Iceland offers you once-in-a-lifetime experiences at every turn. Here you can step inside glittering ice caves, hike across shimmering glaciers, witness the Northern Lights dance above you, and sink into geothermal pools that soothe both body and soul.
These are the moments that define a journey to Iceland, and they’re moments we want you, and generations after you, to experience again and again.
That’s why Hidden Iceland is dedicated to luxury ecotourism. Every bespoke adventure we design ensures the magical encounters remain sustainable, so you indulge fully while leaving the landscape as pristine as you found it.
Here’s our guide to ecotourism in Iceland and how you can enjoy the very best of this remarkable country sustainably.
What Do We Mean By Eco Tourism?
Ecotourism in Iceland means you experience the country’s most breathtaking sights in ways that protect the delicate environment. When you hike across a glacier with one of our expert guides, you follow carefully chosen routes that avoid damaging the ice and surrounding terrain. When you soak in a geothermal pool, you enjoy pure relaxation powered entirely by clean, renewable energy.
Since 2017, Hidden Iceland has built every journey around this principle, and sustainable tourism has been a cornerstone of our luxury tour packages. We craft extraordinary adventures for you that never come at nature’s expense.
Why Is There A Focus on Eco Tourism in Iceland?
Iceland is one of the places in the world where climate change is most apparent. WWF pointed out the major change: the collapsing glaciers. A recent study showed 8.3 billion tonnes of ice were lost from the glaciers each year between 2000 and 2023. This isn’t just the loss of breathtaking scenery, it also carries profound consequences for ecosystems, communities, and the planet as a whole. That’s why responsible travel isn’t optional but essential. Ecotourism in Iceland isn’t about discouraging visitors, rather it’s about ensuring every journey protects what makes this island extraordinary.
What Sustainable Activities Can You Do In Iceland?
Glacier Hikes & Volcano Tours
From the awe-inspiring grandeur of glaciers to the feeling of a volcano beneath your feet, a private walking tour can show you sights you’ve never seen before. An exclusive tour to Vatnajökull National Park or the lava fields of Snæfellsnes Peninsula takes you to stunning spaces, all alongside guides who can ensure the land is not disturbed. These are the kind of tranquil views many never get the chance to see, but those that do never forget.
Hot Springs & Lagoons
One of the most famous reasons to visit Iceland is also one of the most sustainable. Hot springs utilise clean, renewable geothermal energy. There are so many hot springs and lagoons to explore, but for the utmost luxury, we suggest Blue Lagoon or Forest Lagoon for a truly VIP experience. The bathing rituals and the bubbling pools are an eco-friendly dream, ensuring you feel as good on the inside as you do on the outside.
Farm-to-table Dining
Fine dining at Friðheimar Tomato Farm, a farm-to-table dining experience on the Golden Circle. A gourmet dining experience that could only happen in Iceland, this is a dining experience that’s divine as it is and delicious. A zero-waste space that has received awards for its local sourcing and environmental initiatives, the plant-to-plate practice is as fresh as food can get, and you can taste the difference.
Horse Riding
Friðheimar doesn’t just offer a fine dining experience—it has horses too! And as horse riding encourages us to take in the surrounding world, it connects us with nature in a profoundly moving way—and with thousands of years of history, back to how the Vikings used to travel on these purebred horses. A horse riding tour ride is ecotourism at its best, showing us the beauty of the world in a way that preserves it for years to come.
At Friðheimar, you can enjoy more than just a fine dining experience, you can also connect with Iceland’s stunning landscapes on horseback. Horse riding is an eco-friendly way to explore nature, as it leaves minimal impact on the environment compared to motorised tours. Travelling through nature on Icelandic horses lets you experience the land, just as the Vikings did centuries ago. A horse riding tour is ecotourism in Iceland at its most immersive.
Witness the Northern Lights
Few experiences embody the magic of ecotourism in Iceland like watching the Northern Lights dance across the night sky. While sightings are never guaranteed, Hidden Iceland ensures the journey is just as extraordinary as the destination.
From the comfort of luxury eco-retreats, you can step outside to private viewing areas or soak in geothermal pools while the aurora shimmers overhead. Our expert guides and curated itineraries take you to the best locations for aurora hunting, far from light pollution and in harmony with the natural environment.
“Many of our guides use our trips into nature as an opportunity to talk about sustainable travel and how things like tourism can affect the natural landscape, both positively and negatively. There are few places on the planet where you can experience a constantly changing landscape in such a visceral way.”
– Ryan Connolly, Head of Sustainability, Hidden Iceland
Stay in Iceland’s Finest Eco-Retreats and Luxury Hotels
With Hidden Iceland, luxury never comes at the environment’s expense. The hotels and retreats we partner for our tours combine world-class comfort with a deep commitment to sustainability. Here are some of our recommended stays:
Hótel Jökulsárlón
Located next to the iconic glacier lagoon, this hotel is perfect for natural lovers, offering stunning suites in a spectacular location, promising relaxing hot tubs and unrivalled glacier views. A stunning display of architecture that has received awards for its seamless integration into the environment, the hotel is a modern marvel that makes the mix of sustainability and luxury feel effortless.
Torfhús Retreat
This beautiful retreat offers cosy villas with private geothermal pools, pairing a unique rustic elegance with modern amenities. Every light, floor, and pool is powered by 100% renewable energy, and furniture is locally made by skilled craftsmen. The cuisine on offer is all local, from greenhouse-grown vegetables to the local salmon. It’s a carefully crafted experience that is grounded in Icelandic identity.
Deplar Farm
Found in the remote Troll Peninsula, this converted sheep farm feels like another world. With heli-skiing, geothermal spas, and sweeping mountain views, it’s the ultimate balance of adventure, exclusivity, and sustainability.
Both the indoor and outdoor pools are geothermally heated, using Iceland’s natural energy supplies to provide power. Pair that with the natural stone and turf roofs and Deplar Farm can seem like it’s sprung out from the soil — except for the luxurious amenities and stunning interiors, of course.
Each of these luxury stays celebrates Iceland’s raw beauty while helping to preserve it, and can be incorporated into your Iceland itinerary.
Hidden Iceland’s Eco Tourism Initiatives
We share our environmental actions openly, not as a marketing exercise, but to hold ourselves accountable and inspire travellers to do the same. You can read our full environmental policy here, but here are some of our recent achievements:
- We’ve offset 200% of our emissions every year since 2020. Every journey you take with us goes beyond carbon-neutral, ensuring your comfort comes with an even greater gift back to nature.
- We’ve reduced our emissions for the past two years despite an increase in sales, ensuring that sustainability is paramount to our operations.
- We provide for the community through local blood drives and community clean up days.
- We stop tens of thousands of plastic bottles entering the ocean by purchasing reusable bottles, which not only reduces single use plastic, while on tour with us, but also actively cleans up the oceans through the company we purchase from.
This means you can enjoy your adventure knowing your carbon footprint is covered.
How Can I Travel Responsibly and Sustainably When Visiting Iceland?
Iceland’s landscapes are as delicate as they are dramatic. By making mindful choices, you can enjoy every moment in luxury while ensuring the environment remains unspoiled. Here’s how:
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Stay on marked trails
Protect fragile volcanic terrain, and glacial ecosystems by keeping to the designated paths.
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Leave no trace
Take everything you bring with you, ensuring every site remains pristine for the next visitor.
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Respect wildlife
Observe animals from a distance and avoid using drones near nesting sites or migration areas.
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Reuse, don’t replace
Ditch the plastic and carry a refillable water bottle, as Iceland’s tap water is some of the purest in the world.
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Choose sustainable experiences
Opt for eco-friendly tours, lodges, and dining that prioritise renewable energy and local sourcing.
By following these small steps, you can enjoy Iceland in the most responsible and rewarding way possible.
When booking with Hidden Iceland, you can be ensured sustainability is never at a sacrifice to luxury. From private glacier walks to secluded stays in eco-lodges, every detail is crafted to be the ultimate adventure while protecting the land you’ve come to explore.
For a trip to somewhere truly unforgettable with an environmental impact that’s minimal, contact Hidden Iceland at +354-770-5733 or email at info@hiddeniceland.is for a bespoke ecotourism adventure to remember.
Explore our sample itineraries and see how your dream eco-luxury escape could unfold:
