Laugavegur Trail trekking holiday in Iceland

Planet

We spend two nights in a hotel in Reykjavik and the remaining nights are spent camping. The rise in demand for tourism to Iceland has been well documented and is now a crucial part of the economy. Hotels in Iceland are normally geothermally heated, and waste is recycled appropriately.
By camping for the majority of the trip, we have a far smaller carbon footprint overall. Using fixed sites is even better as these are more regulated than wild camping.

Where meals are provided, locally sourced ingredients are usually used to make a mixture of continental and authentic style dishes, such as freshly caught fish or smoked lamb with potatoes. Guides purchase snacks and picnic provisions from local shops along the way, which supports small businesses in the area. Clients are reminded to avoid whale meat if they encounter it.

As a walking holiday, this trip has very limited detrimental impact upon the environment, residents and communities in the regions we visit. We are careful to operate with a strict ‘leave no trace’ policy, which involves being vigilant with proper disposal of litter and being mindful of wildlife. The national parks in Iceland all have their own environmental regulations that we adhere to.
Travelling by foot also allows for easy access to the local population, shops and restaurants, which facilitates cultural exploration. Through this activity, we are able to raise local awareness for a kind of tourism which refuses to sacrifice the environment and real connections with people. The vast majority of visitors to Iceland stay in Reykjavik and only take day tours out and back. Our trip is effectively spreading the benefit of tourism further afield.
As tourism has grown exponentially in the past few years, this is becoming increasingly important, helping to ensure the continuation of smaller communities who are suffering as many people move towards the capital.


How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
• By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
• Our local partner is a member of Landvernd the Icelandic Environment Association, and Fuglavernd Bird Life Iceland. Both are heavily involved in local conservation initiatives.
• We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.

People

Community:
Our Icelandic operators hire local guides for each trip and use a bus company from a small town in south Iceland for the driving on all of their trips. This is mutually beneficial in that the community benefits from employment opportunities, whilst clients gain an insight into the country from staff with valuable local expertise.

Our operators are also eager to contribute to local organizations devoted to conservation and community efforts. They run various programs for local children with disabilities or disadvantages in conjunction with the Salvation Army , so that these children can take part in activities like caving, glacier walking and going on a rope course.

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• We stay in family owned farms which provides a great opportunity for interaction with local people.