Walking North to South Iceland (610km)

Wild rivers, endless sand plains, magnificent mountains, stunning coastline, geothermal wonders, pure isolation and hard work. Iceland is an adventure playground!

In August 2019 I started walking from Rifstangi peninsula, in the very north of the country. Three weeks later I arrived at Reynisfjara, the most southernly point of the Icelandic mainland. I walked solo, covering 610km in 20 days with no resupply en-route; only solitude and silence for company.

The journey consisted of dirt roads through boggy moorland and small farmsteads, before turning to the interior and crunching along rough 4 by 4 tracks past tephra wasteland, not-so-ancient lava flows and active volcanoes. Finally the route ended with the world famous Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails passing beside hot springs, glaciers, waterfalls and high mountain passes.

Below are links you may find useful if planning your own trip. Some experience of backcountry hiking is needed though. Even in August there was a period where I didn’t see people for 3 days, and during a storm I was forced to hole up for 48 hours in order to escape gale-force winds and sandstorms.