Five-Day Backpacking Tour - The Askja trail. Guaranteed departure 2nd of July 2010.

Lake Mývatn’s celebrity is well deserved, its natural beauty, variety of flora, fauna and landscape shaped by volcanic activity, make it a truly unique place in the world. This part of the Iceland traverse takes us from Mývatn through the black desert of Ódáðahraun to another world famous volcanic area, Askja and its huge caldera.  The multiplicity of volcanic formations, the desolation and the variety of colors will make this portion of the trek unforgettable.

Guaranteed departure 2nd of July 2010.

Backpacking: Five days
Walk per day: 6-8 hours
Total walking distanse: 95 km (60 miles)
Altitude: 300-1200 m (985 - 3940 feet)
Maximum ascent: 600 m (1970 feet)

Groups: 6-12 participants

Equipment list

Included : Guide for 5 days, food for 5 days (from lunch day 1 to lunch day 5), cooking gear, tents, huts and camping fee.
Note : The tour ends at Askja/Drekagil mountain hut.
Meeting Point : Mývatn.

Day 1: From Reykjahlíð village at Mývatn lake we head to the other side of the it, passing unique places like the explosive crater Hverfjall and the strange pillars of Dimmuborgir, which may make you wonder why on earth Lord of the rings was shot in New Zealand.  In the afternoon we reach the river Kráká where we camp.
Distance: 18-22km (11-13.5mi)    Walking time: 8-10hrs

Day 2: Following the river we slowly enter the highlands; all habitable land lies behind us now. The river offers variety of small and it also supports various birds and vegetation which will become increasingly scarce. At the end of the day we camp in a cozy green spot, the last one before we enter the great deserts of Ódáðahraun.
Distance: 16-18km (10-11.5mi)    Walking time: 6-8hrs

Day 3: We leave the river and start crossing some plains - mountains rising slowly at the horizon. And. after some more of old lava fields we arrive at Suðurárbotnar water sources situated at the edge of the great lava and sand desert Ódáðahraun, which we enter only to find a neat little Hut where we stay the night.
Distance: 16-18km (10-11.5mi)    Walking time: 6-8hrs

Day 4: Rugged, barren, desolate, hostile, moonlike are few of the words that come to one's mind crossing the black desert of Ódáðahraun towards an even more Tolkien-like landscape of Dyngjufjalladalur, where we find like the day before, the warmth of a hut.
Distance: 20-22km (12-13.5mi)    Walking time: 8-10hrs

Day 5: We start the day by climbing slope after slope of the great Dyngjufjöll Mountains until we reach magnificent Askja caldera, traversing it to the famous Öskjuvatn Lake, passing the crater Víti and some steaming hot springs, before we climb the slopes on the other side of the caldera. Here we enjoy an excellent view over the lake and caldera as well as towards some of the most majestic mountains of Iceland Herðubreið and Snæfell. Descending the other side leads us to a well known campsite at Drekagil.
Distance: 19-20km (11.5-12.5mi)    Walking time: 8-10hrs

Alternative package - with transfer and accommodation

Price from:  151.000 ISK

Included in price: English speaking Icelandic guide, food during the trek (except dinner the last day), tents, huts, cooking gear and camping fees.
Additional is flight from Reykjavik to Akureyri before the tour and from Akureyri to Reykjavik after the tour, bus from Akureyri to Myvatn before the tour and from Askja to Myvatn and Myvatn to Akureyri after the tour; one night sleeping bag accommodation at Lake Myvatn, one night sleeping bag accommodation at Askja/Dreki mountain hut and one night sleeping bag accommodation at Akureyri.

Itinerary:
Day 0: Fly from Reykjavik to Akureyri – sleeping bag accommodation in Akureyri
Day 1: Bus from Akureyri Information center (8.30) to Myvatn/Reykjahlid (10.15)
Day 1-5: Trek
Day 5: Mountain hut accommodation at Askja/Dreki
Day 6: Afternoon bus from Askja to Myvatn – sleeping bag accommodation at Myvatn
Day 7: Bus from Myvatn/Reykjahlid to Akureyri – fly from Akureyri to Reykjavik.

For further information, please contact our office.