Hiking day tour to the top of Mt. Hekla volcano in Iceland. Trip Difficulty 3+ out of 5 possible. Rated: Challenging. Category: Day trip, available directly from Reykjavik in Iceland.
Height: 1491 m.
Terrain: Rough lava fields, ice and snow as the peak draws nearer.
Average ascend time: 3-4 hours.
Total average trip time: 7-8 hours.
Height gain: ~1040 meter
Mt. Hekla is undeniably Iceland’s most famous mountain. It is the second most active volcano in Iceland and has erupted many times in historic times, including one in February 2000. The mountain towers over South Iceland at roughly 1500 meters. The height changes due to movements of the earth crusts and seismic movements.
For hundreds of years the mountain was believed to be the gateway to hell and no one dared climbing it. Until, Eggert Ólafsson, a famous Icelandic biologist, decided to throw caution to the wind and succeeded in summiting the mountain in the summer of 1750.
Since then hiking to the top of Mt. Hekla has become a popular route. Although, it is not recommended to drive up its sides as the timeframe between the signaling earthquakes and an eruption is only 30-60 minutes. The view from the top of Mt. Hekla is wide and beautiful; you can see all of Fjallabak mountains, up to Vatnajökull glacier (Europe’s biggest glacier) not to mention all the evidence of recent and longstanding volcanic activity.
Guaranteed departures: From the 10th of June to the 31st of September at 8:00- 8:30 from Reykjavík on
Wednesdays with the minimum of 2 persons and other days with the minimum of 4 persons.
Details:
Price: 27.990 ISK per person.Minimum 2 persons every Wednesday and 4 persons other days. Included: pick-up from Reykjavík, packed lunch and glacier gear (if needed).
Distance from Reykjavik: ca. 160 km / 100 miles.
Duration of hike: 6-8 hours.
Total length of trip: 12 hours.
Available: from the 10th of June to the 31st of September (depending on weather).
Minimum: 2 people on Wednesdays, 4 persons other days. Maximum: 60 persons.
Age limit: 16 years.
Bring with you: warm outdoor clothing, waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good hiking boots are a vital!
If you need we rent out hiking boots for 1.000 ISK for the pair.
Trip starts between 08:00- 8:30* from Reykjavik, 10:00 from the base of the mountain.
*
If you are staying at one of the many hotels and guesthouses in the city center then your pick up for your tour will be at 8:00 from the Arctic Adventures main office at Laugavegur 11. The shop is located in the heart of the old city center. Click here to see a map of our location.
Click here to see a list of hotels in Reykjavík which are outside the city center and from which we will pick you up. We reserve the right to postpone or cancel trips due to weather or other factors out side our control.
Click here for details on our cancellation policy. Disclaimer: All hiking trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Arctic Adventures does not assume any responsibility for accidents which are caused by its customers or can be traced to there own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherit risk.