Fjallabak Wild Nature Hike
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Why This Trip is Special
Here are a few reasons why you'll love this adventure as much as we do
Wild Highlands without the crowds
Walk in the same highland region as the famous Laugavegur trail, but on quieter routes: local peaks, lava fields, hidden canyons and waterfalls that most visitors never see.
One remote hut, new adventure every day
Unpack once at Landmannahellir, then spend three days heading out on big day hikes – to Rauðufossar, Landmannalaugar and Mt Löðmundur – with just a daypack, hot meals and a warm bunk waiting each evening.
Geothermal valleys, summits and canyon waterfalls
Soak in a natural hot river in Landmannalaugar, climb the highest peak in the Fjallabak region and finish by walking the blue‑green walls of Sigöldugljúfur and the huge drops of Háifoss and Granni.
The Call to Adventure Difference: Your Best Fjallabak Wild Nature Hike Experience.
Discover what makes this adventure unique and unforgettable
Expertly vetted handpicked guides
Our team of experts spend hours on end rigorously assessing guides so you can travel safe in the knowledge you're going with the best!
Book now, pay later, at no extra cost
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Go places you couldn't go alone
Scale mountains, ride waves, and hike routes that might be a bit spicy without an expert guide
Flexible Booking
Free date changes up to 65 days before departure, no questions asked
Just turn up adventures
Most of our trips include guiding, accommodation, transfers, and equipment so all you have to do is turn up and enjoy
Feel good travel
1% of all our revenue (not profits) goes to fund leading environmental and social projects
Itinerary
Explore our Fjallabak Wild Nature Hike itinerary to see what you can expect on your adventure.
Reykjavík – Landmannahellir: Rauðufossar and first night in the hut
Meet your guide and group at BSI in Reykjavík and head east by private mini‑bus, through small south‑coast towns and into the highlands on rougher tracks. Before reaching your base at Landmannahellir you stretch your legs on a first hike to Rauðufossar – a long, red‑rock waterfall spilling out of the hillside. You follow the stream up towards its source, getting a first taste of the area's colour and open views, then return to the hut and settle in for three nights of simple, sociable highland living. Distance: 8–10 km (5–6.2 mi) / 3–4 hrs / Ascent & descent ~350 m
Drive into the Highlands
Morning meet at BSI and private mini‑bus into the Fjallabak area.
Rauðufossar waterfall hike
Walk to Rauðufossar and explore the upper stream and views.
Arrive at Landmannahellir
Reach the hut and move into your shared dorm for three nights.
First evening in the hut
Dinner and trip briefing in the Landmannahellir mountain hut.
Landmannalaugar: Brennisteinsalda and the hot river
Mt Löðmundur: summit and lake dip
Sigöldugljúfur canyon, big waterfalls and return to Reykjavík
Guest Reviews
Read what our guests have to say about their adventures with us
What's Included in Your Fjallabak Wild Nature Hike Adventure
- Experienced local driver‑guide (4 days)
- 3 nights in Landmannahellir mountain hut (shared dorm)
- Private mini‑bus transport from and back to Reykjavík
- All meals from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 4
- All daily transfers between the hut and trailheads
- Flights to and from Iceland
- Reykjavík accommodation and meals outside the tour
- Airport transfers to pick up and drop off
- Sleeping bag hire (bring your own or hire from us at checkout)
- Hiking poles (bring your own or hire from us at checkout)
- Showers at Landmannahellir (small local fee, payable in cash)
- Travel insurance (mandatory) We Recommend Rise and Shield
Want to stay longer? Interested in adding another destination or activity to your itinerary? Let us know, and we'll help you build the perfect adventure.
Meet your expert Fjallabak Wild Nature Hike guide
Jón
Jón is a highly experienced glacier and summit guide who spends his seasons leading everything from day hikes to serious multi–day crossings in Iceland and Greenland. With a background in mountain rescue and Wilderness First Responder training, he’s calm under pressure, safety focused, and somehow still the guy cracking jokes when the weather turns wild.
Expertise and Accreditations
- • Level II hard-ice guide (NZMGA HIG standard)
- • IMG glacier guide
- • AIMG glacier guide
- • Wilderness First Responder (WFR – WMA certified)
Quick Stats
- • Experienced summit and glacier guide for both day trips and multi–day expeditions
- • Expedition experience in Iceland and Greenland, including the Sprengisandur traverse and Greenland ice cap crossing
- • Background in mountain rescue as a first-response team member
- • Experienced highland 4x4 driver with professional licence
What travelers say about Jón
Just finished the Laugavegur Trek—an unforgettable experience! The landscapes were incredible, and our guide, Jon, was outstanding: knowledgeable, and patient. Highly recommend both the trek and Jon.
Katherine M
This was a great trek!! The scenery was wonderful! Because of the wind and rain, I was so glad to have a warm hut and great meals to enjoy every night. Jon was our guide and he was excellent!! He was very knowledgeable and explained Iceland and volcanic history along with the many land formations we saw along the trek. Jon was fun, personable, and made the trek most enjoyable. He also was very aware of different hiking abilities and made sure everyone was safely through any areas they were not entirely comfortable with. I would highly recommend Jon as a guide to anyone considering this trek.
Susan K
Where You'll Stay
Comfortable accommodations that enhance your adventure
Landmannahellir Mountain Hut
Simple, cabin‑style hut in the Fjallabak Highlands with dorm‑style bunks, a heated common room, cold running water and basic shared kitchen facilities. Showers are in a separate building for a small local fee, and there’s no mains electricity, so you’ll rely on power banks for charging.
3 nights at this location
Who Travels With Us
Your Fjallabak Wild Nature Hike Team
Laugavegur‑curious, crowd‑averse trekkers
Same Highlands, fewer people
You like the look of Laugavegur’s landscapes but not the idea of a busy hut‑to‑hut highway. Fjallabak gives you the same style of scenery – colourful hills, lava, canyons – on quieter trails from a single remote base.
Base‑camp hikers who like variety
One hut, three very different days
You’d rather unpack once and explore in different directions than move hut every night. Here you get a waterfall day, a classic Landmannalaugar loop and a summit day, all from the same cabin.
Strong walkers, not full‑on trekkers
4–7 hours walking a day
You’re happy on 4–7 hour hikes with some climb, but don’t necessarily want to commit to a point‑to‑point trek carrying everything. This trip keeps the walking serious and the logistics simple.
Hot‑spring and waterfall chasers
Rauðufossar, Brennisteinsalda, Háifoss
You’re as excited by soaking in a natural hot river and standing at the edge of big waterfalls as you are by ticking off summits. Fjallabak strings together some of the Highlands’ best water‑and‑steam moments.
Our 5-day Icelandic hike, beginning September 8th, was exceptional thanks to our guide, Grete. Her profound knowledge and generous view of sharing hidden gems brought the landscape to life. Even persistent rainy weather did not dampen our spirit due to her infectious positivity and practicality. Grete excelled at taking good care of us, constantly ensuring our safety and happiness while fostering a fantastic group dynamic that turned us into good hiking buddies. Evenings were highlighted by her ability to prefer splendid dinner spots and her captivating talent to share Icelandic stories, which deeply enriched our experience. Her professionalism, warmth, and passion for her country were evident throughout. We cannot recommend Grete highly enough; she was the definitive reason our adventure was so unforgettable. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a truly immersive and caring guide.
jason c
Is the Fjallabak Wild Nature Hike Challenge Right For You?
Discover if this adventure is right for you
Physical effort
Three main walking days ranging from 3 to 7 hours, including one summit day with around 500 m of ascent. If you already enjoy UK hill days of similar length with a daypack, you’re in the right zone. It’s easier than a full hut‑to‑hut trek, but still proper Highland walking.
Experience level
You don’t need trekking poles and ice axes experience, but you should be happy on rough, sometimes boggy or rocky paths. If you’ve done a few mountain or moorland hikes before, you’ll recognise the feel of the terrain. If this is your very first time away from smooth paths, expect a steeper learning curve.
Comfort & hut life
Three nights in a shared mountain hut with bunk beds, shared bathrooms, no private rooms and no plugs. If you need your own space and a guaranteed hot shower every day, this isn’t it. If you’re happy to trade polish for atmosphere, warmth and location, you’ll be fine.
Weather & remoteness mindset
Phone signal is patchy, Wi‑Fi doesn’t exist and the weather can change quickly. If that sounds stressful, this might feel like a step too far. If you like the idea of a few days where your main jobs are to walk, eat, talk and sleep – while someone else handles the driving and decisions – this is probably your kind of trip.
Worried about hut comfort, no power and highland weather?
Landmannahellir is about as far from a city hotel as you can get: shared dorms, bunk beds, basic showers in a separate building and no private rooms. The hut is heated and dry, and we have it to ourselves, which helps a lot with noise and space. Bring earplugs, an eye mask and a decent sleeping bag and it quickly starts to feel like a cosy base rather than a compromise.
There are no plug sockets for charging phones or cameras in the hut. Instead you come prepared with power banks and treat your devices as a bonus, not a lifeline. The pay‑off is true off‑grid quiet: no humming fridges or TV screens, just a stove, a table and whatever stories people bring with them.
Fjallabak can see anything from sunshine to horizontal rain in the same week. You’ll be out for 3–7 hours a day, with one bigger summit day, so you need kit that keeps you comfortable enough to enjoy the views even when the wind picks up. We build in flexibility to adjust pace and, if needed, shorten or reroute hikes based on conditions and how the group is feeling.
What our adventurers say
This was such a cool experience to do with my fellow travellers! Our guides were super friendly and very knowledgeable. I think the price is very reasonable considering Iceland prices. I wish we could have hiked for longer but we only had the short hike opportunity with a busy itinerary. Would 100% do this again.
Yvette D
We went in the beginning of September with our guide. She ensured we took our time on our hike to soak up the beauty. She did a wonderful job with our group & really took the time to make our experience entertaining & memorable.
Brittani V
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