Hiking trails in Iceland – Save 15% on those unique hiking tours

Meet the founder of Fjallhalla

Erla Thordis is the founder and owner of Fjallhalla. She is a certified hiking guide who lives in the hamlet of Reykholt on the Golden Circle. She is one of those entrepreneurs in the Icelandic travel industry whom I love to work with. Her guests experience the serenity and beauty of Iceland on Golden Circle hiking trails. As she told me, being alone in nature is becoming such a rare and precious thing. That is what she wants to deliver to her guests.

Hey Erla Thordis, thank you for partnering with Stuck in Iceland Travel Magazine. Can you please tell me why you founded Fjallhalla back in 2014? 

Oh yes. A quite funny story actually. I have always loved hiking, and luckily, I have parents who share that interest, and they took me on a lot of hiking trips when I was younger. My mother started this project called ’52 mountains in one year’. She brought me into the project, and I got hooked! We hiked just about one mountain per week, how amazing and cool! This is something I still want to do today. I miss the group that encouraged us to go every week, so I try to hike smaller mountains here in the Reykholt area instead. 

Hiking in every type of weather

We hiked in any weather possible. We learned not to be bothered by the weather. Just let your dress and gear match the weather. We realized that the weather in Iceland is excellent for testing your equipment. If it holds 20m/s and heavy rain coming at you from every direction, it will work everywhere else! Icelanders hardly ever use umbrellas for a reason.

Affordable hiking adventures in Iceland

The chairman of my university union saw my hiking photos on Facebook. She asked me if I would be interested in leading the association’s outdoor club. I said YES! That was the beginning of my journey. I loved organizing events and meeting all these awesome people. When I graduated, I started a company, and in the beginning, my customers were mostly exchange students. That has changed since Fjallhalla was founded. My purpose with Fjallhalla was to create affordable trips that would enable people to travel and hike with like-minded people. I had just as much fun as the travelers, so I named the company Fjallhalla AdventurERS. 

You have epic tours based on hiking trails in Iceland. Can you tell me what guests can expect? 

We bring our guests to a mountain that will suit them unless they ask for a hike to the highest peak. We show you where to walk, remind you to take many breaks, stop for photos, and close your eyes and listen to the silence. Enjoy the solitude in nature, enjoy the ever-changing weather, and enjoy the ever-changing terrain. We teach you how to step on the moss, and we show you that it is OK to just to lie down and enjoy the moment. 

Celebration at the top

We encourage you when you are out of breath, and we offer you local delicacies. There is always a celebration when we reach the “varða” (cairn) on the top. Take a look around and enjoy the view. We teach you the names of the mountains in the landscape. Enjoy being one with nature in the silence. There is no pollution, and you exercise, which will give your body happiness-inducing endorphin and dopamine. We guarantee you some happy sore muscles when you wake up the next day! We always end our tours with some stretching and yoga. 

Can people bring their kids on your hiking trips?

YES! Even before they start walking, it is a privilege for them to learn how to spend quality time in nature with family and friends. This is why I offer trips for free to kids younger than 12. After all, they belong in nature. It is where all of us belong; we have been separated from the natural environment too much by industrialization. I encourage people to take their kids, family, and dogs for a hiking tour. Bring a backpack with snacks and drinks! The kids will remember this adventure for a lifetime and hopefully get hooked! You might be surprised to see how quickly the kids move and seem to know their way around the mountain and stop to explore, climb, roll, and jump! 

What is the best way for your guests to prepare for tours on the Golden Circle hiking trails?

 Maybe go on long walks or run. You will always enjoy the hike better if you are in good physical and mental shape. Bring with you some snacks that you might like to eat during the tour. We bring some local delicacies, but it is not guaranteed that you will like them. Bring something to eat because you will need the energy. One of the pros of hiking is that you can actually bring all the chocolate that you want. Visualize being in nature, training your body while breathing in the absolutely fresh air and drinking clean mountain water.

How to dress for a hike in Iceland

Do not wear cotton or jeans. Wool is the best you can wear in Icelandic conditions, no matter which season. If it’s warm in summer, you can wear wool and then a waterproof jacket on top! Sneakers are never a good idea. You might ruin them in the rough terrain. Use waterproof boots that have a hard sole and excellent grip. It is never a good idea to go in long hikes in boots that have not been broken in.

What advice do you have for people who are hiking in Iceland for the first time? 

Have the right mindset. Embrace the ever-changing weather. You will be thrilled when the sun finally shows up, and you can feel its warmth. Dress appropriately, it will make you enjoy the weather. Bring enough snacks to enjoy and water, though you might find a river along the way for a sip. Bring your camera, cause you will have the “wow” feeling all along the trip. Enjoy just sitting down, with no one else around you, and listen to nature. We rarely get the chance these days. Watch animals roam around freely.  

Do you have a favourite Iceland hiking trail?

I have many favorite hiking trails. There are still so many trails I would love to explore in the highland interior of Iceland. No wonder I have hardly hiked abroad, Iceland keeps me so busy! I love my little mountains here because I know I will almost certainly be alone with myself or with my group. It is the me-time I need to recharge from my jobs as a guide and a kindergarten teacher. When you hike the Golden Circle trails, and you meet someone, you are surprised and start chatting to a perfect stranger. I often give advice about the conditions ahead. We are fortunate to have all these mountains all around Iceland. Every time we travel around the island, we plan to do some hiking along the way.  

All of Iceland has its special kind of charm

I have no favorite part of Iceland. They all have their own charm. I am lucky to have hiked many parts of the island. I explored Kringisárranni just the weekend, when the area was flooded to create the dam for the Kárahnjúkavirkjun hydroelectric power plant. 

Hiking in Hornstrandir nature reserve

I have hiked in Hornstrandir in the Westfjords of Iceland. This area defies description. It is protected, so no sheep or horses roam around which makes the vegetation untouched and unique. There are no roads, and helicopters are banned. You access the area by boat from Isafjörður. You are “stuck” there with your tent and group until the boat arrives a few days later.

Digital detox

There is a limited phone connection and NO internet connection. So if you feel like taking a break from the internet, this is the place to be. A very healthy detox. It took me a day to adjust to it. We could fish for trout in a river; some men in the group brought fishing gear, and the only spice we brought was sugar. So we ate trout with delicious sugar! But beware! Polar Bears can show up at Hornstrandir, although that is rare.

What is your favorite Golden Circle hiking trail?

My favorite hiking trails on the Golden Circle are Bjarnafell or Högnhöfði. Vörðufell is always a great hike. I got engaged on Bjarnafell, so it is very special to me. Högnhöfði is challenging, so we hike it just a few times a year. Vörðufell is much smaller but easy to do in one hour, always a challenge though. I have many favorites. The views from the top are never the same. I have no favorite season because each has its own charm. Winter is no obstacle. It can be more challenging, but everything is beautiful and amazing when you are at the top of the world. Just dress according to the weather and enjoy, your mind will bring you to the top, you can do so much more than you think!  

Stay safe when hiking in Iceland

Study the Safetravel website and follow the advice there. Dress properly and be prepared for every kind of weather. Always be aware of the weather forecast.