Tour Overview
Duration
4 days
Walking distance
47 km
Difficulty
Moderate
Accommodation
Sleeping bag - huts
Group size
Min 5 persons
Group size
Max 15 persons
Minimum age
14 years
Season
Summer
Starting point
Hólaskjól Highland Center
Departure
13:00
Pick up
Yes
Drop off
Yes
Tour departures dates 2024
26.Jul.24
3.Aug.24
Tour departures dates 2025
10.Jul.25
17.Jul.25
24.Jul.25
31.Jul.25
14.Aug.25
21.Aug.25
Price from
1.528
Tour description
Strútur Trek is a four-day tour with three days of trekking. This tour starts in our Base Camp at Hólaskjól Highland Centre. Hikers will travel to Hólaskjól by their own volition. Pickup in the village Kirkjubæjarklaustur can be arranged.
The expedition begins with a trek the Lake Álftavötn where the group spend the first night in a mountain hut. First part of the trek is along the river Syðri Ófæra where we will observe the butiful waterfall and pillar rock formation. Lake Álftavötn is a stunning place loded with lakes and rivers.
From Álftavötn hut the trek goes along with the Eldgjá fissues and alonsdie with the vast Svartahnúksfjöll “black mountains” on our way to Strútslaug, that lies south of the glacier Torfajökull. Strútslaug is an active geothermal area and there the explorers can relax in fully natural geothermal hot spring. The day’s trek ends in the mountain hut Strútur.
From Strútur hut the trek goes through black volcanic sand of Mælifellsandur to Slysaalda a place of old storis of hidden outlaws and tragic accident in the year 1868. On our way to Hvanngil Valley we might have the opportunity to to get a good viewed over the black sand plain of Mælifellssandur and the Mountain Mælifell. The trek ends at the Hut in Hvanngil where we spent the last night.
On the last day of the tour the trekkers will be picked up after breakfast and we drive the mountain road Mælfellssandur with a stop at the green mountain Mælfell before we arrive to Hólskjól Highland Center.
What you can expect to see and experience
Eldgjá Lava field, Skaftá river, Hólaskjól Highland Centre, the hidden waterfall, Lake Álftavötn, Strútur geothermal hot spring, Mælifell and the Black Sand of Mælfellsandur, Mýrdalsjökul Glacier, Katla Volcano
Tour briefing
Included
- Professional guide
- The trek is supported. All luggage is transported between huts and the trekkers travel light during the day.
- Food and lunch pack for the day during the trek
- Accommodation in mountain huts during the trek.
Not Included
- Soft drinks
- Alcohol beverages
What to bring
- Thermal underwear (top and bottom)
- At least two sets of shirts
- Wool or fleece thermal mid layer.
- Hiking pants
- Waterproof and breathable pants and jacket
- Wool hat
- Gloves
- 2 to 3 pairs of hiking socks
- Waterproof hiking boots.
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Sport shoes - to wear when not hiking.
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen & aftersun
- Travel sack for your baggage that is transported between huts/campsites
- Day-back pack 25 - 40L
- River crossing shoes (old sneakers or similar for fording rivers).
- Health supplies and precription medicine
- Water bottle 1-2L
- Towel
- Swimming gear
Day 1
Reykjavík – Hólaskjól Highland Centre – Álftavötn hut
The tour starts in Reykjavík. We pick up at Reykjavík bus stops and most hotels in Reykjavík. The pickup starts at 8.30. The tour starts with a drive after the South Coast Road with a stop in the Village Vík and continues to Hólaskjól Highland Centre where the trek starts. We will trek along the river Syðri Ófæra where the travelers will observe a breathtaking waterfall, that doesn’t have any name, as we travel along the side of the river on our way to the shepherd hut in Álftavötn where we will have dinner and overnight accommodation.
Álftavötn is stunningly beautiful, fountains stream out from the lava fields and into the clear lake Álftavötn where vegetation reaches the water. There you can also find a natural Stonebridge that goes over the river Syðri-Ófæra.
The days trek will be around 4 – 5 hours, approximately 8 km.
Day 2
Álftavötn – Strútur hut
From Álftavötn we continue our exploration as we go off the beaten path. The path is unmarked and not visible and far from all roads. Álftavötn is a wide valley loaded with lakes and rivers. Álftavötn means “Swan lakes” It is common to see birds there like swans and other birds depending on the time of the year we go through the area. We will hike through the Eldgjá fissure and alongside with the vast Svartahnúksfjöll “black mountains” on our way to Strútslaug, that lies south of the glacier Torfajökull. Strútslaug is an active geothermal area and there the explorers can relax in fully natural geothermal hot spring.
There are no dressing rooms there and we don’t expect to meet other trekkers in this remote area that is not accessible by roads or tracks either. From Strútslaug is 1,5-hour hike to the Strútur hut where we overnight the last day of the trek. We will have a barbecue in the evening.
Hiking distance 21,8 km
Active hiking time is 7 -8 hours.
Day 3
Strútur hut – Hvanngil hut
We leave Strútur hut as we trek over the small mountain ridge called Veðurháls. We trek through black volcanic sand of Mælifellsandur to Slysaalda a place of old storis of hidden outlaws and tragic accident in the year 1868. On our way to Hvanngil Valley we might have the opportunity to get a good view over the black sand plain of Mælifellssandur and the Mountain Mælifell. The trek ends at the hut in Hvanngil where we will stay overnight.
The day’s trek is around 18 km long.
Active trekking time is 7 hours.
Day 4
Hvanngil hut – Hólaskjól Highland Centre
Hvanngil hut – Hólaskjól Highland Centre – Reykjavík
After breakfast we will be picked up in Hvanngil hut by 4×4 vehicle. We drive mountain track from Strútur via Mælifellssand where we can look at the green mountain Mælifell on our way to our base camp in Hólaskjól Highland Center. We will enjoy different landscape as we travel back on the black Mælisfellssand with the black sand around us green hills in the background and good view on the magnificent glacier Mýrdalsjökull where the volcano Katla is resting. We will have the opportunity to look at mountain Mælifell.
We will end this journey at our Base Camp in Hólaskjól Highland Centre. From there travelers set the course to their next stop in Iceland.
