10/01/2019
Capture the energy in Iceland in 4 day hiking tour.
Hellismannaleið trail, 4 day
Rjúpnavellir – Landmannalaugar: 4th July to 7th July 2019 (sold out) and 8th August to 11th August 2019
Pick up in Reykjavík from hotel or guesthouse. Drive from Reykjavík to Rjúpnavellir, near the volcano Hekla. Hekla, is a stratovolcano in the South of Iceland with a height of 1.491 meters and is one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes; over 20 eruptions have occurred in and around the volcano since 874.
Practical information:
The trail starts at Rjúpnavellir in 180 m height
The total walking distance is 55 km
The total walking altitude is 1.676 m
The total walking reduction is 1.172 m
The highest summit is 823 m
Only light backpack is needed during the day
Price 115.000 ISK: All inclusive guiding, food, snacks, transfer from and to Reykjavík and luggage transfer
The trail is divided into three phases
Tour description
Day 1, 8th August: Rjúpnavellir – Áfangagil. Walking distance = 17 km.
The hiking trail starts at the west side of the Ytri-Rangá and Hekla is on the right side. We hike to Fossabrekkur, the source of Rangá, where we can see the water coming through the lava path. We then make our way along Sauðafellsalda and we walk to the Skjólkvíar-lava from 1970. Then, we head towards Áfangagil where we will stay the first night.
Day 2, 9th August: Áfangagil – Landmannahellir. Walking distance = 22 km.
This day is the longest one. It begins on a slope to Valafellsalda and then we continue down to the black sand between the two hills, Valafell and Valahnúkur. Then, we walk to Valagjá and Helliskvísl. This is the only river we will see on this day and it is the only chance we will have to re-fill water bottles! We then hike over to the Lambafitarhraun, a lava area. The lava that flowed here came from the 1913 Hekla eruption. The lava is generally difficult to cross, but Icelandic sheep have made a good path for us to follow. Then we walk towards the Sauðleysa and through Lambaskarð, a small canyon which lies between Sauðleysa and Hrafnabjargir. From here, it is only a short way to Landmannahellir, where we will spend the night.
Day 3, 10th August: Landmannahellir – Landmannalaugar. Walking distance = 16.5 km.
This day is the highest point of the route, at 823 meters. The route is quite different from the other two days. The path is almost completely overgrown, surrounded by mountains and lakes. The path takes us to the lake Löðmundarvatn and then to the Lifrafjöll mountains. We then head up to Dómadalsháls and walk on the Háölduhraun lava. When we reach the top, we can see over the geothermal valley of Landmannalaugar.
Day 4, 11th August: Landmannalaugar – Reykjavík
We will drive to the geothermal valley of Landmannalaugar and walk around the area. Then we drive back to Reykjavik in the afternoon.
