Self-Launched Trekking Eastern Iceland
6 days · Eastfjords & Lake Mývatn, Iceland
G Adventures charges £1,970
No-markup version: ~£945 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' six-day Eastern Iceland trek: base yourself in the tiny fishing village of Borgarfjörður eystri, hike the Stórurð boulder field, the moors around Breiðavík's golden beaches and the Brúnavík puffin coast, and day-trip by hired car to Dettifoss and the geothermal wilds of Mývatn. Instead of a CEO and private minibus you'll use the domestic Reykjavik–Egilsstaðir flight, a budget 4x4/car rental in Egilsstaðir, and a family-run guesthouse. Note that East Iceland has very limited public transport — self-drive is effectively essential here, and it's the single biggest cost driver. Costs are rough backpacker-level estimates and assume two people sharing a car and twin room; solo travellers will pay noticeably more for the car and room.
Day-by-day
Reykjavík to Egilsstaðir, transfer to Borgarfjörður eystri
Egilsstaðir / Borgarfjörður eystri
Take the morning domestic flight from Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) to Egilsstaðir (EGS) — around 50 minutes, roughly £90-120 one way booked early. If you're arriving internationally into Keflavík (KEF), the Flybus/Airport Direct shuttle to Reykjavík city is ~ISK 4,000-5,000 (£25-30), then a short taxi to RKV. Pick up your hire car at Egilsstaðir airport (small 4x4 or city car, ~£55-75/day including insurance). Drive the scenic 70km to Borgarfjörður eystri (~1h15). Check into a family-run guesthouse such as Alfheimar or a nearby farm-stay. Afternoon: walk the harbour village and take a short self-guided hike up into the Borgarfjörður valley on sheep trails toward Dimmidalur — it's folklore country, so read up on the huldufólk before you go. Cook or eat fish soup at the guesthouse cafe.
🚌Domestic flight RKV–EGS (~£90-120); hire car collected at EGS, 70km self-drive to Borgarfjörður eystri
🛏Family-run guesthouse or farm-stay in Borgarfjörður eystri (dorm or twin, ~£45-65/person)
- →Domestic flight Reykjavík–Egilsstaðir
- →Hire car pickup
- →Borgarfjörður eystri harbour walk
- →Dimmidalur valley walk
Stórurð and Geldingafjall trek
Borgarfjörður eystri / Stórurð
Self-drive to the Vatnskarð pass trailhead (small car park, unmarked turn-off — download offline maps). Hike the classic Stórurð loop via Geldingafjall: roughly 6-7 hours, 14km, with big views over Njarðvík, Fljótsdalshérað valley and Héraðsflói bay. The payoff is Stórurð itself — enormous boulders with turquoise tarns threaded between them. Sturdy boots essential; the ground is wet and rocky. Pack lunch from the village shop (there's no food on route). Back to the guesthouse for dinner — most places in the village offer half-board, worth pre-booking.
🚌Self-drive to Vatnskarð trailhead (~15 min), then hiking
🛏Family-run guesthouse or farm-stay in Borgarfjörður eystri
- →Geldingafjall ridge hike
- →Stórurð boulder field & turquoise tarns
Dettifoss, Leirhnjúkur and Lake Mývatn
Mývatn / Dettifoss
A long but rewarding driving day (approx 340km round trip, 5-6h total behind the wheel). Head north first thing to Dettifoss on the Jökulsárgljúfur route — Europe's most powerful waterfall, 45m high. Then continue to the Leirhnjúkur lava fields for a self-guided walk across steaming, sulphur-stained ground, and on to Hverir's bubbling mud pots and fumaroles. Lunch at a Mývatn restaurant (or supermarket picnic in Reykjahlíð), then use free time to book Mývatn Nature Baths entry directly online (~£40-45) — far cheaper and calmer than the Blue Lagoon. Drive back to the Eastfjords in the evening. Fuel is pricey: budget ~£45-55 for the day.
🚌Self-drive ~340km round trip; fuel ~£50
🛏Family-run guesthouse or farm-stay in Borgarfjörður eystri
- →Dettifoss waterfall
- →Leirhnjúkur lava fields self-guided hike
- →Hverir geothermal area
- →Mývatn Nature Baths (optional, ~£42)
Breiðavík and Gagnheiði ridge hike
Breiðavík / Gagnheiði
Drive to the Afrétt trailhead and head out across the open moors past Urðarhólavatn, Gæsavötn and Víknaheiði — wide, empty, bird-filled country. You'll reach Breiðavík inlet with its golden sand beach backed by high cliffs, a superb lunch spot. Then climb to the Gagnheiði ridge for panoramic views over the fjord mountains before walking back to the guesthouse (around 5-6 hours total). Keep an eye on the weather — East Iceland changes fast, so carry a waterproof shell, extra layer and a charged phone.
🚌Self-drive to Afrétt trailhead, then hiking
🛏Family-run guesthouse or farm-stay in Borgarfjörður eystri
- →Moorland hike via Urðarhólavatn and Gæsavötn
- →Breiðavík golden beach
- →Gagnheiði ridge viewpoints
Puffins at the harbour and the Brúnavík coast hike
Borgarfjörður eystri / Brúnavík
Start at Borgarfjörður harbour, where thousands of puffins nest on the offshore islet in late May to mid-August — the viewing platform is a few minutes' drive from the village. Then hike from the coast up across green mountain screes to Brúnavík pass and down to Brúnavík inlet, crossing a black sand beach for a quiet break. Continue over Hofstrandarskarð pass and along the colourful Helgárgil canyon back to the village (5-6 hours). Last night dinner at the guesthouse — ask about their home-cooked lamb or fish.
🚌Self-drive to harbour and trailhead, then hiking
🛏Family-run guesthouse or farm-stay in Borgarfjörður eystri
- →Puffin and seabird colony at Borgarfjörður harbour
- →Brúnavík pass and black sand beach hike
- →Helgárgil canyon
Seyðisfjörður and departure
Seyðisfjörður / Egilsstaðir
Check out and drive to Seyðisfjörður (via Egilsstaðir, ~1h15 total), arguably Iceland's prettiest village — the rainbow street leads to the blue church. Walk the fjord, grab a coffee, then stop at Gufufoss waterfall on the way back over the pass. Return the hire car at Egilsstaðir airport and take the afternoon flight back to Reykjavík (~£90-120). If you've got a night spare, stay in Seyðisfjörður or Egilsstaðir instead of pushing on.
🚌Self-drive to Seyðisfjörður and Egilsstaðir (~120km); domestic flight EGS–RKV
🛏None (departure day)
- →Seyðisfjörður village walk
- →Gufufoss waterfall
- →Hire car return
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£945 | £1,970 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,025 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£945
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Trekking Eastern Iceland cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £945 per person for 6 days in Eastfjords & Lake Mývatn, Iceland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,970 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £945 — a saving of roughly £1,025 (52%) per person.
How long is the Eastfjords & Lake Mývatn, Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Eastfjords & Lake Mývatn, Iceland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, wildlife trip through Eastfjords & Lake Mývatn, Iceland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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