Last updated October 20, 2026
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Iceland · South Coast · 5 day road-trip itinerary5-Day Iceland Hiking Itinerary: Waterfalls, Canyons & Glacier Views
Five days of memorable Iceland hikes without committing to a highland hut-to-hut trek. Follow a practical Reykjavík-to-Skaftafell route with daily trails, driving logistics, where to sleep and wet-weather backup plans.
By Global Summit Guide · Updated October 2026 · All distances are approximate and conditions-dependent
What is the best five-day hiking itinerary in Iceland?
For a first five-day hiking trip, use the South Coast: Reykjadalur → Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss → Dyrhólaey & Fjaðrárgljúfur → Skaftafell & Svartifoss → return west. This mixes five scenic walking days with normal rental-car access, subject to weather, closures and seasonal road conditions.
It is not the same as the four-day Laugavegur hut trek. Choose that separately if your goal is remote backpacking, river fords and booked highland huts.
This itinerary assumes you arrive before day one and depart after day five. With same-day flights, shorten the walking schedule or add buffer nights.
Your Iceland hiking itinerary, day by day.
Distances below describe walking, not driving. Each day includes a deliberately realistic lodging transition so the plan does not depend on unsafe rushing or a last-minute highland crossing.
Reykjadalur hot-river hike
Hveragerði · approximately 7–8 km return · roughly 2–3 hr walking
Start the trip close to Reykjavík with the Reykjadalur geothermal valley walk. Park at the designated trailhead by Hveragerði, climb steadily into steaming hills and follow the established path to the designated hot-river bathing zone when access is open. The path can be muddy, steep and icy outside summer. Carry layers and swimwear, but avoid unmarked geothermal ground: boiling water and thin crusts can cause serious burns.
Weather alternative: If heavy rain, ice or geothermal warnings affect the route, explore Þingvellir’s maintained paths or visit a geothermal museum instead.
Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfall trails
South Coast · flexible 4–10 km of walking · half to full day
Drive east along Route 1. Begin at Seljalandsfoss, staying on permitted paths; the walk behind the fall may close due to ice or falling debris. Then continue to Skógafoss: climb the viewpoint stairs and walk a manageable out-and-back stretch up the Skógá River past successive waterfalls. Do not mistake this for the full 25 km Fimmvörðuháls traverse, which requires an all-day alpine commitment, appropriate access and confirmed conditions.
Weather alternative: If conditions are severe, shorten the river hike and use lower-level waterfall viewpoints.
Dyrhólaey viewpoints and Fjaðrárgljúfur
Vík to Kirkjubæjarklaustur · short signed walks · 3–6 km combined
Use day three as a lower-mileage scenery and travel day. Explore designated Dyrhólaey viewpoints where access is permitted, then drive east to the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon trails and signed viewing platforms. Seasonal bird nesting or vegetation protection can close specific paths; respect barriers rather than inventing an alternative route. This deliberately leaves energy for Skaftafell’s longer walking tomorrow.
Weather alternative: If Fjaðrárgljúfur paths are closed, continue to Skaftafell and choose a maintained low-elevation nature walk.
Skaftafell: Svartifoss and glacier viewpoints
Vatnajökull National Park · 5.8–7.1 km circuit · 2–3 hr
Walk the official S2 loop via Svartifoss, Sjónarsker and Sel (5.8 km, 250 m ascent, around two hours) for the accessible classic. Stronger hikers can take the S6 Svartifoss–Sjónarnípa loop (7.1 km, 310 m ascent, roughly 2.5–3 hours) for glacier views when all segments are open. Do not attempt glacier travel independently; booked guided glacier excursions are separate from these trails.
Weather alternative: When higher sections are closed by rain, mud or snow, choose the shortest currently open signed route from the visitor center.
Return west or add a Highlands adventure
Skaftafell → Reykjavík · long driving day; or extra night for highlands
For a five-day road trip beginning and ending in Reykjavík, return west on Route 1 with breaks at places skipped earlier. The drive from Skaftafell to Reykjavík can take much of the day once stops and weather are included. A proper Landmannalaugar hiking day requires a different plan: add a night, a reserved highland bus or appropriate 4×4 access, and confirm road openings. Do not casually drive a standard rental car onto F-roads or attempt river crossings.
Weather alternative: If a storm closes roads, shelter in place and follow road and official travel advice; avoid trying to reach the airport on an unsafe schedule.
Five-day route and overnight bases.
| Day | Walking highlight | Approximate walking | Suggested night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reykjadalur hot river | 7–8 km return | Selfoss / Reykjavík |
| 2 | Seljalandsfoss and Skógá river | 4–10 km flexible | Vík / Skógar |
| 3 | Dyrhólaey and Fjaðrárgljúfur | 3–6 km combined | Kirkjubæjarklaustur |
| 4 | Skaftafell / Svartifoss | 5.8 km S2 or 7.1 km S6 | Skaftafell area |
| 5 | Return west with selected stops | Flexible short walks | Reykjavík |
Drive-time estimates are omitted from the table because weather, winter daylight and traffic affect them. Use the mapping tools below for live routing and leave room for stops.
Follow Iceland’s south coast east, then return.
This is a road trip with day hikes, not a continuous walking route. Base yourself near Reykjavík/Selfoss, Vík, and Skaftafell in sequence.
June through August is the simplest window—but it is never a guarantee.
South Coast low-elevation paths may be accessible outside summer, yet snow, ice, storm warnings and seasonal path closures can change the plan at any time. July and August generally provide long daylight and more predictable trail maintenance, but also heavier visitation and more expensive accommodation.
Check SafeTravel, Icelandic Meteorological Office and road conditions before each travel day. Ask the local visitor center about current trail restrictions.
The full Fimmvörðuháls traverse is a separate high-level outing; FÍ describes it as approximately 25 km over one to two days and notes variable summer access. Do not append it casually to day two.
Book three regions rather than one Reykjavík hotel.
Night 1 · Selfoss
Good for Reykjadalur and getting started eastward. Reykjavík works too, especially if you need city transport.
Nights 2–3 · Vík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Use Vík for the south coast and move east on the following night so the Skaftafell day is manageable.
Night 4 · Skaftafell area
Reserve near the national park or a suitable nearby town. Return west on day five, with a flight buffer.
How much does a five-day Iceland hiking trip cost?
Hiking many of these trails does not require a guided expedition or hut booking. The major expenses are car rental, fuel, food and accommodation. Rather than presenting unverified fixed 2027 prices, use the following as a transparent worksheet and enter current quotes for your travel dates.
| Item | How to budget | Potential cost variable |
|---|---|---|
| Rental car | Price five rental days; confirm insurance, driver age and pickup/drop-off terms | Season, vehicle class, insurance |
| Fuel | Budget for a south-coast return drive and side roads | Fuel price and planned detours |
| Lodging | Compare four or five nights depending on arrival/departure | Hotels vs guesthouses vs camping |
| Food | Groceries plus any restaurant meals | Eating style |
| Parking / access | Check current local payment rules at each trailhead | Site and payment provider |
| Optional activities | Book glacier guides or highland transport separately | Tour type and weather cancellations |
Traveling with two people can spread rental-car costs; staying in guesthouses with kitchen access can control food expenses. Do not treat sample budgets online as guaranteed offers.
Some links elsewhere on Global Summit Guide may be affiliate links. This guide provides editorial planning first and does not guarantee booking availability.
Want the Laugavegur Trail instead?
If the goal is five days on foot in the Icelandic Highlands rather than five days of road-accessible hikes, choose the Laugavegur Trail. Its roughly 55 km classic route traditionally takes four hiking days and involves remote huts/camping, river crossings, changing snow conditions and highland bus logistics.
Huts along Landmannalaugar → Hrafntinnusker → Álftavatn → Emstrur → Þórsmörk are limited and often need advance reservations. Its five-day variant might use a slower walking day or an added stay, but should not be confused with the South Coast driving itinerary here.
Weather, water and roads should decide your daily plan.
Do not enter glacial ice without a qualified guide. Stay away from geothermal pools outside designated bathing areas and heed steam/boiling-ground warnings. Never bypass closures at coastal cliffs, behind waterfalls or canyon rims. Check SafeTravel for alerts; check Vedur for weather and official roads for closures. Carry rain layers, warm insulation, maps, charged phone and a backup plan. In Iceland call 112 for emergencies.
Do not drive F-roads or ford rivers in a standard rental car. The highlands are not a weather-independent add-on to a coastal road trip.
Iceland five-day hiking FAQ
Is five days enough for hiking in Iceland?
Yes for a focused South Coast road trip with shorter day hikes. Five days is not enough to cover every Icelandic hiking region, and flights may require extra buffer days.
Should I stay in Reykjavík all five nights?
Not for this route. Moving east to Vík, Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Skaftafell prevents repeated long drives.
What is the best time for this trip?
June through August is generally easiest for daylight and maintained trails, but check daily conditions and local closures.
Do I need a 4×4 vehicle?
The main South Coast Route 1 itinerary can ordinarily use a standard road-legal rental car when roads are open. Landmannalaugar and some highland roads require separate planning and appropriate transportation.
Can I hike Laugavegur in these five days instead?
Yes as a separate trekking itinerary, subject to conditions, hut bookings and bus logistics. It is not a day trip from the South Coast.
Can I hike on a glacier by myself?
Do not independently travel on glaciers without suitable technical skills and equipment. A qualified guide is strongly recommended for visitors.
Is there a permit for the itinerary?
There is no single five-day hiking permit covering these routes. Individual sites can have parking, access and operator-specific charges and restrictions.
What is the easiest day?
The flexible viewpoint day around Dyrhólaey and Fjaðrárgljúfur can be the lightest, provided the walking routes are open.
What if it rains?
Bring rain protection and use shorter maintained paths, but cancel or change plans in dangerous weather, flooding, ice or official warnings.
Can I add Fimmvörðuháls on day two?
Not as an ordinary add-on. The full high pass is a separate approximately 25 km alpine traverse requiring an appropriate season, strong fitness and transport planning.
Route information to recheck before departure.
- Vatnajökull National Park — S2 Svartifoss / Sjónarsker / Sel trail (5.8 km, 250 m ascent).
- Vatnajökull National Park — S6 Svartifoss / Sjónarnípa trail (7.1 km, 310 m ascent).
- Ferðafélag Íslands — Fimmvörðuháls official route (25 km; access varies).
- SafeTravel Iceland — alerts and travel-plan guidance.
- Icelandic Meteorological Office — conditions and warnings.
- Iceland road and traffic information — road access and closures.
Update cadence: Editorial review at least each spring before the main hiking season, and immediately following important trail, road, park or transport policy changes. Last editorial build: October 2026. Image credit and individual Commons license details are linked beneath photos; check image delivery and license terms before publishing.
Ready for the trails beyond the South Coast?
This five-day itinerary gets you close to Iceland’s waterfalls, volcanic landscapes and glacier viewpoints. For a truly remote trekking experience, continue to the dedicated Highland routes and hut booking guide.
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Global Summit Guide is an independent mountaineering resource founded in 2026. The team combines first-hand trekking and climbing experience with in-depth research and professional health and nutrition review to help climbers choose objectives, prepare properly, and stay safe.
Health, altitude, and nutrition content is reviewed by Taylor Ludlow (Registered Nurse) and Brigg Hoopes (Nutritionist).
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