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This impressive small group program is ideal for experienced hikers, featuring four full days of touring, exploring and hiking in the mountains of South Iceland. Discover in Viking style green valleys, moon landscapes, lava fields, hot springs and glaciers. It feels like in a "Lord of the Rings scene". Hike to a natural geothermal river for a soak, then conquer the top of a volcanic mountain and walk on warm lava near the infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcano. With 3 nights in South Iceland you'll feel like a real explorer as you discover off-the-beaten-path secrets of ancient mountains and valleys.

Itinerary

HIKE ON LAVA

Pick up from your accommodation in Reykjavik and travel about 30 minutes by car to Hveragerði in South Iceland, where you will stay at Hotel Örk for the next 3 nights. Today we hike in a unique rocky landscape that might belong to trolls and elves and it feels like being in the middle of a “Lord of the Rings” scene. We explore one of the most spectacular lava formations that the Hengill volcanic area has to offer on paths less traveled and in unspoiled nature. We hike through a beautiful valley covered in grass and surrounded by colorful mountains. When conditions are good, we enjoy an amazing view from the top. The tour ends at Nesjavellir where geothermal steam from the ground is used to produce electricity.

Hiking time: 6-7 hours including stops / Hiking Distance: 12 km (7,5 miles) / Elevation: about 650 meters

GEOTHERMAL MOUNTAIN BATH HIKING TOUR

The main purpose of this tour is to take a wilderness bath in a geothermal river up in the mountains and enjoy the magnificent nature. You will witness huge geothermal springs while hiking through Reykjadalur valley, which is known for beautiful and rough nature.

Hiking time: 5-6 hours including stops / Hiking Distance: 7 km (4,4 miles) / Elevation: about 500 meters

VOLCANO HIKE ACROSS FIMMVÖRÐUHÁLS

Day tour to the Eyjafjallajökull eruption area and Þórsmörk nature reserve, a must for the real hiker and nature lover! This tour will take you to the site of the volcano eruption from 2010 where the lava is still warm! The Fimmvörðuháls hike starts with a drive along the beautiful south coast to Skógafoss waterfall by ring road no.1. We continue an exciting drive in a super jeep up the mountain to 850m above sea level. From there we hike between two glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, to the new volcano where we explore the warm lava from 2010. In the afternoon we walk into Þórsmörk nature reserve where we are picked up. On the way out of Þórsmörk we drive across unbridged glacial rivers before returning to Hveragerði in South Iceland in the evening. This tour has it all, hiking, off road driving, glaciers and volcanoes.

Hiking time: 5-6 hours including stops / Hiking Distance: 8,5 km (5,3 miles) Elevation: Up 150 meter, down 800 meters (this tour is mainly walking downhill into Þórsmörk)

TOP A VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN

This is a beautiful hiking tour with a great view, where you will reach the highest top of the rocky volcanic Hengill area which is 805 meter above sea level. From the top you will see spectacular landscape including Þingvellir national park, where the continental plates of Europe and America meet. On our way up we will travel through a rocky volcanic environment and on our way down we will come into a big valley of grass where we will take a look at a geothermal area and perhaps take a foot bath, and finish our lunch. Most of the tour will be on roads/paths less traveled. In the late afternoon transfer back to Reykjavík.

Hiking time: 7-8 hours including stops / Hiking Distance: 16 km / Elevation: 805 meters

Notes