B6) The Highlands at Snæfell — 
The Wondrous World of  River Jökla 
and Kringilsárrani “Peninsula”

4 days –  full board + provisions by car

 Departure 9th August 2006 

Glúmsstaðasel – Jökulsá á Dal – Eyjabakkar – Snæfell – Sauðá Tröllagilslækur – Jökla -–  Rauðaflúð – Töfrafoss – Kringilsá – Kringilsárrani -  Hraukar – Hafrahvammar – Kárahnjúkar

-- Itinerary --

DAY 1:
EGILSSTAÐIR – FLJÓTSDALUR – GLÚMSTAÐASEL – EYJABAKKAR – SNÆFELL 
Departure by car from Egilsstaðir village at 09:15. En route to Kárahnjúkar area via Fljótsdalur valley. Hike up by a series of waterfalls in glacial river Jökla, altogether 15 falls and numerous magnificent rapids. Visibility allowing, the King of Icelandic mountains, Snæfell, and our destination, is in magnificent view. Extra shoes for wading may come in handy as the wetlands brooks and streams feeding Jökla are liable to grow in the summer. Rendezvous with Sibbi, our driver, is planned before marching on to our camp at the roots of Snæfell where we will stay for two nights in the bosom of glaciers and mountains after a long day’s journey.

DAY 2: 
EYJABAKKAR  – KÁRAHNJÚKAR – SAUÐÁ – JÖKLA – RAUÐAFLÚÐ – SAUÐAFELLSALDA 
Our driver Sibbi, will take us to Sauðá river. We will follow Sauðá downstream to Jökla river. From there we will head south, following Jökla upstream, by its canyons and grown banks, to look at the impressive columnar basalt formations and nests of pink footed geese. We will see the „red“ rapids in Jökla, called „Rauðuflúðir“. Our route will take us through a grown area to our camp for the night in Sauðafellsalda hill, where we will stay for two nights.

DAY 3: 
KRINGILSÁRRANI-SANCTUARY
We will walk to the juncture of rivers Jökla and Kringilsá. Awaiting us there will be the tow-ferry made by farmer Guðmundur á Vaði. We will get to know the unique sanctuary of Kringilsárrani. We will spend the day enjoying serenity, natural beauty and a surprisingly varied fauna. We will take a look at the geology of Brúarjökull glacier which sediments and moraines probably offer the most visible, best-known history of any outlet-glacier in the world. We will inspect the feeding area of reindeer and the pink-footed geese, rare highland vegetation, canyons, rapids, waterfalls, sediment terraces, terminal moraines and other glacial vestiges.

DAY 4
SAUÐAFELLSALDA – DIMMUGLJÚFUR – HAFRAHVAMMAGLJÚFUR -  KÁRAHNJÚKAR -  EGILSSTAÐIR
The day starts with a drive with Sibbi to the greatest canyons in Iceland. We will get a chance to inspect Dimmugljúfur canyon and that of Hafrahvammagljúfur. A stop is programmed by the site of the planned dam at Kárahnjúkar and there, those who want can take part in a protest stand. From there the car will take us to Egilsstaðir village, in time for our afternoon flight.

Our journey starts at Egilsstaðir airport, where passengers will be picked up at 9:15. By the end of the journey they will be dropped off at the same place in time for the late-afternoon flight.

Full board including breakfast,  hot evening meals and travelling provisions. Tents and such will be transported by car. It is therefore only necessary to carry light daypacks, with day provisions and protective clothing.

Some of the day-journeys are short while others are longer. Our pace however will be comfortable and not too difficult. The elevation is not great except when we walk upstream by glacial river, Jökulsá in Fljótsldalur, the first day, in which we cover the greatest distance.

Price: IKR 37.000

Included in the package: guided tour, full board, transport of luggage and travel by car. Yoga sessions in the mornings and evenings.

Guides: Ásta Arnardóttir and Ósk Vilhjálmsdóttir
Driver: Sigurbjörn Árnason
Catering: Brynhildur Þorgeirsdóttir
Yoga teacher: Ásta Arnardóttir

Note that the outlined itinerary is subject to change, at the discretion of the guides.

Bookings: Þuríður Einarsdóttir: augnablik@this.is
Tel:  (354) 8644012

Confirmation fee IKR 5.000 payable into Augnablik account 0306-26-883 SSN. 670793-2499. Please remember to state full name. Confirmation fee non-refundable. 
Introductory meeting to be announced.