Rhyolite hills, Iceland
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Iceland Behind the Mountains

A hiking trip through Iceland's volcanic and mystic landscapes


Trip Details

Location Fjallabak Region, South Iceland
Length 10 days
Grades Moderate, Strenuous
Accommodations Guesthouse, Hotels, Mountain Huts
Group size 6 - 12
Dates We will be scheduling dates for this trip soon. Please check back.
Land Cost
$5,775.00
Single Supp Cost
$700.00

Hiking Trip Summary

Referring to highlands between the brooding volcano of Mt. Hekla and the glaciers of Iceland's most southerly coast, Fjallabak means "behind the mountains."  Truly between fire and ice, this is a region of chaotically beautiful and dynamic landscapes. Epic geothermic activity has created an almost mystical convergence of volcanoes, lava fields, basalt fortresses, green meadows, blue iceberg lagoons, pristine glaciers, powerful rivers, crystalline waterfalls, and black sand beaches.

During our 10-day hiking trip, we’ll venture into the interior of Iceland, only accessible during summer months, to discover this world behind the mountains. This is an active and in-depth exploration, taking place both on foot and with the assistance of a 4WD vehicle. In the Highlands of Fjallabak, we will hike more and drive less than during our days on the South Coast. Each day, our guides will curate a unique walking experience suited to the terrain and weather. Iceland's long daylight hours may also lend themselves to an occasional evening walk.

For this trip, we are thrilled to be collaborating with our good friends at Fjallabak Trekking, a leader in Icelandic hiking and discovery tours. Having worked directly with this family-run business for over 15 years, our mutual philosophies of exploring in ways that bring us closer to the heart of a place has led to a great friendship. Together, we look forward to introducing you to some of the more hidden corners of this most amazing country.


Itinerary

Show itinerary


Additional Information

SINGLE TRAVELERS

If you wish to have your own room, a single supplement charge will apply.  If you are traveling alone and would like to share a room, we will do our best to match you with a roommate of the same gender. If there is no one with whom you can share, there will be a charge of $335 for this “forced” single. Note: Private, single rooms are not available in the huts.

INCLUDED

  • 4 nights in cozy mountain huts with bunkrooms
  • 3 nights in charming country hotels with private facilities
  • 1 night in a comfortable inn lodging near Vik 
  • 1 night in Reykjavik in a boutique hotel in downtown Reykjavik
  • Group transfers from/to airport
  • Transport in 4WD bus or jeep
  • All meals from lunch Day 1 through dinner Day 9 
  • English speaking Fjallabak driver/guide
  • Distant Journeys trip leader

NOT INCLUDED

Airfare, optional/individual transfers between inns or individual excursions, beverages, entrance fees for museums, swimming pools and optional excursions, insurance, tips to guides, items of a personal nature.

LUGGAGE

This trip is vehicle supported, with luggage and supplies being transferred to each overnight location. This means that for our hikes and walks you will only need to carry a daypack with those items you will need during the day’s hike. Having said that, we recommend keeping your luggage to a size that you can easily manage yourself, given that accommodations may have narrow hallways and no elevators. See our sample packing list. You will receive a more detailed packing list upon registration. 

ACCOMMODATIONS AND MEALS

For our Iceland Behind the Mountains trip, we’ll be staying in a mix of hotels, guesthouses, and backcountry huts. Our comfortable hotels and guesthouses provide double occupancy ensuite rooms. A limited number of single rooms are available for a supplemental fee.

Our backcountry huts offer sleeping bag accommodation (usually one comfortable bunkhouse), a dining area and well-equipped kitchen, running water, outdoor toilets, and hot showers. There is the possibility of recharging electrical devices (220V electrical outlets are European standards) on this trip, however, some of the huts may not have electricity. The huts are rustic and in absolutely incredible locations.

Fjallabak folks pride themselves in providing the best cuisine in the highlands! Breakfast is Scandinavian-style, with muesli, bread, jams, fish and cheese. Packed lunches may include a variety of sandwiches, from smoked meats and fish to local cheeses and salads. Dinners involve fresh, local fish and meat dishes, with pasta, rice or potatoes, fresh vegetables, and salad. Vegetarians and those with food allergies can be fully catered for with a range of tasty options. It is essential that you inform our office of any special food requirements at the time of booking!

TRAVEL

All international flights are served by Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport, which is about 45 minutes outside the capital city of Reykjavik. 

MEETING POINT

All members of our Iceland Behind the Mountains trip will be met at the Keflavik airport at 10:00 am on the first day. 

ENDING POINT

The trip will end with a group transfer to the Keflavik airport mid-day of the last day of the trip, arriving at the airport around 1:30 pm. Should you require an earlier or later departure, Flybus/Reykjavik Excursions offers frequent departures to the airport along with a hotel pick up. 

WHO WOULD LIKE THIS TRIP?

This trip is designed expressly for Distant Journeys and our travelers who have yet to experience the beauty and power of Iceland's hidden landscapes. During the trip, the group will stay in a combination of huts, hotels, and guesthouses, each acting as a base from which to venture out. Staying in the huts gives us an opportunity to immerse ourselves in these rare and isolated spaces. Alternately, the hotels and guesthouse give us a taste of Icelandic hospitality and some welcome comfort.

SAFETY

The remoteness of some of the terrain, coupled with an ever-changing climate can make this a more challenging environment; therefore, safety is of primary concern. Your guides and support vehicle are radio equipped. Fjallabak’s guides are all experienced mountaineers with extensive local knowledge and are fully trained in wilderness first aid and rescue procedures. It's important that each participant have adequate clothing and gear, as outlined in the packing list, to ensure for comfort in all kinds of weather.

MORE INFORMATION

Please contact us for a more detailed itinerary, for additional information, or to register. We're also happy to supply a list of past participants willing to share insights into this guided Iceland Behind the Mountains experience.

Reserving This Trip

A deposit of $500 along with your completed registration forms will reserve a space on your requested trip. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and American Express card as well as personal checks. To make a deposit, you may either follow one of the “Reserve a Trip” links below, give us a call at 1-888-845-5781, or include your payment information in the area provided when completing your registration forms.

The balance is due 90 days prior to departure for most of our trips. When applying less than 75 days prior to departure, full payment is due. For final payments, we accept MasterCard, Visa, and American Express, as well as personal checks.

As confirmation of receipt of your deposit, we will send you a comprehensive packet of information pertaining to your trip, an invoice for final payment and additional information including release agreement form, medical information form, travel information, and packing list. Upon receipt of final payment and no later than 30 days prior to your trip start, you will receive trip rendezvous information and a list of accommodations. Returning trip participants will receive a 5% discount on most trips.

Receipt of all forms will finalize your registration.


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