Vatnajokull icecap and Iceland's highest point

Adventurous tour on mountain trucks upon Europe's largest icecap

Vatnajokull glacial ice cap is Europe's largest glacier and Earth's third largest glacier, about 8300 square kilometers in size. Hidden beneath the icecap are several volcanic systems, such as Bardarbunga, Grimsvotn, Thordarhyrna, Kverkfjoll and Oraefajokull.

Grimsvotn volcanic system is close to the center of the glacial cap, but there is Earth's mightiest geothermal area and also Iceland's most active central volcano system and eruptions have been quite frequent since the island was first settled. The main crater is 35 sq. kilometers in size. There is a glacial lake in one area of the crater and on top of it floats a 200 meter thick ice cap. Because of the constant geothermal heat rising from beneath the lake's surface keeps rising and when the lake reaches its limits, it gushes down to the lowlands by the way of the Skeidara river that flows from the Skeidararjokull glacier.

Oraefajokull glacier is Iceland's highest mountain 2110 meters over sea level and its peak is named Hvannadalshnukur. Oraefajokull glacier is an active central volcano with a crater. Two eruptions have occurred in historic time, in the years 1362 and in 1727.

It's possible to drive on specially equipped mountain trucks upon Vatnajokull glacial icecap and the best conditions to do so are in late winter around February, March, April and May, although everything depends on the weather and road conditions.

Extreme Iceland offers tours around Vatnajokull glacial icecap with accommodation at Grimsfjall mountain cabin south of Grimsvotn volcanic system.This is a splendid mountain cabin equipped with a sauna. This tour is considered to be the tour of all tours and such a tour is difficult to schedule in details ahead of time. Three to four days should be planned for the tour. Possible route could be Grimsvotn volcano to Oraefajokull(Iceland's highest point) to Kverkfjoll mountains and from there north to Myvatn lake. Conditions of this tour are valued on the wishes of participants, weather and road conditions.

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