FAQs
For any queries or question you have in relation to the Iceland Challenge please have a read through of our information below. Please get in touch if you have any specific questions – or if you’d like to discuss details of the challenge with one of our team
EARLY BIRD DEAL
£100 OFF ALL ICELAND CHALLENGE SIGN UPS UNTIL 26TH DECEMBER!
Use code ADVENTURE100
The Package
The Iceland challenge is a ‘Land Only’ package, meaning you can organise your own flights to Reykjavik from the airport of your choice. It will be your responsibility to meet our team at Keflavik Airport for transfer to camp on the 10th July, or from the hotel used for the optional extension in Reykjavik.
We also offer the option to book an extra night in Reykjavik on the 9th July 2025, allowing you to arrive early.
There are many flight options from the UK to Iceland, with a variety of airlines including the main ‘budget’ carriers. A number of airlines operate daily flights from the UK to Iceland.
Airlines such as British Airways & IcelandAir (from Heathrow or Gatwick), and Easyjet (from Manchester) have the best arrival times.
We will run shuttles from Keflavik airport to the basecamp on the 10th July – you can reserve a space on one of these before the challenge starts.
Tents at Basecamp will be allocated on a twin-sharing basis (you can request to share with a friend, partner or family member who is doing the challenge with you), unless you request an optional single supplement.
When booking the optional trip extension, you can select twin sharing if you are travelling with someone, or a single room basis.
In advance you will be given the opportunity to meet your fellow challengers via our Facebook group.
You can book the following extension packages:
- Extra night 9th July 2025
Extend your time in Iceland, and book this optional pre-challenge extension. You’ll be picked up from the airport and transferred to a hotel in Reykjavik. from here, you can enjoy a city tour to explore the highlights of Iceland’s capital in the afternoon, with the option to arrange additional activities, such a Sky Lagoon visit, Lava show, horse riding or a walking food tour.
Twin sharing £295 / Single room £405 - Extra night 13th July 2025
Extend your stay after the challenge is complete. After leaving camp on the morning of the 13th July, you will check in to your Reykjavik hotel. This package includes a tour of the Golden circle, lunch at the unique Fridheimar Tomato farm, before a relaxing afternoon at the famed Blue Lagoon hot springs.
Twin sharing £595 / Single room £695 - Combined Package
Everything from both packages above
Twin sharing £845 / Single room £1095
NO – you will need to source your own travel insurance policy which will cover you for the challenge. Appropriate Travel insurance is compulsory and we will require the details of your policy in advance of departure. Please make sure that you declare any medical conditions to your insurance company – as you really would not want to find out that your cover was potentially invalid mid challenge!
You will be required to sign a medical declaration with us (Action Challenge)
Your booking is protected, meaning that if the trip has to be cancelled by us, then you will be given the option of either a refund, or to transfer your place onto the following event.
Action Challenge has full ATOL cover.
NOTE – Taking out appropriate travel insurance at the right time – with curtailment cover is important in case you fall ill. In this instance – as final balances are invoiced 12 weeks prior to departure – you should definitely have it in place at that point in time
British Citizens (and many others) do not need a visa for a visit to Iceland. Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months from the date of your scheduled return also. your passport issue date should not be greater than 10 years from the date of your arrival in Iceland. If you are NOT a British passport holder, please check the visa / passport requirements for your passport country.
Fitness & Training
This is a testing challenge – and will be physically & emotionally demanding for some! You will have to combat chilly weather, fatigue and tiring limbs through the challenge!
On top the 2 marathons in 2 days – you’ll also be up against some steep climbs and descents, with cooler temperatures of 10 – 15 Celsius to be expected also.
You will need to prepare – and should read the training advice issued. The more comfortable you are with walking / jogging long distances for sustained periods the more comfortable you will be on the challenge. If you opt for being ‘a runner‘ – be realistic about your aims (based on your experience & likely pace).
A training plan will be issued in the Challenge APP to assist in your preparation for the event – and give you a free 50km on any of our UK Ultra Challenges to help get your fitness levels up.
NOTE – Use your FREE 50km place on a UK Ultra Challenge to prepare prior to departure, with many summer events taking place before your scheduled departure in July.
We will be in Iceland’s Southwestern highlands in July, the warmest months of the year, However, you shoudl expect temperatures of around 10 – 15 Celcius, with wind-chill bringing that down further. Being in the volcanic highlands, the weather can change quickly, so rain can’t be ruled out and you should also bring waterproofs just in case.
A runner is anyone who plans to finish each day (if on a marathon distance) within 4-6 hours, it is important that you distinguish yourself as either a walker or jogger on the challenge – as runners set off after the walkers, catch them up, and then overtake.
Yes – although as of yet every year we’ve run this challenge each participant has completed each day within the time limit. These will be enforced from the lunch stops onwards on both days. You are expected to walk at a minimum pace of 4km per hour – and therefore complete the first day within about 12 hours, including rest stops & lunch. There will be support vehicles and support vehicles on hand through the event should anyone need them!
Support
We expect that the Iceland Challenge will have up to 100 challengers – meaning that you will have company at most stages of the route, and there will be lots of new people to make friends with! One of the great aspects of this trip is the sense of adventure and camaraderie between challengers and friends for life are made!
Food and drink is fully included in your challenge! Approximately every 11 km there are manned checkpoints and replenishment stops where water, fruits and snacks are provided!
The event catering will be mixed, varied, delicious and plentiful, with calorific intake a priority. Expect high carb, high calorie, tasty foods and snacks.
Dietary requirements can be catered for, and you can provide this information 3 months before departure. If you have any severe allergies or requirements, please contact us to discuss before signing up.
The challenge will be supported by UK doctors in case of any emergencies, safety support vehicles should you need to be moved forward or collected along the route.
Before departure, we recommend you take out travel insurance after registering for your place – and that you taper off any training around 2-3 weeks before the challenge.
The trail will be marked with pink flags / markers where it’s required. You will be required to walk in groups of 3 or more at all times, and we will have guides along the trail who you can walk with if you wish.
- Dining tents & seating areas
- Medical area
- Drinking water at camp and rest stops
- Hot drinks & refreshments
- Showers, hand washing stations & toilets!
- Charging facilities (for phones – but limited – not laptops etc)
- Event Management team on hand throughout
Yes – each day of 42 km is broken down as per the below schedule (distances can vary slightly):
- 10 km – morning rest stop
- 21 km- lunch stop
- 32 km miles – afternoon rest stop
All rest stops, and the lunch stops are manned by our Event Management Team, and local guides and our Medical teams. There will be shaded seating areas with toilets, hand washing stations – we will also be serving refreshments, water refill and snacks/ or lunch.
Payments & Fundraising
If you’ve chosen the Self Funding option or the Mixed Funding option – you will be invoiced the final (remaining) balance 12 weeks before your trip – and the full balance must be paid to us 10 weeks before the trip.
If you’ve chosen either the Charity Sponsorship target, or the Mixed Fundraising option you will have to raise a minimum of 80% 12 weeks prior to the challenge, with the remaining 20% target due to be with your charity no later than 4 weeks after.
If you are unable to reach these targets, or you are concerned about reaching them we suggest speaking to your charity. Failure to reach your target would mean that you would have to make up the shortfall – or switch to ‘Self Fund’ – or ‘Mixed Funding’ (if applicable & possible).
Any extras (eg single supplements / transfers) will be invoiced to you – 12 weeks prior if you are on the Charity fundraising option.
We have a range of “featured charities”, who we have worked with for many years, and who will happily accept your fundraiser place. You can ‘elect’ any charity to fundraise for how when you register onto the challenge – we will contact your chosen charity and ask if they are happy to accept you as a fundraiser. This is required, since the charity will need to cover some of your trip costs – and we need to confirm they are happy to do so. If so – they will be in touch with you shortly, if not (as some can’t budget for these events) then we will get back in touch with you and let you know so you can choose another charity.