Skaftafell National Park is one of the must see destinations in Iceland. Skaftafell is a beautiful mountainous region in the south of Iceland on the southern edge of the mighty Vatnajökull Glacier. The old Skaftafell National park is nearly 5.000 km2 but is since 2008 the epicenter of the largest National Park in Europe, Vatnajökull National Park, covering 12.000 km2.
The area is an amazing place to view the great contrasts between active volcanoes, mighty glaciers, powerful glacier rivers and endless flat sandy plains. The park is the birth place of Icelandic Mountain Guides. It is where we began running glacier tours in 1994, helping people enjoy the extreme nature of the park in a safe, environmentally friendly and enjoyable manner.
Mountain Climbing in Skaftafell
The glacier walks suit those who want to experience glaciers without too much effort. But for those who want a real challenge and climb a proper mountain, we have plenty of possibilities. Our most popular mountain climb is the summit of Hvannadalshnjúkur (2.111m), the highest peak in Iceland. This is a beautiful hike that starts at just above sea level and ends up on the top of Hvannadalshnjúkur, the highest peak of the Öræfajökull Glacier, one of the most powerful volcanoes in the world. A mountain climb of a similar level is the summit of Hrútsfjallstindar Peaks (1.875m). This is one of the most majestic mountains in Iceland, slightly lower than Hvannadalshnjúkur but recquiring similar skill levels and stamina while rewarding with spectacular views over the whole Skaftafell National Park.
Non-guided hikes from the Skaftafell Campsite
Skaftafell National Park is a paradise for hikers. Apart from our glacier tours there are plenty of trails around the park for people of any skill level. The most popular walk is up to the Svartifoss waterfall, less than an hour from the campsite and service center. The basalt columns around Svartifoss, although small, make it one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Another short easy hike that anybody can complete is the path to The Skaftafellsjökull Glacier a mere half hour away from the campsite and service center. This is the glacier Icelandic Mountain Guides used to do glacier walks on, but as Iceland is constantly changing and the glaciers slowly melting. A large lagoon in front of the glacier blocks hikers access to walk onto the ice. It is still quite a sight to see though. For longer day hikes, many people choose the Kristínartindar Peaks (1.126m). It is possible to walk a very interesting circle around the Skaftafellsheiði Plateau, linking the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall, amazing views from the Kristínartindar Peaks and strolling above the cliffs that Skaftafellsjökull Glacier has carved. This circle takes between 4 and 6 hours and should be within the capabilities of most. Many longer hikes are also possible, long day hikes into the Morsárdalur Valley or overnight trips in the Skaftafellsfjöll Mountains. All hikers intending to venture off the beaten track in the park are encouraged to report in the visitors center and submit their plan. If planning on camping outside the designated campsite, reporting to the visitors center is both advised and mandatory. The park has published a map of its most popular hiking routes, available online.How to get there and where to stay
How to get to Skaftafell
Skaftafell is situated in South Eastern Iceland. It is on the Ring Road, highway number 1, about 330km east of Reykjavik and 130km west of Höfn. You can drive from Reykjavik on any car without trouble but public buses are also available daily throughout the summer months and a few times a week in the winter.
Where to stay in Skaftafell
The most popular place to stay in Skaftafell is the campsite, but hotels, sleeping bag accommodation and guesthouses are also available in the near area. Skaftafell camping is available within an easy walk of the Visitor Center and our summer office and has bathrooms, showers, dish-washing and laundry facilities. This is the starting point for most hikes and tours in the park. The only accommodation inside the park other than the camp site is the small Bölti Guesthouse with sleeping bag accommodation, however just on the outskirt of the park is Hotel Skaftafell and various farm guesthouses. Knowing you'll have a great time in Skaftafell,
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