Trekking and Hiking in Iceland, Part 2

Hiking in Iceland-INLUS Webinar Now Streaming

Gerrit Marks on the hiking trail in Iceland

Note: Unfortunately, there were some technical difficulties and lags in the April 14, 2026, webinar with Gerrit Marks. Gerrit has graciously written down some of his talk to offer clarification and
additional information:

For a novice trekker, summer is the best time to go (end of June to mid-August). Daylight is nearly 24 hours a day, so you don’t need to worry about walking in the dark.

Hiking Gear

The gear is important, but you do not want to overpack. Bring the bare essentials: provisions, a tent and sleeping bag, a light-weight rain jacket and pants, light-weight layers for cold weather (even in the summer), water shoes, hiking poles, etc. Make sure your hiking boots have been used and broken in before beginning your hike or trek.

Weather

Be aware of the weather and road conditions. Do activities that are suitable for the season. Putting yourself at risk can endanger the lives of volunteers who make up the highly-trained Icelandic rescue service. Conditions can turn bad very suddenly; be prepared with proper clothing and gear.

Driving

Obey speed limits if you are driving – the fines are high, and the roads and bridges are narrower than in the US. Although I have not been part of an organized tour, I know the guides are willing to help solo hikers who are not part of their group. If you run into problems or have questions about anything on the trail, please ask the guides if they are around. I’ve found that the pace of the large groups is such that you may often cross paths and help is often close by.

Training for your hike

There was a question about training and preparation for a longer trek. I’m fortunate in that I have a section of the Appalachian Trail nearby, and the trail offers many features of the Icelandic wilderness, albeit with trees. There are climbs and descents, and you have to pay attention to your footing on this trail, as there are rocks everywhere, just like in Iceland. I felt that day hikes of around seven miles three times per week were more than adequate. If you are going to trek in Iceland, hike with the pack you plan to use and the weight of your equipment and provisions you plan to have in Iceland. This will be the
best preparation.

Icelandic Language

This was not part of my webinar discussion, but I thought I’d include it as I went for a long time without knowing any Icelandic, and it’s fairly easy to pick up some useful phrases and start understanding what is being said. Learning some of the language is part of embracing the culture of the places you visit and may make you a more welcome visitor. I’ve used various resources and can’t recommend any particular one, but there are online forums and discussion groups, and of course, study books and CDs available to help get started with Icelandic.

Cell Phone Coverage

Cell phone coverage is excellent in Iceland. I was asked about a weather app; I use vedur.is and a viewer also suggested gottvedur.is. The weather can change in an instant and the app is a good tool to have.