Bright Night Hikes (BNH-4) from Askja to MyvatnWalk during the night sleep during the day
Night 1
Distance: about 20 km
Hotel pickup starts at 09:00. From Reykjavik we drive to Askja, where we rest for a bit before our night hike starts over to Braedrafell. We'll walk from the mountain cabin in Drekagil gorge, around the crater of Askja and towards the parking lot by Vikraborgir. From there we hike to the Askja lake and we'll marvel this great wonder of the Icelandic highlands. The crater that Lake Askja is in was formed in just few hours in an eruption in 1875. Few other eruption in and around the crater the next few decades after the first eruption. The last time Askja erupted was in 1961 after being dormant for 32 years. We travel further into the highlands on foot for four nights around lava fields, central volcano systems and gorges. We'll walk towards Vikrafell, over Svartadyngja, Dyngjufjallahals, Fjarholadyngja and Flatadyngja to the mountain cabin Braedrafell where we will rest over the day. In the north is Kollottardyngja but Herdubreid mountain is in the east from us.
Distance: about 20 km
From Braedrafell we'll hike upon Kollottardyngja (1168 m), check out it's crater and the scenery from the top which is breathtaking. The main crater is around 800 meters in diameter but only few meters deep. In the center of the crater is a pitfall which is 150 meters in diameter and about 55 meters deep. The mountain itself is around 70 sq. kilometers and 11 cubic kilometers in size and it's older then 4500 years old. It's one of the most beautifully shaped mountains in Iceland but few have hiked upon it. We'll hike north from Kollottardyngja towards Hvammfjoll mountains where our truck awaits us with our luggage, tents and dinner. Going to bed "early" is recommended since we have a long night's schedule the night after.
Distance: about 20 km
We'll hike upon Kerlingardyngja (871 m) and take a look at the tuff mountains in the surrounding area. From there we'll hike north towards and upon Ketildyngja (834 m). Ketildyngja is probably the youngest of the mountains we visit in this journey of ours, it was formed in an eruption about 3800 years ago. The crater is huge and is named Ketill(the Kettle). East of the crater we'll see a lot of geothermal activity, hot pools and sulfur deposits can be seen all around. From early 13th century and until the 19th century the brimstone was harvested there and brought to the town of Husavik on horses.
Distance: about 20 km
We spend another night hiking in the area close to Heilagsdalur, we hike up to the mountain Blafell
Distance: about 20 km We'll walk through Heilagsdalur valley, and through Selhjallagil gorge down to the Myvatnssveit countryside. The lava flow from Ketildyngja also used to go through Selhjallagil gorge 3800 years ago and we can still see remains of lava there. Down from Selhjallagil we'll see a great crater row known as Threngslaborgir. The crater row is around 7 kilometers long, from Selhjallagil gorge to Ludent in the north. It was formed in an eruption 2000 years ago and the lava that streamed from this crater row has given the countryside its extreme beauty. The lake Myvatn, Dimmuborgir lava formations, the pseudo craters around lake Myvatn and most of the islands in the lake are all created because of this lava flow. We go to lake Myvatn, where we will rest quickly for our long drive back to Reykjavik. Accommodation in Reykjavik not included.
Included in price:
Bring with you:
Start Date: 30.06.2011 End Date: 05.07.2011 Duration: 6 days / 5 nights Minimum participants: 10 Maximum participants: 30 Price per Person: EUR 1.060 Accommodation: Tents and mountain huts
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