
20 Oct 5 Must Do Adventure Activities in Iceland
Iceland is a beautiful country with otherworldly landscapes, exciting activities, amazing people, and a fantastic culture. It is one of our favorite places in the world, and it is filled with adventure from mild all the way to extreme. We have yet to scratch the surface on all the intriguing adventure activities in Iceland, but we wanted to share a few of our favorites with you. Hopefully, we will have more amazing Iceland adventures to share with you soon, as there might just be another trip to the land of fire and ice on our schedule for next year!
1. Glacier Hiking and Ice Climbing
Strap on a pair of crampons and join a tour on one of the many glaciers in the country. There are plenty of tour options to pick from, and they range from mild to very adventurous. On the mild end of the spectrum, you will simply get a feel for walking on the glacial ice with fantastic scenery in every direction. The more adventurous tours lead you on a several hour hike up into the icefall where you can then try your hand at ice climbing. Glaciers are constantly changing and moving, and the ice is absolutely gorgeous. We couldn’t resist the urge to scale up the ice, so we had a blast exploring the Falljökull glacier on the Glacier Xtreme tour with Glacier Guides. It was our favorite experience in Iceland and quite possibly our favorite experience ever!
2. Snorkeling
Most people don’t think of snorkeling when they hear Iceland, but a dip in the frigid waters of Silfra is definitely worth your time. The water may be freezing at around 34°F, but thanks to drysuits and many layers underneath, you will stay fairly warm throughout the experience. After donning drysuits, you hobble into the water and descend into a fascinating world of color below the surface. You won’t find any fish to observe, but surprisingly, the colors are so vivid and beautiful that they are mesmerizing!
3. White Water Rafting/Canoeing
There are several rivers in Iceland where you can try you hand at white water rafting, and if you really want to get adventurous, you can go white water canoeing. While the rafts hold anywhere from 4-8 people plus a guide, the canoes hold only two and are more like a small raft than a traditional canoe. Despite never having been in white water, we decided to pile on the adventure and book the white water canoeing trip. We joined a few other large group rafts and hopped into our small canoe with our guide by our side in a kayak. Everyone probably thought we had a death wish, but it was amazingly fun and we only tipped once! Thankfully, our spill was in calm water and not when we were going through the rapids. Whichever option you choose, you are sure to have an epic adventure!
4. Road Trip to Waterfalls
Iceland is a great spot for road trips, and there are waterfalls around every corner, each one more spectacular than the next. Plan on checking out a few of the popular favorites such as Gullfoss, Dettifoss, Skógafoss, and Seljalandsfoss, but be sure to allow time for stopping at the random falls you will surely find along the way. There are so many waterfalls to see that you will have to plan a return trip to check them all out. Another idea for an Iceland road trip is the ever popular Golden Circle–it is a fantastic route that takes you past waterfalls, geysers, national parks and more!
5. Hiking
Hiking is the perfect way to explore a country’s nature, and Iceland is no exception. Take a stroll through Þingvellir National Park or Gunnuhver, a very active geothermal area for a more relaxing and low key adventure. Hike to hot springs or along the coast for stunning landscapes. If you really want adventure, head to the highlands or one of the mountains for very strenuous hikes or even multi-day hiking trips. No matter what your abilities and time allow, you will be sure to find a spectacular hike just waiting to be explored.
Do you have any favorite adventure activities in Iceland? Which one would you want to try most?
We were asked to share our Iceland experience by Guide to Iceland, but all opinions and views are our own.
Anca
Posted at 15:30h, 20 OctoberTwitter: Globaloud
Wow, that glacier hiking sounds very challenging, but also quite dangerous. I’m not sure would I have the courage to do that.
Anca recently posted…Life essential, bizarre and hilarious things Cambodia has taught me!
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 16:56h, 20 OctoberIt was a blast but it was definitely challenging. Yeah, it can be dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing for sure, especially since the ice is always moving and shifting! That’s why it’s always a good idea to go with a guide–I was a bit nervous at first, but our guide had years of rescue experience on glaciers so that made it comforting 🙂
Jenna Kvidt recently posted…5 Must Do Adventure Activities in Iceland
Les Petits Pas de Juls
Posted at 05:13h, 21 OctoberI want to try them all now! 😉
Thanks for the insight!
Cheers!
Jul’
Les Petits Pas de Juls recently posted…The Incredible Experience of Cave Diving
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:48h, 06 NovemberYou definitely should! I think you would have a blast with them all–they are all so fun! 🙂
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Jenia
Posted at 10:48h, 22 OctoberTwitter: housetolaos
Hmmmm, WOW air recently has been pushing $99 flights from East Coast to Reykjavik, so I have been doing a a bit of research. I must say Iceland sounds quite enticing!!
Jenia recently posted…Skopje, Macedonia — A Study in Contrasts
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:46h, 06 NovemberI know, those deals are so awesome!! They certainly make Iceland hard to resist! 😉
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Miles of Happiness - Marie
Posted at 03:49h, 24 OctoberTwitter: milesofhappines
Incredible! Iceland really looks fantastic, it reminds me New Zealand…
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:25h, 06 NovemberI always hear how comparable New Zealand and Iceland are! Would love to make it there sometime, too!
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Mags
Posted at 10:27h, 24 OctoberTwitter: magsonthemove
I wish I had read this before I went to Iceland. Looks like you found some great stuff to do. Unfortunately, I only had a couple days so I didn’t get out of Reykjavik too much, but I would love to return and go exploring.
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Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:23h, 06 NovemberHopefully you can go back and explore more sometime, although Reykjavik is pretty awesome, as well! 🙂
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Beverly Burmeier
Posted at 10:59h, 24 OctoberTwitter: beburmeier
I would not have thought about snorkeling in Iceland, but it looks amazing. Same with kayaking.
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:23h, 06 NovemberI know, we were surprised about it, too! Both were so much fun!
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Nic from Roaming Renegades
Posted at 11:12h, 24 OctoberTwitter: Travel_Explore1
This is awesome, we love all adventure activities and just spend an amazing week ing Switzerland doing just that. We were on the look out for other places where you can do loads of activities and have always wanted to go to Iceland!
Nic from Roaming Renegades recently posted…The best Adventure Activities to do whilst travelling!
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:22h, 06 NovemberSwitzerland is high on our list because of all the adventure activities! I bet you had an awesome time! I can see Iceland being comparable in that way–there are so many unique adventures there!
Jenna Kvidt recently posted…A Photo Essay: Colorado in the Summer
Erica
Posted at 12:07h, 24 OctoberTwitter: girlunspotted
Seriously I’ve been dreaming about Iceland!! SNorkeling under freezing water sounds so different and scary to me! But that sounds like something I’d want to brag about! haha.
Erica recently posted…A Letter For The Traveler Wannabes
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:21h, 06 NovemberHaha, snorkeling there was such a unique experience!! We absolutely loved it, besides the cold, lol!
Jenna Kvidt recently posted…A Photo Essay: Colorado in the Summer
Monica
Posted at 12:51h, 24 OctoberI hope I’ll dive in Iceland. If not, snorkeling will be my auction choice!
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:19h, 06 NovemberDiving would be so cool–we would have loved to go diving, but we need to get certified first!! Hope you get to go!
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Gemma
Posted at 21:14h, 24 OctoberTwitter: Gemma Orrock
I know I can’t complain since we are in Vancouver and have another nine months of travel ahead of us but Iceland is my dream destination at present. I’m not sure I could brace the cramps, although I did enjoy indoor ice climbing, felt like I was in Game of Thrones!
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Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:17h, 06 NovemberIndoor ice climbing sounds like a lot of fun! I know what you mean, it’s hard to complain when you have a lot of awesome things going on, but I can see why you want to go to Iceland–it’s so much fun!! 🙂 Hope you get to visit soon and happy travels!
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Anda
Posted at 00:35h, 25 OctoberTwitter: travelnotes101
You suggested very daring activities. White scuba diving, water rafting and ice climbing are definitely outside my safety zone. I’d love to see the Northern Lights which I’m surprised you didn’t mention here. They seem to be one of the biggest attractions for those visiting Iceland.
Anda recently posted…Alaskan Trails: Walking to the Nugget Falls
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:15h, 06 NovemberYeah, we were suggesting the more adventurous activities that we had a chance to experience when we were there–they definitely aren’t for everyone, but they are sure a lot of fun! We would love to see the northern lights as well, but we made a list based on our experience and unfortunately we didn’t get to see them as we were there in the summer and it doesn’t get dark enough during that time of year! Hope we both get a chance to see the northern lights–they would be great to see! 🙂
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Himanshu
Posted at 00:55h, 25 OctoberTwitter: evrythng_candid
Idceland is my dreamland….. i so much wish to go there and explore it. Thanks for incredible information and inspiring me further.
Himanshu recently posted…My Tryst With Kunzum Pass: Road trip From Kaza To Kunzum Top
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:10h, 06 NovemberThanks–hope you can make a trip there soon!
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Mansoureh
Posted at 05:41h, 25 OctoberTwitter: mansoureh83
I have read 3 articles including yours about Iceland since yesterday. All of them were interesting and encouraging. I can’t wait to go there
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:09h, 06 NovemberLol! Looks like all signs are pointing for you to go! 🙂
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Dalia Lourenco
Posted at 07:09h, 26 OctoberTwitter: gettingcloseto
I would love to see the waterfalls. I’m sure those are breathtaking.
Dalia Lourenco recently posted…Nazaré Portugal – a fishing village that will surprise you
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:07h, 06 NovemberThe waterfalls are so gorgeous! Definitely a must see!
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Jennifer (Vino Travels)
Posted at 18:28h, 26 OctoberTwitter: Vinotravels21
I almost made it there for the 1st time. I look forward to going 1 day. This sounds quite adventurous.
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 17:06h, 06 NovemberHope you can make it sometime–it’s such a great country!
Jenna Kvidt recently posted…A Photo Essay: Colorado in the Summer
Brighon
Posted at 07:23h, 04 NovemberNice post . Awesome Images . Thanks for your sharing .
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 22:50h, 06 NovemberThank you!