Clothing You’ll need to bring comfortable and adequate clothing to protect you from cold and wet weather, such as polypropylene, capilene, or pile. Wool and wool/synthetic blends are also suitable - though wool, if wet, dries slowly compared to synthetic fabrics. We discourage the use of cotton in wet conditions it dries very slowly. When camping, tents are provided. You will be responsible for bringing your mattress and sleeping bag. When layering, the innermost layer should be long underwear. The middle layer can be a synthetic turtleneck or wool shirt, and pants. The outermost layer must be a breathable waterproof jacket such as a good quality Gore-Tex wind/rain parka and over-pants. For quantities for each item listed, use your own judgement, based on the expected weather conditions and overall packing/weight restrictions for your luggage. Regular underwear. Synthetics are easier to wash and dry Synthetic thermal underwear Long-sleeved, synthetic or wool shirt Short-sleeved synthetic or cotton/synthetic T-shirts Medium-weight synthetic fleece sweater or jacket Full-length pants, quick-drying synthetic fabric Down jacket from mid-August to September (optional) Hiking shorts, quick-drying synthetic fabric Pile/fleece pants, ideal for around the camp Sun & rain hat Wool hat Gloves (wool or pile) Waterproofed shell gloves Medium weight synthetic socks Gore-Tex rain/wind parka Gore-Tex rain/wind pants Hiking boots, medium-weight, all leather, with padded ankle, good arch support, and a lug sole traction. Your hiking boots should be waterproof, well broken in, and suitable for rocky terrain or possibly snow. Comfortable shoes to wear when not hiking (optional) Teva-type sandals for river crossing. Absolutely recommended! Gaiters. Highly recommended. Travel Accessories Comfortable sleeping bag +10°C to –10°C which can be opened all the way Cotton sheet to cover the hut’s mattress Pillow if you can’t sleep without one (optional) Swimsuit and towel for hot spring bathing and swimming pool 1-to-2 liters capacity unbreakable water bottle or thermos Headlamp or small flashlight with spare batteries (essential from August onward) Swiss Army-type pocket knife (Must be kept in duffle bag, not in hand luggage, when flying!) Sunglasses Eye shades. Highly recommended from April to last July! Wax ear plugs Spare pair of prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses, or contact lenses (but not only lenses, as wind-blown dust can make them very uncomfortable) Toiletry kit—soap, toothbrush, and so on. Moisturizing lotion. (The air in Iceland is very dry) Sunscreen and lip protection (The sun in Iceland is much more intense than you probably imagine) Personal first aid kit Optional Travel Accessories Hiking poles. Highly recommended Binoculars Repair kit with needle, thread, and safety pins Reading and writing material Your favorite snack food such as raisins or chocolate Protein supplements for vegetarian Your own food reserves if you are vegan 1 or 2 good bottles of wine or a bottle of something stronger Netting hood in June and July * There are no mosquitoes in Iceland (not yet), but in early summer midges swarms invade the banks of rivers and lakes in the lowlands like Lake Myvatn "Lake of gnats." With global warming now midges start to colonize certain areas of higher land with swamps vegetation. The outbreak period is short, but extremely difficult for the hiker. Gloves a long sleeve shirt and especially a safety netting hood that slips over your hat or cap can save you if you find yourself a day without wind in the midst of clouds of these very annoying critters. You will certainly not use it but in case... and that's not a huge investment.

You are landing with strangers on a strange island…but soon you will become friendly with the other members of your party, as you all share the same spirit of adventure, curiosity and discovery. Sometimes -rarely- someone makes the wrong choice and picks a trip that is just not what they are looking for. On an adventure trip, you need to be open-minded, leave prejudice behind, bring a good sense of humor and that positive attitude will make all the difference. Grumpy characters, stay at home ! Everybody has their ups and downs, and oftentimes when someone becomes tedious, it might be a sign that they are struggling with some issues. It could be personal, or it could be that the highlands’ harsh nature is getting to them, maybe they’re having doubts about their physical fitness, or their new boots are giving them blisters, or perhaps they find the relative comfort of the mountain huts a tad unsettling. If you feel like you or one of the group is having difficulties, tell your guide ! Of course, adventure is not hard science, our staff makes mistakes, vehicles break down, changes in the weather can be extreme… however, should you feel that there is something we are just not doing right, please do not let it linger, let us know right there and then -we’ll do our best to sort it out. Rest assured that the success of your trips is our main concern as much as yours !

Chartered bus will transfer us from Egilsstaðir to the starting point of the trek and return. A local farmer is carrying all luggage in his jeep, equipment and supplies as well as tired or injured members of the group. Taxi between your hotel and Reykjavik domestic airport. Food: We pride ourselves on providing the best cuisine in the highlands! Breakfast is Scandinavian-style, with muesli, breads, jams, fish and cheese. Packed lunch, with a variety of sandwich fillings, from smoked meats and fish to local cheeses and salads. Dinners involve fresh, local fish and meat dishes, with pasta, rice or potatoes, fresh vegetables and salad. Vegetarians and those with food allergies can be fully catered for with a range of tasty options. It is essential that you inform our office of any special food requirements at the time of booking! For usability, but no obligation, you can bring with you a little speciality of your home country to share with your companions as well as a flask of some thing for a short drink in the middle of nowhere. Accommodation: 3 nights in huts and 2 nights in a nice guesthouse with a spa. Trip preparation and notes: This is an assisted hut-to-hut trekking. The walking level is from moderate to strenuous. You will only carry in a light day-pack what you need for the day. This should present no serious difficulty for persons with at least some mountain walking experience, plus a good level of personal fitness. An experienced Icelandic guide leads the trek. The group is expected to assist with all aspects of making and breaking camp, including meal preparation. Once in the mountains, each group becomes an independent entity. The camaraderie, teamwork and friendships forged, add much to the richness of each person’s experience. This trek passes through some areas of complete wilderness. Some of the walking is partly off-track, with terrain conditions constantly changing, with underfoot conditions constantly changing. Therefore, sturdy, well worn-in hiking boots are a must. Most days involve river crossings, so it is essential that all trekkers carry suitable footwear to change into. See our kit list for more information. We trek for 6-7 hours per day, on average, but this may be longer, depending on weather conditions and group speed. Maximum altitude doesn’t rise more than 1000m. Elevation change for most days should be no more than 300m.