Day 5 – Álftavatn Lake – Emstrur

We start the day with another refreshing stream crossing as we make our way past the green volcano Stórasúla and into the black desert of Mælifellssandur. On our way we will see Hattafell, a volcano with a strange flat top. We walk through this black glacial desert and into Emstrur where there is a chance to enjoy the view on Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. Just before reaching the hut in Botnar we turn of the path to see the stunning Markarfljótsgljúfur, an almost 200 m deep canyon carved out by the glacial river Markarfljót. The hut in Botnar is located in a little green oasis, a welcome sight after walking through the black sands.

Hiking Distance: 15 km (9.5 mi) Walking time: 6-7 hrs Descent: 40 m (130 ‘) Overnight: Hut in Botnar