Five-Day Backpack Tour between tuff volcanoes, Mýrdalsjökull glacier, across sands and to the black beaches of Vík.

The tuff (compacted volcanic ash) mountains around the Mýrdalsjökull glacier are one of the striking features of Iceland. This soft volcanic rock is easily eroded by wind and water, often being sculpted like clay. The tuff retains humidity quite well and as these mountains are exposed to the damp air of the Atlantic Ocean they are thus generously covered by lush, green vegetation. All this creates an area of spectacular contrasts with one of the larger glaciers in Iceland, the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, where one of the most active volcanoes, Katla lies hidden under the icecap. This hike follows the eastern edge of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, crossing glacier tongues towards the bird-rich sea cliffs around the village of Vík on the south shore of Iceland.

Departure:
27.07-31.07.2012

Backpacking: Five days
Walk per day: 6-8 hours
Total walking distance: 76 km. (47 miles)
Altitude: 50-600 m.(165 - 1970 feet)
Maximum ascent: 300 m. (980 feet)

Groups: 4 to 12 participants.

Equipment List

Included : Guide for 5 days, food for 5 days (from lunch day 1 to lunch day 5), cooking gear, tents, camping fee and safety equipment for glacier and river crossing.
Note : The tour ends at Vik.
Meeting Point : Eldgjá/Hólaskjól
Available upon request: Accommodation in Reykjavík before and after the tour  - please contact us for more information.

Please note: when travelling from/to Reykjavík extra travel days are needed before and after the trekking tour, e.g.:
27.07: Bus: Reykjavík to Eldgjá/Hólaskjól. Accommodation at Eldgjá/Hólaskjól.
30.07: Accommodation at Vík.
31.07: Bus: Vík to Reykjavík.

Day 1:  Starting from Lambaskarðshólar there are green heaths cut with occasional openings in the Eldgjá fracture, whose direction aims towards its origin: Katla volcano in the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Camp in Svartafellstangi near some of the fracture's bigger craters.
Distance: 14-16km (8.5-10mi)    Walking time: 6-9hrs

Day 2: After crossing Hólmsá River, the remaining kilometers of Eldgjá fracture lead to Öldufell Mountain. Passing along clear springs underneath the mountain, direction is set towards Öldufellsjökull glacier, then over the ice, above the principal river originating in this glacier tongue. We will camp near this river, exploring its canyons and waterfalls.
Distance: 14-16km (8.5-10mi)    Walking time: 6-9hrs

Day 3: First thing to do in the morning is to cross a respectable glacier river in Vondugil gully, then hiking over the very edge of Sandfellsjökull glacier. Some other small rivers are forded during the day, but in-between there are flat deserts like the one above Sandfell Mountain along the main glacier Mýrdalsjökull, it becomes more and more apparent how glaciers have receded the last decennia. Huge moraines, giant boulders ant other traces of glacial movement are totally exposed like drawings on the land. Camp is mounted just before arriving at the biggest of the glacier tongues, Höfðabrekkujökull.
Distance: 12-15km (7.5-9.5mi)    Walking time: 5-7hrs

Day 4: First half of the day is spent crossing Höfðabrekkujökull glacier, which is about 7 kilometers. The ice is mostly flat, but some crevassed zones need more patience and attention. Above lies the volcano Katla, hiding under its thick icecap. Katla is one of the most spectacular volcanoes in Iceland, also one of the meanest. After quite a steep landing from the glacier, the view is just great; glaciers, sandy desert, green mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Þakgil is a beautiful deep gully or canyon; the heading is set down into this "home of Trolls". Here we will camp for the night.
Distance: 12-14km (7.5-9mi)    Walking time: 5-7hrs

Day 5: Last day of the tour starts by going over the heath Höfðabrekkuheiði, then along Heiðarvatn Lake. We will then continue on towards the coast where we will see some of the well known landmarks around Vík: Reynisfjall Mountain, Reynisdrangar pillars and the multitude of birds swarming around their nests. The tour finishes at the beach/coast.
Distance: 16-18km (10-11.5mi)    Walking time: 6-8hrs

Departure Date	Availability
27. Jul 2012	Available