Iceland

Description

Iceland - by Henk

This rugged North Atlantic island offers great hiking through surprising nature. Vast lava fields spread out next to massive glaciers. Hot streams emerge from boiling springs. Giant waterfalls come roaring down and of course the famous geysers blow hot steam high into the air at regular intervals. For any hiker who loves wide expanses of clear empty sky, phenomenal views and remoteness. Everything in this country is bigger, larger, more colourful, and wetter. Iceland is paradise.

The volcanic most active part of the island is a band running from the south west to the north east.

There are numerous hiking trails in different parts of Iceland, but not all are clearly waymarked. Given frequent fog and the remoteness of Icelandic nature in general, it is necessary that you always know how to use map and compass. Don’t believe people who argue that a compass will be impaired by the local magnetism: not true. A GPS receiver, and plenty of spare batteries, comes in handy too. The most popular routes pass mountain huts at a day’s hike distance. Make reservations in advance. Always bring your own sleeping bag and food.

The most popular routes are:

  • Laugavegur, between active volcanos, glaciers and colourful mountains;
  • Kjalvegur, a trading route in the remote interior.

Also think of these good hiking area’s

  • Þingvellir, the historic lake and pleasant surroundings;
  • Mývatn, a beloved lake in the north;
  • The eastern fjords;
  • The giant glacier Vatnajökull, with many trails around it;
  • The very very lonely north coast;
  • Jökulsá á Fjöllum river, with its immense waterfalls and spectacular canyons;
  • Hornstrandir, the fjord like north western peninsula.

Although Iceland is not as cold a place as it sounds, hikers must be prepared for frequent and sudden weather changes and fog during all seasons. Also you may have to wade across rivers, and this can be dangerous. The summer months (mid June to mid September) are best for hiking. Prepare well.

Trails

Regions

Books

The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2020
  • Also available from:
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
» Click to open
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2020
» Click to close
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2020
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2012
  • Reisgids Off the Beaten Track in Iceland - IJsland | Skrudda
  • Een gids voor de avontuurlijke 4x4 off the road reiziger, die gedetailleerd 40 routes beschrijft. This book provides detailed descriptions of interesting routes in Iceland that are off the beaten track, especially in the highlands. A map is provided for each of the 40 route descriptions, most of them in the south and west of the country, and... Read more
Bol.com
Netherlands
  • Boundless
  • "In the end, these people helped me realize that Boundless was more than a job; it was metaphor for life. It came down to one simple, daily decision—do I stand still or move forward?"Filming the hit television series Boundless, Simon Donato has raced thousands human-powered kilometres across the globe—from the frigid tundra of Iceland to the... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • Boundless
  • "In the end, these people helped me realize that Boundless was more than a job; it was metaphor for life. It came down to one simple, daily decision—do I stand still or move forward?"Filming the hit television series Boundless, Simon Donato has raced thousands human-powered kilometres across the globe—from the frigid tundra of Iceland to the... Read more
» Click to close
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2018
  • Wandelgids Bergtochten op IJsland | Jolanda Linschooten
  • IJsland is een land vol uitersten. Besneeuwde bergen en immense gletsjers naast kokende modderpoelen en nog na gloeiende lavastromen. Met zijn overdaad aan natuur leent IJsland zich er bij uitstek voor om langzaam, te voet, verkend te worden. In dit boek staan 31 bergwandeltochten, zowel dag- als meerdaagse tochten, in totaal 57 dagen... Read more
More books…

Maps

Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Mýrdalsjökull - Eyjafjallajökull
  • Mýrdalsjökull - Eyjafjallajökull, map no. 14, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Skeiðarársandur
  • Skeiðarársandur, map no. 24, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Iceland Western Fjords
  • The Western Fjords of Iceland at 1:200,000 on a detailed map from Mál og Menning with exceptionally vivid presentation of the country’s topography and landscape, hard surface or gravel roads and numerous country tracks, superb drawings of local birds and flowers, etc.Maps in this series, first published in summer 2013, are based on the... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Skagi
  • Skagi, map no. 9, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and mudflats,... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Langjökull
  • Langjökull, map no. 11, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Veiðivötn
  • Veiðivötn, map no. 15, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Hornafjörður
  • Hornafjörður, map no. 25, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Vatnsdalur
  • Vatnsdalur, map no. 10, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Hofsjökull
  • Hofsjökull, map no. 16, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Mýrar
  • Mýrar, map no. 2, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and mudflats,... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Nýjabæjarfjall
  • Nýjabæjarfjall, map no. 17, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Snæfell
  • Snæfell, map no. 26, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Vestmannaeyjar
  • Vestmannaeyjar, map no. 13, in the topographic survey of Iceland at 1:100,000 published by Mál og menning, with excellent, vivid presentation of the terrain, footpaths and bridleways, campsites, etc. The maps have contours at 20m intervals, enhanced by bold relief shading plus colouring and/or graphics to show glaciers, lava fields, sands and... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Iceland South-West: Reykjavik – Eyjafjallajökull
  • South Western Iceland at 1:200,000 on a detailed map from Mál og Menning with exceptionally vivid presentation of the country’s topography and landscape, hard surface or gravel roads and numerous country tracks, superb drawings of local birds and flowers, etc. Coverage includes Reykjavik, the Reykjanes Peninsula, Þingvellir, Hekla and... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Iceland Mal og menning Road Atlas 2021-2023
  • Road Atlas of Iceland at 1:300,000 from Mál og menning in a spiral-bound glovebox format, with 35 street plans, several thematic maps, and cartography derived from the company’s outstanding mapping at 1:100,000.The representation of country’s topography is particularly vivid, with excellent relief shading based on satellite imagery supplemented... Read more
More maps…

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