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Hike & Relax 
South East Iceland

4 days / 3 nights

Upon request only 

Hike & Relax tours are ideal for nature lovers who enjoy hiking or walking but prefer a quiet evening at a cozy hotel rather than staying in a basic mountain hut with a large group.

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Tour Overview

Lovely walks around the natural wonders of SOUTH EAST ICELAND with Skaftafell Nationalpark and the Glacier Lagoon.  Visits to Hengifoss, the tallest waterfall in Iceland, hiking in Skaftafell National Park i.e. to Bæjarstaðaskógur birch wood and Svartifoss basalt column waterfall. Walk to Fjarðárgljúfur Canyon, Skógafoss waterfall and Reynisfjara black beach

Optional boat tour on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Accommodation for three nights at hotel in South/East Iceland

Included:

  • ​Private Transfer 

  • 3 nights in double/single rooms with private facilities. A single room supplement applies.

  • Breakfast & lunch

  • 4 hiking days according to program

  • Including visit to Heritage Museum at Skógar and Fjarðrárgljúfur Canyon  

  • ​English speaking guide​

Avalibility 2027

Upon request only 
All departures are to be booked as private. ​​​​

Duration

4 days / 3 nights / 4 hiking days 

 

Accommodation

Your choice

Level of expertise 

Moderate – walking is 10-16 km per day

Day by day itinerary 

Day 1:  Flight to Egilsstaðir – Hengifoss – Litlanesfoss – Höfn – Skaftafell Nationalpark (3-4 hours)
In the early morning transfer from your guesthouse/hotel to domestic airport in Reykjavík for a short flight to Egilsstaðir in East Iceland. Our first easy hiking tour today takes us to Hengifoss, one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland (128 m). On the way is another astonishing waterfall, called Litlanesfoss. It is crowned by exceptional high basalt columns, making it absolutely unique and photogenic. Total distance around 5 km. We continue by bus along the east coast to the harbour town of Höfn for a short walk up mountain Meðalfell in the Laxár Valley with beautiful views over almost the whole of Hornafjörður area. 
 
Day 2 :   Hiking in Skaftafell  - Bæjarstaðaskógur trail (4-5 hours) 
We take the whole day for hiking in breathtaking Skaftafell Nationalpark, right underneath the huge ice cap of Vatnajökull glacier. The landscape is very similar to some of the Alps, but it has been formed in thousands of years by different influences of volcanic eruptions, glaciers and enormous glacial rivers. Skaftafell is renowned for its agreeable climate, for its vast bird variety and arctic fox population.


We head towards Sjónarnípa rock  and across the footbridge over Morsá river straight on the marked trail that leads to the beautiful birch woods in Bæjarstaðarskógur. The trail continues through the woods and past two beautiful ravines that are worth a closer look. Distance ca. 16 km.

Day 3 :  Skaftafell – Svartifoss – Sjónasker – Skaftafellsjökull -  Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (3-4 hours)

Today we go for two easy walks, each up to 2 hours. The first one takes us to the viewpoint Sjónasker and to Svartifoss waterfall, the „Black waterfall“. It receives its name from the dark basalt columns surrounding the falls – a beautiful sight which gives Svartifoss the honour of being called one of the finest Icelandic waterfalls. The next tour takes us right up to glacier Skaftafellsjökull. Get up-close to the majestic icefield and listen to the surging  glacier! In the afternoon we head to the famous glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón where we have the chance on going on an optional boat tour across the lagoon! The lagoon offers a variety of paths along the shore for incredible photoshooting opportunities!
 
Day 4 : Kirkjubæjarklaustur – Systrastapi – Fjaðrárgljúfur -  Skógar - Reykjavík   (3-4 hours) 

In 1186 a nun monastery was established in Kirkjubær á Síðu. It was later called Kirkjubæjarklaustur and is now a small town in beautiful settings. We visit Kirkjugólfið (The Church Floor), an approx. 80 m² expanse of columnar basalt, eroded and shaped by glaciers and waves. There has never been a church there but the plane looks as though it's man made. We then hike to Systrastapi, a steep rocky hill west of Klaustur. Folklore says that on top of it, two nuns of the monastery were buried after being burned at the stake for violating codes of ethics. Later, one of the nuns was regarded as innocent and beautiful flowers grew on her grave, while the other one's grave remained barren. The view from the rocky hill is breathtaking!

 

We stop for a short walk at Fjaðrárgljúfur, a magnificent and massive canyon, about 100 meters deep and about two kilometres long. The canyon has sheer walls, and is somewhat serpentine and narrow. The bedrock in Fjaðrárgljúfur is mostly palagonite from cold periods of the Ice Age and is thought to be about two million years old. On the bus drive to Reykjavík we will take another short stop at Skógar with its beautiful waterfall and heritage museum (optional). Arrival in Reykjavík in the evening and drop off either at your accommodation or the BSÍ busterminal to catch the flybus to Keflavík airport​

​Exploring Iceland reserves the right to alter routes, itineraries or timetables should the necessity arise. The estimated duration of tours as indicated by km or timing can change according to road or weather conditions.

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Fálkastígur 2
225 Garðabær
Contact
Tel: +354 519 1555
Emergency: +354 898 8903
Opening hours
Monday - Friday
9:00 - 17:00

Exploring  Iceland  is a fully licensed Tour Operator and Travel Agency, authorised by the Icelandic Tourist Board.
 

Exploring Iceland  has an extensive safety plan as required by Icelandic law for its tours

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