TREK ICELAND - LANDMANNALAUGAR TO THORSMORK

Transcription

1 THORSMORK The classic Laugavegur trekking holiday across the Fjallabak in Iceland Iceland s most famous trek - a genuine classic A trekking holiday amongst Iceland s volcanic landscapes Hot springs, steam-vents, black sand and icecaps Now includes 2 nights in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik HOLIDAY CODE ILT Iceland, Trek & Walk, 7 Days 4 nights mountain hut / refuge, 2 nights guesthouse, 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, max group size: 16, 5 days trekking, max altitude metres

2 PAGE 2 VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE Introduction This wild and wonderful walking holiday takes us across the most outrageous of Iceland s volcanic landscapes. From the modern city of Reykjavik to the volcanoes, glaciers and tortured lava formations of the interior, Iceland is a country of great contrast. Our trekking route takes us across the dramatic volcanic region of the Fjallabak, one of the most spectacular places for a walking holiday in Europe. Driving close to Hekla, Iceland's famously active volcano, we reach the start of our trek at Landmannalaugar. From here, our first afternoon of walking takes us south into the mountains, through rocky gorges and by way of steaming hot springs to the ancient lava flows of Hrafntinnusker and our first night in a cosy mountain hut. Our route continues via Lake Alftavatn (Swan Lake) and across the extraordinary black sands of Maelifellssandur, below the Myrdalsjokull Icecap. We traverse the former summer grazing area at Emstrur and visit the magnificent Markarfljot Canyon, en route to the picturesque glaciated valley and birch woodland of Thorsmork (Thor s Forest), where we spend our fourth and final night at a mountain hut. On our last morning at Thorsmork, we have the option to visit Songhellir Cave and to hike to the top of the small peak, Valahnukur, before catching the bus back to Reykjavik. Book your own Reykjavik accommodation and choose to spend as much or as little time as you like in this fascinating city. Explore International. This holiday is part of our Explore International range. Participants on these trips can book through KE or through one of our international partners. This helps us to gather together sufficient numbers of like-minded adventurers to get your holiday up and running quickly. Led by an English-speaking guide, the cosmopolitan nature of these groups can be an important part of the experience! Is this holiday for you? This is real wilderness travel, with the Icelandic landscape changing dramatically each day. The trails will change from good paths to rocky scree and expanses of black volcanic sand, from green valley pastures to windswept ridges. Especially on the first departures of the season you are also likely to encounter snow patches, some of them quite extensive. There will also be river crossings on most days and the weather can be very unpredictable. We will walk for approximately 4 to 5 hours on Days 1 and 2 and 6 to 7 hours on Days 3 and 4, with the opportunity for further exploration on the morning of Day 5. The route is generally undulating, rather than hilly, with no more than 600 metres of ascent on any of the days. This trekking holiday is suitable for any regular hillwalker, but be prepared for a unique experience. The group's baggage is carried by the support vehicle and this means you can walk with just a light daysack. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Check in at the group's guesthouse accommodation in Reykjavik. Rendezvous at the group's guesthouse accommodation in Reykjavik. KE Land Only package services begin with the overnight at this accommodation. You may have to wait until 2pm before being given access to your rooms. If you arrive significantly earlier than this, you can leave your bags at the guesthouse and do some exploring. Reykjavik is a modern city, home to 190,000 of Iceland's tiny total population of 280,000. Its centre is small and easy to walk

3 PAGE 3 around from our accommodation and there are also several restaurants within walking distance for your evening meal. ACCOMMODATION GUESTHOUSE Day 2: Drive via Mount Hekla to Landmannalaugar. Afternoon walk via gorges and hot springs to Hrafntinnusker. After an early breakfast you will be picked up by our taxi driver at around 06:50-07:10 and taken to the bus terminal, where you will meet your local guide. After a quick briefing you will catch the public bus at 08:00 to Landmannalaugar. Your main baggage will be loaded onto the support vehicle while you board the bus wearing your hiking gear and carrying your day-pack ready for the day's walk. The drive takes a little under 4 hours, but is very interesting throughout, as this is one of the most scenic routes in Iceland. We drive eastwards, crossing the high moorland of Hellisheidi and passing south of the steaming volcano, Hengill. We pass also the greenhouses of Hveragerdi Village, where hot water is cheaper than cold water and keeping buildings cool is more of an issue than heating! East of the Thjorsa River, we head inland and cross to the north of Mount Hekla, one of Iceland's most infamous volcanoes, which last erupted as recently as February We now enter the black Domadalur (Valley of Doom), which is gateway to the Fjallabak (Backcountry). The Fjallabak Nature Reserve is a huge mountainous wilderness that is constantly built up by ongoing volcanic activity and eroded by glaciers, rivers and wind. Finally reaching Landmannalaugar, we have lunch, before setting off on the first stage of our walk to Hrafntinnusker. Setting off southwards into the mountains, we cross the 500-year-old Laugahraun lava flow that is still giving heat to the Landmannalaugar hot springs. Climbing steadily past numerous sulphur vents, we top a succession of rolling rhyolite hills before descending to the steaming hot springs at Storihver. This is a mysterious landscape that would not be out of place in any of the Lord of the Rings films. As we get higher, the better we can understand the forces of nature. Whole mountains have been created and remoulded by thousands of years of boiling sulphuric vents and glacial erosion. Up on the plateau, steam rises in all directions from unseen vents and we reach our accommodation at the Hrafntinnusker Mountain Hut in the late afternoon. Here, we meet the support vehicle for the first time since leaving Reykjavik and have access to our main baggage. Our guide will prepare the evening meal at the hut and will appreciate help from group members with the food preparation, serving and washing up. ACCOMMODATION MOUNTAIN HUT / REFUGE ASCENT 600M DISTANCE 12KM MEALS BLD DESCENT 200M TIME 4-5 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 3: Trek via a chaotic canyon system to the beautiful lake of Alftavatn (Swan Lake). The idea that there is always some logic to landscape is proved to be false today, as we head south into the canyon complex to the south of Hrafntinnusker. Descending into the gullies of Jokultungur, we come across hundreds of steaming hot springs and mud pools. The route meanders easily southwards, crossing old snow patches and climbing to ridges where we have views across dark volcanic plains towards Alftavatn and the Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull glaciers. Crossing the southern edge of the Torfajokull Massif, we descend a long slope towards the black sands and palagonite ridges around Lake Alftavatn (Swan Lake). Arriving at the lake, one of the most beautiful locations on our route, we check in at the Alftavatn Mountain Hut.

4 PAGE 4 ACCOMMODATION MOUNTAIN HUT / REFUGE ASCENT 400M DISTANCE 13KM MEALS BLD DESCENT 850M TIME 4-5 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 4: Cross rivers and trek via the black sand plain of Maelifellssandur to Emstrur. There are several rivers to cross today, as we head southwards and towards the white ice cliffs of the Myrdalsjokull Icecap. Some of these glacial streams and rivers are bridged, but others need to be forded - a chilly experience for the feet. After a long, but gentle climb, we descend to the green oasis of Hvanngil, where there is a mountain hut. We continue our walk, crossing another couple of rivers, to reach the surreal 5 kilometre wide, black sand plain of Maelifellssandur, beneath the conical peak of Storasula. Heading now towards Hattfell, another ancient volcano, we reach the Emstrur region where farmers used to graze their sheep in summer. Before arriving at the Botnar Mountain Hut (our accommodation for the night) we visit the magnificent Markarfljot canyon which is cut almost 200 metres down into the rocks south of Hattfell. ACCOMMODATION MOUNTAIN HUT / REFUGE ASCENT 230M DISTANCE 16KM MEALS BLD DESCENT 300M TIME 6-7 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 5: Trek through the Markarfljot Canyons to the spectacular Thorsmork Valley. The first challenge today is to cross the bridge across the Emstrur River. Having overcome this obstacle, we trek through the magnificent Markarfljot Canyon, which was carved out by thundering floods, caused by volcanic eruptions under the ice cap. The effects of erosional forces are visible at every step on this trip and nowhere more obvious than in the Thorsmork Valley. For the first time on our trek, we enter a green and well-vegetated valley, which becomes more luxuriant the closer we get to Thorsmork. The last part of the hike is through thick birch forest, where even the lava ridges are covered with scrubby trees and the lovely arctic flowers that bloom for a few weeks each summer. Thorsmork means Thor's forest and it is not hard to see why this lovely area should be considered to belong to a god. It is out of this world! The valley is guarded on all sides by tremendous, fast-flowing rivers and steep glacier-clad mountains. It is one of the most beautiful spots in Iceland and the favourite weekend retreat of many of Reykjavik's walkers. We overnight at one of the Thorsmork huts. ACCOMMODATION MOUNTAIN HUT / REFUGE ASCENT 600M DISTANCE 17KM MEALS BLD DESCENT 850M TIME 6-7 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 6: Morning at Thorsmork, then return drive to Reykjavik via the south coast. We spend the morning in Thorsmork, with the option to take it easy or to walk one of the numerous trails. One option is to visit to Songhellir Cave (Song Cave) and there is also the opportunity to trek up to the viewpoint of Valahnukur, from where we can look across to the icecaps of Myrdalsjokull (1460m) and Eyjafjallajokull (1666m). After lunch, we catch the bus back to the Central Bus Station in Reykjavik. Arriving at approximately 1920 hrs, we transfer to our guesthouse accommodation.

5 PAGE 5 ACCOMMODATION GUESTHOUSE ASCENT 300M DISTANCE 6KM MEALS BL DESCENT 300M TIME 2-3 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 7: Departure day. KE Land Only package services end with breakfast at the hotel. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included Professional English speaking Icelandic guide(s) Transfer to the bus station on Day 2 and from the bus station on Day 6 All accommodation as described Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan Vehicle support throughout the trip What's Not Included Travel insurance Airport transfers between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik are not included Some meals as detailed in the Meal Plan Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc Meal Plan All meals whilst on trek are included in the trip price. While staying in Reykjavik, there is a wide range of dining options and here it makes sense to leave the choice of meal and budget to you so meals here are not included in the holiday price. We recommend you allow 120 for non included meals. Food All food is purchased in Reykjavik, with the emphasis on fresh produce and easily-prepared meals. The trip leader, will prepare the group s evening meals and will be grateful for any assistance from group members. Local specialities predominate, including excellent sea-fish and Icelandic lamb, as well as the chance of fresh Arctic char. Breakfasts will consist of porridge, muesli, bread, jam, cheese, ham, plus tea and coffee. At breakfast, snack items and sandwich materials will be made available so that group members can make up their own packed lunches. Joining Arrangements & Transfers Transfers between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik are not provided. The Flybus provides the best airport transfer service. The Flybus ticket office is situated just inside the terminal and is clearly signposted. When you buy your ticket let them know which hotel you need to be dropped off at. The Flybus leaves the airport following each incoming flight, minutes after each arrival. The Flybus will take you to the bus station in Reykjavik and you will need to ask the bus driver which bus takes you on to your hotel (the cost of this 'second' bus is included in the

6 PAGE 6 Flybus ticket). For the return journey to the airport, your guesthouse reception will assist with booking your ticket and advising you where you will board the bus. For more information please visit The cost is around each way. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. Accommodation During this trip you will spend 2 nights in basic hotel or guesthouse accommodation, situated within a short walk of central Reykjavik. The accommodation here will be based on twin (and occasionally triple) room sharing. Some of this accommodation has shared, rather than en-suite facilities. It may also be possible to book a single room at additional cost. We cannot guarantee that group members will all be booked into the same Reykjavik accommodation, or that you will be booked into the same Reykjavik guesthouse at the start and end of the holiday. On our journey across the Fjallabak, we will stay in typical Icelandic mountain huts with dormitory-style accommodation and shared facilities. Sleeping bags are needed at the accommodation we use outside of Reykjavik. Single Traveller Supplement: This holiday is priced on a 2 person sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself and do not request single room occupancy for the 2 nights in Reykjavik, we will make every effort to pair you up with another single traveller of the same sex. If this is not possible you will have to pay the single supplement. Group Leader & Support Staff An experienced English speaking Icelandic guide will lead the trip. There will also be a support vehicle and driver.. Spending Money No services, accommodation or meals in Reykjavik are included. You can expect to pay for a snack and for a decent dinner with a drink in the Icelandic capital. There are ATM's at Keflavik Airport and in Reykjavik. The Icelandic unit of currency is the Krona (plural. Kronur). Free KE Gift We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where applicable) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking. Baggage Allowance Your baggage on trek will be carried in the support vehicle. Clients should restrict themselves to a single trek bag. There is no weight limit on this bag other than that imposed by your international carrier. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

7 PAGE 7 General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Iceland UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa for short stays. Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations. UK residents should obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is still vital when travelling overseas. Currency The unit of currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Climate It is lovely and warm in the summer here.

8 PAGE 8 Maps Mal og Menning. Fjallabak. Hekla - Laki. 1:100,000 scale. The Icelandic maps published by Mal og Menning are good. The above map covers the area of the trek in detail. There are also general maps at a smaller scale, such as Island (covers the whole island) at a scale of 1:600,000. Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Land Only Notes We sell this holiday on a Land Only basis and recommend that you book your flights to Reykjavik (Keflavik) Airport Please refer to Joining Arrangements and Transfers for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. If flying from the UK, there are a number of low cost airlines offering flights to Reykjavik. These include Easyjet, who have flights from Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Manchester and Edinburgh and WOW Air, who have flights from Gatwick, Bristol and Edinburgh. If you would prefer to book a 'Flight Inclusive' package using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 34 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, muleherders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience. The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or , or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience.

9 PAGE 9 KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In

10 PAGE 10 addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

11 PAGE 11 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. You Must Bring The Following Items: Sturdy and waterproof hiking boots Gaiters Sandals or similar (for river crossings) Socks and underwear Trekking trousers Waterproof overtrousers Baselayer shirts (1 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve) Midlayer fleece Fleece jacket or jumper Casual shirt or T-shirt (for Rekjavik evenings) Warm jacket (down or synthetic) Waterproof jacket Warm hat Light thermal gloves Waterproof overgloves or mittens Sunglasses Sleeping bag (comfort rated 0 C) Drybags to keep items in your KE trek bag dry Daypack of approximately 30 litres capacity Sun protection (including for lips) Water bottles x 2 (1 Litre) Washbag and toiletries Swimwear (for hot springs) Small trek towel Antibacterial handwash Basic First Aid Kit. Including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).

12 PAGE 12?The Following Items Are Optional: Sleeping bag liner Trainers Trekking poles Shorts Spare laces Headtorch Blindfold (eye cover) to assist sleeping in the near 24-hour daylight Travel clothes Repair kit (eg. needle, thread, duct tape) Camer Pen-knife (remember to put all sharp objects in hold baggage) Small padlock (to lock trek bag) Please note: This document was downloaded on 8 Mar 2018, and the trip is subject to change.