Fimmvörðuháls Private Day Hike

by Southcoast Adventure · Hiking & trekking · Highlands

4.70· 300 Google reviews of the operator
  • Eco-certified

from €422 per person

Next departure: Tue 1 Jun

Book Tue 1 Jun · €422Other dates
Fimmvörðuháls Private Day Hike — Southcoast Adventure
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  • Duration

    10 hours

  • Difficulty

    Demanding

  • Season

    May – Sep

  • Starts in

    Hvolsvöllur

  • Pickup

    Meet at the start point

  • Starts at

    Skógar

    Skógar Bistro. Front of Skógar waterfall, SKógar

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    09:00

  • Minimum age

    6

  • Cancellation

    Free until 2 days before

Meeting point, in Southcoast Adventure's words: Meeting point is at Hamragarðar Camping (Gljúfrabúi Waterfall, next to Seljalandsfoss) 63°37'15.9"N 19°59'22.7"W

About this experience

An Amazing Fimmvörðuháls Private Day Hike

The Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail, from Skógar to Þórsmörk, is one of Iceland’s best-known hiking routes. This Fimmvörðuháls Private Day Hike takes you through spectacular waterfalls, glaciers, volcanic landscapes, mountain passes, and the beautiful Þórsmörk valley.

Our day begins at the impressive 60-meter-high Skógafoss waterfall, where we start our approximately 25-kilometer hike towards Þórsmörk. From there, the trail follows the Skógá River and passes a series of beautiful waterfalls. As we climb higher, the landscape changes dramatically as we make our way between the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull.

Along the way, you can experience the volcanic landscape created during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption. The route passes the volcanic craters Móði and Magni, formed during the eruption. From this high mountain area, we then begin our descent towards Þórsmörk, with spectacular views across Iceland’s rugged highlands.

Hike the Famous Waterfall Way

One of the highlights of the Fimmvörðuháls trail is “Waterfall Way,” where numerous waterfalls follow the Skógá River. The route then continues towards the site of the 2010 eruption, which famously disrupted air travel across Europe.

As you continue across the mountain pass, the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic. The trail passes through rugged volcanic terrain, deep canyons, and eventually reaches the lush Þórsmörk Valley. On a clear day, you may see glaciers, volcanoes, valleys, and vast Highland landscapes stretching across southern Iceland.

After completing the hike, we meet our Super Jeep guide in Þórsmörk. From there, we begin the drive back towards Skógar. This scenic journey gives you a chance to experience even more of the area’s remarkable landscapes without having to retrace the hiking trail.

Super Jeep Journey Through Þórsmörk

During the drive, we pass Gígjökull glacier, where enormous glacial floods flowed down from the Eyjafjallajökull area following the 2010 eruption. We also cross the vast floodplain of the Markarfljót River before continuing towards the south coast.

Before returning to Skógar, we make a stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall. This famous waterfall is one of Iceland’s most recognizable natural attractions and provides a memorable final stop after a challenging day in the mountains.

The Fimmvörðuháls trail starts right beside Skógafoss. A long series of steps leads to the top of the waterfall. Take a moment to catch your breath and enjoy the view before continuing into the mountains for an unforgettable day of hiking.

Note: Depending on weather and trail conditions, the hike may be operated from Þórsmörk to Skógar instead.

Fimmvörðuháls Hike Facts
  • Distance: 25 km (15.5 miles)
  • Elevation gain: Approximately 1,400 meters (4,600 feet)
  • Duration: Approximately 8–10 hours
  • Difficulty: Challenging
  • Starting point: Skógafoss, unless conditions require the route to operate in the opposite direction
  • Destination: Þórsmörk

The average hiking time is around 8–10 hours, although the exact duration depends on weather, trail conditions, and the group’s pace. Some hikers complete the route in less than 8 hours, while others may need up to 12 hours.

This private Fimmvörðuháls day hike is an excellent way to experience one of Iceland’s most spectacular mountain trails while combining the hike with a Super Jeep journey through Þórsmörk.

Description from the operator, Southcoast Adventure. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Fimmvörðuháls day hiking

Included

  • English speaking guide

Not included

  • Lunch is not included 

You can add a freshly packed lunchbox to your tour

Good to know

  • Warm outdoor clothing
  • waterproofed jacket and pants
  • head-wear
  • gloves
  • appropriate hiking boots/shoes
  • some snacks
  • lunch

Weather can change

  • We reserve the right to postpone or cancel trips due to weather or other factors outside our control. 
  • The weather can change rapidly on the Fimmvörðuháls route, so make sure that you are well prepared for all weather conditions. 

Bring enough food - water is required 

This will be a long day, so make sure you bring enough food for lunch, dinner, and in-between meals, like energy bars, for the 10–12–hour hike. You are also required to take at least 1 liter. of water for the hike. There is almost no fresh water on the hike, and few other options for refilling water.

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • In-between meals like Energy Bars
  • 1 litre or more of water is required

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 2 days before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is wind above the treeline and river levels after rain — the guide decides on the day. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1Southcoast Adventure decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 2 days before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Who this is not for

  • Children under 6 cannot join this one.
  • Not for anyone unsure on their feet or carrying an injury — the operator rates this as physically demanding, and there is no easy version of the day.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Southcoast Adventure is one of 207 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about Southcoast Adventure

Read all 300 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.7/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Andreea Avaşi

    ★★★★★ · 3 months ago

    The super jeep tour in Thorsmörck delivered exactly what was promised and was worth every penny. Our guide, Jakob, was fantastic—super nice, easy to talk to, and he made the hours pass by so quickly. The lunch provided was also delicious. Thank you for a memorable day!

  • Joshua Kost

    ★★★★★ · 5 months ago

    We did the 5hr buggy buggy tour today, by far the best day in Iceland so far. Alejandro was an absolute amazing guide, seen waterfalls, caves, and a glacier that we would have never seen otherwise. Alejandro also took us on an incredible hike to one of the falls. He’s knowledge of the area was superb. Highly recommended over all the other tours.

  • David Graybeal

    ★★★★★ · 4 months ago

    Absolute number 1 excursion we have ever done! Our Eyjafjallajökull Snowmobiling Tour with Southcoast Adventures was an absolute highlight of our trip to Iceland—and we travel a lot! We spent about 2 hours on the snowmobiles and covered a huge portion of the glacier. Riding all the way to the top to experience the intense wind and the breathtaking views was unforgettable. Our guides, Ale and Martin, were phenomenal. Ale was incredibly patient and helpful while teaching us how to operate the machines. Even when we managed to tip our snowmobile over, they handled it perfectly. Their attitudes throughout the entire tour were tremendous. This truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime outing. I cannot recommend this adventure and this team highly enough!

  • Veronica

    ★★★★★ · 4 months ago

    We’ve been coming to Iceland for years, and this was hands down the best experience/tour we’ve ever done here. Our snowmobiling tour with Magnús and Steinar was incredible from start to finish. They were fun, kind, knowledgeable, and clearly true experts at what they do. This was our first time snowmobiling, and they made us feel completely comfortable while still making the whole experience exciting and memorable. The location was awesome, the views were breathtaking, and we were lucky to have great weather. But what really made the tour special was Magnús and Steinar. We had so much actual time on the snowmobiles, learned a lot about Iceland, and genuinely enjoyed the conversations along the way. You can tell when guides love what they do and care about giving people a great experience. This was our first snowmobiling tour, but it definitely will not be our last. Huge thank you to Magnús and Steinar!!!

Reviews from Google · updated 23 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Hiking & trekking — questions people ask

When can you hike in Landmannalaugar?

Late June to September. The highland roads to Landmannalaugar are closed by snow the rest of the year, and the opening date shifts with the weather each summer. In season, day tours from Reykjavík (/experience/16823/) run about fourteen hours with a three- to five-hour guided hike and a soak in the hot river. If you have your own 4x4, the meet-on-location hike (/experience/254326/) skips the bus.

How hard is the Laugavegur trek?

Moderate to hard. It is 55 kilometres over four days from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, with river crossings, snow patches in July and weather that can turn to sleet in August. You do not need technical skills, but you need to carry a pack and walk five to eight hours a day. Guided treks (/experience/738812/) handle logistics and camping gear; the luggage transfer (/experience/1036525/) lets self-guided walkers carry a day pack only.

Can you hike to the volcano near Reykjavík?

Yes, when it is safe. The Reykjanes eruption sites at Fagradalsfjall and around Grindavík have drawn hikers since 2021, and guided tours (/experience/629086/, /experience/620679/) follow the routes the Civil Protection authority has open. If there is an active eruption, access changes daily and tours adapt or pause. The lava is usually cooled and crusted; you see fresh black rock and steam, not flowing lava. Wear boots; the ground is rough.

What should I pack for a day hike in Iceland?

Waterproof jacket and trousers, not a poncho; the wind will shred it. Hiking boots with ankle support, wool or synthetic layers, hat, gloves, sunglasses and a packed lunch with two litres of water. In the highlands add a warm mid-layer even in July. Guides carry first aid and route knowledge, not your rain gear. Cotton jeans and trainers are the most common reason people have a miserable day.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Hella & Hvolsvöllur, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in South Coast →

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Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €21 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

from

€422 per person

Book Tue 1 Jun · €422