Base camp expedition

Day 1

Your private driver/guide from Luxury Adventures welcomes you at Keflavik airport your stopover in Iceland may well be the best part of your journey. Your every need is anticipated by your hosts. Enjoy the jewels of nature while relishing the best service available anywhere. Transfer to Hotel.

Day 2

The first fully guided day in your base camp expedition in Iceland we drive into the countryside to Thingvellir, the site of the original Althing, considered the oldest democratic parliament in the world. This area is noted for its spectacular lava formations and being the only place in the world where you can see the tectonic plates drift apart. At Thingvellir, Althing – general assembly was established around 930 and continued to convene there until 1798. All major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Thingvellir. Today Thingvellir is a national park where the protected area shall always be the property of the Icelandic nation, under the preservation of the Althing.

Drive towards the Langjokull glacier. The glaciers of Iceland cover 11.1% of the land area of the country (about 11.400 km² out of the total area of 103.125 km²) and have a considerable impact on its landscape. Langjokull is, after the Vatnajokull, the second-largest of the glaciers of Iceland (1.021 km2). It is situated in the west of the Icelandic Interior or Highlands of Iceland and can be seen clearly from Haukadalur.

Caving: Walking in a cave and discovering the marvels that volcanic activity has created in the past is a trip that everyone can undertake. The cave is a perfect example of an Icelandic lava tube and is situated in one of the most active volcano areas in the world. We climb, crawl and walk on our travel beneath the surface.

We drive past Geyser, the “geyser” which gave its name to all other erupting hot springs. You will see one of the most active geysers in the area, Strokkur, spouting up to 90 feet into the air. From there you will go to one of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe, Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall). Here you will see thousands of tons of icy water thunder majestically down in a double-fall into a deep gorge from the glacier Langjokull.

The tour ends at your Base Camp on Langjokull.

Ice walk. Easy walk on crampons up on to the ice field where a wonderland of ice sculptures, ridges and deep crevasses awaits discovery. Ice climbing and hiking is getting more and more popular as a sport in Iceland, as conditions are quite good most of the year. Langjokull is, after the Vatnajokull, the second-largest of the glaciers of Iceland. Enjoy a good night sleep in your luxury vacation with an overnight and dinner at the base Camp.

Day 3

Surviving the glacier.

Today will use the time as we can exploring the difficult conditions that can occur on the glacier and how to act. Gps and equipment, repelling down into a crevasse and make an igloo.

Prepare for the cold: Even during the summer months, the temperatures can drop below minus-20 degrees, without the wind chill. Stay covered in extreme cold, down to the tip of your nose. Wind can flash freeze your skin instantly.

Stay hydrated: The air on the glaciers in Iceland is so dry that your body loses water just by breathing. You need at least 4 to 6 liters a day to stay hydrated.

Eat energy foods: Your body needs calories to stay warm. Some people go through eight chocolate bars a day.

Packing list: Next to the skin we wear synthetic long underwear and wool socks. Next we put on a polar fleece overall, and then a heavy nylon wind proof pant or overall. A polar fleece jacket goes on next, and a hat of polar fleece, and a neck gaiter of polar fleece. Boots are either Mukluks with felt pads, and quilted liners, hiking shoes (heavy), a down filled parka with coyote fur trimmed hood. On the hands, wool mittens, covered by fur backed gauntlet mittens

First aid kit: Always carry a survival bag containing a tent, water, food and stove. Do whatever it takes to stay warm, such as jumping jacks, sit-ups and swinging your arms around to get the blood flowing to your hands.

Watch out for everyone else: You will notice a white patch of frozen skin on someone’s face before they do. And beware the “umbles!” That is Iceland talk for when a person starts mumbling and/or stumbling, which are signs that someone is getting hypothermia. In such cases, you need to get the person warm and get fluids into them.

Watch the weather: Iceland can have sustained winds of over 100 miles per hour, strong enough to blow away a small vehicle. Plus, snow can blow so hard that it is impossible to see your hand in front of your face. The weather also changes fast, and a clear, sunny day can become dangerous in minutes.

Watch the weather at all times: If a storm is blowing in, build or get to a shelter.

Prepare your camp for heavy winds: That means rigging tents with giant stakes and orienting them so that they won’t blow away.

Dig an emergency snow cave: Never go anywhere without your shovel. If your camp is destroyed, it could save your life.

Day 4

Today your journey in Iceland ends, we finish your base camp expedition by driving you to the airport aiming to be there 2 hours before your flight departure. You go home with great memories from Iceland.