Nordic Travel Specialist, Jack, travelled to Thorsmork in South West Iceland, for a thrilling Superjeep Adventure…
Our first stop was the former Gigjokull´s glacial lagoon that was filled with volcanic material during the Eyjafjallajokull eruption. Gigjokull glacier tongue stretches down from the famous Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which erupted in 2010… Walking across the landscape gives you the wonderful sensation of a Moonwalker.
We met our guide, Siley, at the Basecamp of Southcoast Adventures and set off into the magical nature reserve of Thorsmork, named after the Norse god, Thor: God of Thunder. Thorsmork is set between the glaciers of Tindfjallajökull, Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull. The valley is rich with geological wonders and is truly a hiker’s paradise. Accessible only from the south by crossing the ever-hazardous river Krossa, taking a Superjeep tour enables you to explore Thorsmork in both safety and comfort.
An adventure of a lifetime, we traversed the mountain roads and river crossings as our guide enlightened us with Icelandic mythology of elves and trolls. The valley is said to have given J.K Tolkien great inspiration for his Lord of the Rings trilogy, with the Stakkholtsgja Gorge likened to the devilish location of Mordor. Throughout the day our guide was a rich source of knowledge, always keeping the experience fun and customized.
Our first stop was the former Gigjokull´s glacial lagoon that was filled with volcanic material during the Eyjafjallajokull eruption. Gigjokull glacier tongue stretches down from the famous Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which erupted in 2010. During the enormous eruption, millions of litres of melted ice from Eyjafjallajokull came bursting down the mountainside causing massive floods changing the scenery for years to come. Walking across the landscape gives you the wonderful sensation of a Moonwalker.
A spectacular location for hiking, Thorsmork has marked trails for everybody to enjoy. The expansive scenery of Thorsmork is best seen from up high, so in order to stretch our legs we climbed the Thorsmork Panorama Trail. Our driver dropped us off at the foot of the mountain and met us on the on our route back down. The hike took us one hour to reach the peak of the Valahnukur Mountain and then another hour to descend through the birch woods of the Husadalur Valley. We were fortunate to have excellent weather. It was a thoroughly rewarding feeling to reach the peak of the mountain and the impressive 360° views were a real highlight of this day tour. The trail is well marked and accessible with manmade steps on its steepest parts.
After our hike in Thorsmork, we stopped for lunch at the Volcano Huts in Husadalur. From there you can easily access the hiking trails and spend the day walking along marked trails in the beautiful volcanic landscape of Thorsmork. We sampled the local lamb soup and cakes, and treated ourselves to a well-deserved beer!
A hidden gem inside the Thormork forest, worth visiting alongside Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Nauthusagil is a deep and narrow canyon that lies at the foot of Eyjafjoll volcano. Named after a bull shed that was once kept at the nearby farm of Stora Mork, the canyon is known for the rowan trees that hang horizontally on its ridges. It is fun and easy to climb up the rock that lies alongside the mini waterfall, before reaching the picturesque waterfall at the end of the canyon surrounded by luscious vegetation. We then headed back to camp after a fantastic day in the raw nature of the Thorsmork Nature Reserve.
Discover Thorsmork on your next Iceland adventure
Add a Thorsmork excursion to your self-drive adventure through the Iceland’s South West Coast, or visit as part of an escorted adventure.
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