Guided day hikes from Reykjavík: which one to book

If you want a proper hike from Reykjavík and not a bus tour with a short walk, book the Seltún Day Trek. It is the only one of these that is really a hike. The BusTravel volcano tour is the budget way to a lava field. The two private options cost four to eight times as much, and you pay for the vehicle and the freedom.

All four sit on the Reykjanes peninsula, 40 minutes to an hour from the capital.

The Seltún Day Trek: €135

Day Trek beyond Seltún starts at the geothermal area at Seltún, about 40 minutes from the city centre. The operator, Hikers of Iceland, lists 15 km, 560 m of elevation gain, seven hours, a 10:00 start and a group of up to 12. They call it moderate to challenging, and the age limit is 16 and up.

The route passes lakes and ridges, away from the roadside stops. Lunch, water, rain gear and hiking shoes are yours to bring. The guides are certified mountain leaders and the tour includes an orienteering lesson.

The catch: they run one tour per day, so if your date shows as unavailable, try the next. Do not book it if you have not walked 15 km in a day before. There is no easy way out halfway.

A private version of the same route costs €540 for the group. That makes sense for four or five people who would otherwise pay €135 each, and it also lets you fix the pace. For two people it is poor value.

The BusTravel volcano hike: €117

Hike to Volcanic Eruption Sites & Reykjanes Tour is nine hours from an 08:00 pickup in Reykjavík. You stop at the Gunnuhver hot springs, Lake Kleifarvatn, the lighthouse and the bridge between two continents, and hike to the Fagradalsfjall eruption site. The company describes the hike as moderate, up to two hours each way. Headlamp, parking and admission are included. Meals are not. Minimum age is 6.

It is the best value here, but remember what you are buying. Four hours of walking in nine hours is a hiking day on a coach schedule. You will share the path with other groups, and the stops between are short. If you want to walk and nothing else, the Seltún trek is the better day.

For a wider look at the volcano hike itself, see Fagradalsfjall: guided or alone.

The private lava hike: €1,040

Geothermal Lava Hike is private, ten hours, with door-to-door pickup at 08:30 in Reykjavík or Keflavík and a drop-off between 18:00 and 20:00. You see the Krýsuvík geothermal area and church, hike over the recent lava fields of Fagradalsfjall, and have lunch in Grindavík. A Blue Lagoon soak at the end is optional. Minimum age is 10.

The price is for the group, and the operator says the route changes with safety conditions on the day. Cancelling costs 50% within eight days of departure, which is stricter than the other three. Check the date twice before you book.

It suits a family of four or more with older children, who want a long day without a coach. For two adults it is expensive.

How to choose

• You like walking and are fit: Seltún Day Trek, €135.
• You want a volcano on a budget: BusTravel, €117.
• Group of four to six who want their own pace: Seltún private at €540, or the lava hike at €1,040 for a longer day.

Our honest take

For one or two people, book the Seltún trek. It is the cheapest honest hike and nobody else here comes close on the walking. Take the BusTravel tour only if the volcano is the goal and you accept the coach pace.

The two private options are for groups. Do the sum per head before you click. And buy hiking boots or rent them before you go, because trainers will not do on any of these.