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Iceland travalogue
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This is the travelogue of our trip to Iceland.
The thumbnails of all pictures are on this page.
| Date | Route | |
| Mo 8/9 | Berchem - A'dam - Keflavík - Reykjavík [diary & photos] * 9u20: train Berchem-Schiphol. * 13u30: flight with Iceland Air: Schiphol - Keflavík (the international airport of Iceland). * 15u20: bus to centre of Reykjavík (youth hostel). * Late night walk in the city. Dinner in an Italian restaurant. |
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| Tu 8/10 | Reykjavík - Skógar [diary & photos] * 6h00: early wakeup and breakfast in the youth hostel. * 7h15: bus to city centre and a 1h wait for the bus to Skógar. * 11h20: building up our camp, buy some food, visit of the waterfall (Skógafoss). * 16h00: visit the museum. * Diner (5 courses because of difficulties with the fire at campsite). * Thee/coffee in the restaurant. * Some hike to the top of the waterfall. |
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| We 8/11 | Skógar - Fimmvörðuháls [diary & photos] * During breakfast we can see the solar eclips (only 40% here, should be 95% back home). * Start of the 6-day hike along Skoga and endless waterfalls (1000m climb). * The first cabin will be our place for the night (between Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallalökull). * A frenchman happens to find a bottle of whisky in his 4WD. |
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| Th 8/12 | Fimmvörðuháls - Þórsmörk (Thorsmork) [diary & photos] * A quick breakfast, and an early start (in the fog). * A back wind helps us over the snow plains. * Half way down we have a magnificent view over both glaciers and the valley. * After a couple of steep decents we arrive as early as 12h30 at the valley floor (time for lunch). * A maez of rivers is the last obstacle te finish our hike at the campground. * After a shower and diner, we walk to the top of a small hill to get a view over the area. |
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| Fr 8/13 | Þórsmörk - Botnar [diary & photos] * At 10 o'clock we start the walk. * After a short time we need the get our sandels to pass through a river. * Along a deep canyon and a strong headwind (lava dust) we start a steep climb to Botnar. * Diner, and a relaxing walk to the canyon (Markarfljotsgljufur). |
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| Sa 8/14 | Botnar - Álftavatn [diary & photos] * After a night of rain, we leave our camp over the lava fields. * After one hour, Johan goes back to get Koen's raincoat. * When the rest of the group takes it's lunch, Johan joins us again (it's still raining). * One more (icecold) river, and we can search for a shelter (rebuilded stabbles). * Because of the rain, there is no evening activity. |
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| Su 8/15 | Álftavatn - Hrafntinnusker [diary & photos] * The rain seems to be over, the sun is in the sky. * First we have the walk the miles we 'forgot' yesterday. * After the lake we have to climb a 500m hill. * Here the vulcanic activities are visible (hot water pools, ...). * At 16h we are at our camp, but is is a windy place on the hill. * Evening walk on a nearby summit. |
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| Mo 8/16 | Hrafntinnusker - Landmannalaugar [diary & photos] * The night was very cold (like freezing cold). * Passing some boiling mud pools. * Through the labyrint of Landmannalaugar. * Bathing in the hot-water-pool. * I have a bad day. Hope a early sleep warms me. |
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| Tu 8/17 | Landmannalaugar - Skaftafell [diary & photos] * Late breakfast and a final walk to the 'blue mountain'. * 14h30: bus to Skaftafell (with a 1hour stop at Ofaerufoss-waterfall). * After 6 days, we arrive at a larger campsite (with a store, a restaurant, beer and hot showers). * The bar closes at 23h00. |
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| We 8/18 | Skaftafell (gletsjerwandeling) [diary & photos] * Quit start of the day: washing clothes, making phonecalls, ... * After lunch we drive to the foot of the glacier. * Icelandic guides help us on a 6 hour walk on the glacier. * Evening dinner in the small restaurant. * Late night walk on the slopes, and a very late drink in the bar. |
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| Th 8/19 | Skaftafell [diary & photos] * It's Karin birthday today. She gets a present from the group: a T-shirt. * It will be a long day, so we empty the little store. * At 10h50 we start the day hike:: Sfartifoss, glacier Morsárjökull, top of 1126m, ... * After our diner we get a drink from Karin. * Everybody witnesses the aureolis. |
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| Fr 8/20 | Skaftafell - Höfn [diary & photos] * Early rise to catch the 9 o'clock bus. * Long stop at the ice lake (Breiðamerkurjökull). * Boat trip on the lake, walk along the beach. * At 15u30 continuing to Höfn. * Dellicious home made fresh meal: fish and rice. * Walk in the harbor. |
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| Sa 8/21 | Höfn - Mývatn (Reykjahlíð) [diary & photos] * With one out delay two small planes (8 passengers max) take us to Mývatn. * Very turbulent flight, but magnificent view over Vatnajökull. * In Mývatn we walk to the campground (3km). * Strong winds make it difficult to set up the tents. * Walk to information centre. A a dive into a hot pool (and sauna). * The campsite has a big tent that can be just to make dinner. * The day is ended in a small café (they have even Belgian beer -- 275fr. is triple the price from home). |
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| Su 8/22 | Mývatn [diary & photos] * Wakeup call at 8h30, breakfast. No wind today equals lot's of musquitos. * Walk to Grotagja (warm water cave), an crater (Hverfell) and Dimmuborgir (lavaformations). * Small tour at the lake to test our bikes (for tomorrow's trip). |
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| Mo 8/23 | Mývatn (Krafla) [diary & photos] * Lot's of wind today. The first part of the bike trip is really easy. * Trip along Hverarönd (sulfer- and mud pools) and over recent lava eruptions of Krafla. * Returning is a lot more difficult (headwind). * Katie must go to a hospital (enfection). Johan (the guide) goes with her. * Storm weather limits the activities to a card game and preparing dinner. |
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| Tu 8/24 | Mývatn - Dettifoss - Vesturdalar [diary & photos] * While waiting for Katie and Johan, we pack our backpacks. * 10h15: 4WD takes us to a huge waterfall: Dettifoss. * After a shoort look at the waterfall, we start the 17,5km hike along Jökulsárgljúfur river. * At 19u30 (our latest walk) we arive at the campsite. Katie is already here. * Many musquitos don't simplify enjoying our meal. |
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| We 8/25 | Vesturdalar - Ásbyrgi - Húsavík [diary & photos] * 8h00: breakfast and packing (the tents). * Walk to the horseshoe valley of Ásbyrgi, downhill with the aid of a rope. * Picked up by a bus which drops us at Húsavík. * Just in time to buy diner (salmon). * Put up the tents, and explore the village. |
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| Th 8/26 | Húsavík - Reykjavík [diary & photos] * After breakfast we make a whale watching trip on the 'Moby Dick'. * We only find some dolphines and one Minky-whale. * A home cooked pasta dish and some free hours to kill the time in this small village. * Small airplane (19 passengers) to Reykjavík. * It's raining (that was a long tim ago), but we have a dry campingplace in the youth hostel. |
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| Fr 8/27 | Reykjavík [diary & photos] * We hired a minubus to visit the touristic places: Þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir. * The free afternoon I go watch the Vulcano Show. Other make a shoppingwalk in the city. * After 20h we finish this trip with a diner at a fancy restaurant. * The last night starts in the Irish Pub, and ends in a little café with live (Icelandic) music. |
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| Sa 8/28 | Reykjavík - Keflavík - A'dam - Berchem [diary & photos] * At 5h30 (some come straight from the pubs) we take the bus to the airport. * 8h30: take off, take a last look at this island. * 14u40: train from Amsterdam to Belgium. * 16u50: Berchem, the trip has come to an end. |
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