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New Itinerary!

You’ve asked us for a more challenging trek in Iceland—and now you’ve got it! Our new adventure is a true “Hiker’s Iceland,” a beautiful trek along the Víknaslódir trails (“Trails of the Deserted Inlets”) in the untouristed northeastern region of the country. This trek was nominated in 2005 as one of the 25 most beautiful treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure, and you’ll soon see why: here, dramatic coastal mountains plunge abruptly into the sea, creating a network of pristine fjords marked only with the occasional isolated fishing village. Against a backdrop of spectacular pastel-hued peaks soaring into the sky, you’ll trek backcountry trails through luxuriant, green valleys where limpid torrents run, and descend to the fjords, whose colors change with the light from exotic opal to turquoise to oil-black. At the end of this beautiful trek, you’ll drive back to Reykjavik along the scenic South Coast road, visiting a wealth of yet more beautiful places to complete an incredible travel experience.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• See nature at work, with volcanic mountains, lava fields, thermal systems, huge ice caps
  
• Spectacular scenic flight over Iceland’s highlands, Mount Hekla, the Vatnajökull ice cap, and Mount Askja
  
• Trek the Víknaslódir trails - rated by National Geographic Adventure in 2005 as one of the top 25 most beautiful treks in the world!

Day 1 - Meet in Reykjavík, Iceland, and take a spectacular flight to Egilsstadir in eastern Iceland. Drive to the beautiful coastal village of Seydisfjördur and hike over green mountains and plateaus to Lodmundarfjördur, once one of the most inaccessible fjords of eastern Iceland.

Day 2 - Hike along the north shore of the fjord down to Húsavík(“House Bay”).

Day 3 - Cross a pass at the foot of Mount Hvitserkur, then descend toward Breiödalsvik (“Wide Bay”), where a coastal marsh and black sandy beach are covered with incredible amounts of Siberian driftwood and other treasures of the sea.

Day 4 - Continue across the mountains and down to the foot of the Dyrfjöll Mountains. Continue past a puffin colony to Bakkagerdi, the only village in the entire region.

Day 5 - Day hike in the majestic Dyrfjöll Mountains, whose huge presence dominates the Borgarfjördur fjord.

Day 6 - Drive along the coast past several beautiful fjords to the fishing harbor of Höfn, stopping on the way at Lónsvík lagoon, a gathering place of thousands of wild, immature swans and a destination for migratory birds.

Day 7 - Hike in Skaftafell National Park to Svartifoss, “the black waterfall.” Continue to the Eldhraun lava field, covered with thick carpets of silvery moss, followed by a walk along the black sand beaches and huge basaltic cliffs at Vík-í-Myrdal and Dyrhólaey, home to thousands of puffins as well as myriad other seabirds.

Day 8 - Drive to Reykjavík, passing beneath the Myrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull icecaps and stopping by the impressive Skógafoss waterfall. (Departure to the Westmann Islands for members continuing on the extension).

Day 9 - Morning excursion to the famous Blue Lagoon before transferring to the airport for departure.

(Note—The itinerary for the June 21, July 20, and August 21 departures runs in the reverse direction.)

Photo Credits
©Douglas Steakley