Glaciers and Waterfalls: An Active Journey to Iceland

Following your overnight flight, arrive into Keflavík Airport and transfer to Reykjavik, and meet your fellow hikers for a delicious welcome breakfast including Icelandic staples like skyr and pickled herring. Gather for a welcome briefing and visit the Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel, formed after a volcanic eruption 5,000 years ago. Venture into the cave with a specialist guide and learn about its geology and rich folklore. Next, explore Icelandic history, culture, and natural wonders at the immersive Perlan museum. Travel north to the small town of Borgarnes, set on the shores of the Borgarfjörður fjord. Gather tonight for dinner at the hotel. (B,D)

Walking: 2-3 hours walking, cave visit entails uneven rocky surfaces and metal stairs

Spend the day on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a mystical landscape of sweeping green slopes that brims with geological wonders. Stop at the picturesque Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall and see the lone conical peak of Kirkjufell, a mountain made famous by Game of Thrones. Go on a short hike in this iconic spot, enjoying views the mountain, the falls, and the sea beyond. Follow the coast on a scenic drive, stopping for lunch in one of the peninsula’s few settlements. Your drive then continues along the southern shore of Snaefellsnes, passing the centuries-old Black Church of Budir on the way to Raudfeldsgja Gorge. Here, a narrow ravine leads deep into the cliffs, revealing rocky apertures and rushing streams inside. Hear the lore of the site as you enter the chasm—a feat only possible in the summer months. In Arnarstapi, set out on a coastal hike to Hellnar, admiring the fjords and fantastic rock formations along the shores. Return to Borgarnes and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure. (B,L)

Hiking: 3 separate hikes totaling 6 miles, varied terrain including dirt tracks and hiking trails (some rocky); 400-500 feet of total elevation gain.

Drive south to Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s ancient parliament, located at the junction of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. On a circular trail around the Oxararfoss waterfall, witness the constantly changing nature of Iceland’s geology as you walk between the two continental plates which are slowly moving apart. Take a short hike to the remote Bruarfoss waterfall, following a path that weaves along aquamarine glacial rivers. At a family-run farm, enjoy lunch and a glimpse into the farming life in Iceland. Visit two of Iceland’s most iconic sites: Geysir Strokkur, which spurts water some 100 feet into the air at regular intervals, and the magnificent, two-tiered waterfall known as Gullfoss. Later, relax at the Secret Lagoon, Iceland’s oldest geothermal pool. Check in to your hotel on the southern edge of the Golden Circle, and enjoy free time to relax or explore on your own. (B,L)

Hiking: Thingvellir, 2.5 miles, paved trails, 700 feet of elevation gain.

Hiking: Bruarfoss waterfalls, 1 mile, paved and dirt/muddy trails, mostly flat.

The southern portion of Iceland’s fabled Ring Road follows the island’s contour, passing waterfalls, windswept beaches, volcanoes, and farmlands. Drive along this scenic road to the iconic Seljalandsfoss waterfall, with time for a short walk behind the falls. Continue to the magical Skógafoss waterfall, which thunders some 200 feet off an emerald-colored cliff. Climb the stairs alongside the waterfall, watching for rainbows in the mists if the sun is shining. While most visitors stop at the top of the falls, you’ll continue along the trail, hiking upstream along the cascading Skógá River to a spectacular, moss-covered canyon. After lunch, travel to Sólheimajökull for a up-close look at one of Iceland’s many glaciers—an easy walk will bring you right to the ice’s edge. Arrive in the fishing village of Vik and take the rest of the day to pursue your own interests. If you wish, walk up to a hillside church, a great vantage point for views of the village and the coast, or relax in the geothermal waters of the town swimming pool. Dinner is on your own tonight. (B,L)

Hiking (morning): Skogafoss Falls: 4-5 miles, 370 stairs to top of falls. Hike entails gradual ascent over dirt tracks and rocky paths, 800-1,100 elevation feet of elevation gain. This is an out and back trail, with opportunities to shorten the hike, relax, and enjoy the falls.

Hiking (afternoon): Sólheimajökull glacier, 2 miles, dirt tracks, gravel, and rocky paths, 300 feet of elevation gain.

Begin the day with a stroll to a viewpoint on Reynisfjara Beach, a stunning black-sand beach full of geological curiosities, from cubist cliffs and caves built of geometric basalt columns to quirky sea stacks just off shore. Take a short walk to Dyrholaey Arch, or “doorhole arch” before returning to Vik for lunch. Then drive on to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon for an afternoon hike along its surreal, twisting walls, laced with waterfalls and blanketed in bright green moss. Later, follow the Ring Road toward the massive Vatnajökull glacier—Europe’s largest ice cap—and settle into your hotel at the foot of this World Heritage site. Gather for a briefing on your glacier hike the following day, then enjoy dinner on your own. (B,L) 

Walking: Morning walks 2-3 miles in total, paved trails, sand, some rocky parts. 

Hiking: Afternoon canyon hike, 2-3 miles, paved path, 300-400 feet of elevation gain. 

From Skaftafell, embark on an exhilarating glacier walk on Svínafellsjökull, a tongue of Vatnajökull that flows out of the mountains—and another site featured in Game of Thrones. An expert guide will lead you along ice paths past deep crevasses and ice ridges, sharing insights into the evolution of this dramatic ice field. Enjoy luch before driving to one of Vatnajökull’s most stunning spots: the Jökusárlón glacier lagoon. Board an amphibian boat for a cruise among spectacular icebergs of all shapes and sizes, hearing from a local expert about the unique geological phenomena at play here. Watch for seals lolling on the ice, and with luck, witness calving ice as you cruise near the glacier wall. See the lake and its wildlife from a different angle on a walk along the shore with your trip leader. Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure. (B,L)

Hiking: Glacier hike, 3-4 miles, ice with crampons and specialized equipment, 300-400 feet of elevation gain.

Walking: 1-2 miles, nature walk over dirt, rocky; slight elevation.

Return along the beautiful southern coast of Iceland, taking in an ever-changing vista of rocky cliffs, sweeping green slopes, and the looming snowcap of Eyjafjallajökull—the volcano that famously erupted in 2010, disrupting air travel across Europe. In the riverside town of Hella, you’ll have free time for lunch and a short walk. Then head to Reykjadalur Valley for a final hike through an active geothermal area famous for the hot spring river that runs through it. Trek from one steaming hot spring to the next, discovering boiling mud pools and glacial waterfalls in this lovely valley. Arrive in Reykjavík late this afternoon and check into your hotel in the city center. Gather tonight for a festive dinner. (B,D)

Hiking: 2-3 miles, well-maintained trails; 500 feet of elevation gain to hot spring river, then descent.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Keflavík for your flight home. (B)