Iceland is often described as a land of dramatic landscapes, from towering waterfalls and black sand beaches to glaciers, volcanoes and geothermal valleys. However, beyond the popular routes and well-known viewpoints lies another side of the country: a remote wilderness that requires preparation, respect and local knowledge.
For travellers interested in Iceland highlands hiking, the reward is the chance to experience some of Iceland’s most untouched landscapes. Colourful mountains, vast volcanic plains, steaming valleys and glacier-carved scenery create an environment unlike anywhere else in the world.
However, it is important to understand that Iceland’s wilderness is exactly that: wilderness.
Even areas that may appear easily accessible on a map can involve challenging roads, river crossings, changing weather conditions and limited access to services. A short, easy, walk in the Highlands is still a wilderness experience, and preparation is essential.
At Hidden Iceland, we believe the best adventures come from understanding the environment you are entering. Our guides combine local knowledge with wilderness training, helping guests experience Iceland safely while still enjoying the sense of adventure that makes these places so special.
What makes Iceland’s Highlands different?
The Icelandic Highlands cover much of the country’s interior and remain one of the least developed areas of Iceland.
Unlike many hiking destinations where trails are surrounded by regular infrastructure, the Highlands are remote. Roads can become rough, mobile phone coverage can be limited and access to immediate medical care is not always available.
Even some of Iceland’s most visited wilderness locations, including Þórsmörk, Landmannalaugar and areas around Vatnajökull National Park, still require careful planning.
For example, reaching Þórsmörk may only take around one to two hours from the main road, but the journey itself involves navigating mountain roads, crossing rivers and travelling into an area where normal roadside assistance is not available.
This is what makes hiking through Iceland’s highlands such a unique experience. You are not simply walking through beautiful scenery; you are entering a remote environment where conditions can change quickly.
Experiencing Iceland’s wilderness on foot
There are many ways to explore Iceland’s remote landscapes, and not every wilderness experience requires a challenging multi-day trek.
Some guests imagine Iceland highlands hiking as long-distance backpacking, but it can also mean shorter walks between viewpoints, exploring geothermal areas or taking gentle hikes as part of a wider private journey.
Some of the most memorable areas include:
Þórsmörk
Surrounded by glaciers and mountains, Þórsmörk is one of Iceland’s most spectacular hiking areas. The valley combines forests, rivers, volcanic landscapes and dramatic views towards surrounding glaciers.
While some routes are suitable for first-time hikers, the remote setting means the area should still be treated with respect. River crossings, unpredictable weather and limited infrastructure are all part of the experience.
Landmannalaugar
Known for its colourful rhyolite mountains and geothermal landscapes, Landmannalaugar is one of Iceland’s most recognisable Highland destinations.
The area offers a variety of hiking options, from shorter walks to longer routes through the surrounding wilderness. The landscape is extraordinary, but visitors should remember that even popular hiking areas remain far removed from everyday conveniences.
Þakgil
Located near Iceland’s South Coast, Þakgil offers dramatic canyon scenery, moss-covered cliffs and a quieter alternative to some of the country’s busier locations.
Its remote setting makes it a perfect example of why local knowledge matters when exploring Iceland’s landscapes.
Longer hiking routes and wilderness experiences
For experienced hikers, routes such as the Laugavegur Trail and Fimmvörðuháls offer some of Iceland’s most iconic multi-day adventures.
Beyond the Highlands, similar considerations apply to longer hikes throughout Iceland, including Glymur, Stuðlagil, Fagradalsfjall volcano and many routes in the Westfjords and Eastfjords.
Wilderness is not limited to hiking
The same principle applies throughout Iceland: beautiful locations can still be remote locations.
Preparation matters for more than just Iceland’s hiking trails.
Some of the country’s most memorable experiences take you into remote and ever-changing landscapes. From exploring ice caves and hiking across glaciers in Vatnajökull National Park to ice climbing, snowmobiling and travelling by Super Jeep, these adventures take you well beyond the usual tourist routes.
Even more accessible experiences, such as glacier hikes on Sólheimajökull, take place in a constantly changing natural environment. Having an experienced guide means you can enjoy the landscape while knowing how to navigate the conditions safely.
It is one of the things that makes travelling in Iceland so rewarding. The landscapes may be spectacular, but many of them are remote and wild too. Knowing when to explore independently and when to rely on local expertise can make all the difference.
How to prepare for hiking in Iceland’s wilderness
You do not need to be an experienced mountaineer to explore Iceland’s wilderness, but it is important to understand the environment you are travelling through and come prepared for changing conditions. What to pack, is just the beginning.
Having explored Iceland’s highlands and remote landscapes first-hand, our guides know how much the right preparation is essential to the experience. Here are some practical tips to help you make the most of your time in the wilderness:
- Share more about yourself
- Pack for the worst, enjoy the best
- Going remote doesn’t need to mean roughing it
- Untouched terrain should remain pristine
- Easy doesn’t mean underprepare
1. Share important information with your guide
Before setting out, let your guide know about anything that could affect your day in the outdoors, including previous injuries, medication requirements, fitness levels or mobility considerations.
If you are working with Hidden Iceland, we ask these questions early on. Be as honest as you can, it’s all confidential. An old injury, back up inhaler, or twinge in your neck can make all the difference when your guide picks which river to cross or which hike to take. We tailor every trip to you.
The more you share, allows your guide to understand your needs and make sure the experience is right for you.
At Hidden Iceland, our guides bring extensive local knowledge to every trip, with many also trained as Wilderness First Responders. Their experience is particularly valuable when travelling through remote parts of Iceland, where conditions can change quickly and access to medical support may take longer.
Iceland has highly capable emergency, Search and Rescue services, but in remote areas, help can naturally take longer to reach you. Often your local guide is the most important person in any rescue scenario, particularly if the weather delays onward travel.
So good preparation and an experienced local guide help you enjoy these wild landscapes with confidence.
2. Pack for changing conditions
Iceland’s weather can change quickly, even during summer. For a more extensive list of what to pack you can check out our Top 10 things to pack blog post, that works year round. However, when you are entering a more remote area, consider a few extras. Being prepared allows you to focus on the landscape rather than the weather.
In addition to wearing hiking friendly attire, we recommend bringing:
- Waterproof outer layers
- Pants and jacket.
- These can be borrowed from Hidden Iceland upon request
- Extra warm clothing layers
- Multiple layers work better than bulky items, especially when hiking
- A warm insulating base layer is the perfect start, with wool or synthetic being the best for wicking sweat
- Sturdy waterproof hiking boots
- These can be borrowed from Hidden Iceland upon request
- Gloves, hat, scarf/ buff and sunglasses
- Even in summer, these extra items can protect you from the elements
- Reusable water bottle / thermos and snacks for the day
- 1L or more is best
- You can fill up in most streams or local cafés along the way
- Private tour guests, when with Hidden Iceland receive a 500ml reusable water bottle as part of their trip
- Lunch packs are often prepared by your hotel or local activity operator, but check carefully before setting off, as most remote locations have no food options
- A small backpack big enough for a day of hiking
- Enough space for at least 1 extra dry layer, snacks, water, spare socks and bulkier items
- Backpacks with built in rain cover or dry bag will help on wetter days
- Personal first aid kit, sanitary products, and sunscreen
- Especially if you’ve chosen to do a hike without a local guide, who will have these with them
- Please be aware that many remote areas have no toilet facilities, so prepare yourself for that eventuality
- Walking poles & micro-spikes (in winter)
- These can be borrowed from Hidden Iceland if requested in advance, but can also be purchased at many local shops
Please note: When booking an activity that requires specialist equipment, this will be provided for, e.g. crampons, helmet, harness etc when on a glacier.
3. Balancing wilderness adventure with comfort
One of the advantages of travelling with Hidden Iceland is that adventure does not have to mean sacrificing comfort. In fact, most Hidden Iceland trips will have you staying overnight in some of the best accommodations in the area. The perfect end to a hard day.
A day exploring Iceland’s wilderness can be followed by an evening in carefully selected premium accommodation, allowing time to relax and recharge before the next adventure. More and more truly remote hotels and luxury lodges are opening up in the most obscure places, giving us ample chance to ‘stay put’ rather than driving long distances or resorting to ‘roughing it’. Examples of some very remote, yet exceptional accommodations include: Highland Base, Hotel Jökulsárlón, Deplar Farm, Hotel UMI, Skálakot Luxury Manor, to name a few.
Our journeys are designed to combine the best of both worlds: remote landscapes during the day and comfortable luxury surroundings at night.
Whether hiking through the Highlands, walking beside glaciers or discovering quieter corners of Iceland, our journeys are designed to combine the freedom and adventure of the wilderness with the comfort, privacy and thoughtful details you would expect from a luxury holiday.
For those looking to explore the Highlands in depth, our luxury Iceland Highlands traverse offers a more immersive way to experience this extraordinary part of the country.
For one previous guest, the private hiking experiences were among the highlights of their trip:
“…highlights were the private hiking tour of Þórsmörk and the private glacier hiking tour. Truly worth every penny to use this company. Iceland is a trip of a lifetime and Hidden Iceland helped us have a perfect vacation.” – Sheryl H on TripAdvisor
4. Explore Iceland’s wilderness responsibly
The Icelandic landscape is incredibly fragile, and in the most part, unaltered. To have a landscape so empty and raw is something we don’t take for granted.
Hidden Iceland’s robust Environmental Policy sets out what we do as a company to retain this untouched landscape. But the impact often starts and stops with how you interact in these environments.
Moss-covered lava fields, geothermal areas and volcanic landscapes can take decades or even centuries to recover from damage. If you are with a guide, they will shar best practices and keep you right. But if you are self driving or exploring independently, it’s a good rule to always stay on marked routes, follow guidance and respect local restrictions. All these little things help protect these places.
Responsible travel is not about limiting your experience. It is about ensuring these landscapes remain extraordinary for future generations.
For travellers looking to experience Iceland highlands hiking, the most rewarding journeys are those that balance adventure with preparation.
The Highlands are not simply another destination to tick off a list. They are a reminder of how wild Iceland still is.
With expert guidance, careful planning and the right mindset, these remote landscapes can become some of the most unforgettable parts of your Iceland journey.
5. Easy days in the Highlands still demand respect
As mentioned already, Hidden Iceland excels in creating bespoke experiences, tailored directly to your needs. This means even the remotest areas can often be experienced with ‘Easy’ being used for difficulty levels, aimed at first timers.
For example, on the very same glacier, Falljökull, in the south-east of Iceland, we can provide an easy glacier walk over the space of 1 hour, littered with picture stops and chats. Or we can delve further into the ice on an adventurous 5 – 6 hour ice climbing tour.
Even as we cross rivers and bounce across rugged terrain in Þórsmörk, we can make each walk only a stones throw from your custom luxury vehile, or venture up into the mountains or into forgotten valleys.
The difficulty, mobility, and fitness level needed changes drastically between them, and yet all are still in just as remote a setting as the others.
Therefore, our final resounding piece of advice is simply this; treat your wilderness or highland experience with respect, preparing yourself for being in a remote and untouched surrounding.
Being ready for anything, means you’ll enjoy everything.
FAQ for Hiking in Iceland
Or emailing us at info@hiddeniceland.is at call +354-770-5733 to start planning your luxury Iceland trip.
Written by Scott Drummond | Managing Director & Co-Owner
About the author
Scott is an Australian-born geologist who, after travelling through Europe, found himself working in Iceland as a glacier guide, not wanting to leave. He holds degrees in both Geology and Finance from studies in his hometown of Perth and abroad in Sweden. He has travelled extensively throughout Iceland, opting to explore the more remote parts of the country to find hidden gems not in the guidebooks. Scott is instrumental in creating our fantastic itineraries and is often helping out behind the scenes when you are on tour with our wonderful guides.