Iceland Explorer: Drive & Hike

The terrain in Iceland is incredibly varied, offering everything from well-marked gravel paths and soft mossy ground to rocky lava fields, loose scree slopes, and occasional river crossings. You might come across geothermal areas with bubbling mud pools, patches of snow even in summer, and stretches of black sand or volcanic ash. Some trails lead across high plateaus or along steep ridges, requiring steady footing, while others wind gently through green valleys or along dramatic coastal cliffs.

Paths can often be slippery or uneven underfoot, so sturdy walking boots are a must. On some routes, especially the less-traveled ones, the path may be faint, overgrown, or even blocked by rockfalls or high tides. In these areas, it's especially important to check local advice before setting out.

River Crossings: Use caution, especially with glacial rivers, which are safest to cross early in the morning. Avoid crossings after rainfall or warm days, and follow river safety procedures.

Glacier Safety: Do not walk on glaciers without a qualified guide and proper equipment (crampons, ropes, ice axe).There are trained guides available at Skaftafell National Park to take hikers onto the glacier - excursions may be pre-arranged.

Emergency Huts: Orange huts along the coast are for shipwrecked sailors only. Those along mountain roads are for stranded motorists in winter, hikers may use them to call for help in emergencies.

This tour is graded easy to moderate. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty, and since all of the suggested walks are optional, you can adapt each day to suit your own pace and preferences.

Accommodation combines a city hotel in Reykjavik with a series of countryside hotels and guesthouses, each chosen for warm hospitality, comfortable rooms and good local cuisine, often in scenic countryside settings. If a listed property is unavailable, we'll arrange an alternative of a comparable standard.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome on this tour. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Breakfast is included every day. Lunch isn't included, but you'll find plenty of cafes and shops along the way to pick something up. In the evenings, the countryside hotels have their own restaurants, since nearby dining options are often limited, and these showcase local Icelandic specialities such as smoked lamb, salted fish and Arctic char, with cured shark available for the more adventurous.

You can start this tour any day of the week between the beginning of May and September. June through August is the most popular time to travel, with long hours of daylight and the driest, warmest weather of the year, and it's also a great period for wildflowers. The main sights can get busier during these months, though you shouldn't notice much difference on the walks or while driving. For a quieter tour, May or September are good alternatives, with less predictable weather but smaller crowds and lower prices.

From May to September, temperatures typically range from about 5 to 15 degrees Celsius (40 to 60 Fahrenheit). May brings the first wildflowers of the season, June and July have nearly round-the-clock daylight, and puffins can be seen nesting along the coast from May to mid-August. By September, mornings turn crisp with the first signs of autumn color.

Accommodation in Iceland fills up quickly for the summer months, so your itinerary may occasionally be adapted to secure the right places to stay, and booking confirmation can take up to two weeks.

Iceland has more than 30 active volcanic systems, and while eruptions are rare, it's worth staying informed. Your Tour Info will include more detail on this ahead of your tour.

This tour doesn't include daily luggage transfers, since you'll be driving between accommodations and can keep your belongings with you in the car. We can arrange secure luggage storage if needed, with one piece of luggage of up to 23kg/51lbs per person included as part of your package.

Some trails along the route are well marked, while others may lack clear signage.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Getting to the start

Fly into Keflavik International Airport, which is well connected to the UK, Europe, the US and other international destinations. From the UK the flight is just 3 hours, while from Boston Iceland is around 5 hours away. Airlines such as Icelandair run numerous direct flights from various US cities. A transfer service is included with your tour: on arrival at Keflavik Airport you'll be taken straight to your hotel in Reykjavik, and at the end of your tour the same transfer takes you back to Keflavik Airport.

Travel during the tour

The internal flight between Akureyri and Reykjavik is also included in your tour.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

Since all the walks on this tour are optional and you'll have your own rental car, you can simply choose to skip or shorten any walk on a given day and drive straight on to your next stop instead.

Driving in Iceland is generally straightforward, with long stretches of open, quiet road, though gravel sections, high winds, dust and rain can make conditions more challenging at times. Your rental car is left-hand drive, and in Iceland you drive on the right-hand side of the road. We provide detailed advice on driving conditions in your Tour Info ahead of departure.

Car hire is included in your tour and is based on a small, 5-door, 5-seat automatic car suitable for 2 to 3 people with luggage, with automatic upgrades to a larger vehicle for bigger groups. Other upgrade categories are available, including 4x4 options better suited to rougher or mountain roads. Car hire includes unlimited mileage, VAT, collision damage waiver insurance, one additional driver, and pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavik, though it doesn't include fuel, oil or additional excess-reducing insurance.

A road tax applies to all vehicles on Icelandic roads, including rental cars, calculated on distance driven and charged separately by the car hire company at the end of your rental.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation