Hike with us where few do. We designed this special hiking adventure closely with our friend and Icelandic guide, Björg, to bring you the best of the best of the Highlands and some of her favorite trails! It’s an adventure like no other. Join us as we trek through rainbow-hued highlands and spot wild puffins on the Westman Islands, soak in geothermal ocean baths, and live among the lava fields in our own backcountry hut. This expedition is packed with raw adventure, local moments, and cozy mountain nights. And while there are sure to be some detours, because Iceland, the non-stop laughs with your dream team of adventurous new friends will make plans B, C, and D that much more memorable.

Our Iceland Adventure takes you off the beaten path and far beyond the tourist track of the Golden Circle, to show you that some of Iceland’s best kept secrets have to be reached by foot (or boat). From volcanoes to geothermal pools to glaciers to one-of-a-kind rock formations, we’ll get up close with all of them. This is the trip for anyone with a big sense of adventure who’s always up for a hike with an epic payoff, including those who’ve already been to Iceland and are ready to see the side most visitors never do. While the days can be long and the Icelandic weather will keep us on our toes, you’ll have plenty of chances to relax and recharge in rooftop hot tubs and natural hot springs. Please read the full itinerary for everything to expect on this adventure.

We rated our Iceland trip a 3.5 out of 5 on the WHOA Adventure difficulty scale because of 6 back-to-back days of hiking, including one day with 2,700 feet of elevation gain, on top of Iceland’s unpredictable conditions.

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.

Part of this trip takes us into Iceland’s backcountry, and that’s where the magic really lives. Out here, there are no towns around the corner, no shops, and often no cell service. In some places the roads disappear altogether, which is where our super jeeps come in. These lifted 4x4s with oversized tires are built to roll across rivers, gravel, and open terrain where regular cars simply can’t go, and the ride itself is half the fun. Mountain huts in the highlands are simple and rustic, think cozy bunks and basic facilities rather than hotel comforts. The good news? Ours is private, so it’s just our group, our stories, and a warm place to land at the end of the day. Help is also farther away than you might be used to, and that’s exactly what makes it so special: wide-open landscapes, quiet you can feel, and the sense that you’ve stepped somewhere few people get to see. It also means the weather matters even more, so our guides will be making calls based on conditions, and flexibility is part of the deal. Come prepared with good layers and waterproof gear, a little self-sufficiency, and an open mind.

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, put on another layer (or take one off!), and dance and sing if it gets rainy. Always remember, the one thing we can all control is our attitude!

Iceland’s landscapes are straight out of a make-believe fantasy, but don’t let that fool you! This is a REAL adventure with six packed days and all the ups and downs that come along with it! 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! If you’re looking for more tips check out our expert 6-step training guide.

Here at WHOA, we’re proud to work with local, family-owned partners who share our passion for community, connection, and adventure. In Iceland, that’s Björg, our Lead Guide and the head of our partner company and Midgard Base Camp, our cozy home base that embodies Icelandic hospitality.

Björg knows these trails the way only a local can. She’ll lead you along volcanic ridges, through hidden river canyons, and to secret hot springs most visitors never find. What makes her truly special is how she embraces Iceland itself. When the weather shifts, she reads it. When plans change, she finds something even better around the next bend. She lives Þetta reddast, and by the end of the trip, you will too.

In a country where conditions change by the hour and the best spots aren’t on any map, traveling with Björg means experiencing Iceland the way locals do: with curiosity, flexibility, and deep respect for the land. She shares her culture, her stories, and her favorite corners of the island, and she has a way of helping women discover strength they didn’t know they had. There’s no better way to discover Iceland than on foot, with Björg leading the way.

NOTE: All times and distances are approximate. 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.

Our adventure kicks off bright and early from the Keflavík Airport, where we’ll meet Björg and hit the road. After fueling up with fresh local pastries in Mosfellsbær, we’ll warm up our legs with a classic hike up Mt. Esja, a local favorite, with sweeping coastal views of Iceland’s varied landscapes. Afterwards we’ll head to Hvammsvík to soak in the geothermal ocean baths right on the fjord’s edge. Warm and refreshed, we’ll wind through the historic rift valleys of Þingvellir National Park en route to our home base at Midgard Base Camp. Tonight, we’ll gather around the table for a delicious welcome dinner to break the ice and toast to the wild trails ahead!

Drive Time: 4+ hrs
Hike Distance: 4 mi
Hike Time: 2.5+ hrs
Elevation: ↗1,900 ft ↘1,900 ft
Stay: Midgard Base Camp (Shared Rooms)
Included Meals: Welcome Dinner
Arrival Logistics: Arrive at Keflavík Airport (KEF) near Reykjavík by 8AM

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll load up and hit the trail into Þórsmörk (THOR-smerk) Nature Reserve, aka The Valley of Thor, a dramatic, lush green mountain reserve tucked between towering glaciers. We’ll spend the day trekking through hidden moss gorges, crossing glacial rivers, and soaking in otherworldly landscapes. We’ll enjoy an epic hot dog barbecue right out in the wild terrain for lunch, and after taking in the gorgeous trails of Thor’s Valley, we’ll head back to Midgard for a cozy dinner and maybe pop over to Björg’s place for homemade dessert, a few drinks, music, and stories.

Drive Time: 2.5+ hrs
Hike Distance: 7 mi
Hike Time: 5+ hrs
Elevation: ↗1,900 ft ↘1,900 ft
Stay: Midgard Base Camp (Shared Rooms)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Today we’ll head into the heart of the Icelandic Highlands to Fjallabak (FYAH-tla-bahk), away from the busier trails, where we’ll spend the next three days hiking. Fjallabak is a vast nature reserve tucked behind the coastal ranges where the rugged mountains run green, blue, pink, red, and yellow from the rhyolite and obsidian in the rock, and the terrain shifts between black lava fields, glacial rivers, still lakes, and stretches of ash and sand softened by moss.

We’ll first hike up to the Augað (oy-gah), or “the eye.” It’s a clear pool of iron-rich water, rising straight up out of the ground, and it’s the source of a red, rust-colored stream. You rarely get to see a river at the exact moment it starts, let alone watch it turn red right in front of you. In the afternoon, we’ll hike up to the peaks of Mt. Löðmundur (LOTH-mun-dur) to witness obsidian fields and 360-degree views across the Fjallabak wilderness.

At night, we’ll gather in our own private mountain hut, reserved just for our group in the backcountry, and prepare a family-style dinner, and if clear skies allow, stargazing under the soft glow of the midnight sun.

Drive Time: 2+ hrs
Augað Hike: 6 mi | 3.5+ hrs | ↗1,000 ft ↘1,000 ft
Mt. Löðmundur Hike: 5 mi | 3.5+ hrs | ↗1,300 ft ↘1,300 ft
Stay: Landmannahellir Mountain Hut
Included Meals: Breakfast, Trail Lunchbox, Dinner 

Today we’ll pack our lunches at breakfast and set out for the toughest but most rewarding trek of the trip: Grænihryggur (GRY-nee-HRIG-ur), the Green Ridge. The ridge is rhyolite rock turned a rare cyan-green by iron-rich minerals in the lava, a stunning color you won’t find anywhere else in Iceland. The ridge sits tucked deep in a river canyon, so most hikers never even know it’s there (lucky for us we have Björg to show us the way)! Expect steep climbs, a river crossing, and a full day on your feet, but the payoff is a view that’s one of a kind. Afterwards, we’ll sink into natural hot springs to soothe those tired legs. If the weather plays nice, we’ll fire up the grill for burgers right next to the steaming water before heading back to our mountain hut.

Hike Distance: 10.5 mi
Hike Time: 8+ hrs
Elevation: ↗2,700 ft ↘2,700 ft
Stay: Landmannahellir Mountain Hut
Included Meals: Breakfast, Pack-Your-Own Trail Lunch, Hot Spring BBQ Dinner

We’ll take the long, scenic route back toward basecamp today! We’ll spend our morning trekking either through the rugged slopes near the famous Hekla volcano or exploring hidden corners of the Fjallabak reserve. After immersing ourselves in raw volcanic beauty, we’ll head to Midgard to clean up, relax, and share a meal together and maybe take a dip in the rooftop hot tub and sauna.

Drive Time: 2+ hrs
Hike Distance: 4+ mi
Hike Time: 2.5+ hrs
Elevation: ↗1,900 ft ↘1,900 ft
Stay: Midgard Base Camp (Shared Rooms)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Pack-Your-Own Trail Lunch, Dinner

Today, we trade the mountains for the sea! We’ll catch the ferry off the south coast of Iceland and sail across the North Atlantic to Vestmannaeyjar (VEST-mahn-na-AY-yar), the volcanic Westman Islands, home to dramatic coastal cliffs, a vibrant local history, and massive colonies of Atlantic puffins in prime viewing season when we’re there. We’ll spend the day exploring the island’s volcanic landscapes and bird cliffs, with time for lunch in the charming harbor town. Tonight, we’ll regroup at Midgard for our celebration dinner, toasting to the week that turned a group of strangers into your people.

Drive Time: 1 hr (round trip)
Ferry Time: 1.5 hrs (round trip)
Hike Distance: 1 mi
Hike Time: 2+ hrs
Elevation: ↗500 ft ↘500 ft
Stay: Midgard Base Camp (Shared Rooms)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On our final morning, we’ll say a fond farewell to Midgard and journey across the Reykjanes peninsula. We’ll drive near Grindavík to witness the raw, powerful forces of Iceland’s newest volcanic eruptions firsthand. And to wrap up our journey, we’ll soak in the milky-blue waters of the Blue Lagoon, the ultimate R&R before heading home.

Drive Time: 2.5 hrs
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Departure Logistics: 3PM at Keflavík Airport (KEF) & 4PM in Downtown Reykjavík