A Guide for Eco-Conscious Travellers in Iceland

As the adage goes: take only memories, leave only footprints. (Though less poetic, we’ll tack an “… on marked trails only” to the end of that sentiment.)
Icelandic Mountain Guides are champions of sustainable adventure. That means designing eco-friendly tours in Iceland, educating travellers and preserving the land for future generations. If you’re planning a hiking or glacier trip, here’s how to do it responsibly.

Iceland’s landscapes are breathtaking, sure, but they’re also remarkably fragile. Shaped by fire and ice, the country’s glaciers, moss-covered lava plains and black sand beaches combine to form an undoubtedly stunning environment. However, this beauty exists within ecosystems that are extremely delicate and slow to recover from damage. For example, the moss that carpets much of the countryside can take decades — even centuries — to regrow if trampled. Similarly, volcanic soils erode easily and, once disturbed, the scars remain visible for generations.

Because of this vulnerability, responsible travel in Iceland is essential. Visitors should remain on marked paths and trails to prevent soil erosion and avoid damaging vegetation. Driving off-road can leave permanent tire marks across the land. As such, it is strictly prohibited.

Respecting road and trail closures around sensitive areas ensures that natural habitats can regenerate without human interference.

Equally important is minimizing waste and respecting local communities. Carrying out all trash, waiting for the next service station to answer the call of nature, using refillable water bottles, and choosing accommodations and tours that prioritize sustainability will all reduce your impact on Iceland.

By practicing sustainable hiking in Iceland and joining responsibly-run glacier tours, you can help protect Iceland’s phenomenal landscapes while still enjoying their magic.

You’ve packed your reusable water bottle, stocked your pack with bags to carry our your waste, and briefed yourself on the dos and don’ts of travelling in Iceland. It sounds like you’re ready to experience Iceland’s wonders the responsible way. Here are some of Icelandic Mountain Guides’ most popular eco-friendly tours in Iceland:

Hiking enthusiasts come from all over the world to traverse the Laugavegur trail. Its reputation is well-earned, with varied landscapes unlike anything else on Earth. The trail takes trekkers over colorful rhyolite mountains, through black sand deserts, ancient craggy lava fields and into the lush greenery of Þórsmörk.

Icelandic Mountain Guides' experienced and knowledgeable guides will lead you through these extraordinary landscapes on an unforgettable four-day trek. Each day sees your small group of adventurers hiking four to seven hours between mountain huts, where you'll kick up your feet, feed your body and rest up for another day of mind-boggling sights.

Those wanting to tick a major experience off their bucket list need look no further.

Snæfellsjökull, Iceland’s glacier-capped volcano, is steeped in lore—believed a gateway to other realms, sacred in sagas, famed as Jules Verne’s subterranean portal, and long revered for mystical, magnetic power. No matter the weather, it often appears to be glowing — truly the crown jewel of the Snæfellsness Peninsula on which it sits. The peninsula is often called "Iceland in miniature" because it's home to many of the natural phenomena that make Iceland such a special place.

You'll be able to feel the magnetism of the place for yourself on a one-day guided hike to the glacier's summit, where you'll be rewarded with views stretching from Reykjanes Peninsula in the south to the West Fjords in the North.

Before Eyjafjallajökull blew its top in 2010 and put the eyes of the world on Iceland (sorry about those flight cancellations, y'all), there was the eruption at Fimmvörðuháls, which dazzled with its lava waterfalls over glacial terrains. With the area long since cooled back down, the Fimmvörðuháls pass is an epic area for a day-hike.

On this sustainably-run trek, your guide will lead you from the iconic Skógafoss waterfall, through the aptly-named "waterfall way" (what else would you call an area dotted with no less than 26 flowing cascades?), between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers, and into the verdant Þórsmörk valley. This is one day with countless memories to be made.

Anyone who has driven Iceland's Ring Road knows the feeling of coming around a bend and spying the enormity of a glacier in the distance. For many driving the South Coast from Reykjavík, the first glimpse of an ice giant is the Sólheimajökull, an outlet glacier of the larger Mýrdalsjökull glacier. It's the accessibility of Sólheimajökull that makes it an ideal launch pad for environmentally-conscious adventures.

On the Glacier Panorama Trail, you'll hike along, over and above Sólheimajökull, over rocky terrain and even through a glacial river — it doesn't get much more Icelandic than that! Of course, you’ll have an experienced guide leading the way, keeping the group on the marked trail and instilling a love and respect for the area’s wild nature.

In Landmannalaugar, colourful rhyolite slopes contrast with deep lava fields and steaming springs. The area’s hiking trails lead through shifting tones of earth and stone, offering travellers a rare blend of rugged grandeur and quiet refuge.

On this expertly-guided hike, you'll get to experience Grænihryggur, the Green Ridge, deep in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, and marvel at its emerald hues, which were created when molten rhyolite from an eruption solidified rapidly under a glacier to form glass. Yep, this mountain ridge is unaltered, silica-rich glass. This is a spectacle few visitors to Iceland get to experience.

Exploring Iceland’s glaciers and highlands is a privilege — one that comes with responsibility. By choosing sustainable hiking in Iceland and joining responsible glacier tours, you ensure that these extraordinary landscapes remain wild and beautiful for generations to come.

Ready to start your eco-friendly adventure in Iceland? Check out Icelandic Mountain Guides’ full range of eco-conscious tours here.