Hiking, be it a day trip or longer, is a "must" in Iceland. Some of the natural spectacles cannot be reached in any other way. On the other hand, you can avoid the main stream of tourists so well.
The tours mentioned here are supposed to proposals be. Your own planning is essential, especially for longer journeys. The walking times are mean values, the experienced man moves differently in the terrain than the inexperienced hiker.
security
- Inexperienced people should join a guided group or afford a guide.
- The greatest danger is the weather. In the highlands it can snow even in summer!
- A precise map as well as a compass (declination) / GPS and altimeter should be part of the equipment.
- Plan 1-2 reserve days for each tour.
- In remote areas there is usually no reception for cell phones.
- Always tell someone where you want to arrive and when. Enter in the hut books. If you go into pathless terrain, you should first leave a tour plan with a rescue company or a hut warden. Then feedback is mandatory!
The is an easy hike with good signposting, also suitable for beginners Laugavegur, named because of its popularity after the shopping street in Reyjkavik. However, it is also quite busy in midsummer.
equipment
The tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag should definitely be adapted to the weather. Even on hut tours you have to take a good sleeping bag and food (preferably instant) with you. Sturdy footwear (mountain boots), light footwear for fording rivers, clothing based on the “onion principle”. Walking sticks (with a metal tip) are also useful. As crazy as it sounds, always take enough water with you. Water-repellent trousers or a trouser cover are also important, as the rain in Iceland almost never comes from above, but with the wind from the side. The best jackets and shoes are of little use if you have to hike with your pants wet.
Signage
In the case of heavily traveled routes, the path is usually easily recognizable. The markings are of varying degrees. There are paths that are marked with wooden pegs or stone observatories, or just trails. Orientation can sometimes be difficult in fog.
overnight stay
Camping
As in other Scandinavian countries, there is no right of everyone, but wild camping is tolerated if one behaves accordingly. In the huts, camping is usually not a problem. In the national parks only in the designated areas.
Huts
The huts are not managed, but mostly have cooking facilities. Often they are also locked, so you have to get the key beforehand. If you need a place to sleep, a reservation is recommended. Skálar means hut.
- The Iceland Touring Association, Ferdafelag Islands, Morkin 6, 108 Reykjavík. Tel.: 354 568 2533, Fax: 354 568 2535. English.
- Ferðafélagið Útivist, Laugavegi 178, 105 Reykjavík. Tel.: 354 562 1000, Fax: 354 562 1001. English.Open: 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Mon - Fri, June - August.
- The Touring Club of Akureyri, Strandgata 23, 600 Akureyri. Tel.: 354 462 2720, Fax: 354 462 7240. English.
- Ferðafélag Austur-Skaftafellssýslu Nýheimum, Litlubrú 2, 780 Höfn. Tel.: 354 4708089, 354 6991424, Fax: 354 4708081. Icelandic.
- Ferðafélag Fljótsdalshéraðs, in Húsavík and Breiðuvík. Tel.: 354 8635813. Icelandic.Open: all year round.
The orange-colored rescue huts may only be used in emergencies! These small huts offer first aid equipment, emergency provisions, heating and sleeping facilities; some are equipped with an emergency radio.
Hiking regions
- Jökulsárgljúfur National Park
- Skaftafell National Park
- Snæfellsjokull National Park
- Thingvellir National Park
- Fjallabak
- Lónsöræfi - nature reserve (at Hofn)
- Snæfellsnes
Multi-day tours
Highlands
- Old Kjalvegur, Hvítárnes - Hveravellir - Central Highlands, duration 4 days, approx. 45 km
- Laugavegur, Skógar - Landmannalaugar, duration approx. 4-5 days, approx. 55 km, most popular hike
- Lónsöræfi - Snæfell Duration approx. 5 days, approx. 70 km
- Öskjuvegur Svartárkot - Askja - Herðubreið - Bræðrafell - Herðubreiðarlindir Duration approx. 5 days
- Sveinstindur - Hólaskjól - Eldgjá - Hvanngil
Coastal region
- Borgarfjordur (Austurland) - Seyðisfjörður Duration 4-5 days, approx. 63 km
- Mývatn - Ásbyrgi, Duration approx. 4-5 days, approx. 70 km
- Reykjavegur - Reykjanes Peninsula, approx. 115 km
Day tours
- Glacial lake Jokulsarlon
- Hólar - Svarfaðardalur approx. 30 km
- Hornstrandir
- Landmannalaugar
- Lónsöræfi
- Mývatn
- Þorsmörk
- Skógar
- Vik
literature
- Iceland - Natural paradise at the Arctic Circle - The most beautiful hikes on the largest volcanic island on earth (Fimmvörðuháls, Laugavegur, Hengill, Hornstrandir, Kjalvegur, Kerlingarfjöll, Öskjuvegur (Askja Trail), Mývatn / Krafla - Dettifoss, Víknaslóðir /), Uwe Grunewald, ISBN 978-3-981-52542-7 (Trekking and day tours, printed on environmentally friendly, wood-free paper, over 700 km of hiking trails, over 400 waypoints for GPS and map sections 1: 50,000)
- Iceland - The Southern Highlands - The most beautiful hikes between Landmannalaugar and Skógar, Uwe Grunewald, 2nd edition (revised, updated and expanded) ISBN 978-3-981-52544-1 (Trekking and day tours, printed on environmentally friendly, wood-free paper, over 300 km of hiking trails, over 250 waypoints for GPS and maps 1: 50,000)
- Rother hiking guide - Iceland, Christian Handl & Gabriele Schießl, Bergverlag Rother ISBN 978-3-7633-4005-7
- Dumont active - hiking in Iceland, Sabine Gorsemann & Christian Kaiser, Dumont Verlag ISBN 3-7701-5032-5
- Outdoor manual - Laugavegur, Fimmvörðuháls, Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, Erik Van de Perre, Conrad Stein Verlag ISBN 3-86686-028-5
- Four hiking routes in Iceland - Sabine Barth / Páll Ásgeir Ásgeirsson, Edda Verlag Source of supply Arktis-Verlag
- Iceland. Goldstadt Travel Guide, Volume 43 Klaus Bötig, revised by Hans Klüche 1993; 259 pages, 18 routes on the normal road network, 8 highland tours; ISBN 3-89550-043-7 ; currently only in second-hand bookshop;
- Iceland mountain experiences Michael Gutsche, on amazon and arktisversand.de
- Vatnajokull National Park - a travel companion from Hjörleifur Guttormsson, source: arktisversand.de
