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This Hiking and Biking tour is the best of both worlds - fun, active days in the wild landscape of Iceland, and relaxed evenings to enjoy Reykjavik’s many charms. You’ll have breakfast at your accommodations each day, and your outfitter will pick you and return you there at the end of the day. Two days include lunch, others will include a stop to purchase it - or you can bring your own from the grocery store. You’ll want rain gear, good foot wear and some extra layers, but any special equipment needed will be provided by the outfitter. You’ll need your camera, though!

Day 0:
Leave North America for short overnight flight on Icelandair.

Day 1:
Welcome to Iceland!
Early arrival at Keflavik Airport and you’ll be met and taken into Reykjavik and dropped at your guesthouse or hotel, where you’ll spend the next 7 nights. You can drop your stuff and go exploring in the world's most northerly capital. We'll suggest lots of things to see in town. You’ll have breakfast every day and some restaurant ideas for lunch and dinner on your own. This will give you a chance to sample some of Reykjavik’s fine restaurants.

Day 2:
Explore Reykjavik
Each day you’ll have a hiking or biking tour, some days a combo of the two. You will be provided with bike helmets and a complete gear list, mostly it will include warm clothing that can stand up to wind and rain, hat, gloves, good walking shoes, as well as a day pack for extra layers, water, and a picnic lunch. Your accommodation will post a weather forecast to help you plan your days gear.
You’ll start your hiking and biking week with an easy and fun bike tour to explore Iceland’s capital city. It will include many stops: Reykjavik’s south facing beach Aegissitha, the University of Iceland campus, the culture center of Nordic House, Reykjavik’s Old Harbor. You’ll also get through the narrow streets and putlic squares of the city center - Reykjavik’s Catholic Cathedral, the Parliment building, the city pond Tjornin. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and covers about 7 km (4.3 miles).



Day 3:
Lava hike, south shore bike ride and the Blue Lagoon
Helgafell, the mountain of Hafnarfjordur, is an everyday hiking route of many individuals and families in Iceland. You’ll set off from the water spring of Hafnarfjordur, it’s a 15-20 minute walk over rugged lava landscape to the mountain. You can make it a relaxed walk up with plenty of stops to get informatin and hear stories about the mountain and surrounding landscapes. Once at the summit of Helgafell there will be a nice break to enjoy the view and write names and comments in the guestbook before heading down. The round trip hike is 6.4 km (4 miles) with an elevation gain of 260m.
In the afternoon you’ll go to the fishing village of Grindavik for a 2-3 hour biking tour. This is an easy and interesting trip through lava fields and along the seashore. You’ll cycle to an area with some of the oldest remains of the salt fish production in Iceland. From there the road goes to Hopsnes Lighthouse, where in clear weather you can see the Island Eldey. nearby are wrecks of ships which were stranded in the bay area of Grindavik. Riding along the harbor you’ll follow the coast further to the west. There will be some stops along the way to enjoy the view before cycling through the town, passing the swimming pool and the sports area. You’ll ride about 12-14 km(7.5-8.5 miles), mostly flat and on a mix of gravel and paved roads.

Afterwards relax in the famouos Blue Lagoon that is one of Iceland’s most popular attractions, a natural geothermal pool in the middle of a large and dramatic lava field and an oasis that owes its existence to a nearby geothermal power plant, looming large over the aqua tinted waters. After a day of hiking and biking you will enjoy a refreshing soak in the inviting, rejuvenating and pleasantly warm mineral-rich water (37-39 degrees C/98-102 degrees F). An indoor pool and geothermal sauna are also on the site. Bathing in this surreal environment is a unique experience no one should miss. The blue Lagoon’s warm water and natural active ingredients like mineral salts, silica and blue green algae help you relax and escape the stress and strain of daily life, and it’s also known for its healing properties. The bus will take you back to Reykjavik at 21:00.
For the Blue Lagoon bring along your swimsuit and toiletries. Towel is included in your package and provided by the Blue Lagoon.

Day 4:
Golden Circle Tour and Biking
You’ll have the morning free to see a bit of Reykjavik. Today’s mini=bus and bicycle tour takes 8 hours, starts at noon and includes all three highlights of the Golden Circle, Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir hot springs and Thingvellir National Park. You’ll head out across the highland plateau of Hellisheidi, an area with large lava fields and steaming valleys and the greenhouse town of Hveragerdi. You’ll stroll down to Gullfoss, the undisputed queen of Icelandic waterfalls. This double waterfall is an amazing sight where the water rushes down over three steps of lava layers with breathtaking power and grandeur.
From here you’ll bike to the geothermal area in Haukadalur, the home of the original Geysir. There the ground gurgles, bubbles and super heated water escapes from the ground with enormous force. You’ll continue over a highland plateau from where you bike down to Thingvellir National Park. This is a UNESCO world heritage site and the original birthplace of the oldest existing parliament in the world. It’s also where the tectonic plates of North America and Europe meet and the rift valley between them is clearly visable. This trip has it all, stuning natural beauty, interesting history, amazing geological wonders and a great biking adventue! Bicycle distance is about 25 km (16 miles), mostly on paved roads.

Day 5:
Glacial Hike & Ice Climbing
Today’s tour will start with a pretty drive through lava heaths, lush green fields, steaming mouontains of South Iceland. Your destination is the frozen glacial tongue that is Solheimajokull, part of Myrdalsjokull glacier. It is a magnificent phenomenon, a rugged, raw and ever changing hub of ancient frozen water. Your experienced glacier guide will take you to explore the crevasse riddled outlet glacier with its amazing ice formatins, sink holes and jagged ridges. Along the way your guide will find an ice wall on the glacier and show you how to try your hand at ice climbing. You will be provided with all the tools you need: ice axes, crampons and safety lines, making sure you are very safe as you brave the heights. (And it can be plenty fun to just watch, too!) After the tour on the glacier, you’ll make a stop at the impressive Skogafoss waterfall, where 200 foot drops of water often produce a double rainbow. Then you’ll head back to Reykjavik and be dropped at your accommodation. Packed lunch included.

Day 6:
Hiking Challenge
Today you’ll see Iceland on your own two feet, with a 3-4 hour hike into the mountains and volcanic landscape of Southwest Iceland and have the chance to soak in a natural hot river. Hike from the outskirts of Hveragerdi, the town of hot springs and flowers, up into the beautiful valley of Reykjadalur. Up there hot water rushes down the slopes of Hellisheidi mountain range and creates the ideal place to relax in an untouoched natural hot stream. The valley also has an amazing abundance of geothermal springs and you will witness everything from small gurgling melting pots to vibrant super heated pools of water. After strolling along these wonders of nature and bathing in a natural hot river, you’llhike back down into the town of Hveragerdi. This is a great trek that everyone can participate in. Get in touch with the pure Icelandic nature on your own two feet! Picnic lunch included.

Day 7:
Mt. Esja - The City Mountain of Reykjavik
All Icelanders dream of someday climbing Mt. Esja, the iconic mountain that overlooks the capital city of Reykjavik. Tens of thousnds make that dream come true every year. The well marked trails make for relatively easy ascent as your guide explains history and tells stories about the area. To reach the top there will be some cliffs to climb, but they’re not too hard!
At the summit there is a great view to take in and a mountain guest book to sign - it’s a nice place for a break with some refreshments, before heading down again. The round trip hike lasts 4-5 hours, covering about 16km (10 miles) with an eleavatin gain of 820m. Duration of the tour is about 7 hours.

Day 8:
Time to say good bye ...
When it’s time to leave your shuttle van will return you to Keflavik International Airport for your return flight. OR, if you're very lucky, you can take on more of Iceland

! Here's a PDF of the Hike and Bike Tour to download, print and share

We are ofering this tour with three different qualities of accommodations. Each of the three is comfortable, clean and warm, all use en suite bathrooms.

Guesthouse Borgatun is comfortable, bright, warm, basic, private bath, computer in lounge, near Laugardalur swimming pool. Good budget choice!

Hilton Reykjavik Nordica Sleek modern design, many amenities. 4 star design.
Number in Party Price per person

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