Wild Iceland
Activity
Difficulty
Duration
Dates
Price
From 3290.00 €
About hiking in the heart of wild Iceland
On this trip, imagined and created from scratch by our guides, you’ll be as close as possible to the Arctic Circle and discover the wild and natural treasures Iceland has to offer.
During this unforgettable week, you’ll discover the wonders of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the treasures of the Golden Circle and the natural riches of Iceland’s southern coast. During your stay, you’ll be accompanied by a Watse guide, a connoisseur of this unique region.
This isolated piece of Arctic land will leave you with exceptional memories, reminding you of the grandeur and power of the natural world around us. Follow us !
You will leave with :
Mathieu
Trekking Guide – Far North Specialist
“The true voyage of discovery is not to seek out new landscapes, but to see with new eyes. “
Photo gallery of the hike in the heart of wild Iceland
Hiking in the heart of wild Iceland
Upcoming departures
What's included in the formula
- International flight and airport taxes
- Accommodation in hostels or collective lodgings.
- Supervision by a state-qualified French mountain leader
- Minibus transfers as indicated in the description
- Meals prepared by your guide
- Local taxes and any site entrance fees
What's not included in the package
- Personal hiking and travel equipment (boots, poles, rucksack, etc.)
- Cancellation and repatriation assistance insurance to be taken out on registration.
- Meals during air transfers
- Everything not mentioned in the “included in the package” section
Day 1: Arrival in Iceland
International flight – 2.5 hours transfer – Overnight in hostel
Departing from France, we land at Keflavik airport.
After picking up our minibus, we head for the Snæfellsnes peninsula north of Iceland’s capital. Our accommodation is in Grundarfjörður, on the north coast of the peninsula, where we stay for two nights, to discover the riches of this part of Iceland.
Day 2: Discovering the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
3 hours drive – 3 hours walk – Overnight in hostel
We spend the whole day discovering the wonderful Snæfellsnes peninsula. Depending on the weather, we may be tempted to climb the 1,446-meter-high Snæfellsjökull volcano, which dominates this part of the country.
We’ll visit the magnificent fishing port of Stykkishólmur, whose multitude of colorful houses lends it great charm. We’ll also head to Buðir to discover its intriguing black church.
Finally, we head east to the impressive 60-metre-high Eldborg crater, visible in the distance from the road. Nearby, we’ll enjoy the irresistible Landbrotalaug hot springs.
Day 3: In Iceland's Golden Circle
4 hours’ drive – 3 hours’ walk – Overnight in hostel or collective accommodation
Today we’re heading for Iceland’s Golden Circle, entering the fantastic Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Þingvellir lies at the fault separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, justifying the high level of volcanic activity in this part of the world.
We continue east towards Geysir, named after the hot springs that gush out intermittently, “geyser”.
At the end of the day, we’ll take advantage of the Laugarvatn hot springs to recharge our batteries after this intense day in the heart of nature’s wonders.
Day 4: Head south to Vík í Mýrdal
2 hours’ drive – 3 hours’ walk – Overnight in shared accommodation
We continue our tour of Iceland today, heading south. On the way, we’ll stop for a few hours’ hike in the Skógafoss canyon to the waterfall of the same name, a nugget of Icelandic nature.
Finally, we reach the southernmost tip of Iceland at Vík í Mýrdal, with its church dominating the town. We’ll enjoy a lovely stroll along the black sand of Reynisfjara beach, where we can admire the magnificent basalt organs sculpted by nature.
Day 5: On the road, by the sea
3 hours 30 minutes drive – Overnight in shared accommodation
It’s a magnificent day’s drive ahead of us, and we’ll have to stop often to enjoy the scenery (and take a few photos…)!
Along the way, we’ll take a beautiful hike to the Skaftafell nature reserve and in particular the sumptuous waterfall of Svartifoss. We continue on to Jökulsárlón, a roadside glacial lagoon with a fantastic setting nicknamed the Diamond Beach. The sunset is a magical moment.
Finally, we stop off in Hofn, where we spend the next two nights.
Day 6: Around Stokksnes
1 hour’s drive – 4 hours’ walk – Overnight in shared accommodation – D+ 450 m / D- 450 m
We set off for a beautiful day in the direction of Stokksnes, with its black sandy beach, abandoned Viking village and beautiful hike to the summit of Vestrahorn to enjoy the panoramic view of this majestic mountain.
At the end of the day, let’s get ready for a pleasant spa evening.
Day 7: Retracing our steps
Between 4 and 6 hours’ drive – 2 hours’ walk – Overnight in hostel or collective accommodation
Today we’re retracing the route we’ve taken over the last few days. Shortly before Vík í Mýrdal, we’ll stop for a two-hour hike in the heart of Fjaðrárgljúfur, a deep river canyon. Another Icelandic wonder.
Depending on the time of our next-day flight, we’ll plan our day’s stopover between Vík, Þórsmörk (Thorsmork) and Reykjavík.
Day 8: Flight to France
International flight – Meals at your expense
Depending on the flight plan, we’ll be landing in France in the morning or early afternoon.
Highlights of the trip
General information
SAFETY
You can find the Quai d’Orsay’s position on these countries on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr.
The information contained on the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is subject to change and is given for guidance only. Please note that no region of the world or country can be considered safe from the risk of terrorism.
REGISTRATION
By post:
Ask us for a registration form
- by phone: 06 65 93 29 29
- or e-mail: contact@watse.fr
Send us your registration with a copy of your passport, your postal address, telephone number and e-mail address, together with a deposit of 35% of the cost of the trip.
Also, if you wish to take out a Comfort or Comfort Multirisk cancellation insurance policy, this must be paid at the same time as the deposit when you register. You can consult our insurance contracts on our website.
By internet:
Book your holiday directly on our website: directly on the holiday page, choosing your dates and insurance options.
ATTENTION: air fares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary if you book during this period.
ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY
We strongly advise you to take out assistance insurance for the duration of your trip.
We offer two different types of insurance: Comfort Cancellation and Comfort Multirisk, to be taken out when you register for your trip.
Details of this insurance are available on request or can be viewed by by clicking here.
Other offers include Mondial Assistance, your own insurance company or Club Alpin Français. Check that your trekking activity is covered.
Make sure your insurance covers all medical expenses in the event of an accident.
You must make sure that you are covered for mountain rescue costs. If this is the case, you must provide us with the following information before you set off on your trek:
- a certificate from the insurance company covering mountain rescue costs.
- the contract number and telephone number of the assistance center
Beware of restrictive clauses in certain insurance policies (particularly those linked to Visa Premier, Gold or other cards), such as mountain insurance limited to snow activities, or altitude sickness not recognized as an illness requiring repatriation, which will be refused.
Please check the actual content of your insurance and take the necessary steps if necessary.
Health & climate
JET LAG
On summer time, Iceland is 2 hours ahead of France.
On winter time, Iceland is 1 hour ahead of France.
CLIMATE
Iceland can be visited all year round thanks to its subpolar oceanic climate, which means it’s relatively cold, but with milder winters than you’d expect for a region so close to the North Pole.
Winter temperatures range from -1°C to 4°C. This is quite mild compared with other regions of similar latitude, but there can be snowstorms and very strong winds. In winter, daylight is very short, with only a few hours of daylight. This is THE season to be in if you want to admire the famous Northern Lights on this side of the world.
In summer, temperatures generally fluctuate between 10°C and 15°C, but can rise to 20°C on particularly hot days. Days are extremely long, especially around the summer solstice, when you can experience the midnight sun, with 24 hours of light in some regions.
HEALTH AND VACCINES
No vaccinations required.
We strongly recommend that you are up to date with the usual vaccinations: diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B.
We recommend that you have a check-up with your dentist before you leave.
IFREMMONT
No specific indications.
Transport and conditions
TRAVEL
We use local rental vehicles, minibuses or cars. Your guide will be your driver. However, one of you may be asked to drive a car when no minibus is available for hire.
AIR
Air fares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary in the event of late registration.
LUGGAGE
Your luggage is returned to your accommodation each evening.
The stay
MEALS
Most breakfasts and dinners will be taken at the accommodation. Lunch will consist of a picnic, which we will distribute in participants’ bags.
All meals will be prepared by your guide. He’s looking forward to a little help from you in the kitchen.
ACCOMMODATION
The accommodations chosen are mainly hostels and AirBnB-type collective lodgings (large shared apartments).
TRAINING
Supervision by a state-qualified French mountain leader.
Practical info
ELECTRICITY
These are the same holds as in France.
FORMALITIES AND VISA
For French, Belgian, Luxembourg and Swiss nationals:
– Valid national identity card or passport
– No visa required
As these formalities may change, please check with the country’s consular authorities. All travelers are responsible for complying with entry requirements in the countries they visit. Watse cannot be held responsible for changes in formalities.
BUDGET, CHANGE AND TIPS
The currency in Iceland is the Icelandic krona. The indicative rate is : 1 € = 146 ISK. Cash: you can take euros with you. Exchange is easy at Icelandic exchange offices and banks. Iceland is one of the most expensive countries in the world, as many products are imported.
Tipping is not compulsory and should reflect your satisfaction with your guide.
Watse added value
THE EXPERTISE OF A FRENCH GUIDE
Your adventure will be complete thanks to a French guide specializing in Iceland. Taking care of all the logistics, he’ll also share his travel tips and anecdotes, for a unique stay.
A UNIQUE AND EXCLUSIVE ITINERARY
This holiday has been lovingly crafted by the Watse team on a route little used by other tour operators.
TRANSFERS BY PRIVATE VEHICLE FOR GREATER AUTONOMY
To guarantee complete autonomy, you will be transferred by private vehicle. This independence means you can approach more remote and less accessible sites.