Day 1: Pick up at hotel or guesthouse in Reykjavík from 7:00
to 7:20. Then we take the regular bus that during the summer months
drives the mountain tracks that lead to Landmannalaugar, passing by the
Hekla volcano and other volcanoes in the Dómadalur area. Arriving in
Landmannalaugar at noon, we have a lunch and then head south into the
mountains. The trail takes us past small gorges, steaming hot springs
and yellow mountain ridges. Arrival at Hrafntinnusker mountain hut, were
we will stay the night, in the late afternoon.
Distance: 12km (7.5 mi)
Walking time: 4-5 hrs
Ascent: 470 m (1540 ')
Day 2: From Hrafntinnusker we descend down in the gullies of
Jökultungur with hundreds of steaming hot springs and mud pools. Up
therem we enjoy fascinating views to the south to the Álftavatn area
(Swan Lake), and the Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. In the
afternoon we arrive at Álftavatn hut where we stay the night.
Distance: 12km (7.5 mi)
Walking time: 4-5 hrs
Descent:
490 m (1610 ')
Day 3: We pass at the foot of the green conic volcano of
Stórasúla before entering the black deserts of Mælifellssandur. Heading
towards another ancient and verdurous volcano, the Hattfell, we enter
the Emstrur region where farmers used to graze their sheep in summer.
Before arriving at the Botnar hut where we stay the night, we visit the
magnificent Markarfljót canyon cut almost 200 m down into the rocks
south of Hattfell.
Distance: 15km (9.5 mi)
Walking time: 6-7 hrs
Descent:
40 m (130 ')
Day 4: We continue up and down through the small valleys and
gullies of Emstrur, where the great Mýrdalsjökull glacier rises only a
couple of kilometers away. At the end of the day the vegetation starts
to grow thicker and higher as we descend in to Þórsmörk's (the woods of
Thor) green valleys filled with arctic birch forests and colourful
flowers. Night in one of the huts in Þórsmörk.
Distance: 15km (9.5 mi) Walking time: 6-7 hrs Descent:
300 m (985 ')
Day 5: We spend the morning in Þórsmörk where we walk along one
of numerous paths. For example, we can visit to the Sönghellir cave
(“Song cave”), climb up the small mountain of Valahnúkur from where
magnificent view can be enjoyed, before taking the afternoon bus to
Reykjavík. Arrival at Reykjavik Central bus Station at 19:00, where the
trip ends.
*All of the mountain huts are heated, some have electricity and some
have hot water. There are bunk rooms with single and twin beds,
participants have to be prepared to share a bed with a stranger.