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The Trip

Nature has wrought extravagant wonder upon the Icelandic landscape. Although the whole of Iceland lies within four degrees of the Arctic Circle, the country's weather is moderated by the Gulf Stream. In mid-summer, night lasts only a few hours. The day's polar sunlight and its slanting clarity inspired the poet W.H. Auden to call it "the most magical light of anywhere on earth."

Iceland is also one of the most volcanic places in the world, with steaming crevices, cinder fields, and grotesque lava formations. Boiling water erupts from the Earth as geysers and mud pools. Icelanders capture this geothermal energy for heating, electricity, greenhouses, steam baths, saunas, and the hot water outdoor swimming pools that are at the heart of every Icelandic town. Though Iceland contains the largest glacier in Europe, most of the country is ice-free. It is not forested, making for dramatic vistas. For a relatively small country that has been explored and traversed for more than a millennium, Iceland remains remarkably wild. While towns, villages, and farms are found on or near the coast, the central interior is virtually uninhabited. Our probe of the island's inland area will be a challenging adventure.

Our trip will concentrate on the sector of the country holding the greatest concentration of scenic sites. The trip will begin in Keflavik, the airport town in the south, and end in the vibrant modern city of Reykjavík, with its fine restaurants, theaters, galleries, shops, bustling harbor, and stunning scenery. On the last day we will enjoy a stop at the Blue Lagoon before heading to the airport. There we will travel by bus to several different regions for our 12 days of adventure. While walking and hiking is at the heart of our Icelandic exploration, seabird watching is also on the agenda, as is bathing in some of the country's many natural hot springs.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Reykjanes. Arrive at Keflavik International Airport and be greeted by the trip leader and guide. We will stop for breakfast in the area, after which we will drive along the Reykjanes coast and visit the bridge between the continents, the Krísuvík geothermal area and Krísuvíkurbjarg bird cliff. We will continue our drive to south Iceland where our accommodations will be ready for some early relaxation; most of us may be tired after the flight. Overnight: Hotel.

Day 2: Thórsmörk Valley & horseback riding. We will begin our day with a horseback riding tour in the area and then head to Thorsmörk, the Valley of Thor (Norse God of Thunder), which is one of the favorite outdoor sites of Icelanders. The lovely but rugged nature of this valley offers a unique composition of glaciers, rocks, and wood. In addition, we will be crossing glacial rivers. On the way to Thorsmörk we will drive through the terrain where the best known Icelandic Sagas took place. In the valley we will have a picnic lunch and enjoy a hike. On the way back to our hotel we will visit the picturesque waterfall Seljalandsfoss. Overnight: Hotel.

Day 3: South coast. Today, we will drive along the diversified south coast of Iceland, starting with the powerful Skógafoss waterfall. From there we will drive up to Fimmvörðuháls mountain ridge, which lies between the glaciers Mýrdalsjökull & Eyjafjallajökull. From this ridge, we will do a hike to see the craters Magni & Móði, which were created in a volcanic eruption in March 2010. We will then continue to Sólheimajökull glacier where we will hike on the icefield, depending on weather conditions. We will continue to the Reynisfjara black sand beach and the village Vík and arrive at our accommodation in Kirkjubæjarklaustur by the evening. Overnight: Hotel.

Day 4: Langisjór & Eldgjá. We will spend the day in the eastern part of the southern interior. We will visit the fire gorge Eldgjá, a volcanic fissure, 30 kilometres in length, which is believed to have erupted in 934. The most spectacular part of the fissure is adjacent to the Fjallabaksvegur road, where it reaches a width of 600 metres and a depth of 150 metres. We then head to the unique area at Lake Langisjór -- a breathtaking place in the remote highlands. Those who wish can have a hike up to the top of Sveinstindur mountain where the view is even more spectacular. Overnight: Hotel.

Day 5: Landmannalaugar. Today, we will leave our hotel and embark on the Fjallabak North mountain route. We will soon reach Landmannalaugar in the uninhabited uplands. At the edge of a geothermal area, Landmannalaugar is surrounded by colourful rhyolite mountains, and both hot and cold springs emerge from the earth to provide excellent natural bathing pools. Landmannalaugar is connected to other popular upland destinations by footpaths. There are plenty of nice hiking routes available in the area. After a nice bath in the warm geothermal pool we will leave Landmannalaugar and arrive at our hotel in the afternoon. Overnight: Hotel.

Day 6: Þjórsárdalur, Gullfoss & Geysir. We will drive through the historic Þjórsárdalur valley and visit one of Iceland’s highest waterfalls, Haifoss. We will see the excavated farm ruins at Stong, which are from the Viking era. A full-sized replica has been built here for visitors to conjure the lifestyle of the Vikings. We will continue our journey to Hjálparfoss waterfall and from there to Iceland’s most famous sights: Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir hot spring area. Gullfoss has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. In the past, there were suggestions that the falls should be harnessed to generate hydroelectric power, but after the waterfall was declared a national monument, all such ideas were abandoned. Nearby is Geysir in Haukadalur, the most famous spouting hot spring in the world and the origin of the international word geyser. Today Geysir does not erupt without human intervention, but a nearby hot spring, Strokkur, spouts about every ten minutes. We will return to our hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight: Hotel.

Day 7: Kerlingafjöll & Hveravellir. After breakfast we will head to Kjölur highland track, which lies between north and south Iceland and between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers. We will spend the morning hiking in the beautiful geothermal area of Kerlingafjöll. In the afternoon we will arrive at Hveravellir, which is also known for its geothermal activity. Outlaws, most famously the 18th-century Eyvindur of the Mountains and his companion, Halla, lived in the highlands for decades as fugitives from justice, and signs of their presence may still be seen at Hveravellir. Here we have the opportunity to dip into a warm natural pool before continuing our travels. In the late afternoon we will arrive at Skagafjörður, the valley of horse breeders in Iceland, where our accommodation is located. Overnight: Hotel.

Day 8: Jökulsárgljúfur National Park. We will drive in the morning through Akureyri, Iceland’s second largest urban area, and head to the fishing village Húsavik where we will go on a whale watching tour in the bay of Skjálfandi. We will then drive past the Tjörnes Fracture Zone, separating the northern volcanic zone from the rest of Iceland, and head to National Park Jokulsargljufur. This area has Europe‘s most powerful waterfall Dettifoss, as well as Ásbyrgi, which is an enormous, horseshoe-shaped depression. We will hike along a part of this landscape, and then proceed to our accommodation in the Mývatn area. Lake Mývatn provides a beautiful contrast to the volcanic background. Overnight: Guesthouse.

Day 9: Askja Crater. We will have an early start today. It promises to be an exciting but rather long day. From our accommodation we will embark on the road taking us back into the highlands, but this time to the northern highlands. We will pass Herðubreið mountain, “the queen” of Icelandic mountains, and then to the famous Askja crater. Time permitting we will do a few short hikes. In the late afternoon we will return to the Lake Myvatn area to our accommodation. Overnight: Guesthouse.

Day 10: Mývatn. The morning will be devoted to visiting the natural paradise of Lake Myvatn and its surroundings. We will study the the geology of the young lava formation of the volcano Mt. Krafla, as well as visit the steaming solfataras at Namaskarð, meaning “sulfur place," a natural volcanic steam vent in which sulfur gases are the dominant constituent along with hot water vapour. We will also have an opportunity to see the resident birds and fish of the area. After experiencing these sights and smells, we will start a long drive to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, where we will spend two nights. Overnight: Hotel.

Day 11: Snæfellsnes peninsula. Today we will explore the peninsula Snæfellsnes, on the western part of the country, and sometimes called "Iceland in a Nutshell." We will tour the Snæfellsnes National Park, and drive around the glacier Snaefellsjokull, the mountain/volcano where Jules Verne's novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth” started. Later, we will visit the village Arnarstapi and hike along the dramatic coastline. Further along, we will travel to a charming old village, Stykkishólmur, from where we will embark on a nature & bird watching boat tour in Breiðafjörður bay. Overnight: Hotel.

Day 12: Borgarfjörður & Thingvellir National Park. After breakfast we will drive to the Borgarfjörður area and visit the waterfalls Hraunfossar and Barnafoss as well as the hot springs at Deildartunguhver. We will then head into Kaldidalur mountain pass between the glaciers Langjökull and Ok and arrive at one of the most interesting historic and geologic places in Iceland, Thingvellir National Park. This is where the Althing, an open-air assembly representing the whole of Iceland, was established in 930 and continued to meet until 1798. The Althing has deep historical and symbolic associations for the people of Iceland and is today a UNESCO World Heritage site. At this location we will also eyewitness the mid-ocean rift which splits the American and European plates, causing the two continents to move apart from each other. We will proceed to the capital city Reykjavík and have a short sightseeing tour in the city. In the evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner at a restaurant in Reykjavík. Overnight: Hotel.

Day 13: The Blue Lagoon & departure. On this last day we will have a relaxed breakfast and leisurely morning. Our driver will pick us up from the hotel and drive directly to the unique geothermal spa Blue Lagoon situated in the middle of a lava field. We will relax in the warm water and dwell on our Icelandic journey; this will be a perfect end of that adventure. With plenty of memories from these 12 unforgettable days in Iceland, we'll be driven by our guide to the airport in time for our flights back home.

Getting There

Icelandair offers service to several U.S. airports: Baltimore-Washington, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York, and Orlando. Keflavik International Airport is about a 45-minute drive from Reykjavik, the capital. The trip leader encourages participants to arrive a day or two early in order to get over jet lag and to explore Reykjavik. Participants arriving on the first official day of the trip will be picked up at the airport from an early morning flight (6 to 6:30 a.m. arrival). Those arriving early will be picked up at their hotels on day one.

Accommodations and Food

Clean, comfortable three-star lodgings will typically consist of country hotels or guesthouses. All accommodations are double rooms with private baths. Participants who are traveling alone will be paired with another solo participant of the same gender. Some single rooms may be available for a single supplement. Contact your trip leader for further information. Meals will be tasty and wholesome. We will make every effort to accommodate special dietary needs such as vegetarian dishes.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is designed for those with a sense of adventure and a desire to visit areas of immense natural beauty and unique geological wonders. Participants should be in good condition and capable of hiking on mixed terrain with significant elevation gain. Self-sufficient teenagers and active seniors are welcome. Short and long hike options will be available at some places. The longest hike planned is four miles and the greatest elevation gain on a hike is 1,500 feet. In July in Reykjavík, the average high temperature is 57 degrees (F), the average low is 48, and the average monthly rainfall in July is two inches. Some of the bus rides between stops seem long, particularly when we are on back roads, but the scenery is always interesting as we drive along.

Equipment and Clothing

For U.S. citizens, a valid passport (no visa) is necessary, but no shots or immunizations are required. Waterproof, breathable rain gear is necessary, along with synthetic or wool pants and shirt. Only day packs will be needed for hikes, as personal gear will be transported by bus. Good hiking boots with ankle support are required for some hikes. You will receive a more detailed equipment list from the trip leader well before the trip departs.

References

Map:

• Iceland touring map with place name index, 1:500,000 scale, Landmaelingar Islands, publisher

Books:

• Iceland, an Insight Guide.
• Cornwallis, Graeme and Deanna Swaney, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands: A Lonely Planet Guide.
• Fergus, Charles and Peter Baldwin, Summer at Little Lava.
• Harlow, Cathy, Iceland, a Landmark Visitors Guide.
• Lacey, Terry, Ring of Seasons: Iceland, Its Culture and History.
• Roberts, David and John Krakauer, Iceland: Land of the Sagas.

Web Site:

• State Department information: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1138.html

Conservation

The interaction of technology and nature is an important theme in modern Iceland. This island country is one of the cleanest places on the planet. Its water and air have been spared the pollution common to most of the rest of the world, and Icelanders would like to keep it that way. The Icelandic fishing industry is quite sophisticated and active. Conservation efforts are underway to protect and nurture diminishing fish stocks. Whaling has been controversial, and, of course, most of us are familiar with the home Icelanders gave to the captured whale Keiko. Geothermal energy provides clean and efficient heat and electricity. Recent volcanic activity was "tamed" when a lava flow was diverted and a community spared at Heimay. As we move into the next millennium, the Icelandic people are making their entire gene pool available for biotechnology research.

Soil erosion is a critical issue. Also, aluminum smelters make use of Iceland’s abundant energy resources with bauxite shipped from Australia. However, the development of these resources through new hydroelectric plants and the disposal of the waste products have caused serious environmental concern.

Trip Price

This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

Staff

Pritpal ("Pepi") Singh Kochhar was born in the foothills of the Himalayas and spent the first 25 years of his life in India. In 1976 he moved to New York City and received an M.B.A. from Columbia University. Although he has made the city his home, he has traveled extensively, both solo and in groups. His main passions are the mountains and the sea. He is an avid scuba diver and has led many diving trips. He has been a member of the Sierra Club for years and has traveled to Iceland, Nepal, China, Costa Rica, Thailand, and Turkey on previous Sierra Club trips.

E-mail:pskochhar@hotmail.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback