There was some rain at night but when we were getting up at 6am it was just greyish with no rain any more. We packed up efficiently and moved over to the cooking area to make our breakfast. Then it was about time to go down to the bus station for our bus to Ásbyrgi.
For change this was a small bus, and there were only about six or seven of us on it. Despite the grey weather we had some beautiful scenery on the way, as it is probably the norm in Iceland. The bus made a stop at Goðafoss, a mighty waterfall, and then only in Húsavík, where we had 15 minutes and managed to see it all in ten. Afterwards it was finally Ásbyrgi, where we got half hour before schedule.
Goðafoss
Leaving Ásbyrgi
After getting our bags ready for the hike and buying a map in the pretty info centre, we set out on out first multiday hike down the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. It is part of the Vatnajökull National Park – North, Europe’s largest protected reserve.
Iest and the view
Jökulsárgljúfur canyon
The walk started through some nice arctic vegetation with prolific birdlife, before opening views over the massive canyon. There were some pretty incredible sights as we made our way along, and the weather was getting progressively better too, so we had some sun for most of the afternoon.
Canyon
We arrived in Vesturdalur campsite at about 4pm, and made a nice couscous dinner. The campsite was very basic, just a flat spot by a small ranger station with very limited facilities, but very beautiful setting. Mighty tired we went to bed early as we tend to do, also because it was quickly becoming the chilliest evening we’d had so far.
Jökulsárgljúfur canyon
Vesturdalur campsite
Tags: Akureyri, Ásbyrgi, Goðafoss, hiking, Iceland, Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, Vatnajökull National Park, Vesturdalur, Vesturdalur campsite, waterfall