4-Day Thorsmork Glacier Valley Hiking Adventure Tour from Reykjavik (Mountain Huts)
Price a Trip, Book Now
Tour Overview
Highlights
Dates & Prices
Price in EUR (per person)
Itinerary
We start our journey by boarding the highland bus from the BSI bus terminal, which will drive us to the beautiful glacier valley of Thorsmork. On the route, we will pass by the picturesque villages of Selfoss, Hella and Hvolsvollur. We'll get off the bus at Basar hut, where we will lodge for the next 3 nights. After lunch, our first hike will be to visit Alfakirkja (church of elves), a unique rock formation with a small cave underneath and hike either into the beautiful HvannArgil valley or up to Mt. Rettarfell. Return to our hut in time to prepare dinner.
- Hike 5-8 km (3-5 mi)
- Active walking time: 3-4 hrs.
- Ascent and descent 400 m (1312')
Selfoss, Iceland
Hella, Iceland
Hvolsvollur, Iceland
Thorsmork, Iceland
Alfakirkja
Basar huts
We climb up the hills leading to the pass of Fimmvorduhals, walking along the Kattarhryggir ridges with views to the impressive mountain of Útigönguhöfði up to Morinsheiði heath. At the end of the Morinsheioi plateau we enjoy the view of the lava stream that flowed down from the Fimmvorduhals volcano in March and early April 2010. As we gain height above Morinsheioi we come to the lava and then to the two craters Magni and Móði that erupted prior to the main Eyjafjallajokull crater. We head back to Thrsmork with the magnificent view over the glaciers and this beautiful valley for our celebration barbeque dinner and night in Básar Hut.
Distance: 20 km (12.5 mi)
Walking time: 6 - 7 hrs
Ascent/descent: 1000 m (3280 ft)
Fimmvorduhals, Iceland
Kattarhryggir
Morinsheidi
Magni Crater
Móði Crater
Today, we will hike a scenic trail with an extraordinary view over Goðaland, the glaciers and the inner part of Þórsmörk. We start the hike by crossing the Krossa River on footbridges, and then we will proceed into the Slyppugil Valley and towards Tindfjallagil, where we will find a unique rock formation with a small cave underneath called Trollakirkja (church of trolls). Heading down, we will follow the banks of the Krossa River until we find the bridge and return to our hut for a delicious barbeque feast!
- Hike 16-18 km (10-11 mi)
- Active walking time: 4-7 hrs.
- Ascent/descent 450 m (1470')
Thorsmork, Iceland
Goðaland
Slyppugil
Tindfjallagil
Tröllakirkja
On the final day, we spend the morning in the stunning Thrsmork valley, where you can choose to unwind and soak in the serene surroundings or set out on one of the many scenic hiking trails that crisscross the area. A popular choice is to climb up the small mountain of Valahnukur and enjoy its breathtaking views over the surrounding landscape.At 15:00, we board the bus back to Reykjavík, enjoying one last glimpse of Iceland’s incredible landscapes along the way. The journey ends at the BSI Bus Terminal, with an expected arrival time of approximately 19:30.
- Hike 5-10 km (3-6 mi)
- Active walking time 3 hrs.
- Ascent/descent 200 m (650')
Thorsmork, Iceland
Valahnukur
FAQ
Can I charge my phone/camera in the hotels/huts?
We recommend bringing a power bank to charge your electronic devices. The huts do not have electricity. There is a slight chance the wardens will be able to charge for you for a fee of ISK 500.
Do the mountain huts have dormitory rooms/private rooms?
The mountain huts have no private rooms available, all rooms are dormitories.
Will the huts have running water?
There will be running cold water in all the huts. You will need to heat water to get hot water.
I am a vegetarian/vegan/gluten intolerant, will there be a food option for me, what is it?
Vegan meal plan can be ordered upon booking the tour for a small additional fee. We don't offer gluten free supplements so we advice participants to bring their own gluten free items if needed.
How are the toilet facilities?
Some huts have flushable toilets others have outhouses.
Do I need to bring my own cooking equipment?
No, the huts have a fully equipped kitchen.
Will we be able to shower on the trek?
You can shower in the huts that have showers available, some huts do not have any shower facilities. Where showers are available there is a small fee to use them.
Departure & Return
| Location | Address | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Reykjavik | 6:30am |
Includes & Excludes
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Additional Notes
EQUIPMENT LIST
Boots and Clothing
Sturdy Hiking Boots – waterproof with good ankle support.
Long sleeve shirt (thermal underwear) – Wool or synthetic.
T-shirt (thermal underwear), Wool or synthetic.
Light wool or fleece sweater (2nd layer).
Trousers – b and light material that dries quickly e.g. soft-shell.
Jacket with a good hood – windproof, waterproof and breathable, e.g. Gore-Tex or comparable.
Rain trousers – windproof, waterproof and breathable. Please note that full raingear is mandatory in Iceland, poncho is not useful because of wind.
Gloves – Wool or synthetic 2 pairs of different thickness.
Socks – Wool or synthetic. Two or three pairs.
Warm hat – Wool or synthetic.
Swimwear if you want to bathe in the hot geothermal pool in Landmannalaugar.
Other gear
A duffel bag for the transport of your overnight gear between huts. Please avoid bringing a suitcase!
Day backpack for extra clothes and lunch pack during the day. 25 – 40L (1500 – 2500 cu in).
River shoes – Walking sandals or old running shoes with a good grip are a good choice, along with a pair of warm socks or neoprene socks. Open sandals or flip-flops will not do the job.
Sleeping bag. A basic sleeping bag with no specific temperature rating is sufficient for this trek since all the huts are heated.
Towel – light weight and packable.
Sunglasses & sun protection.
Water container – thermos flask, water bottle 0.5 – 1L. or camelbak.
Headlamp for reading and getting around the hut.
Change of clothes for wearing in the hut.
Personal first aid kit – including blister care.
Prescription medication and other personal health items.
Toiletries; Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap etc.
Earplugs.
Lunch box
Optional gear
Walking pole(s). To preserve the vulnerable nature please keep the rubber tip protectors on.
Power-bank / extra battery for your electronics – small solar cells usually do not work that well in Iceland, so a pre-charged power bank is a better option. Charging your electronics in the highlands often is not an option or will cost you extra. Having converters adapters for 220 V and/or USB will help.
Gaiters (recommended for departures in June and early July).
Pocket knife.
Sun/rain hat or a cap. Shorts.
Small thermal mat (to sit on for lunch breaks).
Puffy jacket (e.g. Primaloft or down).
Dry-bags for electronics and extra clothing.
Slippers for indoor use.
Pillow or pillow case (to wrap around your warm sweater or down jacket for a pillow).
Playing cards and travel games – or other toys you might like and can travel.
Cash– for the showers, a shower normally costs about 500 ISK.
Book - to read during the evenings.
Aperitif or other heart-warming spirits: Liquor laws in Iceland prohibit the sale of alcohol in most places you come by on your trip in the highlands. So, having a flask (preferably plastic or metal) to share with your fellow travels in front of the camp fire (gas heater) can be the crowning of a good day. You can take care of this in the duty-free up on arrival in Iceland if you like. Just follow all the Icelanders on your flight, they will take you straight to duty-free!
Policies
Booking and Reservation
All tours are for early booking, tour operator suggests the each passenger should book tour at least 3 weeks before departure date. Passenger may make reservation via email; however, seats will not be assigned until the deposit has been paid. At time of reservation, passenger may require to provide name, phone number and address and specify designated tour and date of travel.All seats are pre-assigned with numbers; seat assignment is based on a first come first serve basis after down payment.
Each passenger must carry a valid travel document. (Valid visa for countries needed) (E.g. Green Card, Passport, Re-Entry Permit, and etc.) Tour operator is not responsible for lost or stolen personal items.
61 days or more prior to departure - 15% of total purchase amount.
31-60 days or more prior to departure - 50% of total purchase amount.
15-30 days prior to departure - 75% of total purchase amount.
Within 14 days prior to departure - 100% of total purchase amount.
Day of departure no show or late - 100% per person.
Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit entire payment.
Trips require a minimum number of participants to avoid cancellation. We reserve the right to cancel a scheduled trip to fully refund affected customers although tour companies will make every effort to maintain normal operations.
The refund amount will be credited directly to your TakeTours wallet as credits for future use. Or the refund can also be forwarded directly to your credit card with a 6% handling fee.
NOTE: We cannot grant any refunds more than 30 days after completion of the tour.
All passengers must arrive 30 minutes before departure time. All passengers must show photo ID and boarding pass or tickets for boarding; absolutely no boarding without tickets. Departure time and boarding location will be confirmed after reservation is made.
Tour operator is not responsible for any loss of or damage to personal items, or personal injury that may occur on or during the tour. It is optional that passengers to buy travel insurance, for more information, please consult your travel agent.
We constantly strives to improve tour itineraries and features. If such improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary - we reserve the right to vary itineraries and to substitute hotels. At certain peak periods duplicate departures may operate, and sometimes in reverse order in which case hotels may vary from those stated on the itinerary pages.
We reserve the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements or circumstances beyond its control. If cancellation is made any time prior to departure of the tour, Taketours only liability will be to refund to the passenger the amount it has received for the tour booking. We are not responsible for any other travel arrangements affected due to our cancellations.
Q & A
Popular FAQs
No matching FAQ found.