Climbing in Iceland, 3 peaks challenge

Join me in this 6 days trip to go climbing in Iceland. We will go up 3 progressive peaks, finishing with Hvannadalshnúkur, the highest peak in the country, and in between we will enjoy the magnificent variety of landscapes of the South Coast of the island.

Starting from Reykjavik, we will start with an easy ascent of Mt. Hengill (805m), from where we will appreciate the views of Þingvellir National Park. We will then move on to the very active Hekla volcano, of 1491m height. During this ascent we will go through rough lava and maybe even snow, before getting to the summit. And the last objective of the trip is to climb the highest mountain in Iceland: Hvannadalshnúkur, of 2110m. Located in Skaftafell National Park, raising above the huge glacier of Vatnajökull, this beautiful mountain is the ultimate challenge of this program, which covers a wide of variety of options that climbing in Iceland offers.

In between we will enjoy the breathtaking landscapes that surround Skaftafell and Landamannalaugar. And we will also have time to take a bath in hot rivers and discover the privileged birdlife of Iceland.

The trip starts and ends in Reykjavik, and is aimed to everyone above 16 years old and in optimal physical shape. Hiking time per day varies in between 4 and 14 hours. Climbing Hvannadalshnúkur requires using crampons and ropes for glacier traverse, and although no previous technical knowledge is required, the round trip takes 14 hours and is physically demanding.

Itinerary of this trip to go climbing in Iceland ice and fire landscape:

Day 1 – Reykjavik – Mt. Hengill ascent

Pick up from hotel in Reykjavik, and drive to Mt. Hengill, where we will go up the 805 meters Vorðuskeggi Peak, from where we will see Þingvellir Lake and even the famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano. We will then complete the Golden Circle circuit visiting Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall. Night accommodation in Mt. Hekla mountain hut/hostel.

Day 2 – Climbing Mount Hekla

This climb will take us to the steaming crater of highly active Mt. Hekla volcano.

Note: It may happen that the civil authorities advise not to climb Hekla, due to its activity. If this happens, we will replace this ascent with a similar one for day 2.

Day 3 – Travel to Skaftafell through Landmannalaugar

Driving through the natural reserve of Fjallabak we will get to the amazing valley of Landmannalaugar. Here we have a couple of options, like taking a bath in a hot river, or hiking up to the blue peak of Bláhnúkur volcano. We then aim to our last destination, Vatnajökull National Park, in Skaftafell, where we will arrive driving through the canyon of Eldgjá.

Day 4 – Summiting Hvannadalshnúkur!

Long but rewarding day to get to the top of the highest summit in Iceland, of 2119 meters.

Day 5 – Visit of the seabird colony and Jökulsárlón

After the big physical challenge of day 4, a resting day visiting a couple locations in the mind-blowing Skaftafell NP: Ingólfshöfði bird colony, and the glacier lagoon of Jökulsárlón, where the icebergs break off from Vatnajökull glacier and flow down through the lagoon all the way to the sea.

Day 6 – South coast drive back to Reykjavik

The route that goes along the south coast, which will take us back to the west, is one of the most scenic in the world. Just to name a few highlights, we will visit the iconic waterfall of Skógarfoss, and pass beneath Eyjafjallajökull, before arriving back to Reykjavik in the afternoon.

Contact me if you want to join me to go climbing in Iceland. This is the ideal program to discover a wide range of possibilities that mountaineering offers here, and to be amazed by some of the most incredible landscapes you’ll ever see!