Four-Day Backpacking Tour

This Iceland backpacking tour is the great classic of Icelandic Mountain Guides along with the Laki-Núpstaðarskógar hike. A remarkable journey along the canyons of Núpsá, up to the Grænalón glacier lagoon, nestled between mountains and glacier. Crossing the Skeiðarárjökull glacier is a challenge rewarded by a visit to one of the most unique places ever, Norðurdalur valley with its glacier lake and icebergs. On the last day the path takes us across the beautiful Skaftafell Mountains over to Morsárdalur glacier valley and into Skaftafell National Park.

Backpacking: 4 days.
Total walking distance: 60 kilometers (38 miles).
Altitude: 200-1100 meters (670-3340 feet).
Walking per day: 6-8 hours.
Maximum ascent: 550 meters (1815 feet).

Equipment list

Included : Guide for 4 days, transport from Skaftafell to Núpsstaðarskógur, food for 4 days (from lunch day 1 to lunch day 4), cooking gear, tents and safety equipment for glacier crossing. Group size: 4-12 participants.
Note : Please note: The tour starts and ends at Skaftafell National Park. When travelling from/to Reykjavík extra travel days are needed before and after the backpacking tour, e.g.: Day 0: Bus: Reykjavik to Skaftafell. Accommodation at Skaftafell. Day 1: Start of the hike. Day 4: Accommodation at Skaftafell. Day 5: Bus: Skaftafell to Reykjavik.
Meeting Point : Skaftafell National Park.

Day 1: We meet at 07:30 at the service center in Skaftafell National park and take the bus at 08:30 from the park to the opening of the Núpsstaðarskógar valley, with its rich covering of Arctic birch. After passing the magnificent waterfalls of Tvílitihylur, we head up along the neatly sculpted canyons of the lower part of Núpsá river. A short climb leads us up to the deeper part of the canyons with walls up to 200 m high.  Camping is on the Sléttur lava plains.
Distance: 15-20km (9-12mi)    Walking time: 6-7hrs

Day 2: Crossing plains pink with Arctic River Beauty flowers we start to climb the hills towards Grænalón glacier lagoon. After ascending the Eggjar hills, the view opens over the lagoon where it lies between the mountains with floating icebergs. Our campsite is north of the lake, with a spectacular view over the enormous glacier tongue of Skeiðarárjökull, streaming down towards the plains and covering almost 1600 km².
Distance: 18-22km (11-14mi)    Walking time: 6-7hrs

Day 3: This day is devoted to the crossing of Skeiðarárjökull, from Grænafjall Mountain to Norðurdalur valley, an area surrounded by ice and high mountain ridges. Almost a whole day is required to traverse the 15-km of ice, before standing again on solid ground in the hinterland of Skaftafell National Park. Waiting for us is a magnificent camping with view over the several glacier lakes with floating icebergs and colored rhyolite mountains in the background.
Distance: 18-22km (11-14mi)    Walking time: 7-8hrs

Day 4: After some climbing to a narrow mountain ridge, one is able to admire the view to the yellowish rhyolite valley of Kjós at the other side as well as to Iceland’s highest mountain the Hvannadalshnúkur. Descending into the valley of Morsárdalur, the vegetation becomes progressively more abundant. The beautiful Arctic birch forest of Bæjarstaðarskógur welcomes us before we continue to the main camp site of the national park.
Distance: 20-25km (12-16mi)    Walking time: 7-8hrs