7TH JULY - DAY 1 - REYKJAVIK-LANDMANNALAUGAR (by bus)

WHAT WE DID:

We walked back to the Bus Terminal and took the bus to Landmannalaugar. We got there in 4-5 hours. From the campsite, we climbed Blahnukur and came back in about 4 hours. Later on we went swimming in the natural hot pool by the camp.

COMMENT:

Quite soon after leaving Reykjavik, the landscape already looked strange and unusual, more than it had on the flybus from Keflavik to Reykjavik. Common sights were lava fields covered in moss, mountains with unexpected shapes (I presume due to them being relatively new and hence not eroded), and occasionally steam coming out from the ground. The bus went along the Ring-Road (which goes around the whole island) for the first part of the journey, and then started going inwards. Here new landscapes were seen, the bus stopped for a few minutes with Mt Hekla in sight, covered in white patches. In many places the ground is sparsely covered with flowers. Occasionally some mountains with red bits are seen.

When we reached the camp we were told to respect nature and that we were not allowed to take with us flowers/stones etc. The mountains around the camp are very colourful. We went to the hut, gave the vouchers and after dropping our things we climbed a gray mountain called Blahnukur (954 m). We were lucky to have good weather and ended up wearing just t-shirts, visibility was excellent and the view amazing no matter where you looked. We didn't follow the same route on our way down and we had problems crossing a river (a tiny one compared to the ones we saw later) but eventually we made it. We also had to go through a lava field; when we got back to the camp the weather wasn't that good any more so we decided not to go and see the colourful canyon.

Later in the evening we went to swim in the renowned natural hot pool near the camp site, quite a fun experience. We expected to freeze when coming out of the water but it actually was all right. got dark.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS:

Estimated distance for climbing the Blahnukur: 5 Km

The bus had to cross a few small rivers.

There were many annoying flies on the camp, probably because the weather was good.

Landmannalaugar's altitude is about 600 m.

THE HUT:

Sleeping bag accomodation, cooking facilities/equipment, gas, running water and WC. Showers, too, but you have to pay for them.