Discovery and Hiking in the Southern Highlands

Day 1 (Monday): Reykjavik – Hekla Farms

Route 160 km – Walk 3-4 hours - approx. 10 km – Refuge

Meet at the meeting point in Reykjavik where your guide will welcome you. Be dressed as a hiker, ready to go, with your daypack and your large travel bag packed. (One piece of luggage can be left at your accommodation in Reykjavik or at our warehouse on the south coast). Departure for a 2-hour drive through the southern moors. Short stop at our warehouse in the village of Hella where we load up the food and equipment. After an hour on the track we begin the hike to the tiny farms of Hekla south of the volcano. These farms have had to move many times over the centuries and the farmers do not always agree on the exact location of the grandparents' farm swallowed up by a lava flow. Bucolic and dilapidated atmosphere, full of the charm of this strange countryside. Despite the nearby volcano, the landscape here is green, and some ancient lava flows are covered with moss and clumps of arctic birch barely larger and as old as "bonsai", creating, with clear springs that spring from the chaos, real Japanese gardens.

Day 2 (Tuesday): Fjallabak North - Landmannalaugar

110 km round trip - 4-5 hours of walking - approx. 10km - Refuge

The track attacks the last rampart of palagonite which protects the last remnants of countryside from the burnt lands. On the other side, we arrive on the moon, at the very foot of the monster, and cross an expanse of scoria of perfect flatness. The surrounding black is so dark that it becomes blue like the plumage of a raven. Tiny, we progress in an entirely mineral world on the infinite plain of scoria that borders the eastern flank of the volcano, where most of the flows of the last eruptions have been vomited. Some flows are less than six years old, some are beginning to be buried under the black scoria, sometimes of beige pozzolan, because Hekla also has acid eruptions. Silvery lichens and green velvet mosses settle on the lava flows. As we move away from Hekla, the landscape softens, and the green of the tundra gradually wins over the expanses of black scoria that rain down on the country with each eruption. We reach the crown of Loðmundur, an ancient subglacial volcano reflected in the beautiful lake of Loðmundarvatn. Our path continues through the shimmering colours of the rhyolitic magma massifs that lead to the valley of Landmannalaugar. Incredible palette of pastel colours, from blue to pink and all possible ochres.

Day 3 (Wednesday): Krakatindur Trail

60 km of trail – 3-4 hours of walking - Refuge

Progress towards Hekla through immense expanses of scoria partly covered with silver lichen and countless ancient lava flows. Lunar landscape dedicated entirely to Hekla which dominates the entire landscape. A strange monolith sits in the middle of the nothingness of a landscape worthy of the Lord of the Rings. The trail continues on the moon until reaching the southwest edge of the caldera.

Day 4 (Thursday): Hrafntinnusker Caldera

50 km of trail – 4-5 hours of walking - Refuge

Hike through the shimmering colors of the rhyolitic massifs and the obsidian flow of the Hrafntinnusker caldera, "the reefs of raven black". Incredible palette of pastel colors, from blue to pink through all possible ochres. Countless fumaroles, pools of sulfurous mud, chaos of vitrified obsidian, marshes, clear lakes and immaculate ice caps follow one another as far as the eye can see.

Day 5 (Friday): Fjallabak South – Mælifellssandur

60 km of track – 4 hours of walking – Refuge

The Fjallabak South track winds through the mountains, crossing several rows of green cones all aligned in the direction of the mid-Atlantic ridge. These miniature chains that look like large mountains frame marshy valleys covered in cotton grass where clear torrents meander.

After all these ups and downs of the reliefs the track reaches the flat black desert of Mælifellssandur where the enormous ice cap of Mýrdalsjökull ends in a gentle regular slope. In the middle of this strange black flatness that often invades the milky meltwater stands the solitary cone of Mælifell covered in fluorescent moss (made famous by the aerial photos of great photographers). Hiking to the shores of the long and narrow lake Hólmsárlón. At the place called "the red bottoms", we reach the extraordinary turquoise lake of Hólmsárlón and the waterfalls at the end of the lake which plunge into a red crater. We are here on the Eldgjá fault, "the throat of fire", the largest eruptive fault on the surface of the planet. Despite all these superlatives, the tiny little landscapes are at ease there, springs, streams of clear water, small Zen garden... The gentle landscape of the "hook of the swan lakes", where we stop, almost makes us forget that this country is the result of repeated cataclysms.

Day 6 (Saturday): Vík-í-Myrdal - Reykjavik

250 km of road - 2 to 3 hours of walking

We are at the edge of the inhabited lands of the Skaftafellssýsla district, on the edge of the enormous petrified lava river of Laki. Descent from the highlands towards the farms and the circular road n°1 along the South Coast with a stop at Vík-í Myrdal to admire the foam rollers on the immense black sand beach. Until mid-August, you can observe large numbers of Atlantic Puffins that nest in large numbers on the grassy edge of the cliffs. Arrival in Reykjavik at the end of the afternoon

Day 6 (Saturday): Vík-í-Myrdal - Reykjavik

250 km of road - 2 to 3 hours of walking

The track reaches the inhabited lands of the Skaftafellssýsla district, on the edge of the enormous petrified lava river of Laki. Descent from the highlands towards the farms and the circular road n°1 along the South Coast with a stop at Vík-í Myrdal to admire the foam rollers on the immense black sand beach. Until mid-August, you can observe in large numbers the Atlantic Puffins which nest in large numbers on the grassy edge of the cliffs. Arrival in Reykjavik in the late afternoon

Itinerary and safety:

The day-by-day program can be modified. However, these changes are quite rare and are imposed for safety reasons due to natural phenomena specific to the place: volcanism, early or late snowfall, bad weather, flooded rivers, exceptionally unfavorable weather, etc. The guide knows the terrain perfectly and is the sole master on board when it is necessary to interpret the whims of all-powerful nature on this volcanic land, and at these high latitudes, and make the necessary decisions.

Composition of the group:

In general, the participants in our trips come from several countries: French speakers from France, Switzerland, Belgium and Quebec, but also English speakers: British, Irish, Americans (democrats), Canadians, Australians, even New Zealanders or other nations but who know how to express themselves in English: Scandinavians, Germans, sometimes a Japanese or a Russian (peaceful) and even a few Icelanders.
Your Icelandic guide is fluent in English and often has a command of at least one other European language. Traveling with Fjallabak can be a unique opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and socialize with companions from countries other than your own that you might otherwise never have approached. A unique opportunity to make friends from elsewhere and to dispel some deeply ingrained prejudices and misconceptions

Languages ​​spoken:

The departure dates are all marked as:

English, this means that the guide and the group speak English. even if he or she probably also speaks other languages, including French. Participants come from English-speaking countries or participants from non-English-speaking nations who have a good command of English. If you want to put your English to the test, do not hesitate to register for an English-speaking group. A double experience for you.

International, (multinational would be more accurate) this means that the guide speaks both English and French (or possibly other languages). Participants can be from all over the world as long as they speak at least one of these two languages: French and/or English.   This single departure is International

French, this means that the guide is French or French-speaking Icelandic. The group is then composed only of participants from French-speaking countries (Swiss, French, Quebec, Belgian, etc.) or non-native French speakers who want to test their French

Group size:

Group of 8 to 12 (+/- 1) participants (Note: for groups of 6-7 people, a small group supplement applies) Fjallabak staff or Fjallabak representatives accompanying professionals (photographers, journalists, etc.) And other discounted travelers such as children, are excluded from the number of participants (minimum and maximum).

Early Bird Discount:

• -10% discount for registration up to 150 days before departure
•   -5% discount for registration up to 90 days before departure
  Family discount

This "Early Bird" discount does not apply to children who are entitled to the family discount

Family discount:

Children accompanying their parents or grandparents are entitled to the following discount

• 10% discount for young people aged 12 to 17
• 20% discount for children from 8 up to 11

Small group surcharge and trip modification:

• 60,000 ISK (approx. + €400) for 5 participants
• 75,000 ISK (approx. + €500) for 4 participants

Lodging:

• 5 nights in mountains huts in sleeping bags (your own) in  Bunks with comfortable mattresses. Running water and kitchen in the refuge, but the toilets and sinks are generally outside a few meters away in a small separate building. Hot showers are available for a fee in some huts. If you do not want too much promiscuity during sleeping hours or more privacy, we offer the possibility of sleeping in a tent but let us know at least two weeks in advance.

Electricity:

• Charger for your cell phone, tablet and camera
• Adaptor to European (220 V) sockets if you are from US or UK
• Spare batterie for your camera.

Food in the mountains:

In the mountains refuges your guide become the chef. We pride ourselves on providing the best cuisine in the highlands!

• Breakfast is Scandinavian style, with muesli, breads, jams, smoked fish, cold meats and cheese, and peanut butter for our American friends.
• Picnics are a bit repetitive after a week (we are here in Iceland, far from everything), with a variety of sandwiches, smoked meats and fish, salami, excellent local cheeses, green salad, tomatoes and cucumbers, fresh apple and dried fruits.
• Dinners are varied and often excellent, include dishes of fish (trout, cod, halibut) and lamb dishes, rice, pasta or potatoes, vegetables and a green salad.

Have a friendly drink (or two)

For the sake of conviviality, but without obligation, you can bring a specialty from your home country as well as a good bottle of wine for your aperitifs at the end of the world. (Wine and alcohol can be purchased at the airport duty free, accessible to travelers arriving in Iceland)

Food, special diet:

It is essential that vegetarians specify what is banned from their menu, as are those who suffer from food allergies (to lactose, gluten, etc.). It is important that you inform us of your special dietary requirements at the time of booking. If the list is long or if there is a danger in relation to certain allergies, please give us details by sending a detailed email to these two addresses matta@fjallabak.is. This is so that the team of our warehouse can take it into account when preparing the food. Your guide will be aware of your diet, but he does not necessarily have the vocation of a naturopath, and therefore it will be up to you to talk to him about it again at the beginning of the trip when preparing the first meal! It is also up to you to check at each meal that it suits you. We will only be able to partially satisfy vegans who will therefore have to take the food supplements they need from home in their luggage.

Vehicle:

4x4 bus type Mercedes Sprinter or Iveco truck

Trip preparation and notes:

The hikes, on the days they are planned, are optional.  The level is moderate. You only carry a light hiking backpack containing what you need for the day. This trip does not present any serious difficulty for people in good physical shape with at least some experience of walking in nature. A person who cannot or does not want to walk can participate in this trip. But this may mean that you are alone with yourself or in the company of the English speaking driver during the time of the group hike.

An experienced and attentive Icelandic guide leads the trek. We are not in Nepal or in Africa but in Iceland, so for the nights spent in a refuge, the members of the group are expected to take turns giving their guide a little help in preparing meals, setting the table, doing the dishes and sweeping before leaving the refuge. Once in the mountains, the group becomes an independent entity. The camaraderie, teamwork and friendships forged add greatly to the richness of each person's experience. See the equipment list for more information.

Recommended Travel Gear

Given the marked climatic instability of the northern regions, we recommend that you reasonably comply with this list of equipment for your comfort and safety.

The list below is very complete (certainly too complete) and you can interpret it reasonably according to what you already have as clothing and equipment at home

Luggage:

• Large waterproof and solid travel bag (60 - 75 liters) or unbreakable suitcase - 1 bag per person and not 1 huge bag for two people (the weight of a bag should if possible not exceed 18 kg)
• Small travel bag or small backpack for the day
• An extra empty light bag if you want to keep some of your belongings at your hotel in Reykjavik

Clothing and equipment:

• Hiking shoes that hold your ankles well and fit your feet
• Anorak jacket with hood (goretex type)
• Hiking pants
• Thick fleece sweater or jacket (Carline)
• Long thermal underpants in polyester or (more luxurious) in natural merino wool
• Long-sleeved thermal undershirt in polyester or (more luxurious) in natural merino wool
• Hiking T-shorts
• Hiking socks (a few pairs) in natural curly raw wool (can be purchased on site)
• Thin silk socks (optional)
• Hat wool (can be purchased locally)
• Waterproof wool gloves
• Silk gloves (especially for photographers)
• Fur-lined ski mittens or gloves (Goretex)
• Comfortable wool & fiber shirt. (Possibility to buy woollens on site)
• Pyjamas or nightgown

Accessories:

• Strong, lightweight telescopic hiking poles
• Headlamp + 1 set of spare batteries (from August)
• Penknife (Don't forget to put it in your checked baggage)
• High protection sunglasses in their case
• Ski mask
• Unbreakable Thermos flask 1/2 liter (optional)
• Pair of flat binoculars
• 220 V charger for standard European standard socket
• Swimsuit (can be rented on site in the swimming pools and spa)
• Small bath towel (can be rented on site in the swimming pools and spa)
• Toiletry bag
• Personal pharmacy
• Cold and sun protection cream and lip balm

In refuge:

• Light city shoes such as loafers or sports shoes

Camera, tablet, telephone:

• Charger for your electrical devices
• Adaptor for European 220V socket if you are from USA or UK
• Spare batteries and/or accumulators for cameras or electrical devices
• Additional memory cards