The story of Viking Women’s very first tour began in June 2021 when a group of women set out to hike the Fimmvörðuháls trail from Skógar to Þórsmörk.

The plan seemed simple enough. Spend three days in the mountains, enjoy one of Iceland’s most spectacular hiking routes, and experience the Highlands before the busy summer season arrives. Choosing an early June departure felt like a good idea at the time. The trails would be quieter, the huts less crowded, and the landscape would feel wild and untouched. What nobody anticipated was how much snow was still waiting in the mountains.

Early June can be unpredictable in Iceland’s Highlands, and that year the mountains were holding onto winter a little longer than expected. The day began with beautiful weather. Spirits were high as the group made their way past the waterfalls near Skógar.

As the group climbed higher, the conditions gradually began to change. Anyone who spends enough time hiking in Iceland knows the weather can have plans of its own. The blue skies disappeared, the wind picked up, and rain soon mixed with snow. What had started as a pleasant day of hiking slowly became much more adventurous than anyone had expected.

After several hours on the trail, the group stopped at a mountain hut for a well-earned break. Lunch, hot chocolate, and a chance to warm up gave everyone renewed energy for the climb ahead. The higher they climbed, the deeper the snow became. Women who had arrived expecting a challenging hike found themselves digging much deeper than they had anticipated. Later, several would jokingly refer to the day as their personal Everest.

The group naturally spread out across the mountain. Stronger hikers moved ahead while others worked steadily through the snow behind them. In difficult conditions, even a strong hiking group can begin moving at very different speeds. For guides, balancing the pace of faster hikers while ensuring slower hikers remain comfortable and supported can be challenging when leading mountain trips.

After hours of hiking through snow, wind, and changing conditions, Þórsmörk finally appeared in the distance. The sight of the valley below brought an immediate lift in energy. Everyone knew they were getting close, and most thought the hardest part of the day was finally behind them.

Between the group and Þórsmörk was Heljarkambur, a steep section of trail known for its challenging descent. Its name is often translated as “Hill of Hell,” which felt particularly appropriate given the conditions that day. Normally, hikers descend this section using chains fixed into the rock. Unfortunately for the group, the chains were buried beneath the snow, and the trail was difficult to make out .

By this point, everyone had already spent hours hiking through snow and changing weather conditions. Seeing Þórsmörk in the distance had provided a welcome boost of energy, but there was still one final challenge standing between the group and the hut. The only option was to slow down and work through it together.

One by one, the women carefully made their way down the rocks. Some offered a hand when it was needed, others spotted from below, and everyone encouraged one another along the way. Progress was slower than usual, but before long, the entire group had made it down safely. There was still some hiking left before reaching Þórsmörk, but the mood was noticeably lighter. The hardest part of the day was finally behind them. Nearly twelve hours after setting out that morning, the group arrived at the hut tired, hungry, and incredibly happy to be there. There was food, drinks, laughter, and plenty of stories shared around the table that evening.

The following evening, after a much easier hike and dinner together at the hut, someone happened to come across a news article about a search-and-rescue operation on Fimmvörðuháls. Several male hikers had needed assistance on the very same section of trail the women had crossed the day before. There was a moment when everyone just looked at each other before the room erupted in laughter. Glasses were raised, someone shouted, “Viking Women!” and the whole group joined in. It wasn’t that anyone was happy another group had needed rescuing. It was the realization that this group of women had crossed the very same section of mountain less than twenty-four hours earlier. They had doubted themselves, encouraged one another through every obstacle, and found a way through together. Hearing that another group had needed search and rescue confirmed what they already knew. They really had accomplished something extraordinary.

Years later, it’s still one of Saga’s favorite memories. Not because it was the hardest hike, but because it captured something that has become part of every Viking Women adventure since then. Women encouraging one another, celebrating each other’s successes, and discovering they’re capable of more than they ever imagined.

Looking back, what stands out most isn’t the weather or the snow. It’s the sense of accomplishment the group felt after working through the challenges together. Years later, many of the women still talk about that trip, not because everything went perfectly, but because it became the kind of adventure people remember. Thankfully, most visitors experience much kinder weather than this group did. Even so, the feeling of arriving in Þórsmörk after a day in the mountains stays with people for a very long time.

If you’re planning a hiking trip to Þórsmörk, here’s everything you need to know before you go.