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Summer Program

One of the main goals of Vatnajökull national park is to share knowledge about the nature, nature protection, history and cultural heritage of the sites. Over the summer time park rangers offer free ­edu­cational guided walks and share information at ranger stations. Further information can be found here below and under each area in the top menu.

Garðabær
Akureyri
Fellabær
Höfn
Ásbyrgi
Mývatn
Skriðuklaustur
Skaftafell
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Vesturdalur
Askja
Nýidalur
Hrauneyjar
Lakagígar
Eldgjá
Breiðamerkursandur
Lónsöræfi
Snæfell
Kverkfjöll
Hvannalindir
Visitor centres
Park ranger stations
Offices

Skaftafell

Every day from the 15th if June - 15th of August

Melting glaciers

  • Daily
    Starting time: 1:30 PM
    Duration: ca. 1½-2 hours
    Starting point: Skaftellstofa Visitor Centre
    Description: A to Skaftafellsjökull and the impact of glaciers on the landscape is discussed as well as what impact we have on the glaciers.

Man & nature

  • Daily
    Starting time: 4PM
    Duration: 2 hours
    Starting point: Skaftellstofa Visitor Centre

Jökulsárlón

Every day from the 15th if June - 15th of August

Blue gold

  • Daily
    Starting time: 11 AM
    Duration: 30 minutes
    Starting point: In front of the cafeteria
    Description: The uniqueness of Jökulsárlón is discussed during a walk along the bank of the lagoon. The landscape is examined and how it changes when the glacier retreats. The interplay of people and nature reflects on how Breiðamerkursandur has gone from being one of the least visited places in the country to one of the top tourist destinations in Iceland.

Jökulsárgljúfur

Every day from the 28th if June - 6th of August

Ásbyrgi

Evening stroll

  • Daily
    Starting time: 8:00 PM
    Duration: ca. 1 hour
    Starting point: Service house on the campsite
    Description: A light walk around the surroundings of Ásbyrgi.

Vesturdalur

Stroll around Hljóðaklettar

  • Daily
    Starting time: 2 PM
    Duration: ca. 1 hour
    Starting point: Car park next to Hljóðaklettar
    Description: A walk around Hljóðaklettar and land formation will be examined.
Image: Helga Hvanndal

Askja, Holuhraun & Herðubreiðarlindir

Every day from the 15th of July - 15th of August

Askja

The absolute silence and forces of nature

  • Daily
    Starting time: 1 PM
    Duration: ca. 1-1½ hour
    Starting point: Vikraborgir parking lot, 20 min from Dreki
    Description: A walk towards Víti (2,3 km) and examine the geology of Askja and Dyngjufjall, forces and mystery.

Holuhraun

Land in the making

  • Daily
    Starting time: 10 AM
    Duration: ca. 45 minutes
    Starting point: Holuhraun parking lot, 40 min drive from Dreki
    Description: Holuhraun (2014-2015) was formed in the largest lava eruption in Iceland in 230 years. Research on the area and the volcanic activity and main volcanoes around the settlement is discussed.

Herðubreiðarlindir

An oasis in the highlands

  • Daily
    Starting time: 10 AM
    Duration: ca. 45 minutes
    Starting point: Þorsteinsskáli hut
    Description: For centuries, Herðubreiðarlindir has been a haven of life in the middle of the black lava field of Ódáðahraun. We walk through the well-vegetated springs and look at the little things in nature as well as the forces that formed the lava, the springs, and Herðubreið.

Snæfellsstofa & Hengifoss

Every day from the 28th of June - 6th of August

Hengifoss

Geology and history of Hengifoss

  • Every day in July
    Starting time: 10 AM
    Duration: 1 hour
    Starting point: Hengifoss parking lot
    Description: A walk to Litlanesfoss which is about 30 meters high. Higher up in the gorge sits Hengifoss, the second highest waterfall in the country and a popular tourist attraction in the East of Iceland. The topic will be the geology and history of Hengifossárgil.

Hálslón

Ranger on site

  • Thursdays and Saturdays
    Starting time: 12PM-4PM
    Ranger gives information.
Hvönn, lindarvatn og lindarhraun í Hvannalindum
Image: Stefanía Ragnarsdóttir

Snæfell, Kverkfjöll & Hvannalindir

Every day from the 15th of July - 15th of August

Snæfell

Nature protection as a resource

  • Daily
    Starting time: 10 AM
    Duration: 1 hour
    Starting point: Snæfellskáli hut
    Description: A walk to the waterfall Bergskjár. The topic will be the ecosystem and geology of the area.

Kverkfjöll

Fire and Ice

  • Daily
    Starting time: 10 AM
    Duration: 50 minutes
    Starting point: Parking lot next to Kverkjökull, 10 min drive from Sigurðarskáli hut.
    Description: The traces of the retreating glacier are examined as well as the and the rough terrain that the glacier has eroded.

Hvannalindir

Desert Oasis

  • Daily
    Starting time: 1 PM
    Duration: 1 hour
    Starting point: Parking lot next to Kreppuhryggur
    Description: Visitors learn about the struggle for survival in this remote place and the ruins of 18th-century campers.

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

From the 15th of July - 15th of August

Lovepath

  • Every Sunday
    Starting time: 1 PM
    Duration: 1 hour
    Starting point: Skaftárstofa Visitor Centre

Village walk

  • Tuesdays
    From 14th of July - 15th of August
    Starting time: 1 PM
    Duration: 1 hour
    Starting point: Skaftárstofa Visitor Centre
    Description: A walk around Kirkjubæjarklaustur and look at the houses in the town and how they are connected to the history of the place and the history of the settlement.

Following the footsteps of artists Kjarval and Erró

  • Thursdays
    From 14th of July - 15th of August
    Starting time: 1 PM
    Duration: 1 hour
    Starting point: Skaftárstofa Visitor Centre
    Description: A walk along the area where artists Kjarval and Erró got some of their inspiration from and reflecting on what effects nature had on their lives and work.

Fjaðrárgljúfur

Hyloclast, moss & man

  • Every Monday and Friday
    Starting time: 1 PM
    Duration: 1 hour
    Starting point: Lower car park at Fjaðrárgljúfur

Dverghamarar

Basalt & beach

  • Every Saturday and Wednesday
    Starting time: 1 PM
    Duration: 1 hour
    Starting point: Car park at Dverhamrar

Eldgjá, Hrauneyjar, Lakagígar & Nýidalur

From the 15th of July - 15th of August

Eldgjá

Formation of Iceland

  • Daily
    Starting time: 1 PM
    Duration: 1 hour
    Starting point: Eldjá Parking lot
    Description: A walk from the parking lot in Eldgjá and a long the bottom of the gorge towards Ófæra

Lakagígar

Beauty and catastrophe - the impact of Skaftáreldar

  • Daily
    Starting time: 1 PM
    Duration: 1 hour
    Starting point: Laki parking lot
    Description: A walk to the top of Laki mountain and the impact and history of Skaftáreldar is discussed.

Nýidalur

Wilderness

  • Daily
    Starting time: 9:30 PM
    Duration: 45 min
    Starting point: Nýidalur huts
    Description: A walk around the area with a conversation about wilderenss.