Travel Scandinavia Baltic Tours Antarctica Expedition Cruises

Categories Summer Tours Scandinavia Adventure & Eco Travel Semi-escorted Tours Independent Tours

This is a new and amazing slow travel tour. You will be based for 7 nights in Reykjavík exploring the diverse and unique nature in the vicinity of Iceland’s capital. The concept is simple as you drive little but hike and sense a lot. Every morning a bus transfer brings you to the starting point of the 10-17 km long and interesting hike. In the afternoon you are picked up at a different location for the return transfer to Reykjavík. The accommodation choices range from guesthouses to first class hotels. Therefore you can combine walking holidays and nature discovery with comfort and cultural offers of a capital city. Reykjavík is a modern city with a high living standard, still just 15 minutes drive outside town, you will reach locations where you will feel like the first person ever to be there. You don’t have to go far to see how our planet was created and is still in creation. This is the only week-stay program in Reykjavík which offers an active walking holiday in most spectacular landscapes of Southwest Iceland.

Itinerary

Transfer your own to the hotel.

WALK IN HISTORY

Travel to Þingvellir National Park, the country’s most sacred site. This is the home of the oldest existing parliament in the world, the Alþingi, where major events in Iceland’s history took place. Hike from Svartagil ravine along green valleys and over a long and rocky mount to Botnsdalur valley at Hvalfjörður fjord. This is an ancient route called Leggjabrjótur, literally meaning “leg breaker” and offering stunning views. You will see many waterfalls on the way and spectacular mountain panorama. Distance 17 km, Hike 5-6 hours.

GEOTHERMAL HEAT

Today you hike from Sleggjubeinsdalur on Hellisheiði heath along the roots of Mt. Hengill volcano. You pass long green and steamy valleys until you reach Klambragil, a canyon with an eerie hot spring area. Here you have the chance to bathe in a natural hot river. Hike down the beautiful valley of Reykjadalur with more hot springs and steam vents. You will see a lovely waterfall in the Djúpagil gorge before you arrive in the greenhouse town Hveragerði. Distance 17 km, Hike 5-6 hours.

LEISURE DAY

Explore Reykjavík on your own or join one of the many optional day excursions like the Golden Circle, horseback riding, whale watching or glacier tour including a snowmobile ride.

MARINE LIFE & THE BLUE LAGOON

Start your hike outside the fishing village of Grindavík and visit the natural sea basin called Brímketill. From here you hike along a shield volcano and beautiful coastline with bays, bird cliffs, rock walls, arches, rock ponds and caves to the lighthouse at Reykjanestá. You explore the hot spring area of Gunnuhver before you take a relaxing bath at the famous Blue Lagoon. Distance 10 km, about 4-5 hours.

VOLCANOES, MOUNTAINS AND FOREST

In the outskirts of Reykjavík you climb the volcanic mountain Helgafell where you enjoy a beautiful view. The hike continues over a large lava field to Búfellsgjá canyon that is a 3.5 km long lava pathway running westward from the small volcano Búrfell. You continue through the nature reserve of Heiðmörk, walk through an Icelandic forest, up the mountain to a view terrace and then around a small lake before you return to the capital. Distance 16 km, Hike 5-6 hours.

HIKE ON THE MOON

You drive along the scenic shores of Kleifarvatn Lake on the Reykjanes peninsula. The hike starts at the green lake called “Grænavatn”, heading to Krysúvík hot spring area where boiling steam holes and bubbling mud pots can be inspected. Bright yellow, rusty red, bluish grey, lush green; all colors of the rainbow can be found in the middle of a primarily gray landscape. A spectacular path brings you over a volcanic mountains ridge to a dry valley with lunar landscapes, mountains and craters. It feels like a different planet with tufted meadows, mossy lava fields, barren sands and hillrocks. Distance 15 km, Hike 5-6 hours.

DEPARTURE DAY

It is possible to book this program Saturday to Saturday or Tuesday to Tuesday.

Notes