Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of one of the planet’s most alluring places: Iceland is called “The Land of Fire and Ice” for good reason—here, volcanoes burst, glaciers creak, hot spring gurgle, fjord water crashes along lonely shores, and banners of green aurora light the night. On this weeklong trip we’ll experience an adventure unlike any other as we engage in the country’s most iconic experiences while also trekking off the tourist trail to find the true heart of the destination.
This tour is designed to take its participants far beyond what any traveler in Iceland could do on their own. It is optimized to maximize our time out exploring rather than seeing the country from the car window—a cardinal error made by most visitors; even other tour groups find this difficult to triangulate. We’ll go deep into the southern highlands for hikes through quiet valleys, visit quaint fishing villages in the west, and meet the people who call this wondrous island home—who knows, maybe they’ll even invite us into their homes.
And in case you were wondering, all of the footage in the video above was shot during our ‘24 trip.
Trip Details
Trip Dates: 9/21-9/27 and 9/28-10/4 (7 days, 6 nights)
Group Size: 16 people max
Price: $7,300/person
Includes: The price above includes all lodging, ground transportation, food (minus one lunch), guides, and activities. You are only responsible for your airfare, incidentals (laundry, room service, snacks etc), alcohol, and any activities undertaken on your own (massages etc). There is a lodging supplement for solo travelers—see FAQs below.
Deposit: $1,000. This will confirm your spot in the group and will be applied towards the total trip cost. If you end up needing to cancel after the deposit payment is made, we will apply the credit towards a future ATH trip. If we end up not offering other trips in the next two years, we will notify you and you will receive your deposit back.
Waitlist: If the tour is fully booked by the time you’re ready to commit, we will add your name to our waitlist in the order we receive your request to join. Due to the overwhelming interest in this trip in 2024, we are considering adding multiple tours in the Fall of 2025.
Planned Itinerary
Day 1 & 2: West Iceland
- Pick up from the airport upon your early arrival and breakfast in Reykjavik
- Relax in fjordside hot springs
- Explore hidden beaches, iconic waterfalls, and small fishing villages
- Enjoy seafood right from the bay
- Stay at Hotel Budir
Day 3: Reykjavik
- Explore cool cafes, boutique shops and the capital’s best cultural attractions
- Dine at a Michelin nominated restaurant
- Stay at Hilton Canopy
Day 4-6: South Iceland
- Go off-piste hiking in hidden valleys
- Ride superjeeps on black sand beaches and atop mountain passes
- Walk with crampons across an iconic glacier.
- Meet new Icelandic friends
- Stay on a working horse ranch at Skalakot
Day 7: Blue Lagoon and departure
- Bathe in the iconic turquoise waters of Iceland’s most famous hot spring
- Drop off at KEF for late afternoon departures
*Note: Final itinerary, details, hotels and activities are subject to change.
Your Guide
Brandon Presser (@brandpress) has visited 130+ countries (including ~40 trips to Iceland) and has spent the greater part of two decades writing about travel contributing to an array of publications including Bloomberg Businessweek, the Washington Post and Vogue. He's been called a "rough and tough adventurer" by Entertainment Weekly, hosted a travel TV show on Bravo, and penned over 60 books for Lonely Planet including several editions of the Iceland guide.
Booking
The 16 available openings will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. After that, we will create a waitlist so we can reach out to the next person in line in case someone has to cancel.
FAQs
Can kids join? We love kids—we’ve got kids—but this trip will best be appreciated by adults, preferably over the age of 20.
Can I join this trip as a single traveler? Absolutely. We do however need to add a surcharge of $1,500 as hotel rooms in Iceland are some of the most expensive in the world and our tour pricing is based on double occupancy. If you would like to bring a friend to share a room, we can certainly accommodate twin beds.
Is it possible to arrive earlier or stay later than the trip is currently scheduled for? In 2025, we're offering tailor-made add-ons that we can book for you if you want to stay in Iceland longer after the tour is over. We will also gladly arrange for your early arrival should you want a day to catch your breath before the tour begins. Please reach out to us at trips@chrishutchins.com to help.
Will there be any free time for solo activities? Yes, you will have some time to explore Reykjavik on your own.
Will allergies and dietary restrictions be accommodated? Yes. Once you’re fully confirmed on the trip we will be collecting detailed information on any special needs as well as providing additional trip specifics to make sure you’re comfortable and prepared.
What is the cancellation policy? If you end up needing to cancel after the deposit payment is made, we will gladly apply the credit towards a future ATH trip of your choosing.
What is the typical weather in Iceland during the travel dates? Average temperatures in the early autumn are low 40s to mid 50s. Please note that Icelandic weather can be extremely erratic—we’ve seen snow in June and sunshine in November, but we'll share a packing list prior to departure to help ensure that you’re properly equipped for the trip.
What is the likelihood of seeing the aurora borealis? You need three ingredients to see the Northern Lights: clear skies, darkness and piquing solar activity. We cannot guarantee a sighting but we have aligned our tour to sync with the optimal time to witness the phenomenon while still having plenty of daylight to adventure around. Solar flares tend to surge in the autumn and spring near the equinoxes, so deep winter darkness doesn’t necessarily yield the best chances of seeing the aurora.
Have any other questions? Email trips@chrishutchins.com and we'll do our best to add to our FAQ's.