ICELAND
Adventure
From the waterfalls of Fimmvörðuháls, to the lava fields of Thórsmörk, to the unparalleled biodiversity of the Westman Islands, this woman powered Iceland Adventure will take you off the beaten path to the most special and magical parts of the Land of Fire and Ice!
HIGHLIGHTS
Trekking past 26 waterfalls within 25 km on the spectacular Fimmvörðuháls hike
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Overnighting in traditional Icelandic huts in the highlands of Iceland, Thórsmörk (aka The Valley of Thor)
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Ice climbing on a glacier between two active volcanoes: Katla and Eyjafjallajökull
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Meeting the local wildlife in the remote Westman Islands
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Relaxing and taking in other-worldly landscapes in Iceland’s famous geothermal pools and lagoons
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our Iceland Adventure will take you off the beaten path and far beyond the Golden Circle to show you that some of Iceland’s best kept secrets have to be reached by foot (or boat)! From waterfalls, to geothermal pools, to volcanos, to glaciers - we’ll get up close and personal with all of them! This is a great trip for anyone with a big sense of adventure who’s always up to hike for an epic view. While the days are long, and the Icelandic weather will keep us on our toes, you’ll have several chances to relax and recharge in the rooftop hot tub at Base Camp in the evenings. Please read the Daily Breakdown for the full scoop on what to expect on this adventure.
THE CONDITIONS
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
If you don’t like the weather in Iceland, just wait five minutes. This is the theme of our Iceland Adventure! In fact, there’s an Icelandic saying that we live by on this adventure, “Þetta Reddast” which translates to “It will all work out okay.”
In Iceland, more than anywhere else, the weather will ultimately dictate our itinerary. It’s actually part of the true Icelandic experience, and it’s what the locals do every day! If it’s too wet or hot or cold, we might switch things up for your safety and enjoyment. No matter what, you’re going to have the time of your life. After all, unexpected detours are where the best stories are!
Be ready to embrace what Mother Nature throws our way, and put on another layer (or take one off!) and dance and sing if it gets rainy. Always remember the one thing that we can all control is our attitude!
TRAINING
DREAMS DON'T WORK UNLESS YOU DO
Iceland’s landscapes are straight out of a make-believe fantasy, but don’t let that fool you! This is a REAL adventure with seven packed days and all the ups and downs that come along with it (read: the 25 km Fimmvörðuháls hike)! Bottom line, the better trained you are, the more enjoyable your experience will be. Stay active and start breaking in your boots and daypack on training hikes ASAP. As with all WHOA Adventures, prep yourself as much as possible - your future self will thank you!
ITINERARY
DAY 1 - VELKOMIN
Arrive Reykjavík (KEF)* + Blue Lagoon
DAY 2 - WE LAVA TO HIKE
Hike the Fimmvörðuháls Trail + Overnight in Thórsmörk
DAY 3 - MORE THóRSMöRK
Hike + Overnight in Thórsmörk
DAY 4 - WADE TO GO
Hike Laugavegurinn Trail
DAY 5 - ICE, ICE BABY
Ice climb on the Southern Coast
DAY 6 - ICELAND’S BEST KEPT SEA-CREt
Boat to the Westman Islands
DAY 7 - vertu sæll
Depart Reykjavík
*Please plan to arrive by 8AM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
We plan our adventures with most of the logistics taken care of, so you can focus on lacing up your hiking boots and being your best adventure self! Click below for a complete list of everything that’s included on our Iceland Adventure.
CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
ICELAND ADVENTURE
$4,700
$4,700
TALK TO OUR TEAM
WE’D LAVA TO HAVE YOU JOIN US!
Connect with one of our Adventure Aficionados to get answers to all your burning questions!
MAKE IT PRIVATE
Dates not quite right for you? Want to bring along your entire family? We can design an Iceland trip on your timeline, with your rules. Our private trips have all the TLC that come standard on our group adventures, but are specially organized, personalized and maximized for you!
PAYMENT TERMS
Putting down a $500 deposit will reserve your spot on this WHOA Adventure! You’ll be invoiced and must pay in full at least 3 months before your adventure starts. All deposits are non-refundable.
THE ULTIMATE ICELAND
PACKING LIST
From the best hiking boots to our fav daypacks, here’s everything you need to adventure your way around the Land of Fire and Ice!
ICELAND ADVENTURE
DAILY BREAKDOWN
NOTE: Exploring Iceland is always full of surprises! While we have an itinerary broken down day by day here, look at it as one of many possibilities that could await you in the Land of Fire and Ice! What we do and when we do it is ultimately dictated by the unpredictable conditions and natural phenomena that abound here. That’s why we call it adventure! Most of all, expect the unexpected and be ready for a truly unique and awe inspiring experience curated by Mother Nature herself.
DAY 1
Velkomin
BLUE LAGOON to BASE CAMP
Our WHOA crew will greet you at Keflavík Airport (KEF) bright and early, and we'll set out on our adventure by exploring the Reykjanes peninsula (please arrive before 8AM this day). You'll immediately start to see and feel the power of the sea and lava fields that make Iceland so special. Today is all about taking it easy and getting a good intro to Iceland before our epic active week begins. As we make our way along the south coast to Midgard Base Camp, we'll stop and eat an authentic Icelandic breakfast, walk the bridge between the drifting North American and European tectonic plates, and of course stop by the Blue Lagoon to soak in the geothermal waters of this majestic spot. By early evening we'll reach Midgard Base Camp, enjoy dinner together and get briefed on the adventure that lies ahead!
Included: Lunch, Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: Midgard Base Camp
DAY 2
We Lava
to Hike
THÓRSMÖRK via FIMMVÖRÐUHÁLS
Hiking Time: 9+ hours
Approx. Distance: 28 km
After a hearty breakfast, we'll ride to Skógafoss waterfall, the start of our beautiful 3 day hike. Today, our 28 km journey along the Fimmvörðuháls trek will take us along the Skogá river, past over 20 waterfalls, and between two of Iceland's most famous volcanos, Eyjafjallajökull and Myrdalsjökull. When we reach our highest point (1,100 m) we'll cross lava fields and craters created from Eyjafjallajökull's 2010 eruption. As we descend towards our camp in Thórsmörk, we'll be able to enjoy fantastic views of the highlands. In the evening, we'll enjoy dinner together, and maybe a local Iceland lager, if we’re lucky!
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tents or Huts
DAY 3
More Thórsmörk
THÓRSMÖRK
Hiking Time: 4+ hours
Approx Distance: varied
We'll take the whole day to hike and explore more of Thórsmörk, aka the valley of the God Thor. Thórsmörk is surrounded by glaciers on three sides and it's unique beauty and formations comes from eruptions that happened underneath the glaciers. Needless to say, there are handfuls of trails and views to discover!
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tents or Huts
DAY 4
Wade To Go
THÓRSMÖRK
Hiking Time: 6+ hours
Approx. Distance: 20 km
After breakfast, we'll pack our things and take the beautiful Laugavegurinn trail for 20 km from Thórsmörk to Mosar. This hike is relatively easy and has only about a 200 meter elevation gain, but, that said, the weather in central Iceland is notoriously unpredictable, so we'll have to be ready for all kinds of conditions! This route will take us over black sand, in small canyons and wading through rivers to Mosar where our super jeeps will meet us to take us back to Midgard Base Camp. We'll have a delicious dinner at Midgard, and the rest of the evening free to take a rewarding dip in the rooftop hot tub and sauna and maybe, if we're lucky, catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights!
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Midgard Base Camp
DAY 5
Ice, Ice Baby
SÓLHEIMAÖKULL ICE CAP
After breakfast we'll head to an outlet glacier on the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap called Sólheimaökull for a basics course on ice climbing (no need for previous experience)! Once we suit up in our crampons and helmets we'll grab our axes and hit the ropes to test out our climbing skills! After our time on the glacier, we'll head out and explore some more sights on the beautiful south coast.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Midgard Base Camp
DAY 6
Iceland’s Best
Kept SEAcret
WESTMAN ISLANDS
Today we'll wake up early and head along the Southern Coast to catch the ferry to Vestmannaeyjar—the Westman Islands. These unique islands sit about 40 minutes by ferry off of Iceland’s South Coast and have a population around 4,400. We’ll explore the main and only inhabited island of Heimaey, visit some of its magnificent sites, and learn about the marine life that calls Vestmannaeyjar home. We’ll be on our feet exploring all day, and will make it back to base camp in the evening in time for our special celebration dinner!
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Celebration Dinner
Accommodation: Midgard Base Camp
DAY 7
Vertu Sæll
BASE CAMP to KEFLAVÍK
After breakfast, and maybe one last dip in the rooftop hot tub, we'll say farewell to Midgard Base Camp and its Icelandic horses, before starting our journey back towards Keflavík, via the Southern Coast. In the afternoon, we'll say our goodbyes, and drop people off at the airport, or, for those staying longer, in Reykjavik city center. If you’re departing this day, please book flights after 3PM to allow ample time for our ride to the airport.
Included: Breakfast
Itinerary subject to change based on availability and unforeseen conditions, but that's part of the adventure! Even when things change, trust you'll be well taken care of with WHOA quality, professionalism, and TLC!
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It’s of the utmost importance to us that any giving back we do is sustainable and fills a need that is of value to our partners. For that reason, our visits and partnerships can and do vary depending on the season, the organization's needs, and the abilities and desires of our group. Bottom line, in each case, we do our best to seek out local partners that are doing great, sustainable work, and we work closely with them to understand their needs to create an experience that will truly be of value to them and you!
“WHOA is something bigger than the rest. It means a lot that you allow me to be a part of this community. It is meaningful, purposeful, makes a positive impact, inspirational and offers unique travel and experiences. I love you guys. Thanks so much for everything. I needed this trip so much and I am very grateful to you and this group. I look forward to the next adventure!!!”