Iceland - Fire and Ice Trek - UEA

Arriving in Iceland in the afternoon, we aboard the shuttle bus into the city where we have a briefing and can prepare for the challenge, staying overnight.

Following a meet and greet with the guides at the hostel, we board transfer bus to Landmannalaugar, the start of our challenge. 

Upon arrival in Landmannalaugar there will be an opportunity to bathe in the hot springs, grab some lunch and refresh before we begin trekking! 

We start out by crossing the 500-year-old Laugahraun lava flow that is still giving heat to Landmannalaugar hot springs. Climbing steadily past numerous Sulphur vents and obsidian rock, we top a succession of rolling rhyolite hills before descending to the steaming hot springs of Stórihver. 

As we get higher, the more we can uncover about the forces of nature in the region. Up on the plateau, steam rises in all directions from unseen vents and we reach our accommodation at Hrafntinnusker mountain hut in the late afternoon. 

Drive: 5 hours

Trek: 12km (7.5miles) Active walking time: 4-5 hours Ascent: 470m (1540')

Accommodation: Mountain Hut

Meals: Lunch, Dinner 

We head south into the canyon complex to the south of Hrafntinnusker. Descending into the gorges of Jökultungur, we come across steaming hot springs and mud pools. 

The route winds southwards, crossing old snow patches and climbing ridges where we have views across dark volcanic plains towards lake Álftavatn and the Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. 

Crossing the southern edge of the Torfajökull Massif, we descend a long slope towards the black sands and palagonite ridges around Lake Álftavatn (Swan Lake). Arriving at the lake, one of the most beautiful locations on our route, we check in at the Álftavatn mountain hut. 

Accommodation: Mountain Hut

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Walking: 12km (7.5 miles) Active walking time: 4-5 hours Descent: 490 m (1610 ‘)

On day three of the trek there are several rivers to cross, as we head southwards and towards Mýrdalsjokull Icecap.

We descend to the green oasis of Hvanngil, where there is a mountain hut. We continue our walk, crossing another couple of rivers, to reach the surreal 5-kilometer-wide, black sand plain of Mælifellssandur, beneath the conical peak of Stórasúla. 

Heading now towards Hattfell, another ancient volcano, we reach the Emstrur region where farmers used to graze their sheep in summer. Before arriving at the Botnar Mountain Hut (our accommodation for the night) we visit the magnificent Markarfljót canyon which is cut almost 200 meters down into the rocks south of Hattfell. 

Trek: 16km (10 miles) Active walking time: 6-7 hours Descent: 40 m (130 ')

The first challenge today is to cross the bridge across Emstrur River. Having overcome this obstacle, we trek through the magnificent Markarfljót Canyon, which was carved out by thundering floods, caused by volcanic eruptions under the ice cap. 

For the first time on our trek, we will enter a green and well-vegetated valley, which becomes ever greener the closer we get to Þórsmörk. 

The last part of the hike is through thick birch forest, where even the lava ridges are covered with trees and the lovely arctic flowers that bloom for a few weeks each summer. 

Þórsmörk means Þór's forest and it is not hard to see why this area should be considered to belong to a norse God. It is out of this world! The valley is guarded on all sides by tremendous, fast-flowing rivers and steep glacier-clad mountains. It is one of the most beautiful spots in Iceland and the favourite weekend retreat of many of Reykjavik's hikers. 

We will stay overnight at one of the Þórsmörk’s huts and have a celebratory BBQ that evening.

Trek: 17km (10.5 miles) 

Time: 6-7hrs 

Accommodation: Mountain Huts

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

We spend the morning in Þórsmörk, where we set off to trek to the Sönghellir Cave (Song Cave) and to hike up to the viewpoint of Valahnjúkur, from where we can see over the icecaps of Mýrdalsjökull (1460m) and Eyjafjallajökull (1666m). 

After this we catch the bus back Reykjavik. Arriving in the early evening, where our accommodation for the evening is a short 5-minute walk away and you have time to change before heading off to explore Reykjavik for a celebratory meal.

 Trek: 7km

Time: 3-4 hours 

Accommodation: Hostel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Spend the morning exploring the capital, recovering and saying goodbye to your new friends before we board transport to the airport to return home.