Running Tours - Running

Exploring Iceland is a DMC based in Iceland and offers extensive B2B opportunities for individual travel offers, smaller and larger groups. At Exploring Iceland we dedicate ourselves to each and every detail, we select and hand-pick our partners focusing on quality, animal welfare and social responsibility.

We take pride in personal service, professional guides, wonderful local Icelandic food and always try to find new routes and sights away from the crowd. We are proud to say that our tours are absolutely genuine and authentic by working with the locals!

We offer both summer and winter tours and are happy to include for example northern light hunts, thrilling activities and cultural events. We also have our own sports division (running, golf, horseback riding and skiing).

For the individual traveler we can arrange everything from a short stop-over visit to extended tours around Iceland. We are one of the few travel agencies that offer horse riding tours with hotel accommodation. These tours can either be booked as micro group tours with a maximum of 6 riders or private tours. We also specialize in tailor making exciting itineraries for families and other smaller and larger private groups based on either self-drive or guided tours. Private culinary tours, hiking, running, fishing and photography tours have been arranged by us – customer satisfaction is our ultimate goal! Contact us for an exciting offer tailor made to your wishes and needs!

Arctic Running offers trail running tours for people that like to exercise and enjoy nature at the same time. While you are on the go you get to explore the environment and our tours make sure that you enjoy the best of each season. We offer both day tours and longer overnight tours in Iceland. We also offer full service for participation in trail races in Iceland.

Arctic Running specializes in combining running and traveling for people who have done some running and want to experience what Iceland has to offer. Our guides are some of the most experienced runners in Iceland and frequently take part in trail running events and longer running tours. With our wide selection of running tours, from demanding or strenuous runs with 20 - 35 km / 13 - 21 mi per day to moderate runs with 5 - 10 km / 3 - 6 mi per day, all runners should find something that suits them for travelling around Iceland.

If you are planning a vacation in Iceland and want to experience the pure Icelandic nature and be able to exercise each day as well, then why not try one of our tours. Our guides will help you enjoy trail running in Iceland whilst exploring the environment and its beautiful nature.

We began by planning tours that we would go on ourselves where we could run as well. So we started using running as a way to travel and realized it’s probably the ideal way for all runners. So with our experience from the running, guiding, managing, tourism and travel industry we managed to design tours especially for runners. Keeping in mind that runners not only want to run but also enjoy spectacular natural surroundings and what it has to offer.

At Arctic Running, we are passionate running guides who love exploring Iceland on the run. It's our pleasure to introduce you to our favourite trails, Icelandic culture and local cuisine.

Please contact for further information.

The Suzuki Midnight Sun Run is a road race where runners can choose from three timed distances: 5 km, 10 km and 21,1 km. The race has been held every year since 1991.

The Suzuki Midnight Sun Run starts late in the evening by one of Reykjavik´s wonderful geothermal outdoor swimming pools, Laugardalslaug. At this time of year the sun is visible for a continuous 24 hours. The runners will take a circle in the valley Laugardalur which is in full bloom by this time of year. In the longer distances runners will also run by the famos salmon rivers Ellidaar, a beautiful golf course and the lake Raudavatn. All participants are invited to enter the geohermal pool, hot tubs and steam baths after the race.

The Reykjavik Marathon starts and ends by the pond in Reykjavik City Center. The first Reykjavik Marathon took place in 1984 where 214 runners from eight nations participated. Since then the Reykjavik Marathon has been held every year and now attracts around 15,000 participants.

Runners can choose between six different distances: marathon (42,2 km), half marathon (21,1 km), 10 km timed race, 3 km fun run and a Run for children (about 1 km). The Reykjavik Marathon is a family event where all age groups can find suitable distance.  

The Reykjavik Marathon is a race with international standards. The course is relatively flat and has great viewings. Average temperature in Iceland for this time of the year is perfect for running, 14,5° C (58° Fahrenheit).

The Súlur Vertical mountain race takes place in the town Akureyri, Iceland, early August each year. The race is undoubtedly one of the most amazing running experiences that Iceland has to offer. 

The event offers four distances of 100 km, 43 km, 28km, and 18km, where participants run in the spectacular mountains surrounding Akureyri. All the races finish in downtown Akureyri. The longest race provides 4 ITRA points.

The Laugavegur Ultra Marathon is about 55 km long ultra marathon race that takes place in the highlands of Iceland. The race is very special and unique because it takes runners through areas of outstanding natural beauty at the same time as being a challenging course. The course is multi-terrain; sand, gravel, grass, snow, ice, rivers and streams. The Laugavegur trail is one of the most popular hiking routs in Iceland. Hikers normally cover the distance in two to four days but the ultra marathon runners in 4-8 hours.

The Laugavegur Ultra Marathon starts in Landmannalaugar, the pearl of iceland´s central highlands, situated in a valley between colorful steep mountains and by a geothermal hot springs. The race ends in Thorsmork, a valley between the glaciers Tindafjallajökull and Eyjafjallajökull.

Registration for the Laugavegur Ultra Marathon starts in the beginning of November the year before the race. This is a very popular race that has often been sold out so we recommend that you visit the race website in time for further information.

Mývatn Marahon & Mývatnshringurinn - an unforgettable experience!

At the end of May / beginning of June every year there is a real celebration by Lake Mývatn when the Mývatn marathon and the Mývatnshringurinn cycling competition take place. 

The race is around Lake Mývatn, an area known for its magnificent natural beauty. The surface of the road is paved. Here you can see a map of the running route . 

The runners can compete in 42 km, 21 km and 10 km. 

Mývatnshringurinn cycling competition is 42 km and, the same way as a full marathon. 

All further information can be found at myvatnmarathon.com  

Facebook: Mývatn marathon