Sponsored trek for charity in Iceland
| country: | Iceland |
| departures: | 2009: 22 Jul |
| price: | From £235 deposit + £2000 fundraised (55% to charity) (5 days) inc UK flights. Self funders - £235 deposit + £1000 (inc £100 to charity) |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Trek across the glaciers of Iceland and raise money for your favourite charity at the same time as taking part in an amazing adventure!
Highlights include:
One of the Earth's most volcanic regions Iceland's premier trekking location Trek through vast lava fields Countless streams and hot springs Swim in the Blue Lagoon
Iceland hosts some of Europe's greatest wilderness areas, which are home to active volcanoes, sheer cliffs, glaciers, thundering waterfalls, steaming lava fields, plunging fjords, boiling mud pools and spouting geysers! This is the stunning terrain that your 'long weekend' expedition will cross.
The challenge is to walk the Landmannalaugar route across the Southern Highlands through one of the most actively volcanic areas in Iceland. Most striking of all is the sheer vastness of space with far reaching visibility, crystal clear northern air and the geological diversity of the multi-coloured volcanic rocks.
Although this is a short European trek, don't be fooled into thinking it is not challenging! The days are long, the terrain is difficult, and you will be expected to get involved in helping to set up camp in the evenings.
Whilst the trek is not technically difficult, you will have to be prepared for some steep climbs and descents on rough ground, as well as walking across snowfields. Such awe inspiring terrain is rarely crossed by adventurers. Before returning home, you will have the chance to visit the Blue Lagoon and take a dip.
Please note: This trip can also be booked without flights. Some of the dates are exclusive for specific charities, please contact us for details.
Highlights include:
Iceland hosts some of Europe's greatest wilderness areas, which are home to active volcanoes, sheer cliffs, glaciers, thundering waterfalls, steaming lava fields, plunging fjords, boiling mud pools and spouting geysers! This is the stunning terrain that your 'long weekend' expedition will cross.
The challenge is to walk the Landmannalaugar route across the Southern Highlands through one of the most actively volcanic areas in Iceland. Most striking of all is the sheer vastness of space with far reaching visibility, crystal clear northern air and the geological diversity of the multi-coloured volcanic rocks.
Although this is a short European trek, don't be fooled into thinking it is not challenging! The days are long, the terrain is difficult, and you will be expected to get involved in helping to set up camp in the evenings.
Whilst the trek is not technically difficult, you will have to be prepared for some steep climbs and descents on rough ground, as well as walking across snowfields. Such awe inspiring terrain is rarely crossed by adventurers. Before returning home, you will have the chance to visit the Blue Lagoon and take a dip.
whats this trip includes
International flights to and from Iceland, all internal transfers, all meals (inc. drinking water) unless otherwise stated in the itinerary, all accommodation, group first aid supplies, an English speaking expedition leader and full local support team (drivers, and porters, etc), relevant back-up facilities, a T-Shirt, US$20 to the local community project, and discount from Nomad Travellers Stores for personal equipment. We also make a contribution through Climate Care to offset the equivalent CO2 emissions of your international flight.Please note: This trip can also be booked without flights. Some of the dates are exclusive for specific charities, please contact us for details.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | International travel and transfer to the interior.You will fly from London Heathrow on IcelandAir to Keflavik. Our representative will be there to assist you with the check-in and any last minute questions. You will then be met at Keflavik airport by a local agent who will transfer (4-4.5hrs) you immediately by bus to the Southern Highlands about 150 miles east of Reykjavik. The barren lava fields that surround Iceland's international airport are an eye-grabbing introduction to this near-Arctic island, home to many volcanoes (some still active), glistening with glaciers, geysers, hot springs and waterfalls. There will be a refreshment stop en-route – the last shop you will see for several days! You will pass by the lower slopes of Hekla, Iceland’s most famous volcano, which erupts about every ten years, (the last eruption was in 2000). The area around Hekla is covered with a mix of lava fields and black pumice (dust). It looks like the lunar surface. After a further hour, you will arrive at Landmannalaugar where you will camp for the night. Here you will help pitch your tents for tonight (as you will on each night of the expedition). Landmannalaugar is in the heart of Southern Iceland’s thermal area on the mid-Atlantic rift and surrounded by multicoloured rhyolite mountains and lava fields. It is starkly beautiful. The camp lies in a flat valley, surrounded by hills and encompassing a fairly unforgiving landscape of rocky open ground. The campsite has good facilities though, with plenty of showers and toilets. Before you turn in, you will have the opportunity to bathe in the hot springs in the area. Darkness will last for only 2-3 hours and even then it is only a grey twilight awash in midnight sun. Overnight dinner, clear up and camping. |
| Day 2: | Landmannalaugar to Álftavatn (24 kms). The following morning, you will wake up early and after breakfast, will start your hiking expedition. Today is an extremely challenging first day. You will climb up through the rhyolite, cross lava fields, pass steaming vents and in total contrast to the steam - you will cross snow fields as you wander these high lonely hills. Walking in the snow will be your biggest challenge today as it moves and slides beneath your feet. Near the highest point (3,600ft) you will pass Storihver – a big hot spring amongst a field of vents. This is a strange and sinister hot spring. After lunch you will walk through fields of glistening black opsidium rock with spectacular views back across to Hrafntinnusker, the valleys and the snowfields. Continuing along the Jokultungur Ridge the views remain fabulous – Tindfjallajokull, Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers and the Álftavatn Valley. Finally, you will have a long downhill descent over scree finishing with a river crossing to Álftavatn, a huge volcanic lake where you will camp overnight. The stunning surroundings make this long and very challenging day really worthwhile – if you’ve still got any energy you can have a swim in the lake or otherwise simply relax and take in the beautiful scenery. Overnight dinner, clear up and camping. |
| Day 3: | Álftavatn to Emstrur (14km). The scenery will change as you leave the rhyolite and enter a glacial area with fast running glacial streams off the Myrdalsjokull Icecap, with steep deep gorges. You will start by walking along a 4WD dirt track but soon you will return to a mountain track. You will experience river crossings, both by wooden bridges and wading through ice-cold streams, possibly up to your thighs in the Bláfjallakvisi! You will then climb down to the oasis Hvanngil and the then trek across ‘Sahara Like’ passes and hills to the Emstrur hut. This signifies the end of your day and your accommodation for the night. Overnight dinner, clear up and camping next to stream at a small campsite. |
| Day 4: | Emstrur to Thorsmörk and transportation to Reykjavik (15km). Completing the journey today, you will cross more rivers and have views of the amazing Markarfljót gorge and the bridged Ljorsa fissure. The distance walked today will be approximately 15 kms, making the total distance walked about 58 kms (35 miles). You will begin by crossing a river by a footbridge that you will need to climb down to using ropes. You then climb up out of the valley crosiing shallow and deep river all the way. The trek ends with a long steep drop into the main valley of Thorsmörk, which is surrounded by giant glaciers and raging rivers. It is regarded as one of Iceland’s most well known beauty spots. An hour later you arrive at your final camp, you can start to celebrate your achievements and marvel at the spectacular scenery all around. From Thorsmörk you will be transported back to Reykjavik (about 3½ hours) via a beautiful waterfall when you can stop and take pictures and stretch your legs. On arrival in Reykjavík, if you still have the energy, you can experience the late night bars before retiring to bed. Reykjavík boasts all the trappings of a modern European city, as well as an interesting old town, whitewashed wooden buildings, and rows of brightly painted concrete houses. Nearly everything of interest is within walking distance of the old settlement. Overnight hostel / guest house in Reykjavik. |
| Day 5: | Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon & return to UK. Reykjavik, the world’s most northerly capital, a jewel of a city, set spectacularly on a broad bay and surrounded by stunning mountains, is completely smokeless and hence one of the cleanest cities in the world with its own natural central heating system from its geothermal hot springs. As an apparent contradiction, Reykjavik means ‘Smoky Bay’ derived from the steamy hot springs but in fact the air is crystal clear with vistas often extending to 100 miles! Reykjavik also has a growing reputation as a vibrant European city with a lively nightlife of nightclubs and discos. In 2000 it was elected as one of the European Cities of Culture. This morning you will have some time to stroll around Reykjavik before being transported to the famous Blue lagoon - one of Iceland’s pools of pure, mineral-rich, geothermal seawater, set amongst fields of lava against a spectacular backdrop of green rolling hills - after which you will return to Keflavik airport for your afternoon flight back to London Heathrow on IcelandAir to London. |
Additional optional extension available to go to the Golden Circle & Whale Watching
Highly Commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Our responsible commitment extends to helping the local communities we visit. We employ local guides, porters and other essential support staff, and use locally owned accommodation.
We donate approx US $500 per trek to various projects including Vildarbörn Children’s Charity. The charity helps critically ill children in Iceland and neighbouring countries by giving those children living under special medical and family circumstances a chance to travel. As a company we have also drastically reduced the carbon footprint of our UK operations, and are making a huge effort to do so in their destination countries too. We are also investing to offset the emissions from the international flights required to take part in our challenges.  We also provide travellers with a responsible tourism policy detailing ways in which you can be an ethical traveller. From packing conscientiously to advice on local customs & environmental awareness overseas to maintaining contact with your new international friends upon your return – our policy is a comprehensive document providing all the info you need to trek, climb of cycle responsibly. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |