The Highlights and Hot Spots of Iceland Rated One of The World's 10 best Travel Adventures

On this tour we travel between natural hot baths. The aim is to take a bath in as many hot springs as possible and at the same time to enjoy the wild nature of Iceland. We visit all sorts of pools, from remote small and unknown natural pools without any facilities at all to a large world known phenomenon, the Blue Lagoon. In between we take short hikes and get to know the history and geology of Iceland. The super jeeps used for this tour offer are specially built to take on the rugged Icelandic mountain tracks and they offer the opportunity to experience Iceland in a more intimate way with a small group. Each day we go for a 2-4 hour moderate walk suitable to everyone, either in one place or a few short walks in different locations depending on itinerary. Driving distances and time vary from day to day, depending on areas and itinerary from 2 up to 6 hours. Accommodation in guesthouses or sleeping bag accommodation in mountain huts. Full board is provided the whole time from Reykjavík to Reykjavik.

Groups: 4 to 14 participants.

All departures are offered with English and French speaking guide

Departures:
28th. June 2010: Confirmed departure
19th. July 2010: available
16th. Aug 2010: available
13th. Sep 2010: available

Equipment list

Rated One of The World's 10 best Travel Adventures - Read the whole story!

Included : Driver/Guide per group of 4-7 persons, 2 night in a guesthouses, 4 nights in sleeping bag accommodation in mountain huts, full board on the tour with picnic lunch.
Excluded : Accommodation, dinners, lunches and breakfasts in Reykjavík (can be included up on request). Sleeping bag and sleeping bag linen is not included but can be rented.
Meeting Point : Participants are picked up from their accommodation in Reykjavík the morning the tour starts.

Day 1:  Reykjavik – Þingvellir – Geysir – Gullfoss – Hveravellir
Pick up and departure from your hotel at 09:00 to Þingvellir national park, site of the ancient Viking parliament, here we get a good view over the rift valley where the continents meet. Next we see the spouting hot springs in the Geysir area then the famous Gullfoss waterfall which will be our last stop before entering the highlands. We drive the trail across the highlands to Hveravellir geothermal area where we will end our day. The hot spring area, natural hot pool and magnificent view to the glaciers are the main attractions.
Accommodation at Hveravellir Mountain hut in sleeping bags.

Day 2:  Hveravellir – Skagafjörður- Grettislaug Hot Spring
Heading north on the highland mountain tracks we descend in the great valley of Skagafjörður region. Visit to the small 19th century turf church at Víðimýri and the Glaumbær folk museum.  Glaumbær is actually a 19th century farm made of turf and stones. Continuing northwards we now drive to the Village Sauðárkrókur and on to Reykjaströnd, the coast following steep mountains on the west side of Skagfjörður fjord.  There at the very end of the world (or almost) we find a small and tidy hot spring once used by the Saga’s hero Grettir. Night in a country side guesthouse or hotel.

Day 3: Skagafjörður- Laugafell.
In the morning an optional rafting or a horse ride tour is on the menu for those who want.  We then head to the south driving mountain tracks to Laugafell an isolated mountain hut situated next to a comfortable hot spring just ready for eager bathers.  If time allows, afternoon drive to the shepherds hut Gráni standing close to the great Jökulsá river. Night in a mountain hut.

Day 4: Laugafell – Landmannalaugar
We will follow the mountain track leading us eastward east of the Hofsjokull glacier towards Nýjidalur and then crossing the Sprengisandur desert to Landmannalaugar. Some of the most beautiful scenery of Iceland is found in the Torfajökull Massif in the South Icelandic Highlands. Here we can find the most famous hot spring for bathing surrounded by adventure like landscape of unreal beauty. We reach Landmannalaugar in the afternoon after a stop at the Ljótipollur Lake or ”Ugly Pond”, a eruptive fissure, which was created during an enormous eruption in 1470. In spite of its name the crater is uniquely impressive and the surroundings stand no comparison to other such natural phenomena in the country. Once we’re in Landmannalaugar we will soak ourselves in the hot river to relax and wash of the travel dust. Mountain hut Landmannalaugar, sleeping bag accommodation.

Day 5: Landmannalaugar - Skofluklif
We leave Dómadalur (Dooms valley) and set the course uphill, climbing as high as 1000 meters above sea level with our jeep to enjoy the fascinating view over the Torfajökull area. We are at the edge of the largest geothermal areas in Iceland where fire and ice create spectacular ice caves with the hot springs constantly working underneath the icecap. In Hrafntinnusker area you will find all the colours that you can possibly imagine in nature. This is a land of unreal beauty, hardly found anywhere else on earth. We head south through the highlands, cross countless rivers and blaze across the black desert of Mælifellssandur until we reach the refuge at Skofluklif. We will hike across the hills in the evening to a very remote pool called Strútslaug. Accommodation: Skófluklif mountain hut in sleeping bags.

Day 6:  Skofluklif - Vík - Seljavellir
We’ll travel alongside the Mýrdalsjokull glacier sitting on top of the volcano Katla to the village of Vík, Iceland's most southerly village. Outside of the village's lies a beautiful black beach and one of Europe's biggest arctic tern breeding grounds. After Vík we continue to the west along the coast to our accommodation at the base of Eyjafjoll Mountains. In the evening it is perfect to take a walk in to the mountains to visit the unique old thermal pool at Seljavellir, situated in a narrow valley’s under its sheer mountainside, where natural hot water trickles into it.
Accommodation: Guesthouse at Seljavellir.

Day 7:  Seljavellir – Reykjavik
Today we traverse the beautiful wide plains of southern Iceland and out to the Reykjanes peninsula via the Blue Lagoon, the famous warm salt water lake in the lava filed that has become one of the most visited hot water lake in Iceland.  We stop there for a relaxing bath (Optional; massage in the Lagoon) before we head for the direction of Reykjavík the capital of Iceland.

Additional cost for two night accommodation in Reykjavik (one night before the tour and one night after the tour):

• Accommodation in guesthouse, sleeping bag, with shared facilities, and breakfast included – price from: 8.500 ISK per person.
• Accommodation in guesthouse with shared facilities, twin share, and breakfast included – price from: 14.000 ISK per person. Single supplement from: 8.000ISK
• Accommodation in guesthouse with private facilities, twin share, and breakfast included – price from: 19.500 ISK per person. Single supplement from: 11.000 ISK
• Accommodation in a 2-3 star hotel with private facilities, twin share, and breakfast included – price from: 22.5000 ISK. Single supplement from: 13.000 ISK

For bookings and further information, please contact our office by email: info@mountainguides.is or call: +354 587 9999.