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It is a shame that many people come to Landmannalaugar to start the trek to Ţórsmörk, without allocating much time to discover this jewel of the remote Icelandic interior. To discover the many wonders of Landmannalaugar you really need several days. Buy a map of the area and set out to explore the colorful rhyolite mountains, hot springs, fumaroles, crate lakes, etc. It is my favourite destination in Iceland and I assure you that you will not be disappointed. Reindeer in and around Femundsmarka (Norway) In the very north of scandinavia, above the arctic circle, the sami people own large herds of reindeer. However, reindeer are also found further south in many of the norwegian national parks. From my experience, one of the areas where you are more or less guaranteed to see reindeer is in and around Femundsmarka national park. In fact, when driving around on the dusty roads in the area, watch out for the many reindeer on the road. Awesome Jökulsárgljúfur national park (Iceland) Many people visit the famous Dettifoss and Selfoss waterfalls in north east Iceland, without venturing further north into the Jökulsárgljúfur national park. This national park which follows the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum forms a majestic canyon in an unbelievable volcanic landscape. The fascinating scenery was formed when a volcano erupted directly underneath the river, causing powerful explosions that resulted in odd volcanic formations. Molden viewpoint over Sognefjord (Norway) The mountain called Molden in Luster, at the end of the Sognefjord, offers one of the best panoramic views of the world’s second longest fjord and the surrounding mountains. Don’t miss it if you are in the area. From the parking place at Mollandsmarki it is an easy 600 m climb to the top of the mountain at 1116 m. A marked trail will lead you there in less than 2 hours. Don’t forget to bring your jacket as it is often windy at the top ! Wild camping at Jökulsárlón glacial lake (Iceland) The spectacular Jökulsárlón glacial lake is filled with large icebergs calving off from the edge of Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajokul. There are no camping facilities or other accommodation at the lake, but a night of wild camping along its shores is truly an unforgettable experience. You will see the icebergs slowly making their way out to sea and in the tranquillity of the evening and morning hours you are even likely to see seals navigating the icy waters. Easter in the Lofoten islands (Norway) With its many fishing villages spread along a string of jagged mountain peaks, the lofoten islands offer some of the most amazing scenery of northern scandinavia. The islands really come to live during the fisheries from the end of january to april, when the waters abund with spawning arctic cod. With the big fisheries in full swing, the mountains still covered in snow and the typical fish drying racks fully loaded, easter is a fantastic time to visit the Lofoten. Briksdalsbreen glacier is melting (Norway) While Briksdalsbreen glacier has been one of the most visited natural attractions in norway, the glacier has been melting very rapidly during the last couple of years. Now the glacier is only a shadow of what it was just a few years ago, and the organized glacier hikes on it are now cancelled. Many other glaciers coming down from the Jostedalsbreen icecap are however still worth visiting, like Nigardsbreen or some other glaciers of the Jostedalen valley. |