WALKING TOURS IN ICELAND – Walking in Vesturdalur, facing south, looking Mjoifjordur

A good way to understand Iceland, is to walk. Yes, because it is through contact with the ground, by measuring your strength, you can understand what is a mountain, or a river, a fjord or lake. You could start going up the Vestdalur, around Mount Bjolfur, because this is really an ideal solution to compare yourself with your energy in a day. You’ll have to go past the youth hostel and a fish hatchery, you’ll see a rough track and you have to go up the left bank of the river Vestdalsa, but your efforts will be amply rewarded in seeing an amazing number of waterfalls. http://www.visiticeland.com/

Are you a little tired? Choose your waterfall, one that offers you a special charm, camping under the sky of the wonders. You’ll have to walk a few hours after, to get to a small lake. This means that you are in Vestdalsvatn. Look to your left: that is Mount Bjolfur, but what tells the tradition is invisible, because there is no sign of a pagan temple. Tundra and snow fields, you see, walking on the left of the lake, looking for shelter for skiers, close to the road and to everyday life. Your physical condition is not excellent? One solution may be to do this route in the opposite direction (the road is downhill all the way, but this is a secret between us). http://www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is/english/what-to-see/hiking-routes/the-jokulsargljufur-canyon/vesturdalur/

A little more challenging, is walking toward Brekkuporp, along the fjord of Mjoifjordur. Very few inhabitants and many cliffs. You are in the spectacular Icelandic landscape: farms covered with peat and the church in Brekkuporp wood, ruins of Dalatangi lighthouse (the oldest Iceland), orchards and gardens next to the new lighthouse. Where there are no sheep in the pasture, you can embrace the wonder of the fields covered by soft cranberry cloaks. Do not forget (if you want to look at that cloak), you’ll have to arrive before the end of August, because after that time the blueberries will be harvested. Good night, you can go to sleep in a small hotel, or you can use your own sleeping bag, dozing – if you can, behind the board – under the theater of the stars. http://www.east.is/en/inspiration/town/mjoifjordur