Title: C1) Undraveröld Jöklu og Kringilsárrana
Author: Office 2004 Test Drive User
Last saved by: Magnús Bergsson
Company: Omdúrman – útgerð og útgáfa

C1) The Wondrous World of  Glacial River Jökla 
and Kringilsárrani Peninsula 

6 days –  Backpacking and provisions by car

 Departure 23th July 2006 

Sauðá – Jökla –  Rauðaflúð – Töfrafoss – Kringilsá – Kringilsárrani – Hraukar – Stuðlagátt
Laugavalladalur – Hafrahvammar – Kárahnjúkar

-- Itinerary--

DAY 1:
EGILSSTAÐIR – SAUÐÁ – JÖKLA – RAUÐAFLÚÐ – SNÆFELLSALDA (daypack)
Departure by car from Egilsstaðir village at 09:15. Our driver Siggi, will drive us directly to Sauðá river. From our drop off point we will walk downstream Sauðá river to its junction with glacial river Jökla. From there we will go on upstream, due south, by the grown banks of Jökla. We will see the so-called red rapids or “Rauðuflúðir”. We will head for Sauðafellsalda where we will camp for the night, close to a reindeer trail.

DAY 2:
SAUÐAFELLSALDA - BRÚARJÖKULL – KRINGISLÁRRANI (full backpack)
We will walk to the terminal moraines to the west from Kringilsá river, up to Brúarjökull glacier. If the sun is out it is advisable to apply sun lotion and use sunglasses. Crossiing the glacier, we will enter Kringilsárrani sanctuary. There we will camp for three nights, in the vicinity of the tarns on Kringilsárrani. 

DAY 3:
KRINGILSÁRRANI SANCTUARY (daypack)
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:
KRINGILSÁRRANI SANCTUARY (daypack)
Another day to enjoy the colourful nature on Kringilsárrani. We will walk to Gljúfakvísl river and get the chance to see a landscape magnificently formed by glaciers, close to the biggest glacier in Europe. From Kringilsárrani we are able to see Vesturöræfi heath and Hreinatungur, the least frequented area in Iceland.

DAY 5: (full backpack)
KRINGILSÁRRANI – TÖFRAFOSS – STUÐLAGÁTT – SAUÐAFELL – LAUGAVALLADALUR (daypack)
We will march due north on Kringilsárrani by Hraukar moraines to Töfrafoss waterfall, which we will be able to admire from its western bank. We will take our lunch break before continuing up to the juncture of Jökla river and Kringilsá. Awaiting us there will be the tow-ferry made by farmer Guðmundur á Vaði. After crossing the river, we will march on to meet Sibbi by Sauðafell. He will take us up to Laugavalladalur valley where we will camp for the last night. In the valley one can take a mountain bath. We will put up a party tent and prepare for BBQ and fun, red wine and a leg of lamb.

DAY 6: (daypack)
LAUGAVALLADALUR – HAFRAHVAMMAR – KÁRAHNJÚKAR – EGILSSTAÐIR
We will enjoy the unique Laugavalladalur valley. We will see the greatest river canyons in Iceland, Hafrahvammagljúfur. We will make a short stop by the site of the planned Kárahnjúkavirkjunar dam (protest stand for those who feel like it). From there the car will take us to Egilsstaðir village in time for our late-afternoon flight.

Our journey starts at Egilsstaðir village, where passengers will be picked up at 9:00. By the end of the journey they will be dropped off at the same place in time for the late-afternoon flight.

They journey is a blend of backpacking and travel by car with provisions carried by car.
a)	the provisions, tents and such will be transported by car or left at campsite. During 4 days it is therefore only necessary to carry light daypacks, with food and protective clothing.
b)	 2 days backpacking with a full load. 

Some of the day-journeys are short while others are longer. Our pace however will be comfortable and rather slow.  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.

NB: the last evening’s BBQ is included, as well as breakfast and food for the last day.
NB! Food is not provided by Augnablik in this treck, hikers bring their own food.

Price: IKR 32.000

Included in the package: guided tour, provisions and travel by car. Last evening’s BBQ in Laugavalladalur valley, breakfast and camping food the day after. Yoga sessions in the mornings and evenings.

Guides: Ásta Arnardóttir and Ósk Vilhjálmsdóttir
Driver: Sigurbjörn Árnason
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.