![](https://images.suitcasemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/10154630/six-of-icelands-best-hiking-trails_6538f64f05794.jpeg)
Hvannadalshnúkur
Best for: sky-scratching views and adrenaline
thrills
Duration: 10-15 hours
Standing at a knee-shaking 2,110m tall, Hvannadalshnúkur is
Iceland’s highest peak and the crown jewel of this fabled country’s
hiking trails. Although you won’t need any previous experience (all
hikes to the top must be guided), summiting the peak does require a
hearty amount of guts and stamina – the mountain is set across
Iceland’s largest glacier, which also happens to hide an active
volcano tucked under its ice sheet. Most of the climb is on
snow-covered trails scored with icy crevasses, so all hikers must
trek with a harness, crampons and an ice axe. Don’t let this put
you off – views from the top offer a mesmerising, whitewashed
glimpse across the Atlantic.