Iceland walking holidays travel guide
The ‘huldufólk’, or ‘hidden people’ play an important role in Iceland’s mythological history and, for many historians, they very much represent the innate Icelandic tie with the natural environment. In the past, they were about fearing the power of volcanoes, avalanches, earthquakes and the sea, and somehow personifying this power. When you go on a walking holiday in Iceland, you explore landscapes that are so remote that you can only stay in mountain huts or go wild camping, and you start to get a feeling of how these wild places must have felt hundreds of years ago.
No wonder Star Wars was shot here. When you go hiking and wild camping out in Iceland’s highlands or alongside dramatic fjords, you definitely feel the force.
How stories evolved, and how people had to believe in magic. Most unbelievably, after negotiating crowds of tourists in and around Reykjavik, you will wake up somewhere glorious like Westfjords and ask yourself, where are all the people? Because you can walk for days and hardly meet a soul. The answer is, of course – they are hidden.
Read our Iceland walking guide for more details.
Read our Iceland walking guide for more details.
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Iceland walking or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
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More about Iceland walking
Our map and highlights of walking holidays in Iceland take you to a variety of landscapes.
Best time to go on an Iceland walking holiday
While the crowds were packing into Reykjavik for the Summer Solstice Festival, we were circumnavigating the island on foot. Plodding peacefully through paradise.
Most walking holidays take place between June and August as the weather is better for staying in remote hiking huts or wild camping. And the days are longer, of course. Temperatures vary from north to south. In Fjallabak Nature Reserve, for example, the average temperature is 1°C, but can be between 5-14 °C in July and August. So, no matter what time of year, layer up. There are winter trips available too in January and February, when you can hope to see the Northern Lights as well as walk on glaciers. But hotels will replace huts.
Iceland Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
-3
2
105
FEB
-2
3
100
MAR
-1
3
105
APR
1
6
80
MAY
4
10
75
JUN
7
13
70
JUL
10
14
67
AUG
8
13
86
SEP
4
11
94
OCT
3
8
119
NOV
-1
4
110
DEC
-2
2
105
Our Iceland walking Holidays
Iceland walking holiday, West Fjords
Explore Iceland's stunning and preserved West Fjords
From
£2200
8 days
ex flights
Iceland walking holiday, East fjords
6 days trekking in the “Kingdom of Elves” in the East fjords
From
£1750
7 days
ex flights
Iceland walking holiday, Laugavegur
Join us for the famous Landmannalaugar - Thorsmork trek
From
£1500
6 days
ex flights
Iceland hiking holiday, Fjallabak
Amazing trek behind the mountains and off the beaten path
From
£2420
9 days
ex flights
Laugavegur Trail trekking holiday in Iceland
Few trekking routes can match the striking vistas on offer here
From
£2499
8 days
inc UK flights
Walking holiday in Iceland
Explore the best walking areas in Iceland
From
£4149
14 days
inc UK flights
Iceland adventure holiday in Autumn
Guided tour in autumn under flamboyant colours
From
£2650
8 days
ex flights
WHEN TO GO ON AN ICELAND WALKING HOLIDAY & WHEN NOT TO
Our best selling Holiday
Iceland walking holiday, West Fjords
Explore Iceland's stunning and preserved West Fjords
From
£2200
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2018: 26 Jun, 9 Jul, 23 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug
2018: 26 Jun, 9 Jul, 23 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug
