Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Along Rte 910, watch for wild reindeer, and bring your swimsuit to stop at the hot
16,000)
, where a comfy bed and hot dinner is available (as well as daytime snacks). The
hostel is 2km off Rte 910 (OK for 2WD cars).
To travel south beyond the dam viewpoint, a large, high-clearance 4WD is required, and
a GPS - this area is well off the beaten path.
Snæfell
A 4WD is required to travel Rte F909 (off Rte 910) to reach
Snæfell mountain hut
(
842 4367;
snaefellsstofa@vjp.is
;
N 64°48.250', W 15°38.600';sites/dm per person Ikr1400/5600)
at
the base of the Snæfell peak. The hut sleeps 50, with a kitchen, camping area and showers.
Although climbing the mountain itself is not difficult for experienced, well-prepared
hikers, the weather can be a concern and crampons are advisable. Ascending from the west
is most common - it's a hike of six to nine hours, depending on ice conditions. Discuss
your route with the hut warden.
One of Iceland's most challenging and rewarding hikes takes you from
Snæfell to the
Lónsöræfi district
in southeast Iceland. The five-day, 45km route begins at the Snæfell
hut and heads across the glacier Eyjabakkajökull (an arm of Vatnajökull) to Geldingafell,
Egilssel and Múlaskáli huts before dropping down to the coast at Stafafell.
This route should not be approached lightly - it's for experienced trekkers only. You'll
need a GPS and, for the glacier crossing, you must be skilled at using a rope, crampons
and an ice axe. If you're unsure of your skills, you'd be wiser doing the trip commercially
with the likes of
Icelandic Mountain Guides
- although IMG's five-day, 50km backpack-
ing tour through Lónsöræfi (from Ikr119,000), called 'In the Shadow of Vatnajökull', be-
gins at Eyjabakkar wetlands east of Snæfell and avoids the glacier traverse.
Hrafnkelsdalur
Rte F923 (off Rte 910, for 4WDs only) leads you to the valley of Hrafnkelsdalur, full of
samur
;sites per person Ikr1700, s/d without bathroom Ikr9900/14,800; Jun-Aug)
was the home
of the saga's hero, Hrafnkell Freysgoði, and his burial mound is here. There's a marked
