Icelandic Dopers or anyone with knowledge of Icelandic travel:
Late next month, I’ll be in Iceland. Woo-hoo! This time (I was there last year) I want to see the southern part of the country, specifically Þórsmörk (land of Njal and all) and Skaftalfell National Park. I noticed that Þórsmörk is about a third of the way from Reykjavik. Rather than go back to Reykjavik, is it possible to stay somewhere around Þórsmörk so I don’t have to back track on my way to Skaftafell? I’ll probably go to Þórsmörk with a touring company and was thinking about asking the driver to drop me off somewhere.
Can you recommend a city in that area that would also have a car rental office (for driving to Skaftafell) and accommodations?
Is this plan even remotely advisable given I plan to visit these places in 3 days?
There are actually a couple of Icelandic Dopers who check in every so often.
I will use this opportunity to bump your post and, while we are waiting, say that I envy you for the trip. I was there once many, many years ago, and it is truly beautiful - and the people were great. I’d go again in a heartbeat! Have fun!
(Now where are those Icelanders? Not like them to be so late - maybe their fjord broke down. They should be by any minute now…)
I’m not from Iceland, so if an Icelander comes along take their advice over mine…
There are no “cities” near Thorsmork. Your best chance of visiting these locations in three days is to hire a car in Reykjavik (it came to about $100 a day from the airport for a 4WD car (not jeep, I mean an ordinary family car with four wheel drive, which is highly advisable for most routes), and make your own way. You can stay in hostels in many locations, they are quite cheap, and you may even have the whole house to yourselves, as happened to me near Vik.
Thanks, hibernicus. Hiring a car is our preferred way to travel, but I’ve seen reports that road conditions may be less than optimal, especially around Þórsmörk where the roads can flood. I saw a picture of a truck driving in water that was almost to the height of the door handle and … well, I’d rather not chance that.
Well, that’s wise - you should never try to ford a river unless you are travelling with two vehicles together and unless you know how deep the water is. Especially in June there could be a lot of swift-flowing water in the valley.
What about renting a car, driving to Vik and getting a 1-day bus tour from there? You could contact Austurleid SBS and see what alternatives to Reykjavik exist as a pick-up point.
How late next month? I don’t have any advice, but there is an Annular Solar Eclipse going on May 31st.
I’m jealous. I’m still debating going over for a few days to see it.
hibernicus, thanks for recommending Austurleid SBS - I’ll check them out. Someone (non-SDMB) suggested that Skaftafell could be a daytrip from Reykjavik (320+ km one-way), but that is a lot of driving and not a lot of time for hiking.
Boscibo, I’ll be there the weekend before the eclipse! [ insert much gnashing of teeth ]. Unfortunately I can’t change the weekend, because seeing the eclipse would be great. Stop the internal debate. Go!
I’m up for a trip to Iceland…haven’t been for a few years:
-are there actually any swimming beaches in Iceland? I wonder if Lake Myvatn is warm enough to swim in?
-how much does it cost to take a trip up the central glacier?
-why is booze so damn expensive in Iceland?
Finally, what are those weird, mosquito - like insects that are always around in spring?
You might want to check out where Lake Myvatn got its name. Those are called midges, and they get quite big!
It is perfectly possible to swim in the ocean off the south coast of Iceland, if you are used to swimming in reasonably cold water - I’ve done it. I can’t remember the place, but it has hexagonal basalt columns and a nice beach, so someone might know where I’m talking about. It’s easier to face it if the sun is shining and there isn’t a stiff wind blowing.
I’ve seen pictures of groups of kids swimming in the West Fjord area, which is officially the Greenland Sea.