Iceland is a land of contrasts like few others on Earth. Nowhere else do the words of Augustine of Hippo ring more true: 'The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.' Iceland is an open chapter of that book, telling the story of the Earth's creation.
Its landscape is characterised by vast, uninhabited spaces, massive glaciers and countless volcanoes. Here, the lava of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge meets Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap. Situated near the Arctic Circle in the heart of the North Atlantic, Iceland boasts reliable snow conditions. To balance the cold, nature provides countless geothermal hot springs and impressive geysers.
Across much of the island, you will find untouched terrain and a large number of rarely visited summits with slopes ranging from moderate to moderately steep. Skiing is guaranteed to be enjoyable – Iceland’s mountains easily rival those of the Alps. While Vatnajökull's highest point reaches 2,119 m, many tours start directly at sea level.
From Munich, we fly directly to Reykjavik, before continuing the next morning to Akureyri, where we will stay in a traditional guesthouse. The area around Eyjafjörður and the Tröllaskagi and Hiddenland peninsulas offers endless touring options, from gentle ridge ascents to steeper descents. Each day, we will choose the best route depending on the conditions and the ability of the group.
After skiing, it’s a Nordic tradition to relax in one of the many natural hot springs. A visit to Mývatn is essential – it boasts volcanic craters, boiling mud pools and steaming fumaroles. Nowhere else is Iceland’s volcanic activity more evident: the earth hisses, steams and bubbles all around you.
On Thursday afternoon, we take a short optional tour before crossing the island by minibus to the far west and reaching the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The following day, we climbed Snæfellsjökull (4,743 ft). This striking glaciated volcano, with its twin summit towers, stands alone and offers breathtaking views of the ocean to the south, towards Reykjavik, and to the north, towards the remote Westfjords – one of the largest bird habitats in the North Atlantic.
On the final day, we visit Iceland’s famous highlights: Thingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir, before concluding this extraordinary journey with a final evening in Reykjavik.
Our accommodation includes hotels and simple lodges, all of which are clean, well run and full of Nordic charm. Cosy restaurants and rustic bars add to the unique atmosphere.
Program:
Day 1: Direct flight from Munich to Reykjavik. Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Flight to Akureyri. First acclimatisation ski tour.
Days 3–4: Ski touring in the fjord landscapes around Eyjafjörður.
Day 5: Short optional tour. Transfer to Borgarnes (southwest Iceland).
Day 6: Ski tour on Snæfellsjökull (1,446 m).
Day 7: Visit Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss. Final evening in Reykjavik.
Day 8: Departure.