Four or Five of us are planning a three week trip to Iceland this July/August. We are tentatively planning a two backpacking trips of 4-6 days each with the rest of the time sightseeing.
All of us are very well experienced in off-trail backpacking in Arctic Canada and Northern Alaska. (Almost all of the group has been north of the Arctic Circle at least six times each.) So trails and cabins are definitely not required. We can travel cross country and camp out.
Any suggestions for places to go? Either for backpacking trips or general sightseeing? We've got a couple of guidebooks and a good map but it would be nice to hear first hand from people who have actually been there.
Thanks.
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Hello !
As an author of a hiking guide in Iceland I can help you with some suggestions.
For trips that long the Skogar - Landmannalaugar trip is one two mention, because of the really great landscape you will encounter. As this is one of the most popular long walks in Iceland which is also marked with poles it is wise to take a tent with you as the huts are booked out in summer. Also fantstic landscape but not so often done or only partly is the trip up in the north in the Asbyrgi area along the Jökulsa canyon to the Dettifoss, but this is just a two day hike, but you can make the tour longer walking on till you reach the ringroad. Other option is to walk from Hvervellir on the Kjölur high land road to Gullfoss - Geysir, mainly a hike through stone desert between the glaciers but I found it because of the remoteness quite interesting.
There is also an english version of my Iceland hiking guide available, you find it via Amazon when you search for "Iceland" and "Rother" this guide is mainly for walks for Iceland beginners, a lot of short walks round the ring road for example. The long walks are not described there as these are too tough for the normal hiking tourist.
You find also information on my website, but sorry just in German, but a lot of nice pictures too:
[a href=\"http://www.christianhandl.com/island.htm]http://www.christianhandl.com/island.htm[/url]
Hope this helps a little.
Chrtistian Handl