Nine-Day Cross Country ski Tour with Pulkas / Sledges across the mighty Vatnajökull Glacier.

This tour is actually a small expedition; the crossing of Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull during the bright spring days. Covering the high plateau in the region with ice, the giant glacier hides a number of active volcanoes. The main goal of this adventure is to reach one of these, the famous volcano of Grímsvötn at the heart of this massive ice field. Thereafter, the course is set towards Öræfajökull volcano, with the intent of reaching the highest point in Iceland. The climb up to the peak, Hvannadalshnúkur (2110 m), surely marks the highlight of our journey. From there we have a long descent down the glacial tongue to the south side of the glacier. On this glacier traverse the conditions can sometimes be comparable to those of the arctic, even in spring we can be assured to find ourselves in demanding circumstances. Accommodation is in tents and huts.

You can read an article about our last tour in the German magazine SkiMagazin (www.skimagazin.de).

Departure Dates:
Departures for 2013 to be announced

Cross country skiing: Nine days
Walking/Skiing per day: 7-9 hours.
Total distance: 130-150 km.(80-93 miles)
Altitude: 850-2000 m. (2790-6560 feet)
Maximum ascent: 750 m. (2460 feet)
Group size: 6 to 12 participants

Photos from the 2010 summer expedition taken by Bernd Ruddat can be seen here

Equipment List

Included: Guide for 9 days for groups up to 7 participants and assistant guide for groups from 8-12 participants, food for 9 days (from lunch day 1 to lunch day 9), transportation from Reykjavík to Jökulheimar, cabin fees, tents, cooking gear, pulkas/sledges, sleeping bag accommodation the last night and transportation from Sandfell to Reykjavík.

Note : Meeting with the guide the night before departure to go over the equipment and other travel details.
Meeting Point : Participants are picked up at accommodation in Reykjavík before the tour starts in Reykjavik and dropped off at accommodation in Reykjavik at the end of the tour.
Optional upon request: Accommodation in Reykjavík before and after the tour - please contact us for more information.

Day 0: The evening before departure, meeting with the guide - inspection of equipment introduction of the itinerary for the following week.

Day 1: Reykjavík-Jökulheimar
Pick up from accommodation at around 5:30am and transfer to Jökulheimar on the west side of the glacier. From there a four-wheel drive truck brings us up on the icecap of the great Vatnajökull, where we start the walk in the afternoon. First night in tents.

Days 2 and 3: Ascent ot Grímsvötn
We continue the ascent of the main glacier up to the vast plains of the Vatnajökull icecap. In the afternoon of day 3 our destination is in sight as we arrive to the Grímsvötn caldera near the center of the icecap. The first night in tents and second one in the comfortable Grímsvötn hut.

Day 4: Grímavötn Caldera
This day is devoted to the exploration of the magnificent volcanic caldera of Grímsvötn. This is a highly active volcanic area with frequent eruptions in the last century, the last one in 2004. The Grímsvötn caldera is actually a complex of calderas and the effects of the geothermal heat continuously melt the glacier ice to create a sub glacial caldera lake. We spend another night in the comfortable Grímsvötn hut.

Days 5, 6 and 7: Traversing the glacier-Hvannadalshnúkur-Descent to Sandfell
Days spent following the glacier ridge southwards. A slight ascent precedes the arrival at Iceland's highest mountain, the volcano Öræfajökull. On our agenda is an ascent to the summit, Hvannadalshnúkur, at an altitude of 2110 m. Night in bivouacs or tents, on the ice plateau and inside of the summit crater. The last day we descend the Öræfajökull down to the abandoned Sandfell farm.

Days 8: Skaftafell National Park area
Day of margin for security reasons, since weather and snow conditions may affect us continuing the journey. Last night in Skaftafell National Park area, sleeping bag accommodation.

Days 9: Return to Reykjavík
Return to Reykjavík along the south coast with a regular bus.

Departure Date	Availability