Highlights
- Sea kayak beneath the majestic Mt. Kirkjufell
- Glacier Hike along the mighty Vatnajökull Glacier
- Hike and explore in the scenic coastal town of Vik
- Soak in natural geothermal hot springs
- Explore iconic Reykjavik
Trip Details
- Start: Reykjavík, Iceland
- End: Reykjavík, Iceland
- Age Range: 14 - 16
- Cost: $5,599
Dates
Jul 12 - Jul 23 (Available)
Jul 27 - Aug 7 (Available)
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Trip Itinerary
Hike, paddle, and explore the towering waterfalls and deep fjords of Iceland on this epic 12-day teen hiking adventure camp. As you crisscross Iceland’s dramatic Atlantic coast, you will hike stunning ridgelines and stand beneath thundering waterfalls. You’ll sea kayak beneath the iconic Mt. Kirkjufell, experience the awe-inspiring beauty of a world-class glacier’s blue ice formations, explore some of the tallest waterfalls in Europe, hike in the Skaftafell region of Vatnajökull National Park, and soak in natural geothermal hot springs. All of this and you’ll wrap up the adventure with a day of exploring Reykjavik alongside a crew of new friends!
Arrivals, Sea Kayaking, and Hot Springs
Our group will gather at Iceland’s primary airport, Keflavík, outside the capital of Reykjavik, before making the short transfer to the coastal town of Vogar where we’ll start our Iceland hiking trip. The following day we’ll transfer north and west to the quaint, beautiful fishing village of Grunðafjörður. On our way there, we’ll make a stop for the magical experience of soaking in natural geothermal hot springs, located right on a beautiful fjord. Once in Grunðafjörður, we will meet up with our professional kayaking guides to paddle the coast line directly below iconic Mt. Kirkjufell. Kirkjufell is claimed to be one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland (and for good reason – keen observers may recognize it from Game of Thrones!). Once we’re off the water, we’ll spend the afternoon exploring the towering Grunðarfoss waterfall near the village before we head for Iceland’s south coast for our next round of adventures.
Waterfalls and Coastal Hiking
Making our way to the lively town of Vik, we’ll pause along the way to explore one of Europe’s largest waterfalls – Seljalandsfoss – a majestic, 60-meter waterfall. Once in Vik, we’ll take a few days to explore the area’s beauty with spectacular day hikes giving us 360-degree views of the surrounding glaciers and the iconic sea stacks the area is known for. We’ll also take a trip down to check out Vik’s Black Sand Beach – a truly unique experience!
Vatnajökull National Park and Reykjavik
Next, we’ll transfer further east to one of Iceland’s most famous landmarks, Vatnajökull National Park, where we’ll spend a day with professional guides hiking along the massive, awe-inspiring Vatnajökull Glacier. After our adventure on the glacier, our days in the Skaftafell region of the national park will be packed with rewarding day hikes. Epic views and awe-inspiring sunsets against the backdrop of dramatic glacial carved mountain ranges await us! We will close out our Iceland teen hiking trip by heading back towards the capital city of Reykjavik. We’ll say goodbye to our new friends as we explore downtown Reykjavik together and enjoy a final celebratory meal in town.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please see our General FAQ page for many more frequently asked questions and answers!
How physically challenging is Iceland Mountains and Coast?
Given a rating of Challenge Level 4 (out of a maximum of 10), we consider Iceland Mountains and Coast (IMC) to be a intermediate hiking trip that any moderately fit, motivated student can successfully complete with some prior preparation. Compared to similar hiking trips, we believe that IMC is slightly more challenging than Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, but easier than Alaska Mountains & Coast. We consider IMC to be comparable in challenge level to our Costa Rica Mountains & Coast and Northwest Mountains & Coast trips. Please note that all of Apogee’s Challenge Levels are not scientific and are subjectively calculated by the Apogee staff.
Where will my child be sleeping at night?
Our Iceland Mountains and Coast groups will be camping every night in established, front country campsites over the course of our trip. Each of these campgrounds will have access to flushable toilets and showers. Leaders will separate students by gender into tent groups and will rotate those groups several times over the course of our trip. Students will share a tent with two or three other students.
What does a typical day on Iceland Mountains and Coast look like?
The wonderful thing about our programs is that every day is different and exciting, so no two days will be exactly the same. That said, the general layout of a day on Iceland Mountains and Coast starts with a morning activity (usually from about 8:30 AM until lunchtime), then an afternoon activity (after lunch until about 4 PM). The morning and afternoon activity may be the same (e.g., hiking up to the summit of a mountain in the morning, eating lunch on the summit, then hiking down in the afternoon), or, on some days, they will be different (e.g., kayaking in the morning and day hike in the afternoon). After the afternoon activity, the group returns to their campsite, prepares dinner, and plays some evening games before the evening “Apogees and Perigees” circle that wraps up each Apogee day. For more detailed information on the day-to-day schedule of this trip, please contact us.
What is the maximum number of students I can expect on my child’s Apogee trip?
There are never more than fifteen students on an individual session of this trip. Additionally, we limit enrollment by gender to two-thirds/one-third. Groups are always led by three qualified trip leaders.
How will I communicate with my child while they are on this trip?
We are a technology-free program, meaning that your child won’t have access to their phone or other electronics over the course of their trip. That said, students on international trips will call home at some point on arrival day, depending on schedules and arrival times. We have one email stop on our Iceland Mountains and Coast program; parents, relatives, and friends are welcome to use this to send messages to our office, which will be forwarded along to the group on a designated “email day.” If you have an urgent message to get to your child, please call our office and we’ll work to get you connected with your child.
My child will be flying to this trip start. How will they connect with their leaders? Given that this trip starts outside of the United States are there any special travel considerations for minors?
Please note that Apogee staff members do not travel with students; our trip leaders will already be in Reykjavík on arrival day and will stay in Reykjavík after the trip ends. We will ask you to share your child’s detailed flight itinerary with us prior to the trip so that Apogee staff can be fully prepared to be at the airport to greet them on arrival. Once students are with their leaders, they will call home to let their parents know they have arrived and are with their group. Please see our blog post for specifics regarding students traveling using an airline’s Unaccompanied Minor escort service. Further, we encourage you to coordinate travel with other attendees; we’re happy to put you in touch with other enrolled families from your region. We will provide enrolled families with a Travel Information document covering details specific to traveling to and from Reykjavík, including airport information and arrival and departure time windows. Please contact Apogee with any specific questions or concerns regarding drop-offs and/or pick-ups.
For international trips, your child will need a passport that is valid for at least 90 days after the trip start date. We will also ask you to send your child with a signed Declaration of Consent to Travel document (which we will make available to enrolled families in February). Please note that flights to Reykjavík from the United States or Canada will leave the night before the trip start date, arriving in Reykjavík in the morning on the trip start date.
How does the group move from place to place on the trip? Do they have a van?
Iceland Mountains and Coast will not have a dedicated van to transport the group. Instead, the group will utilize a private shuttle company to move them from place to place. Otherwise, once they are set-up at a campground, they’ll be walking everywhere they go! They will have a small vehicle that can be used for exigent situations, but the vehicle will not fit the full group.
Is there any “backcountry” hiking on this trip?
In a word, no. All of the hiking on our Iceland Mountains and Coast (IMC) trip is on established and frequently-used trails. Some of the hiking includes trails that are more than one hour from definitive care (this is the usual definition of “backcountry” hiking). That said, our IMC groups camp in established campgrounds every night, and students can expect regular access to running water and bathrooms. Students do not need to carry group gear such as tents, cooking equipment, and food in their backpack at any time. Showers will be available at every campsite.
How much weight will my child carry on the hiking portions of this trip?
Not a lot. As there is no overnight backpacking on this trip, your child will be carrying between five and ten pounds during their hikes, composed mostly of an extra layer of clothes, rain gear, water, and snacks.
Aside from the trip cost, what are the additional expenses for this trip?
Apogee’s tuition costs are meant to be all-inclusive and include all meals, accommodation, and activity fees. The most significant additional expenses on our Iceland Mountains and Coast trip will include travel to and from Reykjavík, hiking boots, sleeping bag and pad, and personal gear. We suggest that you review the packing list (downloadable on this webpage) to determine what personal gear you already own and what you might need to acquire for this program. Please also check out our Gear Recommendations blog post for links to our personal recommendations.
