ICELAND TRAIL RACE TRIP
5VH TRAIL RUN: YOU´RE IN FOR A RIDE
ICELAND. The trail runner´s paradise. But so much more.
The 5VH Trail Race is a 28 km race across Fimmvörðuháls which is one of the most popular and gorgeous hiking routes in Iceland. Arrive a week earlier, do some easy runs in beautiful scenery and get prepped for the race by the Race Directors. In between running days, you will have plenty time to explore Iceland on your own.
Come and experience all Iceland has to offer—the runner´s way!
Dates: August 4th-13th 2023
Thorsmörk (the Valley of Thor) where we will run on Day 2 and where the 5VH Trail Run will end.
ITINERARY
August 4.-5
Arrive in Iceland and August 4th and get settled at the included downtown Kex Hostel where you will stay in 4-6 bed dorms with the chance to get to know your fellow travellers and race participants. The next day you can spend as you like, for example getting to know the downtown area while you recover from jetlag. No schedule these first two days but start looking forward to an adventures week, ending with an epic Trail Race.
Day 3, August 6.
Today we will pick you up early at Kex Hostel. We drive 2 hours to Þórsmörk (The Valley of Thor.), exploring the waterfall Seljalandafloss on our way there, a waterfall you can walk behind! Once in Þórsmörk, we will do a 15 km route with 270m elevation. Expect gorgeous scenery. We end up running the last 3 km of the 5VH Trail Run, imagining how we will feel at the end of the race.
After showering and eating at Volcano Huts (where the race ends) we drive to Skogafoss, where the race starts, and explore this beautiful waterfall and walk up the iconic stairs that launch the race.
Lastly, we drive to Reynisfjara and spend half an hour at this famous spot before heading back to the capital. En route we stop at a gas station where people can grab something to eat. In the evening, we drop you off at your hotel/guesthouse in Reykjavík.
Day 4, August 7.
We pick you up in the morning and drive 40 minutes to Hveragerði. There we do an 11 km run with 460m elevation. In the middle of the run, we will take a dip in a natural hot river that is about 38° Celsius (100°F) before we finish downhill. Expect to see plenty of hot springs and hot, bubbling mud on the way! You will be back well before 2 PM and can spend the rest of the day as you wish.
Day 5, August 8.
A day off where you do whatever you wish in Iceland. If you need ideas from locals, we have your back.
Day 6, Aug. 9.
We are getting close to the race, so today we do an easy 6 km sightseeing jog. We pick you up in the morning and drive about 20 minutes to a beautiful, desolate, peaceful place.
The starts in the Heidmork Nature Reserve and continues towards the lava tunnel of Búrfell. You will see caves and old sheep gathering areas before we walk up the volcano Búrfell and run on the ridge of the crater.
Afterwards, we will take you to Laugardagslaug, situated close to the Reykjavík City Center. There you can enjoy the hot tubs, steam bath and don’t forget to use the cold water tub!
Then we will have lunch togheter where we will go through the logistics of the 5VH Trail Race and prepare mentally for the big day!
Day 7, August 10.
You have one day off to use as you please.
Day 8, August 11
Toda you can make your own plans until 3:00 PM when we travel to Skógarfoss, right where the race starts. This night you will spend at Hotel Skogafoss in nice twin or double rooms. This way, you won’t have to wake up early in the morning on race day and drive all the way from the capital. This last day before the race, dinner is included. Enjoy eating with your fellow competitors and make final preparations for the big day!
Day 9, August 12. Raceday!
The 5VH Trail Race starts at 9:00. You wiill eat breakfast at the hotel and join the other competitors at the start line around 8:30. Enjoy this fantastic race, whether you intend to go as fast as possible or just cruise along and smell the roses.
When you have finished your accomplishment, taken a shower and put on fresh clothes in Volcano Huts, you can buy yourself something to eat and enjoy your time in the otherwordly place of Þórsmörk until the bus takes you back to Reykjavik.
Day 10 August 13
It´s time to say good bye to this magical country, unless you want to stay longer and explore further, that’s up to you.
On your way home, your muscles will be tired and your head dizzy with overload of beautiful scenery that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Make Iceland Trail Race Trip a dream come true!
“Life is too short—Make dreams come true NOW”
What is Included
We will explore Reynisfjara on Day 2
Dates: August 4th —August 13th 2023
INcluded
Three epic trail runs with Arctic Running guides with transportation included.
Accommodation 9 nights. Thereof 8 nights in 4 or 6 bed dorms in the hip downtown Kex Hostel. The night prior to the race a twin/double room at Hotel Skogarfoss where the race starts.
Breakfast is included at Hotel Skogarfoss but not at Kex Hostel (available on site at a fair price, no need to preorder).
On Day 3, the Day Trip includes an epic, guided trail run in Þórsmörk, showers and lunch at Volcano Huts, exploration of the end and the beginning of the race route and sightseeing two waterfalls and the spectacular Reynisfjara.
Admission to the 5VH Trail Race 2023 and transportation from Reykjavik and back.
On Day 6, the Day Trip includes admission to a public outdoor swimming pool, lunch and Race prep by an experienced runner who has done the race and knows the route well.
On Day 8, dinner at Hotel Skogafoss is included.
The company of fellow adventures!
not included:
Meals and drinks. Except for lunch the 7th and 10th, dinner the 11th and breakfast the 12th, you buy your own meals. At Kex Hostel you have the choice of using the cooking facility or eat out at their restaurant/bar or at countless restaurants in walking distance.
Nothing except accommodation is included on days off.
Accomodation
For 8 nights out of 9, you stay at Kex Hostel, a hip downtown hostel with a bar/restaurant and where you can hang out with fellow participants in the the evening. There are also plenty of various diners in walking distance. Make your own meals or eat out — your choice! Get to know fellow participants as you stay in 4-6 bed dorms with the choice of mixed genders or ladies only. Alternitavely, a limited selection of twin/double rooms are available for an extra fee.
The night before the race, all participants stay in a twin/double room at the peaceful Hotel Skógar, situated just where the race starts. After sharing dinner, you can count on a good night’s sleep—and no need to get up super early!
Kex Hostel
Hang out with fellow participants at the bar/restaurant. Regularly live performance in the evenings. Make your own meals or eat out — your choice!
Hotel Skogafoss
The night before the race, you stay at a hotel right where the race starts. No need to wake up super early!
Pricing
The price is 310,000 ISK for the package
Confirmation fee: 75.000 ISK
Twin/Double room all nights: ISK 80.000 extra (limited availability)
Group Size
8-25 participants. If more than 12 participate, there will be two guides.
Who is eligible?
If you are in shape for a demanding 28 km trail race, this packages is for you.
The race itself is by far the most demanding run. The runs we do prior to it starts with the most demanding run, six days before the race, and then our runs get easier so that you will be properly prepared, yet not tired in the race itself.
The race itself has a 1,500m ascent and 1,300m decent. The winner last year finished in 2:50 hours and the last participant in 6:24 hours. The cutoff time is 7 hours, so even very slow runners should be able to finish it within that timeframe. For more information on the race, take a look here. But do NOT enrol as the race admission is included in this package.
The Bottom Line:
Whether the plan is to focus on getting the fastest possible time or just enjoy the route, take pictures en route and smell the roses, anyone who is in shape to handle the route should be able to do it within the time limits.
Meet your guide:
Birkir. Physical Therapist, running guide, General Manager and co-owner of Arctic Running. Is responsible for the designing and teaching at our local Trail Running Courses.
Photos from the Race and the DayTrips
〰️
Photos from the Race and the DayTrips 〰️
The Race Route
The Route
The hiking route of Fimmvörðuháls is one of the most beautiful and popular route in Iceland. It´s also a popular trail running route.
And no wonder since it displays incredable variety and showcases much of the best Iceland has to offer.
The race starts by the majestic waterfall: Skógarfoss. You will climb dirt trails parallel to the river and see countless waterfalls in the process.
Once you have reached 1000 m elevation, you will rach the first aid station at Baldvinsskáli. The you´ll run on the glacier of Eyjafjallajökull.
In 2010, flights stopped all over the world as Eyjafjallajökull erupted and the ash prevented flights. You will run through the lava of gods that was formed in this eruption and you will run past the volcanoes, Magni and Móði.
Then the descent is into the woody, magical greenish mountain area of the Valley of Thor where the view will take your breath away. Once down, you arrive in Strákagil where the second aid station is situated. The last part to Húsadal is rather flat. You cross the famous river of Krossá through a walking bridge and end the run in Húsadal at Volcano Huts.
Video From 5VH Trail Run 2021
〰️
Video From 5VH Trail Run 2021 〰️
Why Arctic Running?
We are passionate trail runners and professional in everything we do. We are well connected in Iceland and our five star Trip Advisor reviews speak for themselves. We were also awarded Unique Tour Company of the Year in Iceland 2019 by the Travel and Hospitality Awards. Since 2012, we have been the go-to experts on trail running tourism in Iceland. For years, we have organised similar adventures to all inclusive running trips in Iceland for travel agencies abroad as well as provided guides for the runs.
With about 20 coaches, we also run a local trail running community called Nature Running or Náttúruhlaup where we have about 500 annual subscribers. Three times a year, we hold trail running courses which more than 1500 people have gone through the past seven years. Our emphasis is on teaching people to enjoy the present moment while running in beautiful nature. We also teach running style and exercises that help the body cope with the running as well as nutrition and other subjects concerning running.
In Iceland Trail Race Trip, we have put together a wonderful trail running experienced and combined it with an awesome trail race — while still allowing you a lot of freedom to chose your own accommodation and extra time to spend in Iceland on your own, the way we ourselves would liked it if we were the ones coming to Iceland.
Truly the adventure of a life-time.
Seljalandafoss, the waterfall you will have a chance to walk behind!
