Hvannadalshnjúkur: Hike the Highest Summit in Iceland
South Iceland, IcelandTake an exciting expedition up to the highest summit in Iceland on the biggest glacier in Europe, called Hvannadalshnjúkur. Hike 10 to 14 hours up to the peak for a lightly challenging but rewarding experience surrounded by the glacial beauty of Iceland.
Meet up with your mountain guides the day before the hike for a pre-departure briefing. Your guides will go over with you what the day will be like, how the gear works, and talk to you about your experience. You can also set a flexible departure time based on everyone’s experience, with the goal of being at the summit by 1:00 PM.
Start your trip early in the morning the next day at Skaftafell information center. Start to head up the mountain, covering gravel, rocks and snow. At various locations, you’ll stop for snacks, lunch, and water. At the reef, you’ll put on harnesses and rope up for the hills ahead. On a clear day, the views can be beautiful, so be sure to bring your camera.
After lunch, you’ll reach the plateau to the summit itself, before which you’ll put on crampons and make the final push to the summit. From the top, get views of Hrútfellstindar, Þumall, and part of the Vatnajökull ice cap.
Once you’ve taken everything in, you’ll hike back down, which will not take as long as the ascent.
Rating
5
Duration
13.5 hours
Type of tour
Individual
Destination
Country
Type of experience
Outdoor
Best time to visit
- Autumn
- Spring
- Summer
Nearby stations
- Landeyjahöfn
- Vestmannaeyjar Airport