6-day cross country ski tour in Landmannalaugar.

Situated at the edge of the Arctic Circle, Iceland has no reason to be jealous of continental Scandinavia when it comes to Cross country skiing. Here nature offers striking contrasts and incredibly diverse volcanic landscapes: craters, lava fields and snow filled gorges and canyons where thick steam curls burst out of the entrails of Earth. Travelling through these magnificent surroundings in the summertime is already an experience of continuous wonder. In winter, it is an extraordinary adventure open to only a few. Landmannalaugar, the base camp for this circuit, is known to summer guests for colorful landscapes and amazing geothermal activity (the world’s third biggest source of geothermal hot springs); in winter the region regains its calm and serenity. This landscape of ravines and canyons becomes even more memorable when steam clouds rise from the snow-clad hills. And add the pleasure of nice warm bath under the evening sky in a hot spring after a good solid day of skiing!

Cross country skiing: Six days
Walking per day: 5-6 hours
Total walking distance: 110 km (70 miles)
Altitude: 400–1100 m (1310-3600 feet)
Maximum ascent: 500 m (1640 feet)

Groups: 5 to 12 participants.

Equipment list

The following video was captured in the winter of 2010 by our guide Steinar.

Included : Guide for 6 days, food for 6 days (from lunch day one to lunch day six), sleeping bag accommodation in mountain huts, cooking gear, transportation.
Duration : 6 days
Meeting Point : Participants are picked up at their accommodation in Reykjavík the morning the tour starts.

Day 1: Reykjavík – Sigalda –Landmannalaugar
We leave Reykjavík by heading east on the road of Hellisheiði. After passing the village of Selfoss, we push north-west into Iceland’s interior, in the direction of the Atlantic rift. This road, the only road to the mountains that is cleared of snow, brings us to Sigalda, 23 km from Landmannalaugar where our vehicle drops us off. Here we put on our skis and set course in the direction of the lava fields of Bjallahraun. Our path takes us over the Hnausar pass, where it slightly descends to the lake Frostastaðavatn, before arriving at Landmannalaugar. We set camp in the mountain refuge where our luggage awaits us, and take our fist hot bath just s few dozen meters from the hut.
Driving: 3hrs   Skiing: 6hrs.     Difference in altitude: 100m.

Day 2: Ljótipollur crater –  Landmannalaugar
A day spent in the discovery of Ljótipollur, an enormous crater born out of a series of eruptions that rattled the region in the 15th century. The crater, which erupted on a fissure segment and is about 1.5 km long, is the home of an impressive lake. From underneath its white winter coat, we’ll most probably catch a glimpse of the black and red colors of its steep rocky walls. We continue the loop to the imposing mountain Kirkjufell , before returning to the hut and a hot bath.
Skiing: 5hrs.    Difference in altitude: 100m.

Day 3: Stórihver hot spring – Hrafntinnusker mountain hut – Landmannalaugar
We start our ascent through a concentration of steam vents on the hills of Brennisteinsalda, passing the crest to reach the great hot spring Stórihver. There we are met by an enormous opening emitting huge curls of vapor accompanied by a mystifying roar in this otherwise serene landscape. If the weather is favorable, we press on to the ice caves of Hrafntinnusker, before going around this obsidian mountain to reach the small mountain hut that lies there at an altitude of almost 1100m. From there, an easy descent to Landmannalaugar and its hot springs.
Skiing: 6hrs.     Difference in altitude: 550 m.

Day 4: “The Hat” – “The Bold“– Landmannalaugar.
The craters Hattur (the Hat) and Skalli that give us breathtaking views of close by glacier Torfajökull (1199m) and the gorges of Jökulgil.  If we are greeted with clear skies we might even catch a glimpse of the great Vatnajökull  (the largest glacier in Europe) the highest point in Iceland, and the immense ice caps of Hofsjökull og Langjökull.  In the late afternoon… a good soak in the hot baths in Landmannalaugar.
Skiing: 5hrs.     Difference in altitude: 600m.

Day 5: The Hot springs of Vondugil – Suður Námur –  Landmannalaugar
On our skis we explore the canyons and hot springs of Vondugil, before ascending a crater up to the summit of the mountain Suður Námur with its exalting views. When the weather is good we can see the vastness of the open spaces extending from Vatnajökull to the east, to Hofsjökull, to the west of the rift. From there we descend towards Landmannalaugar.
Skiing: 5hrs.     Difference in altitude: 400 m.

Day 6:  Landmannalaugar – Sigalda –Reykjavík
We leave the Landmannalaugar hut and head north through the lava fields of Dómadalur and the lake Eskihlíðarvatn. From there we reach Sigalda where our transport is waiting, having picked up our luggage from Landmannalaugar.  We return to Reykjavík where we arrive in the late afternoon.

Note : All times are approximate. 

Additional cost for two night accommodation in Reykjavik (one night before the tour and one night after the tour):

• Accommodation in guesthouse, sleeping bag, with shared facilities, and breakfast included – price from: 4.500ISK per person.
• Accommodation in guesthouse with shared facilities, twin share, and breakfast included – price from: 8.500ISK per person. Single supplement from: 5.000ISK
• Accommodation in guesthouse with private facilities, twin share, and breakfast included – price from: 10.500ISK per person. Single supplement from: 6.000ISK
• Accommodation in a 2-3 star hotel with private facilities, twin share, and breakfast included – price from: 15.500ISK. Single supplement from: 7.000ISK

For bookings and further information, please contact our office by email: info@mountainguides.is or phone: +354 587 9999.