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Icelandic Lava Trek 2025

When:

3 – 7 September 2025*

* other trip dates available

Where:

Iceland

Registration fee:

£395

Sponsorship:

£3,599

Sign up via Charity Challenge

Join our team on the Icelandic Lava Trek and help us pick up the pace for a cure!

Host to some of Europe’s most incredible wilderness, this Icelandic itinerary takes in thundering waterfalls, steaming lava fields, plunging fjords and spouting geysers.

Treks 58km over 3-days through one of the planet’s most volcanic regions. Your hard work and dedication will be rewarded with an indulgent visit to Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon where you have the chance to rest aching limbs!

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: International departure from London

It’s a short flight to Keflavik and then a four-hour transfer to your starting point. Drive through lunar-style landscapes, passing by Hekla – Iceland’s most famous active volcano. Your campsite is at Landmannalaugar, in the heart of southern Iceland’s thermal area. After dinner is the opportunity to bathe in the hot springs, perfect for a good nights’ sleep. (Dinner)

Day 2: Landmannalaugar to Álftavatn

It’s a tough day, navigating through snow and mud which moves and slips underneath your feet. Near your highest point of 3,600ft you’ll pass Storihver, a large hot spring. After a deserved lunch, walk through glistening black opsidium rock fields with views over valleys, glaciers and snowfields. 

Follow the Jokultungur Ridge, descend over the scree and cross one final river before reaching the Álftavatn Valley and setting up camp.  (Breakfast ,Lunch ,Dinner)

Day 3: Álftavatn to Emstrur

Leave the incredible rhyolite landscape and head into the glacial areas and fast running streams of the Myradalsjokull Icecap. Here is probably the most intrepid part of the trip, wading through ice-cold streams in Bláfjallakvisi. 

Heading down to the oasis at Hvangngil, the trek then follows through desert-like passes to your home for the night, the Emstrur Hut. You will be camping next to a stream here. (Breakfast ,Lunch ,Dinner)

Day 4: Emstrur and Thorsmörk, then transport to Reykjavik

Your final days trekking offers amazing views of the Markarfljót gorge and the bridged Ljorsa fissure, as well as river crossings. 

Your awe-inspiring 58km trek climaxes with a steep drop into Thorsmörk, surrounded by giant glaciers and raging rivers. After some time to reflect on your achievement and take the obligatory photos, head back to Iceland’s capital Reykjavík where the celebrations can begin in style. (Breakfast ,Lunch ,Dinner)

Day 5: Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon and return to UK

Enjoy exploring Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, the world’s most northerly capital, with a visit to the mineral rich, geothermal pool at the Blue Lagoon before departing back to London. (B)

The itinerary is there as a guide and may change due to unusual weather patterns, wildlife movements, the strength of the group and so on. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary; however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that may occur. In all such circumstances, your expedition leader will have the final say.

Should you suffer from vertigo, it is worth considering that on most mountain treks there will be occasional exposure to sheer drops. Therefore you should discuss the particular itinerary of your choice with a member of the Charity Challenge team.

What’s included?

Before you go
  • Support materials (itinerary, kit list, visa information, travel insurance, health notes, travel tips, responsible travel policy and guidance)
  • Sponsorship forms
  • 12.5% off Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, and Runners Need
  • Access to your own password protected account including support materials and training schedules
  • Warm up exercise routines
  • Risk assessment and emergency management planning
  • Public liability insurance
  • Fundraising advice
  • Fitness training notes
  • Access to training weekends (optional and at additional expense)
  • 16 and 20 week trek/ bike training schedule
On your challenge
  • UK-based 24-hour emergency support line
  • Equipment as per the challenge activity
  • Internal transfers (unless otherwise stated in the itinerary)
  • Drinking water on challenge days
  • An English speaking first aid trained challenge leader and full local support team
  • A donation to a community project in one of the countries in which Charity Challenge operate
  • A contribution towards funding the reduction of carbon emissions through Climate Care’s portfolio of award winning projects
  • Full back-up support including first-aid qualified staff and first-aid supplies
  • Accommodation during the challenge (usually in twin share)
  • Three meals a day (unless otherwise stated in the itinerary)
  • Entrance fees to national parks or other places of interest visited on the itinerary
  • International flights to and from the UK including air taxes (but excluding the fuel element)

What’s not included?

Before you go
  • Any covid tests required for entry to any countries or places of interest on your challenge itinerary
  • Visa (if required)
  • Travel to and from the UK airport of departure
  • Vaccinations
On your challenge
  • The fuel element of the air taxes for your international flights
  • Tips
  • Departure tax (if applicable)

Payment Options

Registration fee: £395. Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £395 when you book plus the fuel element of air taxes (capped at £100).

Fundraising target: £3,599. To guarantee your place on this trek, we ask that you have raised £2,879.20 (80%) 12 weeks before departure and the final £719.80 (20%) within 4 weeks of your return.

Registration fee: £395. Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £395 when you book.

Remaining cost of trip: £395 paid directly to the event organisers Charity Challenge 10 weeks before your challenge plus the fuel element of air taxes (capped at £100).

Fundraising target: £2,795. To guarantee your place on this trek, we ask that you have raised £2,236 (80%) 12 weeks before departure and the final £559 (20%) within 4 weeks of your return.

Registration fee: £395. Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £395 when you book.

Remaining cost of trip: £1,764 paid approximately 10 weeks before your challenge to the event organisers Charity Challenge plus the fuel element of air taxes (capped at £100).

Fundraising target: Raise as much as you can!

Supporting you

You’ll receive support from the Events Team including:

  • email updates
  • links to our fundraising resources
  • a t-shirt to wear for the event

Recommended reading

Want more information?

You can read more about the Icelandic Lava Trek and sign up on the Charity Challenge Website!

Find out more & Sign up now

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the events team events@thebraintumourcharity.org or call 01252 237867.