Iceland
In The Footsteps of Gods & Myths
Iceland offers otherworldly landscapes enshrined in mythology and folklore.
There is no place on earth quite like Iceland, from the legendary northern lights to the lava fields and beaches of ashen coloured sand, it is clear to see why Iceland has become a popular location for hikers, seekers of genuine well-being and iconic Hollywood productions.
Nominated by National Geographic as one of the 25 most beautiful treks in the world, whether seeking stunning wildlife, diverse culture or unparalleled scenery, the opportunity to hike through this hallowed, captivating land is utterly unmissable.
13th to 21st June 2020
Duration: 8 Days
Grade: Challenging
Nearest Airport: Reykjavik
Optional highlights: yoga classes
Experience Icelandic style cuisine
World-renowned locations, scenery, and wildlife
Private vehicle support
Days 1 - 3
Beginning with a night in Reykjavik, your first day starts with a breathtaking early morning flight over the Icelandic icecaps which see’s you arrive in Egilsstaor. Your adventure truly begins at the fishing village of Seyðisfjörður, alongside the dramatic Loðmundarfjörður fjord.
Following an overnight stay in the local mountain hut, you hike the Loðmundarfjörður Fjord and cross vast, picturesque moorlands taking in wild reindeer, horses, and seals. Ascent into the mountains affords unforgettable, breathtaking vistas as you venture towards your destination for the night, the Kækjuskörð Pass Mountain Hut.
From Loðmundarfjörður you trek towards Hussavik, a 5-6 hour hike through the otherworldly landscapes at the foot of Mount Hvítserkur, before heading towards your overnight destination of the remote mountain hut at the site of a centuries-old, ancient farmstead.
Days 4 - 6
Setting out from Husavik you hike to your overnight destination at Brúnavík, a perfect opportunity to spot unique local wildlife amid the ashen coloured, sandy beaches and rocky coves.
With mountains of rhyolite providing the setting on the trek from Breiðavík to Borgarfjörður, you venture to the village of Bakkagerði and the mythical hills of Álfaborg. Your trail then leads you to the harbour of Fagrihóll, home to a host of seabirds including puffin, fulmar and your overnight accommodation at the local B&B inn.
Days 7 - 9
With 6-8 hours trekking from Fagrihóll, you pass by the Dyrfjöll Mountains, the bay of Borgarfjörður and cross the Vatnaskarð Pass to reach the glacial outpost of Stórurð to relax and recharge in the local inn.
The second to last day begins with an early departure and drive to the town of Egilstaðir, heading to the banks of the Lake Lagarfljót, the mythical home to the monster Lagarfljótsormurinn. You complete your adventure with a flight to Reykjavik where your night is spent with an opportunity to enjoy a final meal with the group before departing onward the following day.
Take a look
Need To Know
Accommodation
4 x nights in rustic mountain refuges/huts
2 x nights in a guest house*
2 x nights in the boutique Hotel Alda in Reykjavik
*single supplement available
What’s included
- English speaking local Icelandic guide
- LBH guide
- Internal flight and private bus transfers to and from the mountains
- Transport of luggage by 4×4 vehicle
- 5 nights in mountain huts
- 3 nights in a B&B Inn
- Drinks on first and last night
- Full board from lunch day 1 to final day breakfast*. Including:
– Scandinavian-style breakfast with muesli, bread, jams, fish, and cheese
– Packed lunches are a variety of sandwich fillings, from smoked meats and fish to local cheeses and salads
– Dinners are a combined effort with the group joining the guides to prepare dinner for everyone and include fresh 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 us of any special food requirements at the time of booking
Guides
With a local, bilingual Icelandic guide as your host for the duration of the trip, you can be assured of the best possible care on the trail, combined with expert local knowledge.
We adopt an excellent guiding ratio meaning we can cater for differing levels within the group and offer extra add-ons where appropriate.
For this particular trip, we employ two guides, one English speaking LBH guide and the other Icelandic and native to the area we are trekking in.
Booking and Price
Terms & Conditions
1. Insurance
All clients need to be adequately insured for all activities they are taking part in. Insurance must include repatriation and details should be provided at the beginning of each trip.
All European clients should obtain a European Health insurance card (EHIC), however, this is not a substitute for travel insurance.
2. Health and fitness
Trip members have the responsibility to select a trip appropriate to their abilities and interests. In order to assist with this, all trips are graded and we welcome the opportunity to discuss trip details/answer questions in advance of your reservation. Trip members must be in sufficiently good health to undertake the trip, and if unsure seek medical advice in advance. For your own safety, you need to inform us of any medical conditions in advance or at the start of the trip. Trip members are also required to bring adequate clothing/equipment as advised in the pre-departure information.
3. Dietary Requirements
We endeavor to work with clients and accommodate their dietary requirements. However such is the nature of adventure travel we may be limited to specific menus e.g remote Mountain Huts, Tea Houses in the Himalaya’s etc. We fully encourage you to contact us in advance to discuss your requirements then we have every opportunity to explore options thereafter.
4. Cancellations and Fee Schedule Per Person
91 days or more prior to departure – €250 cancellation fee
61 – 90 days before departure – 25% of the trip cost
46 – 60 days before departure – 50% of the trip cost
45 days or less: 100% of trip cost
Fees are calculated from the date we receive written cancellation notice which can be via email. If clients are unable to access email and cancel over the phone we will confirm in writing the cancellation.
If you cancel 91 days or more prior to departure, it may be possible to transfer to another trip without occurring any fees. Please discuss this with us in the first instance.
With specific departures, there may be an increase in cancellation fee if the accommodation provider T & Cs mean we are liable for payment.
5. Complaints
If you have a complaint, please contact us as soon as possible, in the first instance your leader is often your obvious point of contact. This ensures we have every opportunity to explores solutions to the problem(s) arising and we will do all we reasonably can to resolve the complaint. You must tell us within 4 weeks after your holiday of any complaints that you feel have not been dealt with properly.
6. Alterations By Us
We will tell you as soon as reasonably possible if we must make any alteration to your holiday. Most alterations are minor, but very occasionally we might have to make a major alteration. A major alteration is a change of location or to a lower standard of accommodation for a substantial part of your holiday, a change in start/finish dates or necessary price rise in your holiday caused by rises in costs (e.g. exchange rates, internal transport etc). You may then choose as follows:
- To accept these alterations
- To withdraw from the holiday, in which case we will repay all monies paid to us including your deposit and this is the sum of our liability to you
- To accept an alternative holiday that we may propose to you, in which case if the proposed holiday is a lower price we will pay you the difference and if it is a higher price we may ask for the difference.
You must inform us of your choice as soon as possible after we contact you.
7. Group Leadership
On a guided holiday your leader is responsible for the safety and enjoyment of the whole group and has sole discretion, on behalf of Live Breathe Hike, to exclude temporarily a participant from the group. They may also choose to terminate the participants holiday without the possibility of a refund if the leader thinks the participant is likely to endanger the group safety or spoil its enjoyment.
8. Your Responsibility
Mountain holidays by their very nature are adventurous, with a certain level of risk is undertaken. Individuals need to conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner at all times; responding to advice, guidance, and instruction that may be given by the group leader / experienced professional and take all reasonable actions to eliminate accidents or injury.
9. Our Responsibilities
We will take all reasonable care to ensure that the information we give to you is accurate, including on our website, in your schedule and information pack. We will do all that we can to provide the service as described in the information we give to you. We are not liable if any failure is:
- Attributable to anyone other than us
- Attributable to a third party unconnected to us, and unforeseeable or unavoidable
- Due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control and could not have been avoided even if all due care had been taken
- Due to an event which even with all due care we could not foresee or forestall
10. Cancellation By Us
Live Breathe Hike reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient signup or logistics problems that may impede trip operations. The refund of all land payments received shall relate Live Breathe Hike from any further liability.
Live Breathe Hike must normally make substantial payments to its suppliers far in advance of the scheduled trip departure date. If a trip is canceled due to force majeure; (acts of God, war, strikes, earthquake, flooding etc), Live Breathe Hike will promptly refund the portion of the trip cost not already advanced to suppliers and use its best efforts to recover and refund the balance as promptly as possible. However, Live Breathe Hike does not guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made.
11. Additional Costs
Live Breathe Hike shall not be liable for (a) expenses such as additional nights and meals not specified in the individual trip itineraries, but which may required to get to from a trip start or end; expenses due to the delay of a trip for any reason (e.g. bad weather, trails conditions, land slides, flooding, sickness etc); (c) expenses occurred in recovering lost luggage by airlines, belongings left behind on a trip or in shipping purchases or other goods home from abroad; (d) visa and other incidental costs.
Live Breathe Hike reserves the right to take photographic or film records of any trips,and may use any such records for promotional and/or commercial purposes without payment.