Bright Night Hikes (BNH-3) in Iceland

From Husafell, north of Langjokull to Hveravellir

Price

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Departures

Available: upon request for groups

Details

Duration of trip: 6 days, 5 nights.

Minimum: 10 participants.

Maximum: 30 participants.

Accommodation: tents and mountain huts.

Included in price: guiding transfer from/to Reykjavík by bus, jeep transfer for food and equipment between campsites, food for 6 days (except breakfast on day 1 and dinner the last day), tents & cooking gear.

Bring with you: warm outdoor clothing, waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good hiking boots are a vital!

Sleeping bag and mattress can be rented from us if you let us know in advance.

For more information or booking, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Description

Langjokull glacier is the second largest glacier in Iceland, about 900 sq. kilometers in size. The surrounding area around Langjokull glacier is adventurous for hikers. About 50 years after the settlement of the vikings from Norway or in the years 920 to 930, an enormous eruption started in the northeastern part of the glacier. Some of the main volcano systems now lie under the glacier since it was much smaller in the years of the first settlement of the country.

The lava rushed westbound, down to the settlement of Hvitarsida, which is about 52 kilometers away from the origins of the lava flow. The width of the lava field is in most places no more then 7 kilometers. The lava field is 242 sq. kilometers and 9 cubic kilometers in size. The name of this lava field is Hallmundarhraun. Two extraordinary waterfalls fall from under the lava field, Barnafoss and Hraunfossar. The Hallmundarhraun lava field also keeps some of the largest lava tubes known in Iceland within its grasps, such as Surtshellir lava tube, Stefanshellir lava tube and Vidgelmir lava tube.

In this hike we sleep in tents and mountain huts. We will only take the most necessary gear with us during our hike but tents and other gear will be dropped off at our resting point by a truck. And there a dinner awaits the hikers.

We hike around seldom traveled areas and it's unlikely that we will stumble upon other hikers on our way. The beauty of the scenery is unrivaled.

Itinerary

Night 1

Distance: about 20 km
Estimated traveling time: about 8 hours
Hotel pickup starts at 09:00. It takes about 2 hours to drive from Reykjavik to Surtshellir lava tube. On our way there we stop by the Barnafoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls. We take a closer look at the settlement remains in the Surtshellir lava tube, but it used to be the home to outlaws. At Surtshellir we take a power nap and rest for a bit. Our night hike starts at Surtshellir, we walk east over Hallmundarhraun lava field to Eiriksjokull glacier. We'll walk north around the glacier and pitch tents not far from a glacial lagoon situated in front of Storijokull glacier tongue. The nature there is barren and extreme.

Night 2

Distance: about 20 km
Estimated traveling time: about 8 hours

We'll walk northeast over Hallmundarhraun lava field in our quest in getting to know the lava field much better. The vehicle that carries the tents and and the food supplies drives around the lava field to the next resting point. When the day begins, we will have settled in our tents at one of the many mountain lakes on Arnavatnsheidi heath. The mountainous flora there takes over from the black and barren wastelands of the Hallmundarhraun lava field.

Night 3

Distance: about 20 km
Estimated traveling time: about 8 hours

We walk up to Langjokull glacier pillars, look at the craters that Hallmundarhraun lava field came out of in about the year 930. We walk to and on Langjokull glacier. If it lets us. We sleep close to Afangatjorn

Night 4

Distance: about 20 km
Estimated traveling time: about 8 hours

We'll hike eastwards and just north of Langjokull glacier we'll see lava fields once again, there are the Strytuhraun, Helluhraun and Krakshraun lava fields. We'll pitch our tents there, in the calmness of the highlands, by the lakes of Hundavotn - alone away from all human civilization.

Night 5

Distance: about 20 km
Estimated traveling time: about 8 hours

Brings us to Hveravellir on Kjolur mountain plain. On our way we'll stumble upon such names as Djoflasandur(Devil's sand) and Daudsmannsgil(Dead Man's Gorge). But our journey brings us to Hvannavallagil gorge and from there to Hveravellir where a hot natural pool awaits us and roasted lamb on an open fire. We enjoy the geothermal hot pool at Hveravellir before and after our sleep, and from there we drive south to Reykjavik with stops by Hvitarvatn lake, the waterfall Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir national park. Accommodation in Reykjavik not included.