Crater to Summit: A Perfect Iceland Hiking Itinerary

Iceland is the land of the Vikings and glaciers, volcanoes and wildlife. Serene, lush valleys climb into dramatic mountain ridges, and glacial meltwater becomes the cold, pristine lagoons that decorate the bright blue icebergs. Your private transfer will greet you at Keflavik International Airport upon your arrival. You will be able to see the impressive spire of Hallgrimskirkja Church that reaches a height of nearly 240 feet above the city streets. The scent of pine and briny seawater fills the air as your transfer will bring you past the flatlands dressed in green grass.

You will stop first at Skogafoss for your first view of the country. The waterfall thunders against the framing lush mountains as mist sprays into the air at the base with the river rippling until reaching the sea. The waterfall stands 200 feet tall and more than 80 feet wide. The light refracts off the whitewater to create a double rainbow that shimmers against the moss as thin grass clings to the rugged cliff. The melt water of the Eyjafjallajokull Glacier feeds upwards of 40 waterfalls, with Skogafoss being the final and most dramatic of the series. You will follow the banks of the Skoga River for a small hike that will lead you to quieter, more serene falls as you find your first day in Iceland has already surpassed the thrills and enchantment you had imagined.

In the morning, you will find the aroma of the sea lingering in the cold air as herds of Icelandic horses graze on the thin blades of grass beside tranquil villages. The horses have long mains that flow like locks of hair in the breeze, and you will admire them as you follow the Ring Road, the single road that loops around the island as you head southeast to reach Dyrholaey. The promontory soars out of the water at nearly 400 feet as the wind and the waves have eroded the headland to create a hole, making the promontory resemble an archway large enough for big boats to sail through. The water laps against the stone pillars as puffins build their nests inside the crags of the rock walls. The small but elegant birds glide through the air, rotating over the water until they dive down and pierce the surface of the sea in search of fish.

The beach along the southern coast flickers with black sand from the basalt rocks, and you can see traces of the puffins in the distance as they continue to circle over the water near the cliffs. You will reach the shores of Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon and board your boat as the jewel of Iceland’s natural splendor glistens with sapphire water reflecting in the surrounding shores and protruding icebergs. Some of the ice floating in the water dates back more than a millennium, floating across the surface area of the nearly seven square miles of the lagoon. You will touch your fingers to the nearest iceberg and marvel at the freezing, crunchy texture onto your skin.

In the morning, the scent of oatmeal mixed with brown sugar, raisins, and butter fills the dining room at breakfast. The strong aroma of coffee drifts through the doors and blends with the herbaceous scent of the fields. After a leisurely breakfast, you will follow your guide into the wilds of Vatnajokull National Park, eager to traverse the rugged peaks and see the stunning glaciers that overtake the 600 square miles of the protected landscape. Twisted birch woods resemble knotted ropes as the thunderous crash of mighty waterfalls echoes across the park. The tongues of the glaciers drip ice down the mountainside and lead to the dramatic lakes and lagoons.

You will stop first at an old farm that was first established in the 12th century as farming began to change the way of life in Iceland. The homes are partially built into the hillside, with stone supports and triangular rooftops blanketed with grass. The use of the land and soil helped keep the interior insulated from both the heat and cold. At the foot of the heath, you can find the ruins of old homes along the easy trail from the visitor center that takes you past the glistening white peak of Skaftafellsjokull Glacier. You can climb to a viewpoint that overlooks the ravine that leads to the Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by black cliffs.

The aroma of fresh coffee will rejuvenate you in the morning, and after a hardy Icelandic breakfast of oatmeal pancakes with yogurt, you will venture out between the icecaps of the Vatnajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers. The incredible journey will lead you to the natural splendor of the Fire Fissure, a 25-mile-long rift caused by a volcanic eruption in the 10th century. The gorge reaches a depth of nearly 900 feet and stretches to almost 2,000 feet at its widest point. The short grass and sporadic sharp boulders that roll along the ridges and gorge floor contrast with the glowing lava that spreads across the landscape.

The volcanic theme of your exploration continues with your arrival at Fjallabak Nature Reserve and Landmannalaugar. You will follow the trail along the black pumice stone and cooled lava as stones the size of your fist sporadically decorate the landscape along the trail. Ascend the foothills to the Blue Peak, which reaches a height of more than 3,000 feet above sea level while in the sunlight, the soil flickers with the black and blue hues of the volcanic ash and lava flows over a span of 1,000 years. From the peak, you can look down on what locals refer to as the “Sulfur Wave,” a 2,800-foot-tall mountain that shines with black, blue, and crimson red stripes. Wildflowers blossom with small white petals beside the stoic lake along the valley floor as the delicate flora contrasts with the irregular, captivating colors of the mountain.

Today you will begin your ascent up the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, starting at the Thorsmork ridge. You will board a unique four-wheel-drive vehicle and set out into the undulating landscape. The driver will bring you over the rugged pebbled of past volcanic eruptions and over the cold waters of shallow, rushing rivers. Glacial waters feed the streams from along the mountaintops as you travel to the Stakkholtsgja Ravine to view the effects of the 2010 eruption of the volcano. Water from the glacier-carved a narrow passage into the volcanic rock measuring more than 300 feet tall.

The stone is still cool as you press your hand to the walls as moss grows in the gentle beams of light that streak across the walls. The rushing water of a small waterfall deep inside the ravine causes a loud echo to bounce off the towering walls while an opening between the walls frames the remaining ice field of the glacier looming above. Birch trees fill the air with a spiced herbaceous aroma as you settle into the enchanting scenery at Godaland and enjoy the sweeping plains that lead to the ice cap along the mountains.

Wake up to the serene sounds of the Icelandic wilderness as the scent of birch trees fills the air with the gentle rush of the rivers in the distance pouring down the foothills of Eyjafjallajokull. Ferns rustle in the breeze and moss clings to the rocks near the edges of the waterways. After an early breakfast of warm oatmeal with cinnamon, you will follow your guide along the majestic trails of Thorsmork. The trail leads you away from the greenery of the valley and along the undulating ridges of the volcano.

The lava fields offer a stark, barren landscape filled with black rocks that will remind you of the constant tumult rolling beneath the earth. You will continue your ascent along the edges of the volcanic summit until reaching the craters of Magni and Modi, named after the sons of Norse god Thor. Both craters were created during the Eyjafjallajokull eruption of 2010 and steam continues to rise from the active fumaroles, causing constant puffs of smoke to filter into the air. Small pockets of open soil reveal the bubbling magma that glows beneath the surface. Around the mountain, you will find an unforgettable view of the hanging glaciers and of Thorsmork Valley below.

The cold air of the morning will bite against your cheeks as you take in one last view of the untouched landscape found around Eyjafjallajokull. Your private transfer will escort you away from the vision of the glacier on a scenic drive to a to Gullfoss. The Golden Falls draw visitors from around the country and across the globe with their spectacular sheen that tumbles into the deep canyon. The first small cascade trundles over a wide, curved ledge more than 35 feet tall and leads to the almost 70-foot deep crevice.

The water shimmers with an icy blue against the bordering verdant grass while a gentle mist rises from inside the ravine to create a small, thin rainbow. The speed of the water brings rapids that brush against the steep walls along the lower river. You will continue to the nearby spout of the Great Geysir and Strokkur. The latter spout erupts like a volcano into the air with waters that reach nearly 230 feet high. You can hear a gurgle before the eruption takes place every 10 minutes with steam rising from the natural vents around the landscape while mud pots bubble from the volcanic activity and the calcite deposits cause the valley to glint with a smooth white film that looks like snow.

The morning air of the capital city fills with the aroma of fresh coffee that drifts out of the cafés. The window displays offer images of golden pastries stuffed with chocolate or berries. After an early breakfast, your guide will greet you in the lobby and escort you to the trails that wind up Mt. Hengill. You will start your trek along the Smokey Valley, which is named for the pillars of steam that spiral upwards from the active fumaroles. Mud pools audibly bubble until bursting with a slight splash while the pebbles on the trail crunch beneath your feet.

The steam will drift past your legs as you continue your way up the hillside. From the summits, you can look down to see the lush landscape with a sporadic veil of steam that creeps over the foothills as the mountain was originally an active volcano 120,000 ago. You can hear the trickling water from the Djupa Gullfoss Falls and bask in the beauty of the iridescent blue of the lagoon produced by the boiling water. Farther up the river, you will find a spot where locals enjoy the confluence of hot and cold rivers and lounge in the public hot spring in the midst of the cliffs and hills before you reach the mountain summit. Return to Reykjavik to explore the serene charm and cultural centers of the largest city in Iceland.

Ducks and geese paddle their feet beneath the central lake of Tjornin located at the heart of Reykjavik. In the morning, the scent of the sea overtakes the decadent aroma of freshly brewed coffee as the sunlight washes over the statue of Leif Eriksson set in front of Hallgrimskirkja Church. Your private transfer will greet you at your hotel after breakfast and escort you to Keflavik Airport, with a stop at the renowned Blue Lagoon en route. The pristine lobby leads you into the comforts of the locker rooms to change, and then you will step onto the wooden boards of the jetty to find the steam rolling over the water and the walkways. The lagoon shimmers with a creamy blue as boxes around the edges of the water offer the mineral-rich mud taken from around the lagoon with which visitors can coat their skin. After your time hiking and exploring, the hot water and relaxing ambiance will relax you before your flight home.