Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.05.2019, Síða 44

AREA GUIDE
Skaftafell
Words: Hannah Jane Cohen Photos: Art Bicnick
With glaciers, waterfalls and lava
fields in abundance, you can’t
get more peak Iceland than the
Skaftafell region. Located neatly
between Vík and the Jökulsárlón
Glacier Lagoon, it’s an oft bypassed
locale along the South coast that
really shouldn’t be. Stop for a hike,
a meal, and some of the best glacial
views you’ll find in the country.
Eat:
Freysnes
Directly across from Hótel Skaf-
tafell is an unassuming gas station,
grocery store and restaurant. Don’t
be put off by its exterior; head to the
buffet for a heaping plate of lamb,
potatoes and salad that’ll rival the
best restaurants in Reykjavík. They
also offer a fish option, hamburg-
ers, and fantastic French fries.
Activity:
Glacier Hiking
There are various glacier hikes
available in Skaftafell; indeed, the
base camp is a village of tour op-
erator chalets offering tours that
range from an hour-long strolls to
whole day excursions on the various
glaciers dotting the region. You can
take a quick jaunt onto Skaftafell-
sjökull, walkable from the base
camp; for those with more time or
endurance, there are 4-5 hour tours
onto Öræfajökull. Overlooking ev-
erything is Hvannadalshnjúkur,
Iceland’s highest peak—a seriously
challenging and advanced expedi-
tion that takes 12-15 hours with a
highly specialised guide. Which-
ever tour you choose, strap on your
crampons and roam around the
peaks and gullies as the sun shines;
wear warm clothes and bring sun-
glasses for maximum comfort.
Hike:
Svartifoss
Goth? Geologist? Nature enthu-
siast? Whatever your persuasion,
you’ll enjoy the sublime beauty
of Svartifoss. It’s a severe, dark,
glossy waterfall surrounded by
thick, black, hexagonal basalt
columns that lean together into
a cathedral-like semicircular
dome, demanding respect, ven-
eration and, above all else, Ins-
tagram photos. The hike to the
falls is a relaxing 45-minute jaunt
each way, with just a few steep
segments, making it suitable for
hikers of all experience levels.
Make sure to pay for parking at
the national park though—it’s
easy to miss the booths in the
parking lot.
Stay:
Hótel Skaftafell
Simple, comfortable and clean, Hó-
tel Skaftafell is a lovely no-frills
place for you to crash during your
Skaftafell adventure. Make sure to
ask for a room at the back of the
hotel, with a view of the Öræfa-
jökull glacier and its highest peak,
Hvannadalshnjúkur. With the sur-
rounding gorgeous mountains and
the hum of birds in the air, you’ll
feel like you’re in a real life Hudson
River School painting. There’s a
continental breakfast and an on-
site restaurant; if you’re on a tight
budget, try the nearby campsite.
Activity:
Ingólfshöfði
Puffin Tour
Halfway between Vatnjajökull Na-
tional Park and the Jökulsárlón
Glacier Lagoon lies the hidden
black sand cape of Ingólfshöfði.
Teeming with puffins and all
manner of bird life, it’s a photog-
rapher’s dream. Luckily for you,
From Coast To Mountains offers
a tractor-drawn hayride down to
the shore. Crossing marshes,
sand, flat grasslands, and small
waterways, the tour will get you
as close to the birds as possible.
Travel Distance from Reykjavík: 365km How to get there: Route One South, all the wayCar provided by: gocarrental.isAccommodation provided by: hotelskaftafell.is
Skaftafell is a treasured National Park
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