Iceland Walking & Hiking Tour

Single Supplement Reduced on Select Departures
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The Natural Wonders of Southern Iceland

From $4,998 - $5,498 pp dbl. occ. | 6 days / 5 nights

(+$470 to $1,110 for sgl. occ.)

Internal air: $0.00 to $160

It's different in Iceland. Untamed. Dramatic. Wild. Milky geothermal lagoons, bubbling mud pots and vents of steam rising out of otherworldly terrain. Jagged volcanoes topped with glistening white glaciers. Rugged coastal cliffs and black-sand beaches reflect the midnight sun. It's a surreal cinematic landscape unlike anywhere else in the world. Here, different is good.

Highlights

Jump between two continents at Thingvellir National Park, an unparalleled geologic marvel
Behold the glorious Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a natural wonderland of volcanic peaks, lava flows, sheer cliffs, beaches and sea stacks
Discover remote and marvelous Thjórsárdalur, chosen for its untouched beauty as a location for Game of Thrones
Witness the Midnight Sun, one of the most magical natural spectacles on Earth

Iceland

Start/End Reykjavík

Itinerary

Days 1-2 Enjoy an eagle's-eye view on our flight to the Westman Islands, some of the youngest islands on Earth | Remote, dramatic and wild Heimaey, the only inhabited island in this small archipelago, welcomes you with breathtaking vistas of Eldfell Volcano | If you have a passion for puffins, you've come to the right place! | Ferry to the mainland and marvel at Iceland's untamed splendor as you hike through craggy river canyons, rocky deserts and electric-green meadows | Admire the endless waterfalls at the foot of the highlands in Thjórsárdalur.

Days 3-4 Climb to a steaming valley and be tempted by the tranquil pools in this extraordinary alpine setting | Journey through the Hengill geothermal area with a local volcanologist and witness lava fields crisscrossed with warm tributaries and dotted with bubbling hot mud pools | Walk through remarkable Thingvellir National Park, where tectonic plates come together in a way unlike anywhere else in the world | Nearly half of Iceland's array of flora grows here, though you'll find nothing taller than a dwarf birch.

Days 5-6 Walk between jagged cliffs, lava outcrops, black-sand beaches and the ocean as you explore the stunning Snæfellsnes Peninsula | If it's a clear day, you can even view the Snæfellsnes Glacier | Join an optional morning horseback excursion.

Next: Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.

Cancellation fees may vary based upon departure date. Please review the grid below:

Number of Days Prior to Trip Start	Cancellation Fees (per person)	Departure Dates
96+ days	$200	2018 6/3, 6/10, 6/16, 6/17, 6/23, 6/24, 6/30, 7/1, 7/8, 7/14, 7/22, 7/29, 8/4, 8/5, 8/12, 8/18, 8/25, 8/26, 9/2, 9/8 2019 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/6
61-95 days	30%
31-60 days	60%
0-30 days	100%
156+ days	$600	2018 7/28
126-155 days	30%
96-125 days	50%
61-95 days	75%
31-60 days	100%
0-30 days	100%

For information on our trip transfers see here.

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Available
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C Classic Dates

2018 June

6/3–6/8

6/10–6/15

6/16–6/21

6/17–6/22

6/23–6/28

6/24–6/29

6/30–7/5

2018 July

7/1–7/6

7/8–7/13

7/14–7/19

7/22–7/27

7/28–8/2

7/29–8/3

2018 August

8/4–8/9

8/5–8/10

8/12–8/17

8/18–8/23

8/25–8/30

8/26–8/31

2018 September

9/2–9/7

9/8–9/13

2019 June

6/7–6/12

6/14–6/19

6/21–6/26

6/28–7/3

2019 July

7/5–7/10

7/12–7/17

7/19–7/24

7/26–7/31

2019 August

8/2–8/7

8/9–8/14

8/16–8/21

8/23–8/28

8/30–9/4

2019 September

9/6–9/11

View Private Dates

Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.

2018 Private Trip Pricing

10 or more guests: from $4,998 pp dbl occ
8 - 9 guests: from $5,498 pp dbl occ

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date

8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 8 or more guests
16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 16 or more guests
Reserved

C Classic Tours

The sky’s the limit! Tell us what your dream trip would be and we'll make it happen! Whether you're looking for a honeymoon trip for 2, a 30-person family reunion or a 100-person corporate trip, we can do it all. A dedicated Custom Trip Consultant will work closely with you to bring your dreams to reality. Call us at 800-462-2848 to speak with your Custom Trip Consultant or click on the button below.

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM TRIP NOW

Previous: Overview

Dates

C Classic Tours

2018
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep

2019
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep

View Scheduled Dates
Go Private
Go Custom

Prices

From $4,998 - $5,498 pp dbl. occ.
6 days / 5 nights

(+$470 to $1,110 for sgl. occ.)

Internal air: $0.00 to $160

Reviews

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Premiere Hotels

Hótel Grímsborgir

Selfoss (2 nights)

ION Adventure Hotel

Nesjavellir (1 night)

Hótel Búdir

Snaefellsnes (2 nights)

See Lodging Details

Activity Level

This trip is rated Levels 1-4

See Daily Route Options

What's Included

Services and equipment are included.

See how we include more

Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Iceland

Find out What sets us apart

More On This Trip

View more photos

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Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Reviews by Power Reviews ®

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Next: Lodging

Premiere Hotels

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.

Hótel Grímsborgir

Selfoss (2 nights)

Set along the River Sog, in the heart of the Golden Circle, this country inn welcomes guests with spacious rooms and friendly service.

ION Adventure Hotel

Nesjavellir (1 night)

This sleek, modern and award-winning hotel sits amid geothermal pools, near the shore of Lake Thingvallavatn. (pool, spa)

Hótel Búdir

Snaefellsnes (2 nights)

This simple yet sophisticated hotel is set at the edge of Snaefellsjökull National Park.

Previous: Reviews

Next: Activity Level

This Trip Is Rated Levels 1-4

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Daily Route Options (drag to see full )

Day	EASYGOING				ACTIVE				AVID
Daily Route Options
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Level 4		Level 5
	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain
1	3	100	4	400
1	Heimaey Boat Tour (1 Hour)
2			3*	400	5	500	6	800
3			5*	900	9*	900	10	1500
4	1	100	4*	500	4	250
4	3*	400
5	4*	200	7*	300			9	400
6	2*	100
6	Optional Horseback Riding (2 Hours)

Note: The terrain on this trip includes a mix of well-maintained paths, rolling headland walks and rugged mountain trails. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary in order to access the best hiking routes.

* Includes shuttle.

Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.

Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.

Previous: Lodging

Next: What's Included

Meals

All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners

Also Included

Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
Snacks and beverages between meals
Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
Park and other entry fees
Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
Select coach transfers
Baggage transfers and porterage

Previous: Activity Level

Next: Straight Talk

Next: Why Backroads

Get the Straight Talk about This Trip

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Climate & Itinerary Changes
The combination of Iceland's prolific waterfalls, vast icefields, vibrant green landscape and warm ocean currents makes this island like no other place in the world. The island's climate can be as surprising as its terrain, with weather patterns and microclimates that can bring sun, wind, fog, sleet, rain and snow all in the same day (or hour!). Please be sure to bring warm layers and waterproof gear for every day of the trip. In addition, the fluctuating weather might result in flight and mid-trip itinerary changes, but rest assured your Backroads Leaders are always prepared to make necessary adjustments to ensure a great trip while keeping safety the top priority.

Accommodations & Meals
Luxury Iceland style usually means modern, simple and nicely appointed buildings that prioritize location and views over plush amenities or landscaping. Please note that, due to the remoteness of our properties, dinners tend toward a local buffet-style affair and limited-choice menus, which is simply a part of the cultural experience of Iceland.

Previous: What's Included

Next: Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Iceland

Fly Right to the Start of the Trail

Your Iceland adventure begins with a charter flight directly to the start of your hike, so you can head out even sooner to explore the volcanic island of Heimaey on foot. We figure why sit in a van for a long shuttle when we can take a short, hour-long scenic flight to off shore islands where we'll hike for the day—the flight itself is an amazing aerial tour of volcanoes, glaciers and rugged coastlines.

More Leaders to Support You

On our Iceland trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the trail—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.

Experts with Secrets to Share

In choosing the ideal experts to enrich your travel experience, we look for people with a wealth of local knowledge, but also the ability to convey their insights in English. Too often travelers find themselves smiling politely, not quite understanding what they're being told. Our experts share intriguing facts, anecdotes and inside stories that stay with you forever.

Everyone at Their Own Pace

We design and support our Iceland trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.

Our Cultural Roots Run Deep

Thanks to our extensive connections in Iceland, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politic—and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.

The Best Leaders in Iceland

Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Iceland, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.

A Variety of Routes Each Day

In Iceland you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.

In Europe Since 1988

Backroads has been welcoming active travelers to Europe since before the Berlin Wall came down. Today it's virtually our second home. We know the perfect roads and trails, the most scenic valleys and hilltop towns, the hidden churches and gem-like museums, the up-and-coming vintners and celebrated chefs—and, of course, all the best places to stay.

We've Set the Standard

For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by

Previous: Straight Talk

Previous: What's Included

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