Join us for a Winter Adventure in Iceland

Ever dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, exploring an ice cave, or soaking in the Blue Lagoon? We are heading to Iceland in January 2025, and you can join us!

We held our first Social Hikers adventure last month in Patagonia and it was a blast! We had the excellent local guides, great accommodations and trip-of-a-lifetime experiences. Iceland is up next. 14 adventurous Social Hikers can join us as we explore the land of fire and ice. This 7-day trip includes days full of adventure and evenings with a hot meal and a warm bed, running from January 18-24, 2025.

UPDATE: This trip is full, but you can still sign-up on the waitlist.

Here's an overview of the itinerary.

Day 1 – After checking in at our hotel in Reykjavik, we will meet in the lobby and head to our welcome dinner. This is a great chance to get to know each other better, strengthening bonds with old friends and making new ones. After dinner, I'll be leading a basic photography workshop with an emphasis on making the most of the device you already have. We're going to have a lot of amazing photo opportunities on this adventure.

Day 2 – After breakfast, we'll head to Thingsvellir National Park — the only place where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates can be viewed on dry land — and where the Vikings established the first Icelandic parliament in the 10th century. We will explore the geothermal hot springs that are home to the Great Geyser and Strokkur, spouting water 100 feet into the air every few minutes.

We'll travel to where the milky Hvita river drops into a volcanic fissure, forming one of Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls, Gullfoss, before heading to our hotel in Hvolsvöllur and (weather permitting) viewing the Northern Lights.

Day 3 starts with two epic waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss cascades over a 200 foot drop that creates a mist that will get you wet (bring your rain gear). And Skogafoss includes trails to the base and the top, and is considered one of the most breathtaking hikes of our trip.

Then we head to the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, with basalt columns (like those at Devils Postpile National Monument) and arches carved into the terrain by the sea. It's an otherworldly experience.

We head to Skaftafell for the night, with dinner at the hotel.

We begin Day 4 by exploring magical ice caves, carved into the glacier and ever-changing. The forms remind me of the slot canyons at Antelope Canyon, but change much more rapidly.

That afternoon, we view one of Iceland's crown jewels: the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. The turquoise waters of Iceland's deepest lake plunge to a depth of 814 feet.
And just in time, a soak in the famous geothermal pools of the Blue Lagoon.

On Day 5, we head west to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and explore the Arnarstapi coast. This is an area rich in folklore and history, as well as geological features that will delight you — like the three, petrified “trolls” towering off the coastline.

Day 6, we venture into one of the fjords for a close-up of the Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, a visit to one of the most powerful hot springs, and a soak in the Krauma geothermal baths, before returning to Reykjavik for a farewell dinner and our social sharing party.

Day 7, we breakfast together one last time and begin our journey home.

This is the best time of year to view the Northern Lights in Iceland, though they are weather-dependent. Clouds can obscure them, but with six nights of opportunity, our odds are good. And whatever the weather brings, the scenery and experience will generate memories that you'll carry with you for the rest of your life.

Most people who hike regularly will have no problems here. We won't be covering big miles; in fact most of the hikes will be short. But there will be lots of them, so be prepared. We are staying in hotels or guest houses throughout the trip — no tents on this adventure. We will have the perfect combination of amazing scenery. and experiences coupled with creature comforts each night.

Hope to see you in Iceland in January!

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