

Hotel Skógar, Hvolsvöllur

DAY 2 
Skógafoss Waterfall and Glacier Exploration

Optional morning hike – moderate, up to 2 hours on hiking trails, with approximate elevation gain and loss of 1,500’; afternoon glacier walk – easy to moderate, 3-4 hours.

This morning you may choose to enjoy a leisurely exploration of the grounds surrounding our hotel, including the impressive Skógafoss, a 200-foot-high cascade that often produces rainbows in its mist. For those in the mood for a more substantial hike, we climb the short, steep ascent next to the falls, and continue hiking along Skogá River. We pass many beautiful waterfalls and, on a clear day, we can see glaciers in the distance, including Eyjafjallajökull and Myrdalsjökull. This is true Icelandic wilderness on the heath, with fantastic views towards the coast.

When we finish hiking we’ll enjoy lunch back at the inn, after which you may choose to visit the local country museum, boasting an impressive collection of historic farming and fishing tools, as well as folk crafts spanning hundreds of years. The museum’s curator is a national treasure himself, often personally offering a grand tour of his collection. This is also one of the few places in the country to explore authentic sod houses, which were the primary form of shelter for many Icelanders until the 20th century.

We’ll then drive a short distance to the Eyjafjallajökull massif. From the eastern face, the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue extends down from its parent glacier, Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland’s fourth largest. Here we meet our Icelandic mountain guide, who equips us with the proper tools (crampons and ice axes), for an adventure onto an active glacier. After instruction on the proper and safe use of our equipment, we traverse the glacier onto an ice field where a wonderland of ice sculptures, ridges, and deep crevasses awaits our discovery.

This evening finds us back at our country hotel, perhaps enjoying the late evening sun from the outdoor hot pots.

Hotel Skógar, Hvolsvöllur

DAY 3 
Fjadrárgljúfur and Systravatn

Hikes – easy to moderate, total of 3-4 hours on hiking trails.

Our drive this morning takes us through the south sand desert past ice caps and active volcanoes. Along the way, we hike along Fjadrárgljúfur canyon, a beautifully eroded canyon overlooking Eldhraun. This seemingly endless lava field was formed in 1783 during the most devastating volcanic eruption in the history of Iceland. Upon arriving to Kirkjubaejarklaustur, we hike to Sisters’ Bluff (named for two nuns – one good and one evil). We ascend a trail past a waterfall and through a small birch grove, before arriving at the top of the bluff. From here, expansive views of rolling prairie extend to the horizon beyond the shores of Systravatn (Sisters’ Lake).  

After our hike we travel to our hotel, immersed in the spectacular scenery we have been enjoying throughout our journey.

Hotel Laki, Kirkjubaejarklaustur

DAY 4 
Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárlón Boat Trip

Hike – easy to moderate, about 2 hours on hiking trails. 

After breakfast we drive across Skeiðarársandur, a vast river delta formed by runoff from nearby glaciers. Catastrophic flooding occurs here regularly, as geothermal activity melts the glaciers and causes a tremendous amount of water to flood the delta. Across the delta is Skaftafell National Park, home to Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull, whose presence lords over the surrounding landscape. Our hike begins from the park’s visitor center, and steadily climbs up through birch forest to a plateau. Here the landscape turns to tundra, and the views are magnificent in all directions.

Depending on the pace of our group, we may continue to a point overlooking Skaftafellsjökull, a massive tongue of Vantnajökull glacier. Gaping crevasses attest to the constant movement of these seemingly still glaciers. We can also choose to follow a gentle descent through the tundra to Svartifoss, a beautiful cascade framed by basalt columns.

From Skaftafell we continue to Jökulsárlón, stopping along the way for a picnic lunch at the base of a glacier. At Jökulsárlón, we board a small amphibious boat to venture into the ice-filled lagoon, where we are dwarfed by dozens of floating icebergs. 

Hotel Laki, Kirkjubaejarklaustur

DAY 5 
Highland Expedition and Landmannalaugar

Hiking – easy to moderate, total of about 3 hours.

Today we have the special experience of venturing into the Icelandic highlands for a day of hiking and soaking in a hot river, whose soothing waters are heated by gases and magma from deep beneath the earth’s crust. The highland roads are unpaved, and we join other adventurers to ford rivers in a specialized bus, taking the Fjallabak (literally, “route behind the mountains”) to Landmannalaugar, an area of multicolored rhyolite mountains and hot springs. Along the way, there may be time to hike into the volcanic rift of Eldjá, through a landscape of moss-covered boulders. At Landmannalaugar, there are additional hiking opportunities, as well as the option to soak in a natural hot river before a picnic lunch.

This afternoon, we continue toward Thingvellir National Park and our well-located hotel.

Hotel Fludir, Fludir

DAY 6 
Thingvellir National Park and transfer to Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Morning hike – easy to moderate, 2 hours over mostly flat but occasionally rocky hiking trails. Optional afternoon hike – easy to moderate, 2-3 hours or optional horseback riding (at additional expense).

This morning we explore Thingvellir, a national park of great historic significance to the Icelandic people. The park is home to Iceland’s first parliament, established in 930 A.D. Each summer, representatives from communities around the country would meet here to establish laws and resolve disputes. The journey could take weeks over the rugged terrain. We spend the morning traversing the parliament plains, and also explore a natural phenomenon that makes Thingvellir an important geological site – here we are standing on the rift between the Eurasian and North American plates – which are constantly, over the millennia, drifting apart.

After lunch, we depart for the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Along the way, we have the option to ride Icelandic horses at a local farm on the coast (please note horseback riding is not included in the price). These friendly horses have been selectively bred for centuries to produce an animal that is even-tempered, strong, and has great endurance. They also have a very smooth gait – the tölt – that makes riding a wonderfully comfortable experience even for novice riders. Those who prefer to hike can take a trail to nearby Eldborg, and look into an immense crater created in an eruption more than 5,000 years ago.

Later this afternoon, we check into our hotel, located in a traditional fishing village along the coast.

Hotel Framnes, Grundarfjordur

DAY 7 
Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Morning hike – easy to moderate, about 2 hours; Afternoon hike – easy to moderate, 2-4 hours.

This morning we depart our hotel for a hike on the south coast of the peninsula, from one small fishing hamlet to another – Arnarstapi to Hellnar. The coastal and glacier views are beautiful, and wildflowers dot the landscape. In early summer abundant bird colonies also populate the coast. There are, of course, numerous kittiwakes and puffins, but this is also one of the few areas of Iceland to find the White-tailed Eagle, a rare bird (once nearly extinct) with an impressive wingspan of up to eight feet. We have time to enjoy lunch on our own in one of the small fishing villages, before heading for Djúpalónsandur, a black cobblestone beach strewn with the remnants of a trawler that was shipwrecked there in 1948. A short walk here reveals poignant reminders of the challenge of a life so closely tied to a sometimes violent sea.

Later this afternoon, we embark on a final hike through Snaefellsness National Park, marveling at the beauty of its legendary glacier.

Tonight we enjoy a final celebratory dinner and toast our adventure in the Land of Fire and Ice.

Hotel Framnes, Grundarfjordur

DAY 8 
The Blue Lagoon

This morning after breakfast we depart Snaefellsnes Peninsula for the famous Blue Lagoon, a unique area of geothermally heated waters and mineral sands that offers a fitting end to our journey through the land of fire and ice. After time to enjoy the relaxing benefits of the lagoon’s warm waters and lunch on your own at the lagoon’s restaurant, our guide brings us to the airport for flights home.

Please note that this is a typical itinerary, and actual activities may vary to take advantage of weather conditions, local events, and to allow serendipity to play a hand in your experience.  Accommodations are as outlined in the itinerary, although we reserve the right to change these should the need arise.

$4,895 per person

• Expert leadership
• All accommodations
• All meals except two lunches
• All transportation during the tour, including amphibious boat
• Park fees
• All activities as noted in the itinerary (optional horseback riding at additional expense)