– Southern Route

October 11 – 18, 2016

Sunrise – Sunset / Moonrise - Moonset Schedule for the trip: SOUTH

NORTH

Tuesday, October 11:

1) Kuku Campers a. Pick up at KEF at 09:00 b. To Kuku Campers around 09:30 c. Depart Kuku Campers around 10:00 2) Grand Hotel Reykjavik a. Arrive at Grand Hotel Reykjavik around 10:15 b. Drop of luggage c. Depart Grand Hotel Reykjavik around 10:30 3) Pick up some food at a Supermarket for lunch, dinner, and breakfast on Wednesday 4) Raufarmoshellir Lava Tube a. Arrive around 11:00 b. 1 hr to hike in the tube, take pics, etc. c. Depart Raufarmoshellir by 12:00 5) Thingvellir National Park a. Arrive around 13:00 b. 5 hrs to hike, take pics, etc. c. Depart Thingvellir around 18:00 6) Geysir / Strokkur a. Arrive around 18:40 b. Overnight Stay c. GET FUEL tonight, so don’t have to do it in the morning

Wednesday, October 12:

1) Geysir / Strokkur a. 1.5 hrs to check out the geysers, etc. b. Depart Geysir / Strokkur around 09:30 2) a. Arrive around 09:40 b. 1.5 hrs to check out the falls, take pics, etc. c. Depart Gullfoss around 11:10 3) Landmannalaugar a. Arrive around 13:50 b. 4 hrs to hike, take pics, etc. c. Depart Landmannalaugar around 18:00 i. Depending on weather, can stop at Dryholaey Arch, can check out the DC3 at night before camping at Skogafoss to see that early, etc. Open night to decide next day’s activities 4) Seljandfoss Waterfall(s) a. GET FUEL (21.5km before) and Food to last until Saturday at Lake Myvatn b. Arrive at Seljandfoss around 20:15 c. Overnight Stay

Thursday, October 13:

CAN ADD TIME TO ANY TODAY, UP TO 1 HR WHICH WILL TAKE US TO SUNSET.

1) Seljandfoss Waterfall(s) a. 2 hrs to check out the multiple falls, hike, take pics, etc. b. Depart Seljandfoss around 10:00 2) Skogafoss Waterfall a. Arrive at Skogafoss around 10:23 b. 1 hr to check out the falls, hike to the top (10 minutes), take pictures, etc. c. Depart Skogafoss around 11:23 3) Solheimasandur (DC3 Crash) a. Arrive around 11:30 b. 3 hrs to hike to and from and spend there, taking pictures, etc. c. Depart Solheimasandur around 14:30 4) Dyrholaey Arch a. Arrive around 14:52 b. 2 hrs to look at Puffins and take pics, etc. c. Depart Dyrholaey Arch around 16:52 (or later to watch sunset) 5) Vatnajokull Glacier / Svartivoss Waterfall a. Arrive at the Glacier / Waterfall around 18:51 (or later depending on when leave Dyrholaey) b. 2.5 hours to hike around and take pictures, etc. c. Depart Vatnajokull around 18:10

Friday, October 14:

1) Vatnajokull Glacier / Svartivoss Waterfall a. 2.5 hours to hike around and take pictures, etc. b. Depart Vatnajokull around 10:30 c. GET FUEL on the way to Jokulsarlon Lagoon (approx. 30km before the lagoon) 2) Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon a. Arrive at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon around 11:10 b. 1 hour to hike around and take picture of Icebergs and the Glacier c. Depart Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon around 12:10 i. Enjoy 4.5 hours of fjords and scenery on the ride 3) Borgarfjordur Eystri a. Arrive around 16:41 b. 2 Hours to check out PUFFINS, and take pictures c. GET FUEL d. Depart for Jokulsargljufur Nat’l Park around 18:41 4) Jokulsarglijufur Nat’l Park / Waterfall a. Arrive at the Nat’l Park around 21:54 b. Overnight Stay c. 3.5 hours for hiking, pictures, etc before sunset. i. The departure time is from the Nat’l Park, Dettifoss is along the road to and from the park, so that can be incorporated into the drive as well d. Depart Nat’l Park / Dettifoss around 18:00 i. Return to Lake Myvatn (35 miles out back to get Fuel for the drive to Borgarfjordur Eystri

Saturday, October 15:

1) Jokulsarglijufur Nat’l Park / Dettifoss Waterfall a. 3.5 hours for hiking, pictures, etc before sunset. i. The departure time is from the Nat’l Park, Dettifoss is along the road to and from the park, so that can be incorporated into the drive as well b. Depart Nat’l Park / Dettifoss around 11:30 2) Lake Myvatn a. Arrive at the Lake Myvatn Area around 13:00 b. 4 hrs for hiking, pictures, groceries, lunch, etc. c. GET FUEL and food for the today and tomorrow before departing for Godafoss d. Depart Lake Myvatn Area around 16:30 3) Godafoss Waterfall a. Arrive around 17:00 b. 1 hours for pictures, etc. c. Depart Godafoss around 18:00 (after sunset) 4) Kirkjufell Mountain a. Arrive at Kirkjufell Mountain around 23:30 b. Overnight Stay

Sunday, October 16:

1) Kirkjufell Mountain a. 1.5 hours for sunrise, pictures, there’s a waterfall nearby as well b. GET FUEL before departing for c. Depart Kirkjufell Mountain area around 09:30 2) Glymur Waterfall a. Arrive at Glymur Waterfall Parking around 11:30 b. 2.5 hours for hiking, pictures, etc. c. Depart Glymur Waterfall around 14:00 d. GET FUEL and Wash Van (Suðurfell, 4, 111 Reykjavík, Iceland) on the way 3) Kuku Campers a. Arrive around 15:30 i. They close at 4 on Sunday. Need to be back, checked in and done.

WELCOME TO ICELAND!

Tuesday, October 11

Arrive at KEF, catch Kuku Campers shuttle at 0900 to the main office to pick up our home for the week.

Once we give Kuku more money and they give us the keys, we head to the hotel to drop off luggage (arrive around 10:15)

Next, it’s time to leave the city behind and head out on our adventure! (Depart around 10:30) and buy some groceries through Wednesday night or Saturday the following morning at Hagkaup , Faxafen, Reykjavík, Iceland before heading for Raufarholshellir.

RAUFARMOSHELLIR LAVA TUBE

Arrive (approx) 11:00 pm Time for fun 01:00 hrs Depart (approx) 12:00 pm

What is here? A lava tube that you can walk in up to 0.75 miles!!

THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK (ÞINGVELLIR)

Arrive (approx) 12:53 pm Time for fun 05:00 hrs Depart (approx) 17:53 pm Can stay till after sunset, check the picture below!

What is here? Hiking, , Beauty, Nature, Silfra, Continental Divide… Iceland

GEYSIR / STROKKUR

Arrive (approx) 18:39 pm OVERNIGHT STAY Time for fun 01:30 hrs in the morning – Wednesday, October 12 Depart (approx) 09:30 pm GET FUEL HERE night before if possible

What is here? 2 of Iceland’s most popular geysers, including the ORIGINAL geyser (Geysir) for which all others are named. Strokkur erupts approximately every 8-10 minutes and Geysir has been dormant since earlier in the 2000s.

GULLFOSS WATERFALL

Arrive (approx) 09:40 pm Time for fun 01:30 hrs Depart (approx) 11:10 pm

What is here? "Golden Falls" is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvita River in SW Iceland. Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland.

LANDMANNALAUGAR

Arrive (approx) 13:50 pm (NO SERVICES IN THE AREA – FUEL, FOOD, ETC.) Time for fun 04:00 hrs Depart (approx) 17:50 pm or whenever after sunset

What is here? Geothermal features, amazing rock formations and colors. Bathrooms MAY be open. There is a bathing lagoon too.

SELJALANDSFOSS WATERFALL

Today is a day where we can rearrange the places as we see fit.

Arrive (approx) 20:15 pm GET FUEL AND FOOD (21.5km before) for through Saturday (Lake Myvatn) Time for fun 02:00 hrs in the morning – Thursday, October 13 Depart (approx) 10:00 am

What is here? Lots of waterfalls to walk around and see. Can even walk behind . Cool to see at sunrise.

SKOGAFOSS WATERFALL

Arrive (approx) 10:23 am Time for fun 01:00 hrs Depart (approx) 11:23 am

What is here? THE Waterfall. Skógafoss is not only one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland but also the stairs next to the waterfall mark the beginning of one of the most popular hiking tracks in Iceland. Many busses stop here during the day. Go early or go late.

SOLHEIMASANDUR

Arrive (approx) 11:33 am Time for fun 03:00 hrs Depart (approx) 14:33 pm

What is here? DC3 Crash Site! It is a 4km hike from parking and back (1 hr each way, 1 hour to explore)

DYRHOLAEY ARCH

Arrive (approx) 14:52 pm Time for fun 02:00 hrs Depart (approx) 16:52 pm or after sunset

What is here? PUFFINS! Hopefully they are around. Go early or go late. It's not publicised as much as it could be, but most puffins spend the entire day out at sea fishing; the best time to spot them is early or evening. Then you'll see them waddling around and mingling. Sunset is supposed to be nice.

VATNAJOKULL GLACIER / SVARTIVOSS WATERFALL

Arrive (approx) 18:51 pm OVERNIGHT STAY Time for fun 02:30 hrs in the morning – Friday, October 14 Depart (approx) 10:30 am or whenever dark

What is here? Well, the waterfall, but also glaciers and national park. The waterfall is the primary focus of the time due to the hike, but we can squeeze in as much as possible before it gets dark.

Jökulsárlón – GLACIER LAGOON

Arrive (approx) 11:11 pm Time for fun 01:00 hrs Depart (approx) 12:11 pm

What is here? ICEBERGS! GLACIER! Jökulsárlón is one of Iceland's natural crown jewels, we've even started calling the nearby black beach our Diamond Beach, as the ice chunks lying on it resemble diamonds glistening in the sun. There may even be seals in the lagoon.

Get comfortable for a 4.5 hr ride through the Eastern Fjords! Supermarket on the way Miðbær, Litlabrú, Höfn í Hornafirði,Iceland.

BORGARFJORDUR EYSTRI

Arrive (approx) 16:41 pm Time for fun 02:00 hrs Depart (approx) 18:41 pm It will be dark. GET FUEL at N1, Eyrin Village Store

What is here? PUFFINS! The puffins usually next between April and September before heading south or out to sea for the winter, but hopefully some of them are lazy and haven’t left yet. Bird watching area is at new harbor, SE side of the Fjord (5km ish)

JOKULSARGLJUFUR NATIONAL PARK / DETTIFOSS WATERFALL

Arrive (approx) 21:54 pm Time for fun 03:30 hrs in the morning – Saturday, October 15 Depart (approx) 11:30 am Hafragilsfoss path is 2km N of Dettifoss, is less than 1km S of Dettifoss.

What is Jokulsarglifur? In the River Jokulsa a Fjollum there is a unique series of waterfalls - Selfoss, Dettifoss, Hafragilsfoss and Rettarfoss - and they have few equals on earth. Falling 45 m with a width of 100 m, Dettifoss is reputed to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe.

LAKE MYVATN

Arrive (approx) 12:54 am Time for fun 04:00 hrs Get Fuel. Get food to last through the rest of the trip. Depart (approx) 16:24 pm

What is Lake Myvatn? From desolate craters to bubbling mud pools and geothermal caves, the area around Lake Mývatn is a microcosm of all the natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Rare birds abound, and the North´s answer to the Blue Lagoon is a great place to soak up the view. With gnarled lava fields on the one side, and lush pastures on the other, it’s a beautiful area.

GODAFOSS (WATERFALL OF THE GODS)

Arrive (approx) 17:02 pm Time for fun 01:00 hrs Depart (approx) 18:02 am after sunset

What is Godafoss? It is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters. There is a stop with fuel and a restaurant next to the bridge.

Next stop, Kirkjufell Mountain after a 439.1 km (266.63 mi) 5.5 hr drive through Iceland’s North. Be on the lookout for the Northern Lights, trolls, sheep, horses, and whatever else may be out in the night.

KIRKJUFELL MOUNTAIN

Arrive (approx) 23:24 pm OVERNIGHT STAY – Camp near town or right near the waterfall Time for fun 01:30 hrs in the morning – Sunday, October 16 Depart (approx) 09:30 am GET FUEL – ORKAN, Snæfellsnesvegur, 350 Grundarfjörður, Iceland

What is Kirkjufell Mountain? It is the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Its isolated position jutting out into the sea makes it a focal point for tourists and seamen alike. Surrounded by beaches, Kirkjufell has a lovely walking trail around it as well as a more challenging climb up to the top where bird and fish fossils can be found (guide is recommended).

GLYMUR WATERFALL

Arrive (approx) 11:33 am Time for fun 02:30 hrs Depart (approx) 14:00 pm

What is Glymur? Glymur waterfall is the second highest waterfall in Iceland and therefore very popular among tourists. It is, however, a bit further away from nicely paved roads than the waterfalls at Seljalandsfoss or Skogafoss for example, but on the other hand this seems to weed out some of the tourist crowd. From the nearest parking place you will have an approximately 5 kilometers long hike going through a very alternating landscape.

KUKU CAMPERS

Arrive (approx) 15:30 pm GET VAN WASHED AND GAS ON THE WAY Time for sadness 00:30 hrs Depart (approx) 14:00 pm

What is here? Returning the van and heading to the hotel for a few days. Need to get the van washed and some gas on the way. Stop at SKELJUNGUR station at Suðurfell, 4, 111 Reykjavík, Iceland. They have gas and washing stations.