Amazing Outdoor Adventures in Iceland for Active Seniors

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Iceland is a unique natural paradise for travelers. For active seniors, Iceland has many outdoor adventures to explore. The land of fire and ice is full of very accessible hikes that will astound you. Volcanos, glaciers, waterfalls, lava fields–Iceland has it all. Plus, there is probably a hot pot to soak in at the end of your day of adventure to soothe your tired body. Let me share some tips for active seniors traveling in Iceland. Don’t worry if you aren’t a senior, you will still benefit from this post!

Sue and I spent 2 weeks traveling the Ring Road in a tiny campervan in September. Camping each night in a clean and convenient campground surrounded by natural beauty was divine. We totally loved the campervan life for the freedom, the cost savings, and the closeness to the outdoors it gave us. What can be better than camping next to a waterfall and having a morning stroll near the mist of the cascade? And can you beat waking up to see the Northern Lights through the van windows next to your bed?

Our trip was a self-planned 14-day wander around Iceland. We skipped the popular attractions on the Golden Circle, soaking in the Blue Lagoon, and spending much time in Reykjavik to focus on less-visited areas of Iceland. While these are fantastic places to visit, we spent more time in the East Fjords and slow traveled our way along the South Coast. Plus, we are saving the West Fjords and the Snaefellsness Peninsula for next time. You can find out more about the places we missed in this 6-day Iceland itinerary.

Related post -> 25 Iceland Outdoor Adventures You Won’t Want to Miss

Why Iceland for Active Seniors?

Iceland is made for active seniors who enjoy the outdoors. Here’s why:

There is so much to see in Iceland that a few days or a week doesn’t do it justice. Retired folks can take their time and totally immerse themselves in the natural beauty and culture of Iceland.

Many attractions, campgrounds, and hot pools offer senior rates. Be mindful that the age for seniors, or elders as we are called in Iceland, is 67. However, many places were casual about the age limit.

Driving is reasonable in Iceland. Compared to the US, speed limits are lower and the major roads are in very good shape. Even gravel roads are well kept. Once you get used to the one-lane bridges, driving for seniors is a breeze. In addition, many of us grew up driving a stick shift. Since many of the rentals in Iceland are manual, we have an advantage.

While Iceland is expensive in general, it is possible to make that fixed income stretch enough to have a fabulous time without breaking the bank. We found that joining the friendly band of campervan travelers made visiting Iceland on a budget workable. Groceries in Iceland at the budget food stores are quite reasonable. We cooked most meals and saved dining out for eating special Icelandic foods. If camping is not your thing, many accommodations have kitchens.

Finally, tons of spectacular attractions are a short walk from the parking lot. There is no need for an arduous trek to see a stunning waterfall or to wander through an emerald-crusted lava field. A longer hiker combined with some roadside natural features made a perfect day for us.

Campervan Camping in Iceland for Active Seniors

As a lifelong tent camper, campervan life was a new way for me to explore Iceland. The infrastructure for camping in Iceland is incredible. It seems like every town has a campground near all the services you might need on your trip. Many companies rent well-appointed campervans of all sizes. Every night we joined the cavalry of campervans with company graffiti splashed on their sides as we jockeyed for the prime spots on the camping pitch.

We got a VW Caddy Beach from Campervan Reykjavik. The price included all the basic insurances plus a water jug, a car battery-operated cooler, and a heater. We also added the Essential Pack that included an extra driver, sleeping bags, table and chairs, GPS, kitchen utensils, and a WiFi 5G hotspot. We loved having constant WiFi for getting Iceland travel information and staying connected with the homefront. It ended up costing about $66 USD per day.

Campgrounds in Iceland

Having campgrounds scattered across Iceland allowed for tremendous freedom in our itinerary. Since no reservations are needed at campgrounds, it’s easy to change plans at the last minute when we decided to fit another waterfall or black sand beach into our day on the road. Just pull into the nearest campground and claim a spot on the grassy field. Iceland campgrounds don’t have designated sites and be prepared to find camping vehicles parked quite close to your unit.

Services vary but most have clean restrooms and hot water showers (either included in the rate or paid by coins). A washer and dryer cost about $4-6 USD for each. Most places we stayed had a community room with cooking stoves, a hot pot, and tables to eat at. These cozy rooms were a blessing when it was pouring rain. Campground fees for seniors ranged from $8-12 USD per person.

Camping food

We bought most of our food at Bonus, the most economical grocery store in Iceland, and cooked our own meals. The food variety was great even for a gluten-free, dairy-free diet. I made dinners of salmon, pasta and sauce, rice and beans, fish soup using fresh Icelandic cod, lentil stew, salads, and cooked vegetables. By checking prices carefully, we were able to spend the equivalent of what we would normally spend on groceries for a week in the US. We did bring protein bars, spices, hot drinks, and some dried veggies.

Lunches were sandwiches of smoked lamb or other meat, shrimp or egg salad, cheese, or peanut butter and jam. We also had kippers, chips, apples, oranges, bananas, and yummy Iceland cookies and candy. The variety of products for lunches in the grocery stores was excellent.

Breakfasts were oatmeal, granola, skyr (a thick yogurt very popular in Iceland), eggs, and rúgbrauð, our favorite Icelandic bread that I describe as eating a delicious rye fudge. Make sure you try it!

And of course, we indulged in the amazing Icelandic hot dogs at gas stations along the way.

Other tips for camping in Iceland for active seniors

We weren’t sure how comfortable the bed in the campervan would be so we brought our lightweight blow-up mattress pads. They really helped us have supreme comfort in the van. The Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad was warm and super soft for Sue. I used my favorite Therm-a-rest NeoAir pad that has cushioned my achy joints for years. The bonus was they don’t take up much room in our luggage.

As nights are chilly in September in Iceland, we also brought extra sleeping warmth. My ultra-warm, ultra-light Rumpl blanket was the perfect extra layer at night and also a wonderful lap blanket around camp. Sue swore by her lightweight NorthFace Cat’s Meow to keep her warm.

We also planned a couple of breaks from sleeping in the campervan in our itinerary. Our stays in accommodations made for a nice respite from camping life. The first was when we arrived in Iceland at night. After a long travel day, it was great to settle into a cozy room and not have to figure out the campervan logistics right away. Especially since it was raining sideways when we arrived. Hotel Tjarna Keflavik was near the airport and the Bonus we shopped at in the morning. It was clean, had breakfast and nice people, and was reasonably priced.

Halfway through the trip, we stayed at the gorgeous Blabjorb Guesthouse in Borgarfjordur Eystri in the east fjords. Situated right on the ocean with views of the surrounding mountains, this guesthouse also has a fabulous breakfast and a restaurant with amazing service. We particularly enjoyed the spa with oceanside hot tubs perfect for northern lights viewing.

Hikes in Iceland for Active Seniors

Fagradalsfjall volcano

Iceland currently has a politely erupting volcano to visit. The Fagradalsfjall volcano, the first active volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula in 800 years, started spilling lava into the Geldingadalir valleys in March 2021. We hiked up to see the steaming lava fields when we were there in September. While the volcano was inactive on the day of our hike we did see the red hot lava reflecting against the sky at the end of our trip when we camped at the Grindavik campsite. Go to Safe Travels for current information on the volcano.

How often do you get to see an active volcano was the question that prompted us to hike up to see the crater and the lava fields. We used Trail A, but it is now closed due to the shifting lava flow. However, the other trails will get you an astounding view. The B trail is very steep with a roped section. Trail C from Langihryggur is 4.5 km long and offers a stunning view of the crater from the ridge. Trail C from Nátthagi is a shorter way to see just the lava that has oozed down covering the valley floor. There are two parking lots along Route 427 about 10 minutes east of Grindavik. Check here for current trail descriptions.

Reykajdalur Valley

This hike up the “Steam Valley” to bathe in the hot springs of the river was a highlight. It was raining off and on and the hike took us a few hours but the amazing geothermal areas were worth it. The 3.5 km trail winds around the valley, over a few ridges, and beside mud pots. Steam vents are also prominent on the hike. As are sheep. The geothermal features of the valley support abundant and lush pastureland for the sheep. Their plump bodies are ready for winter when herded back to their farms in September.

The goal of our hike was to swim in the hot river. While it was more of a warm river, it was delightful. Open-sided changing rooms are at the key swim access points. Privacy was limited, however, no one seemed to mind.

The hike near Hveragerdi starts at an end of the road restaurant parking lot just past the Geothermal Park. By the way, the restaurant has excellent lamb stew for an end-of-hike treat.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is a lovely stroll goal. The canyon is located off the ring road in South Iceland near the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. A well-maintained trail and boardwalks snake along the canyon rim. You can see the dramatic canyon from different viewpoints along the trail. At the end of the trail, watch the waterfall at the head of the canyon fall 100 meters into the river below. The entire hike can be done in an hour. You can also venture up the river from canyon floor level for another perspective.

Skaftafell National Park

After the fiery walks of our first few days in Iceland, we were happy to see the ice side of the land of fire and ice. Skaftafell National Park is the perfect base for hikes to ice.

The premier glacier gazing hike in Skaftafell is to the Skaftafellsjökull glacier. The partially paved trail is an easy stroll from the Skaftafell Visitors Center. The 3.7 km round trip hike took us a couple of hours with lots of time absorbing the remarkable beauty of the huge ice mass. There was great blueberry picking on the way back too.

For those who want to hike on the glacier itself, a guided tour is necessary. The best glacier walk I found is run by the Association of Icelandic Mountain Guides-certified guides.

Other Outdoor Adventures for Active Seniors

Hot springs and tubs

After a few days in the geothermal world that is Iceland, I was convinced I could visit a hot spring or tub every day of the trip. I came close, that’s how many places there are to soak in hot water in Iceland. For active seniors, relaxing in a hot tub after an ambitious outdoor adventure lets us be ready for the activities of the next day.

The natural hot springs we found along the way were each unique. Besides Reykajdalur Valley hot springs, we bathed in the Hoffell Hot Tubs and Mývatn Nature Baths. Our favorite was the Hoffell Hot Tubs in the middle of nowhere near Hofn. Each hot pot was at a different temperature so we could play Goldilocks and choose the one that was just right. There were simple changing rooms too.

We were delighted to find that many towns in Iceland have heated public pools and hot tubs. For active seniors, the town pool is often discounted or free. The days we didn’t find natural hot springs on our journey we indulged in the hot tubs at the local pool complex. It’s a great way to visit with the native Icelanders.

Bring your own towel to Iceland if you will be visiting hot springs. The commercial hot springs rent towels but you need to bring your own at the natural hot springs. Your fluffy cotton towel will never dry in moist Iceland so bring a synthetic fiber towel that dries 40% faster than cotton. My go-to is a PackTowel Luxe lightweight, super absorbent towel.

Related post> Hot Springs of the Canadian Rockies

Icelandic horseback riding

If you have any interest in horses at all, you must ride an Icelandic horse. The golden gait of these horses (not ponies) is the tölt. The tölt gait is extremely comfortable to ride. If you have ever bounced along on a hard trotting horse, you will be astounded by the smoothness of this gait.

Skorrahester Farm in Neskaupstaður in East Iceland is a family-run farm offering horseback riding and hiking tours. While I went on a two-hour horseback ride, my partner, who doesn’t ride, enjoyed a hike led by Doddi, the family patriarch. As they scaled a local mountain along trails with loaded blueberry bushes, Doddi told hilarious stories and local lore. Sunna, the adult daughter, was my guide as we rode across fields and streams with incredible views of the mountains and the fjord.

After our respective journeys, we all gathered with Thea, the family matriarch, for tea and Iceland crepes with homemade preserves. It was a wonderful chance to chat with the family. We all laughed a lot and shared bits about our own lives and cultures. Skorrahester Farm was easily our favorite part of our Iceland trip.

We enjoyed the remoteness of East Iceland. There are so many things to do in East Iceland, that we would gladly return.

Wrap Up of Iceland for Active Seniors

Iceland is the perfect country for active seniors to follow a self-planned itinerary with many outdoor adventures. Life in a campervan on the ring road lets you take as much time as you want. You can see every roadside waterfall or skip ahead to the next hot springs. Many short hikes will yield amazing roadside beauty. The driving is easy and the camping facilities are just right for comfortable stays. It’s never too late to camp your way through the magic of Iceland.

Proven Winter Hiking Tips

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