The best trekking routes in Iceland

Iceland's incredible variety of volcanic and glacial landscapes make it a unique destination for hiking and trekking holidays. Ascents, glaciers, lakes, coastlines and geothermal areas. "Land of ice and fire". Its three national parks include the mighty Vatnajökull, Europe's largest national park.

You may be interested in: The best trekking routes in Europe "

Practical guide

When to go?

Summer season: highland roads do not open until mid-June and many tourist facilities close at the end of August; low-lying coastal areas, especially in the southwest, are walkable from spring to autumn; winter actually closes most routes.

Cities & Services

Most towns and villages are not well situated for walking; it is essential to travel from place to place, and even inland, to enjoy some of the most scenic and interesting trails.

Difficulty and equipment

No special equipment is needed for easy routes; full equipment is needed for long distance trails; ropes, ice axe, crampons and experience for glacier trekking.

Not to be missed

• Incredible volcanic landscapes and glaciers.
• Geothermal areas.
• Coastline and off-island and remote hinterland
• Iceland's highest mountain - Hvannadalshnúkur.

The routes

With Reykjavik as an established destination, Iceland is easy to reach. Once there, the routes described include both popular and lesser-known trails, from coastal walks and off-island trails, to the remote interior and polar ice caps. Most routes are signposted and waymarked, and include a number of easy hikes for beginners, but there are also high mountain routes with glacier traverses, including the classic Laugavegur trail.

Reykjavík, Reykjanes and Hengill

• Reykjavík and Seltjarnarnes
• Þverfellshorn from Esjustofa
• Keflavík to Grindavík
• Grindavík to Vogar
• Grindavík and Prestastígur
• Krýsuvík and Krísuvíkurbjarg
• Seltun and Kleifarvatn
• Seltun and Djúpavatn
• Þingvellir and Skógarkot
• Hveragerði and Reykjadalur
• Ölfusvatn and Ölkelduháls
• Hellisheiði to Hveragerði
• Nesjavellir and Vörðuskeggi

Trekking: Reykjavegur

• Stage 1 Nesjavellir to Múlasel
• Stage 2 Múlasel - Bláfjallaskáli
• Stage 3 Bláfjallaskáli - Kaldársel
• Stage 4: Kaldársel to Djúpavatn
• Stage 5 Djúpavatn to Brattháls
• Stage 6 Brattháls to Þorbjörn
• Stage 7 Þorbjörn to Reykjanesviti

Fjallabak and Þórsmörk

• Landmannalaugar and Suðurnámur
• Landmannalaugar and Bláhnukúr
• Hvanngilshauser and Tangafoss
• Þórsmörk and Valahnúkur
• Fljótsdalur and Þórólfsfell
• Vestmannaeyjar - Heimaey

Trekking: Hellismannaleið, Laugavegur and Skógar Trail

The Laugavegur Trail is a classic Icelandic trek.

• Stage 1 Hellismannaleið - Rjúpnavellir to Áfangagil
• Stage 2 Hellismannaleið - Áfangagil to Landmannahellir
• Stage 3 Hellismannaleið - Landmannahellir to Landmannalaugar
• Stage 4 Laugavegur - From Landmannalaugar to Hrafntinnusker
• Stage 5 Laugavegur - Hrafntinnusker to Álftavatn
• Stage 6 Laugavegur - Álftavatn to Botnar/Emstrur
• Stage 7 Laugavegur - Botnar/Emstrur a Þórsmörk
• Stage 8 Skógar Trail - Þórsmörk to Fimmvörðuháls
• Stage 9 Skógar Trail - From Fimmvörðuháls to Skógar

Skaftafell and Vatnajökull

• Sandfell and Hvannadalshnúkur
• Svinafellsjökull and Hrútsfjall
• Skaftafell and Kristínartindar
• Skaftafell and Svartifoss
• Skaftafell and Morsárdalur
• Jökulsárlón - Glacier Lagoon

Snæfell and Lónsöræfi

• Snæfellsskáli and Snæfell

Trekking: The Lónsöræfi Trail

• Stage 1 Bjálafell to Geldingafellsskáli
• Stage 2 Geldingafellsskáli to Egilssel
• Stage 3 Eggs to Múlaskáli
• Stage 4 Múlaskáli - Stafafell

Egilsstaðir and the East Fjords

• Egilsstaðir and Fardagafoss
• Neðri-Stafur and Seyðisfjörður
• Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss
• Hallormsstaðaskógur
• Vatnsskarð and Stórurð

Trekking: Víknaslóðir

• Stage 1 Seyðisfjörður to Loðmundarfjörður
• Stage 2 Loðmundarfjörður to Húsavík
• Stage 3 Húsavík to Breiðavík
• Stage 4 Breiðavík to Borgarfjörður

Jökulsárgljúfur

• Ásbyrgi and Áshöfði
• Svinadalur and Rauðhólar
• Selfoss and Dettifoss

Trekking: The Jökulsárhlaup

• Stage 1 Dettifoss to Vesturdalur
• Stage 2 Vesturdalur - Ásbyrgi

Akureyri and Eyjafjörður

• Akureyri and Súlur
• Eyjafjörður and Hrísey
• Grímsey

Kverkfjöll and Askja

• Kverkfjöll and Hveradalur
• Herðubreiðarlindir

Trekking: The Askja Trail

• Stage 1 Herðubreiðarlindir to Bræðrafell
• Stage 2 Bræðrafell to Drekagil
• Stage 3 from Drekagil to Dyngjufell
• Stage 4 From Dyngjufell to Botni
• Stage 5 Botni to Svartárkot
• Stage 6 Botni to Grænavatn

Trekking: The Mývatn Trail

• Stage 1 Dimmuborgir to Reykjahlið
• Stage 2 Reykjahlið to Víti
• Stage 3 Víti-Reykjahlið

Sprengisandur and Kjölur

• Nýidalur and Kaldagil
• Nýidalur and Sprengisandur

Trekking: The Kjölur Trails

• Stage 1 Kerlingarfjöll Circuit - From Ásgarður to Klakkur
• Stage 2 Kerlingarfjöll Circuit - Klakkur to Ásgarður
• Stage 3 Ásgarður to Gíslaskáli
• Stage 4 Gíslaskáli - Hveravellir
• Stage 5 Kjalvegur - Hveravellir to Þjófadalir
• Stage 6 Kjalvegur - Þjófadalir to Þverbrekknamúli
• Stage 7 Kjalvegur - Þverbrekknamúli to Arbuðir or Hvítárnes

Hornstrandir Peninsula

Trekking: The Hornstrandir Trail

• Stage 1 Hesteyri to Hlöðuvík
• Stage 2 Hlöðuvik to Hornvík
• Stage 3 Hornvík and Horn
• Stage 4 Kjaransvík - Látravík
• Stage 5 Látravík - Hesteyri

The West Fjords

• Hnífsdalur, Bolungarvík and Ísafjörður
• Suðureyri to Flateyri
• Þingeyri and Kaldbakur
• Helluskarð and Lómfell
• Foss to Krossholt
• Brunnaverstöð and Látrabjarg
• Brjánslækur and Surtarbrandsgil
• Flatey and Breiðafjörður

Snæfellsjökull and Snaefellsnes

Trekking: Snæfellsjökull and the Snaefellsnes Trail

• Stage 1 Snæfellsjökull - Ólafsvík to Arnarstapi
• Stage 2 Snæfellsnes - Arnarstapi to Djúpalónssandur
• Stage 3 Snæfellsnes - Djúpalónssandur to Öndverðarnes
• Stage 4 Snæfellsnes - From Öndverðarnes to Hellissandur

The most impressive places in Iceland for trekking and mountaineering:

• Snaefellsjökull
• Vatnajökull