Day 1: Reykjavík-Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Departure from Reykjavík in the morning, as we set course to west Iceland and Snæfellsnes, a volcanic peninsula that stretches out from the Icelandic west coast and is divided by a chain of mountains that lies form east to west. Before heading to the Snæfellsjökull NP we will take a walk to the crater Eldborg, a beautiful explosive crater that rises 60m up from the surrounding lava. Stops at Arnarstapi and Hellnar before we head to Dritvík and Djúpalónssandur beach. At Djúpalónssandur the lava formations run all the way to the sea creating a unique landscape. There we also find 4 big lifting-stones that in the old times fishermen use to measure their strength, and to see if men were fit for a space on a fishing boat! Night in a hostel.
Driving: 3-4 hrs total Walking: 3-4 hrs total
Day 2: Snæfellsnes-Borgarfjörður-Þingvellir
Turning back east we head to the beautiful Borgarfjörður region. This is the home of Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Iceland (and even in Europe) and the lush waterfalls of Hraunfossar a row of waterfalls that emerge from underneath the lava field, and Barnafoss. This is also the home of many lava tubes and tunnels, some of Iceland’s biggest and most impressive, and we will stick our noses into one of these to get a glimpse of the Icelandic underworld! Our next stop is Þingvelllir N.P. the site of the old Parliament and the birthplace of democracy in Iceland. The park is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. In addition to the historical importance, the location is wonderful, a beautiful lake skirted by a small canyon that in fact is a part of the Mid-Atlantic rift. We spend the rest of our day here. Night in a hostel in the Laugarvatn area.Driving: 4-5hrs total Walking: 4 hrs total
Day 3: Gullfoss- Geysir -Þórsmörk Glacier Valley
The day begins with a visit to the famous waterfall Gullfoss and Geysir, the namesake of all sprouting hot springs! We then head to Þórsmörk, a magnificent glacier valley hidden behind the glaciers of the south coast. Going in to Þórsmörk is an adventure on its own since we have to ford numerous rivers to get there. The road also takes us right around the glacier covered volcano Eyjafjallajökull (1167m) that so famously erupted in April 2010 sending an enormous quantity of ash into the atmosphere, blocking air traffic in large parts of Europe for days. The afternoon is spent exploring this remarkable location with its many possibilities for hiking, from a walk up to Valahnúkur giving us a view of the whole valley to the gorges of Stakkholtsgjá, with strange rock formations and caves. Night in mountain hut.
Driving: 4 hrs total Walking: 4-5 hrs total
Day 4: Þórsmörk-Seljalandsfoss - Skógarfoss- Vík- Skaftafell
From Þórsmörk we return to the main road and continue east. Stops at the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss (where it is possible to walk behind the waterfall if it is not to icy) and the magnificent Skógarfoss. Optional, a stop at the new Eruption Center at Þorvaldseyri farm, right under the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, for a short documentary on the 2010 eruption ( price approx 5€). A walk on the black beaches of Vík, admiring the power and beauty of the Atlantic Ocean will be refreshing before the last part of road east. The high cliffs dominate the black beach below and just off the coast pillars of rock rise up from the Ocean’s surface. Legend says that these are trolls that turned into stone after staying up past sunrise... After a drive over the vast sand desert of the south and the lava field of Eldhraun, one of the biggest lave flow coming from one single eruption, we arrive at Skaftafell N.P right under Iceland‘s highest peaks, Hvannadalshnúkur (2110) in the late afternoon. Night in hostel.
Driving: 4 hrs total Walking: 4 hrs total
Day 5: Skaftafell NP- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lake
Today we take our vehicle east to reach the Jökulsárlón Glacier lake, one of the marvelous features of this region, á lake scattered with Icebergs that break off from the great Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. A boat ride on the lake among the icebergs is optional (price 2800 ISK or around 20€). In the early afternoon we come back to Skaftafell to further explore the hiking trails of this magnificent park at the foot of the mighty Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. It is a green oasis covered with arctic birch, and colorful valleys, rivers, waterfalls and flowers decorate the landscape, in contrast with the mountains surrounding it on one side and looking over sandy plains of Skeiðarársandur where in 1996 an impressive flood caused by an volcanic eruption under the Vatnajökull glacier took place. A Glacier walk on Svínafellsjökull outlet glacier is optional. Night in hostel.
Driving: 2-2h30 total Walking: 5 hrs total
Day 6: Skaftafell-Hot Spring Hike-Reykjavík
Even thought we have some route to cover back to Reykjavík we will make a few interesting stops along the way and do some hiking. Our first stop is at the Systrafoss waterfall and the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur followed by a short walk at the gorgeous Fjarðarárgljúfur Canyon. We pass through the villages of the south coast and just of the geothermal village of Hveragerði we go for a hike among the numerous hot springs and boiling mud pools in Reykjadalur valley (or Grændalur depending on snow conditions). A magical place. Arrival in Reykjavik in the afternoon.
Driving: 4-5 hrs total Walking: 3-4 hrs total