en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en hbs_lat en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en is is is is en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en is en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en da en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en it is de fi hu hu de en is en nb is en es en de en pt en en is hu en is en is is is is nb en en pl hu hbs_lat de en sk de de hbs_lat en fr hu hu en pt sv en en en en is gl en is de cs pt is en en is en en en en en en en en en en it en en en hu is is pt ca en de da nl en is hbs_lat en en is id nl nb en en en hu de cs gl it it is en ga en cs hbs_lat en is en en nb en de hu hu en is de is is en en nl en hbs_lat en de et da is is fr hu is en nb en nl cs is et is id pl en en en hbs_lat is is en en hu en en en en hbs_lat en it fr de pl id en de en it fr en de en en hu is en is is en is en hu de en en en en nb it en hu fr de is is es ga nl is en en is fr sk en hu ga nl en en en es en hu de en is cs is en en is hu en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en en en en en en is fr is en vi en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en de
Adventurer of the Week goes Coast-to-cCoast
Take a Walk on the Ice Side
Walk through Ice and Fire
Glacier Walk and Northern Lights
South Shore, Glacier Walk and Ice Climbing
Glacier Walk and Secret Lagoon
Sólheimajökull Glacier Walk and Ice Climbing
Glacier Walk and the Glacier Lagoon
Golden Circle and Magical Nights
Volcanic Wonders of the Reykjanes Peninsula
Iceland Northern Lights and Lobster Jeep Tour
Hot Springs and Lava Cave
Northern Lights and Ice Cave Adventure
Golden Circle and Glacier Getaway
Kingdom of Volcanoes and Glaciers
The Saga of Volcanoes and Fjords
The Crossing of Fire and Water
Kingdom of Glaciers and Northern Lights
The Laugavegur with a Backpack
Laugavegur - Light and Fast
The Ultimate Iceland - Greenland Trek
Hiking at the End of the World
In the Shadow of Vatnajökull
Trails of the East
The Wilderness of Glaciers
The Complete East Iceland Trek
Explorer’s Peak to the Canyon of Fire
The Wilderness of Strútur Trail
The Backroad to Landmannalaugar
Trek of the Trolls
The Complete Volcanic Trek
The Rivers and Glaciers of Vatnajökull
Backpacking along Vatnajökull Combination
Coast to Coast - The Iceland Traverse
The Three Peaks Challenge
On bike from Laki to Landmannalaugar
Iceland’s Best Single Tracks
Knitting and Hiking between Fire and Ice
Icelandic Spring Knitting & Hiking Holiday
Knitting and Hiking under the Midnight Sun
Hiking and knitting with the Elves
Authentic Iceland Knitting & Hiking
Mountains and Fjords of the North
The Peaks of Siglufjörður
Skiing between the Fjords
Westfjords Ski to the Sea tour
Oceans, Valleys and Peaks
Hiking at the End of the World
Laugavegur Trail Self Guided
South Coast Self Drive
Tour of the Icelandic Highlands
Mt Gunnbjörn, the Highest Peak in Greenland
The Peaks of Greenland
East Greenland Winter Expedition
The North Pole – Skiing the Last Degree
South Pole - All the way
South Pole – Skiing the last degree
Ski Touring – Beginner Course
Ice Climbing I Course
Ice Climbing II Course
Other Tours & Services
Ice Climbing Day Tour
Semi-Guided Ice Climbing Trip
4WD Tours in Summer
4WD Tours in Winter
Alpine Mountaineering - Day Tours
Backpacking Tours in Greenland
Backpacking Tours in Iceland
Cross Country Skiing Tours - mountain huts
Cross Country Skiing Tours - winter camping
Cross Country Skiing Tours in Greenland
Ice-Climbing / Winter mountaineering
Ski Mountaineering / Alpine Touring
Ski Mountaineering / Alpine Touring in Greenland
Trekking Tours in Greenland
Hard Ice Guide Beginner Course
Level I Hard Ice Guide Exam
Level II Hard Ice Guide Exam
IMG Mountain Guide Exam
Crevasse Rescue for Super-Jeep Guides
Be a responsible traveller
Adventurer of the Week
We offer our site in the following languages:
Hiking & trekking in Iceland & Greenland since 1994
Call us: +354 587 9999
Adventurer of the Week: Dorian Goes Coast-to-Coast
Adventurer of the Week
Subscribe to the blog
Other Tours & Services
Adventurer of the Week: Dorian Goes Coast-to-Coast
Golden hour in the highlands.
Dorian, a traveller and photographer from  Canada, shares his highland crossing adventure from Nýdalur to Eldgjá, deep in the Icelandic highlands. We caught up with Dorian and he shared his experience with us.
What motivated you to visit Iceland?
I was heading home from Europe to Canada, but still wanted to travel a bit more. Having lived in Sweden and Finland forover a year, I really enjoyed the outdoors and Nordic culture, so Iceland was the logical destination. I am also an avid photographer, and had heard that Iceland is a bit of a geological wonderland and photographic paradise. There were agreat many reasons to head to Iceland.
I did a bit of group travel for a week through the interior of Iceland with the Icelandic Mountain Guides, which was a great way to finish my journey.
How long was your stay? Did you travel solo or with a group?
I spent four weeks in Iceland in June and July. I did mostly solo travelling and hitch-hiking at the start of my trip. Hitch-hiking was really easy and such a great way of meeting people. It often took me down paths of travel that I would normally not see, and I got to peek into the lives of others, both Icelanders and travellers alike. At the end, I did a bit of group travel for a week through the interior of Iceland with the Icelandic Mountain Guides, which was a great way to finish my journey.
Which tour did you take and why did you choose it?
I took part in the Nyidalur to Eldgja trip (4th week) section of the cross-Iceland trek. I didn't know that it was part of a cross-Iceland tour, but that made it all the more interesting, because I could hear the tales from other parts of the interior which very few people actually see when they come to iceland. I chose the Nyidalur to Eldgja trip because it was rumoured to be one of the most beautiful and remote treks. I was also looking for one of the most diverse treks, and chatting with IMG led me to this particiular trip.
What is one thing you will always remember about your tour?
I will always remember the moss-bed nap in the middle of the mountains, overlooking the fjord. It was half way into our week-long backpack through the mountains, and we had just crossed some of the glacier. Following a ridge and skirting over a small and chilly stream, we came upon a moss-covered valley that was completely covered in moss. The serenity and overwhelming remoteness of the area made it supremely special in my mind.
What is something that you learned about Iceland that surprised you?
I was surprised to learn how intense and dynamic the weather in Iceland could be. It's like having several weather systems constantly jostling for supremacy. On our very first day out from Nyidalur, we had just pushed through a rain storm with intense winds for 5 hours. We made it down to a sheltered area with water, and promptly started setting up camp. We set up the tubular tents to withstand the wind from the prevailing direction. After a half hour, Robert (our guide) and I started preparing meals for the group, when the wind changed directions completely and a huge gust literally ripped the tent up with us inside it. We went for a bit of a tumble, but no one was hurt, and the gear was mostly intact. Even though we piled heaps of rocks around the tents to make a wind-wall, I could still feel the wind pushing the tent and the rocks around us all throughout the night.  I can definitely understand the saying "if you don't like the weather in Iceland, just wait for 30 minutes."
I can definitely understand the saying "if you don't like the weather in Iceland, just wait for 30 minutes.
If you had more time in Iceland, what else would you like to see and do?
Deep highland river fords.
I would probably travel to Iceland in the winter time and revisit a lot of the popular sites that would be much quieter during that time of year. With a fresh blanket of snow, everything looks completely different. I'd also be keen to chase the aurora borealis; I spent 4 months in Northen Sweden studying the physics behind the aurora, and it would be amazing to see the aurora mixed in with quality Icelandic landscapes!
What tips do you have for people who want to visit Iceland?
Plan ahead for a few things, but keep your plans flexible, since the weather can change dramatically and there are always new things to see and do around Iceland. Don't limit yourself to the Ring Road, keep an open mind, talk to the locals and see what they'd do; dare to walk the less-travelled path.
What adventure are you off to next? What is your next dream adventure?
I'm off to do some multi-pitch rock climbing in Australia's Blue Mountains in a few weeks, and later on diving in the Komodo Islands. I'm pretty excited for both! My next dream adventure is definitely a multi-month road trip through New Zealand, which I hope to make happen in the coming years while I am still living in Australia.
Dorian's coast-to-coast adventure is only one of the many features that make for an unforgettable experience. Book your tour and join us for an excursion that is guaranteed to make memories that last a lifetime.
Have you been on a tour with us in Iceland and would like to be featured as an “Adventurer of the Week”? Feel free to email Joseph at joseph@mountainguides.is.
Adventurer of the Week | Discover Iceland
Subscribe to the blog
You Might Also Like:
What to Expect when Hiking in...
Adventurer of the Week: Savleen...
Adventurer of the Week: Guadalupe...
Adventurer of the Week: The...
Tel: +354 587 9999
See what our customers have to say about us!
Member of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association Member of ITA
Certified Travel Service Vakinn - Quality System Vakinn - Quality System
Certified Travel Agency by the Icelandic Tourist Board Certified Travel Agency
Certified Tour Operator by the Icelandic Tourist Board Certified Tour Operator
Member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association ATTA Member
mountainguides.is has a Shopper Approved rating of 4.8/5 based on 382 ratings and reviews
Subscribe to the Icelandic Mountain Guides Blog
Outdoor adventure in Iceland is our specialty. Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter to learn when to go, what to do and where to have the best adventures in Iceland.