When planning a hike in Iceland, choosing a route that matches your interests is key. Below, you'll find tips to help you plan your journey, including recommendations for panoramic hikes around Ísafjörður and volcanic trails. Depending on how long you have, you might find one of our suggested itineraries fits your schedule perfectly, such as this day hike on the Fimmvörðuháls trail or a 10-day adventure in remote areas.
Isafjordur is home to some of the best hiking areas in all of Iceland. Whether you're looking for short hikes with jaw-dropping views, day trips to remote areas, or multiday backpacking treks where you can camp out away from it all, the heart of the Westfjords has it all. Here are a few hikes that will really make your time in the Westfjords memorable.
Get off the beaten track and discover Iceland’s otherworldly volcanic landscape on a multi-day hike in the country’s less traveled Highlands region. Choose one of these 3 trekking itineraries and experience everything the storied Volcanic Trails have to offer: lava fields, mountains, and so much more.
If you’re looking for a great one-day hike that combines the best of Iceland into a single trek, this is it. The Fimmvörðuháls trail takes you through some of the most dramatic scenery Iceland has to offer, from a series of canyon waterfalls to a volcanic moonscape. Keep in mind, this day-hike is as long as it is rewarding.
Hike Iceland's best-known trail from the geothermal valley of Landmannalaugar, through the Þórsmörk valley, and along the base of the famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano. On the 35-mile-long Laugavegur trail, you'll see colorful rhyolite mountains, cross black sand deserts, venture into canyons, and hike between birch tree groves. After each long day of exploring, stay the night in cozy, rustic mountain huts.
East Iceland is home to some of the best hiking in the country, including a vast trail system that traverses black sand deserts, ruins of ancient homesteads, and dramatic vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. One of the most dynamic and accessible treks in the area is this three-day trek from Borgarfjörður to Seyðisfjörður.
If you only have a week in Iceland, consider this compact and well-timed tour. Bookended by two days in Reykjavik — one to get ready and one to relax and recover — the tour takes the best advantage of a limited schedule, while also showing you plenty of unforgettable natural wonders, including glaciers, mountains, valleys and an iconic waterfall.
The Icelandic Highlands are home to some of the most spectacular scenery and breathtaking landscapes on the planet. Trek the famous Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails, camp in the Valley of Thor, and walk through volcanic valleys and canyons on this epic week-long adventure.
From striking glacial formations to richly green valleys, Thorsmork offers some of the best views in all of Iceland. On this convenient day trip, you'll get the chance to hike in some of the region's most-visited — and most beautiful — nature reserves.
Don't have a lot of time to roam around Iceland? This compact yet comprehensive itinerary is a great introduction to the wild and wonderful wilderness. Experience the remote grandeur of Þórsmörk, see old and new lava formations (some still steaming!) on and around Eyjafjallajökull crater, and witness the thundering majesty of Skógafoss waterfall — all in just 3 days.
This active 10-day itinerary highlights two major hiking areas in Iceland: the southern highlands and the Westfjords. Start off with a bus trip to Thorsmork for a plethora of trails overlooking moss-covered mountains, waterfalls, volcanoes, and glaciers. Next, you'll fly to Isafjordur—a great base for activities in Hornstrandir, accessible only by boat and trail, where you'll take a 3-day trek with a local guide. Return to Reykjavik for a night on the town and a chance to soak your muscles in the Blue Lagoon.
This trek will take you along the south side of the imposing Torfajökull Volcano with its distinctive red, pink, orange, and blue-green stone, past the deep blue Álftavötn Lakes, and into the black desert of Mælifellssandur. Enjoy some of Iceland's most unique, interesting landscapes as you cross the wilderness on foot.
From brightly colored rhyolite mountains in shades of red, pink, green, and gold to vast 500-year-old lava fields, this three-day trek will take you through the unique, exquisite landscape of Landmannalaugar. Experience unexpected views full of steaming hot springs, boiling mud pools, and raven-black fields of lava.
Embark on the famed Laugavegur Trail on this seven-day Icelandic trek. Journey through active, geothermal lava fields, the Rhyolite Mountains, and snow-covered passes. Cross through a black-sand desert and land in a native forest. Learn about wild and rare plants and animals, and soak in the hot springs along the way. This scenic-yet-basic camping trek allows you to maximize your time in this unique destination. You can choose to travel with just a day pack (luggage storage can be arranged), and you can opt for a guided or self-guided tour, depending on preference.
Explore Thorsmork, the valley of the mighty Thor. Cross rugged terrain in a Super Jeep and hike in the remote wilderness of southern Iceland on this 2-day itinerary. Discover ice-capped volcanoes, deep canyons, and stunning black sand beaches — all while breathing in the fresh mountain air on this adventure tour.
If you're looking for a classic Icelandic adventure but are short on time, the Fimmvörðuháls trail in southwestern Iceland does not disappoint. The moderate-to-challenging trek will take you through three distinct landscapes in just one day, making it one of the best options for a single-day excursion. You'll hike past more than 20 waterfalls, before coming to a moonscape-like expanse. You'll then trek between active volcanoes and glaciers, and see some of the most recent geological activity on earth up close.
Follow the Þórsmörk, Fimmvörðuháls, and Þríhyrningur hiking and biking routes through stunning valleys, along exposed ridges, and across gravelly rivers. Trek next to the powerful Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which caused international air traffic mayhem when it erupted in 2010. Visit the isolated Troll Church, a speck of white architecture in a landscape of fire and ice. These day hikes are designed to take you through incredible scenery and give you a varied experience of Iceland's dramatic landscape.
Perfect for the more active adventurer, this high-octane itinerary takes you through beautiful southern Iceland. Explore some of Iceland's most stunning sites on a partially self-guided hiking and biking tour from the Thórsmörk Valley to the black sands of Reynisfjara to the must-see Skógafoss waterfall. Discover impressive coastlines, thunderous waterfalls, towering ice-caps, and glistening glaciers.
Hike through Iceland's unique, world-renowned backcountry from Vatnajökull National Park to the Eldgjá Canyon of Fire. Waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, deep blue lakes, craters, and lava formations abound on the route, so don't forget your camera — or your sense of wonder.
Go off the beaten path on this moderately easy hike around Þríhyrningur and its incredible, historic landscape. Camp out overnight at the foot of the mountain and share your favorite stories from the day as you sit around the campfire. Explore the stunning Þórsmörk valley, see remote farmsteads, and discover the Vikings' former hiding spots.
