WINTER
ADVENTURE
TRIP OVERVIEW
Winter in Iceland is possibly our favourite season, that can yield some of the most unforgettable travel memories. It's a season of raw beauty, untamed wilderness, and thrilling adventures, where the snow blankets Iceland in a transformative embrace. During this journey, you'll embark on snowshoeing adventures through pristine snowy landscapes, trek across majestic glaciers, venture deep into the remote Icelandic highlands for an authentic winter experience, and, if you're fortunate, witness the mesmerizing dance of the Northern Lights in the night sky.
While the days may be shorter, we've carefully designed this trip to make the most of available daylight. If you seek a winter adventure that takes you away from the crowds, explores less-traveled destinations, and allows you to intimately experience Iceland's winter wonderland through the art of snowshoeing, then this is the ideal expedition for you!
ITINERARY
Aerial view of Hallgrímskirkja and the downtown of Reykjavík in its winter coat.
Aerial view of Hallgrímskirkja and the downtown of Reykjavík in its winter coat.
DAY 1
REYKJAVÍK
After your pick up at the airport, you’ll have the time to explore the city of Reykjavík before your winter adventure starts.
TOTAL DRIVING
1 hour
TOTAL HIKING
No hiking
Snowshoeing across the snow covered landscape in Iceland
Snowshoeing across the snow covered landscape in Iceland
DAY 2
SNOWSHOEING
Today’s plan is snowshoeing in the Hengill area. Hengill is a large volcano close to Reykjavík, with a lot of geothermal activity around it. We will look for the best snow conditions in that area and spend the day snowshoeing through some beautiful landscape.
TOTAL DRIVING
2 hours
TOTAL HIKING
3-4 hours
A beautiful canyon in Þórsmörk.
A beautiful canyon in Þórsmörk.
DAY 3
WINTER IN ÞÓRSMÖRK
Þórsmörk is an isolated valley, hidden behind glaciers and volcanos. There’s only one mountain road that leads to it, and in wintertime you need a big modified 4x4 vehicle to reach the valley. The whole day will be spent exploring Þórsmörk in its winter coat. Canyons, glaciers, volcanos and big rivers are what awaits us in this dramatic landscape.
TOTAL DRIVING
2-3 hours
TOTAL HIKING
2-3 hours
The mighty Skógafoss in it's winter coat.
The mighty Skógafoss in it's winter coat.
DAY 4
THE SOUTH COAST
The south coast is one of Iceland’s most iconic areas. Filled with waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches and some of Iceland’s largest volcanoes, there’s no shortage of spectacular things to see. We spend the full day exploring the coast with sights including Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, Black sand beach and we'll strap on crampons and throw on some harnesses for a glacier walk on Sólheimajökull.
TOTAL DRIVING
2 hours
TOTAL HIKING
2 hours
A big geothermal area located in Kerlingarfjöll
A big geothermal area located in Kerlingarfjöll
DAY 5
KERLINGARFJÖLL
We leave our hotel behind and our goal for the day is to go deep into the Icelandic highlands, an area called Kerlingarfjöll, where we spend the next 2 nights. We get in another big modified 4x4 vehicle and the whole journey to reach Kerlingarfjöll is an adventure all to itself, driving through deep snow and completely untouched wilderness. Kerlingarfjöll is a mountain range, located almost in the center of the island, where there’s nothing except one great hotel and endless possibilities for winter activities. A perfect spot to see the northern lights!
TOTAL DRIVING
3-5 hours
TOTAL HIKING
No hiking
It's much easier traversing the snowfields with snowshoes strapped on your feet.
It's much easier traversing the snowfields with snowshoes strapped on your feet.
DAY 6
SNOWSHOEING
The whole day is spent snowshoeing in the Kerlingarfjöll area. Beautiful landscapes all around us, with a big geothermal area and stunning mountains. On a clear day you can see a large portion of the country! After a full day of snowshoeing, you’ll be able to soak in the natural geothermal pools located close to the hotel. A truly unique place for winter and surely one of the highlights for this trip!
TOTAL DRIVING
No driving
TOTAL HIKING
3-6 hours
The Icelandic horse is one of a kind!
The Icelandic horse is one of a kind!
DAY 7
BACK TO REYKJAVÍK
Today we head back to civilization. We have a long drive ahead of us back from Kerlingarfjöll, all the way to Reykjavík. We'll make couple of stops along the way and reach the city in the afternoon.
TOTAL DRIVING
3-5 hours
TOTAL HIKING
No hiking