West Iceland (Snæfellsnes) · 5 days
A five-day guided hiking and camping journey in West Iceland (9–13 August 2026), timed to the total solar eclipse on 12 August at Snæfellsnes. Includes Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, the Glymur waterfall and the Hvammsvík hot springs. Small group (max 8). Meals are not included.
The journey
The Solar Eclipse Soul Journey is a five-day guided hiking and camping trip through West Iceland, planned around the total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026.
You travel from Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss to the Glymur waterfall and the Hvammsvík hot springs, then west to Arnarstapi on Snæfellsnes to stand in the path of totality. The group is small (max 8). Meals are not included.
THE TRAIL
The Golden Circle. Early pick up at your Reykjavík hotel or meet up at the Reykjavík bus terminal at 9AM. We depart for a Golden Circle trip, experiencing the most famous wonders of Iceland: Geysir, Gullfoss and Thingvellir National Park. Hereafter we will depart from the track of mainroad tourism and hike into Thingvellir National Park and settle at the campground for the night.
Hiking Glýmur and visiting thermal pools Hvammsvík. From Þingvellir, we drive into Hvalfjörður, the fjord just north of Reykjavík and one of the most beautiful fjords in Iceland. From the innermost part of the fjord, we will hike to Glýmur, Iceland’s second-highest waterfall, on an absolutely stunning trail through dramatic canyons. We will end the day relaxing at the natural thermal pools of Hvammsvík before returning to Þingvellir National Park to camp.
The day before the eclipse. We drive towards the Snæfellsnes peninsula, where we will take several smaller hikes to explore this very magical and maybe most powerful area of Iceland. We settle for the night in Stykkishólmur - a beautiful ancient town and the pearl of Snæfellsnsnes peninsula.
Day of the eclipse. We’ll spend the day further exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, hiking the trails of Arnarstapi where the lava fields of the Snæfellsjökull volcano stretch all the way to the sea. Jules Verne placed the entrance to the center of the earth in Snæfellsjökull in his novel "Journey to the center of the Earth". And for good reasons. The place is charged with magic. As the eclipse approaches, we’ll make our way into a remote and quiet area to experience totality in complete silence close to the coast, where totality will stretch up to 5 minutes. After the eclipse has fully passed in the evening, we’ll continue to Borgarnes, where we’ll camp with view of Snæfellsjökull and glacier beneath the night sky.
The peninsula of Reykjavik offers amazing hikes and natural wonders. We will take a hike up one of the peaks or follow the weather (as we do in Iceland - that's why Icelanders never plan ahead). Esja, Helgafell or Akrafjell are nearby mountains that offer amazing hiking routes and views over the Reykjavik inlet. Late day return to Reykjavik or Keflavik Airport. There is also the possibility for you to join the Eclipse festival, which continues until the 15th of August on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Get in touch if you want a different ending on your journey.
THE DETAILS
Reviews
This really was a hike closer to my soul. I came to the hike with a broken heart. And after the 5 days of hiking across the Highlands, I felt the heartbreak much less. I walked my worries and the pain out of my brain. I could now accept the pain I was going through as part of my life. That it is beautiful to feel so much as a human, even when it is painful. The cold rivers taught me acceptance and became my new friends. I accepted the exhaustion and was inspired by the beauty of nature, being part of this nature, and my feelings being part of me. These hikes are rightfully called Soulhikes. I got closer to myself and everything connected to human existence. I proudly can say this was the hike of my life so far. Thank you Elsebeth.
The hike wasn't only an astonishing nature experience. It was the perfect pause from day-to-day life to tune inward and come back with renewed energy and creativity. A Soulhike was everything I didn't know I needed.
Book your place
Small groups, never more than 8. Choose your date below — and reach us any time with a question.