DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO OUR LAKESIDE RETREAT
Welcome to Iceland! For the first two nights we will be based at a cozy lakeside guesthouse on the outskirts of Reykjavik, giving you a chance to settle in, recover from the flight and begin to appreciate the unique aspects that make Iceland so special. From volcanoes and lava flows, to natural hot springs and rivers, to stark and stunning landscapes - it is all in the week ahead! Once everyone has arrived we will take care of introductions, head out for an optional evening shakeout run and enjoy the first of many wonderful dinners together before turning in for a good night of sleep.
Running: Optional 3-8 mile evening shakeout
Meals: Dinner (D) included (grab lunch anywhere in the city before we meet up!)
DAY 2: THE FIRST VOLCANO & THE BLUE LAGOON
We will shake off the travel and get straight into volcanic action at the Búrfell crater, situated in the Heiðmörk Natural Park! This local run is the perfect introduction to the Icelandic landscape, rewarding runners with sweeping views and the satisfying crunch of crushed volcanic rock under your shoes. We will have a picnic lunch at the finish line before indulging in a recovery session in the famous Blue Lagoon for the afternoon. Between the steaming water, silica face masks and cold beer, all of your post-run needs will be taken care of! After a lengthy soak we will head back to the guesthouse for a hearty, home cooked dinner.
Running: 6-10 miles (600-1500ft gain) single track gravel, dirt road, lava (really!)
Meals: Breakfast (B) Lunch (L) and dinner (D) included
DAY 3: HOT RIVERS, HOT TUBS & GEYSIRS TOO!
Today we will hit the road to Reykjadalur, an amazing valley cut down the middle by a hot, steamy river. There are several excellent run options available, and all of them finish with a dip in one of Iceland’s famous public swimming pools complete with hot tubs and steam baths. After lunch at a local restaurant we will drive to see the incredible Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir hot water spout - the original one after which all others geysers are named! This is the heart of the ‘Lord of the Rings meets Game of Thrones’ landscape that you’ve been imagining! To round off the day we will head to a cozy, nearby guesthouse for dinner and a good night’s sleep.
Running: 5-11 miles, 1200-1800ft elevation gain, single track & dirt road
Meals: Breakfast (B) Lunch (L) and dinner (D) included
DAY 4: ONTO THE ICE!
We kick off today not with running, but with snowmobiling! The off-road adventure opportunities in Iceland are incredible, so we will swap the bus for huge 4x4 superjeeps to the Langjokull glacier, transfer onto snowmobiles and enjoy an incredible experience up on the ice. Afterward we’ll change out gear and stretch our legs with a cruise-y dirt road run through a remote Icelandic landscape, finishing with lunch at a unique restaurant supplied by a geothermally heated greenhouse. And after that? You guessed it - we’ll dip into in yet another hot spring before heading back to the lodge for the evening.
Running: 5-10 miles, 200ft-500ft elevation gain, mostly dirt road
Meals: Breakfast (B) Lunch (L) and dinner (D) included
DAY 5: INTO THE HIGHLANDS
We will cover a lot of ground today as we head into the highlands to reach the astounding valley of Landmannalaugur, where rainbow colored mountains meet ancient lava flows and billowing geothermal steam vents make the whole place look almost alien. We’ll take our time running this otherworldly landscape, followed by a now-routine dip in the hot spring and a picnic lunch - expect this day to be a big favorite! Afterwards we descend out of the highlands and towards our next lodge set amongst the pristine Icelandic countryside.
Running: 5-10 miles, 1200ft-1800ft elevation gain, single track
Meals: Breakfast (B) Lunch (L) and dinner (D) included
DAY 6: SETTING SAIL - THE WESTMANN ISLANDS
After breakfast we’ll catch a ferry headed for the emerald green slopes of the windswept Westmann Islands. This run will take us along stunning cliff top trails amongst puffins, shaggy sheep and sweeping coastal views - don’t forget your camera! After lunch you can rejuvenate the legs in the local public swimming pool (this is an extra special one!) and then check out the town; there is both a small museum and a local brewery which tend to be popular choices! We will catch the afternoon ferry back to the mainland and then head back to the lodge for another farm-to-table dinner experience.
Running: 6-12 miles, 1200ft-3000ft elevation gain, single track, dirt road & some lava
Meals: Breakfast (B) Lunch (L) and dinner (D) included
DAY 7: VALLEY OF THOR
Just reaching the start of this run is an adventure, and it only gets better once our feet hit the ground! Thorsmörk, also known as the Valley of Thor, is a magnificent protected area surrounded by glaciers and full of birch forest, meandering rivers and more jaw-dropping views than you’ll know what to do with! It is a grand finale of a run in every sense, one that finishes with a scenic lunch before the reluctant return to Reykjavik. We’ll stretch out our final day as long as possible with a celebratory dinner and our infamous awards ceremony.
Running: 5-9 miles, 600-1500 ft. elevation gain; mix of double/single track trails
Meals: BLD included
DAY 8: DEPARTURE DAY
That’s it! Breakfast will be served at the hotel and we’ll arrange airport taxis for flights departing after 9:30am.
Running: No scheduled run
Meals: B