Adventurer of the Week: Father and Son Exploring the Wilderness

John and William, through and through passionate hikers, spend their summer holidays in Iceland, trekking the Laugavegur from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, a National Geographic recommended hike. A true family and once in a lifetime adventure!

What motivated you to visit Iceland?

This hike was featured on the National Geographic magazine’s best hikes list. We looked at all of the hikes on the list and Iceland seemed to provide everything we were looking for, including scenery and remoteness in a natural, non-commercial environment.

How long was your stay? Did you travel solo or with a group?

We traveled with a group and had an eight day stay in Iceland with six days on the trail.

Which tour did you take and why did you choose it?

We chose the Landmannalaugar - Skógar tour which was long enough to immerse ourselves and see all of the things we wanted to. The isolated mountainous terrain was stunning and we thoroughly enjoyed the days on the glacier. It was a truly diverse country with so much to see. Þórsmörk was also very impressive. We will never forget the river and waterfalls on the last day, some of the best pictures I have ever taken. And the perfect choice for our first MAJOR hiking holiday. We have done many 2 and 3 day hikes before.

We enjoyed walking around downtown Reykjavík and were AMAZED by how clean everything was. No litter at all. It is clear that the residents take great pride in their city. It was very pedestrian oriented and the shop and restaurant owners were friendly and helpful.

What is one thing you will always remember about your tour?

Two of the things that we will always remember include the invaluable one-on-one time with one another and the amazing service that the Icelandic Mountain Guides provided in several times of need.

If you had to describe your experience in one sentence, what would you say?

This was an remarkable adventure into the unknown with enough comforts to enjoy it.

What is something that you learned about Iceland that surprised you?

We were surprised to learn that Iceland is roughly the same size as our home state of Ohio.

If you had more time in Iceland, what else would you like to see and do?

We would have liked to take a trip around the northern coast of Iceland. And as we are all about hiking, it would be perfect to explore this area.

We would love to see the Northern Lights, Lake Myvatn looks AMAZING. Arctic Henge seems like you would be stepping into a distant past and camping in the Kjarnaskogur woods seems like it would give a very different experience that the Landmannalaugar - Skógar trail did.

What tips do you have for people who want to visit Iceland?

Plan two extra days for travel in the event of complications with air transportation.

And get off the beaten path. Explore the nature by hiking, not by car.

What adventure are you off to next? What is your next dream adventure?

We are planning to travel to the Isle Royale in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan. Isle Royale National Park is a remote island wilderness in the middle of Lake Superior. It is only accessible by ferry, seaplane, or private watercraft. Most hikers take 4 - 6 days to hike from Windigo to Rock Harbor, one way (a distance of 40 miles).

Our dream adventure would be the Metog area in Tibet, of course also a hiking trip. We have not done extensive research on it yet, but I know that this is another one of the “Life List” locations as Iceland was.

John and William's adventure is only one of the many features that make for an unforgettable experience. Book your tour and join us for an excursion that is guaranteed to make memories that last a lifetime.