Category: Hiking in Iceland

Iceland is a hiker’s country. With so much of the island uninhabited, walking is the way to reach the places a car never will — and the variety underfoot is remarkable, from mossy lava fields and coastal cliffs to glacial valleys and the raw, colorful Highlands at the island’s heart.

The headline trek is Laugavegur, the multi-day route between Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk that crosses rhyolite mountains, hot springs, and black-sand desert. It’s one of the most celebrated trails in the world, and many walkers extend it over Fimmvörðuháls to the south coast. But Iceland’s hiking goes far beyond it: day hikes around Skaftafell beneath Vatnajökull, the puffin trails of Borgarfjörður eystri in the east, the peaks of the Tröllaskagi peninsula in the north, and countless shorter walks to waterfalls and viewpoints all over the country.

For hiking in Iceland, the practical things genuinely matter — more than in gentler climates. The weather changes fast and can turn serious at any time of year, so layered, waterproof clothing and proper boots are not optional. The main hiking season is roughly June to September, when the Highland trails and mountain huts are open; outside it, many routes are snowbound. Always check the forecast and trail conditions before setting out, leave a travel plan, and, on longer routes, book huts well in advance. River crossings on some trails call for care and experience.

In this section, you’ll find our guides to hiking in Iceland: the trails worth your time, the multi-day treks, when to go, what to pack, and how to stay safe — the honest, practical advice we’d give a friend planning the same trip.


The view from the top of Mt. Löðmundur
Hiking in Iceland

Hiking up to Mt. Löðmundur from Landmannahellir

Joining organized hiking groups is my hack for exploring Iceland with minimal hassle. So when my cousin invited me to join his hiking group for a three-day hiking tour around Landmannahellir in the Icelandic nature reserve of Fjallabak. I did not think twice. Breakfast, dinner,...