Venture out on one of Iceland's most challenging and spectacular hiking tours. On this 18 km (11.1 mi) circular route, you'll cross birch forests, mountain ridges and natural viewpoints overlooking the glaciers of Vatnajökull National Park. Are you up to the challenge?
Activity Details
At the indicated time, we'll meet in front of the Skaftafell Visitor's Centre, in the Vatnajökull National Park, where we'll get ready to start one of the most demanding hiking routes in Iceland. From this point, we'll start to gain altitude towards the trails that lead into the mountains. Are you ready to discover landscapes that look like something out of another planet?
During the first stages of the hike, we'll pass through a quiet birch forest. As we progress, the landscape will change rapidly, and we'll enter high and exposed areas, where the terrain becomes steeper and rockier.
Along the way, we'll stop at the famous Svartifoss waterfall. Its black basalt columns, perfectly formed by ancient volcanic eruptions, create a scenery as unique as it is photogenic.
From here, the route will take you along ridges that offer panoramic views of hanging glaciers, volcanic peaks and vast black plains stretching down to the sea. With every step, your effort will be rewarded by the beauty of the scenery. It will take your breath away!
Depending on weather conditions and the pace of the group, we may continue on to a ridge that offers an even more impressive view of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. This final stretch requires extra effort, but the visual spectacle is unparalleled.
Finally, we'll start our way back to the starting point, following a downhill section that completes this circular route. We'll say goodbye in Skaftafell after about 8 hours and a total of 18 km (11.1 mi) of walking.
