5 Reasons Why You Need to Backpack from Núpsstaðarskógar to Skaftafell in Iceland

How do you choose a hiking trail in Iceland?
What is the best hiking trail in Iceland?

We get asked these kinds of questions a lot, so what we decided to do was to write about some of our biggest favourites. It’s safe to say that Núpsstaðarskógar to Skaftafell is right up there with the best of them. Here are the 5 best reasons that we can think as to why you should choose this trek in Iceland this summer.

1. We pioneered the trail!

All trails have to be pioneered; these pioneers mark out the route and leave way markers or points of interest. The trail from Núpsstaðarskógar to Skaftafell is a trail that was completely pioneered by our founders, a group of people that are passionate about the outdoors. Therefore, nobody knows it better than us.

2. It’s the road less travelled

Because we pioneered it, there are very few people who walk the route from Núpsstaðarskógar to Skaftafell, or who know how to. This means that you are highly unlikely to find anyone else other than your group for the great stretch of the journey.

3. There’s a huge diversity of landscapes

The route from Núpsstaðarskógar to Skaftafell is fabled for the diversity of landscapes that you can experience. Epic canyons, towers of rock, views across the glacier, a whole day of glacier walking and a great stretch of Skaftafell National Park. This is the unknown king of the Icelandic hiking trails.

4. It’s extravagantly beautiful!

What’s the point of all of this? Núpsstaðarskógar to Skaftafell is extravagantly beautiful! The precipices, the vistas, the ice, the mountains and the valley!

5. A challenge and a treat!

Although Núpsstaðarskógar to Skaftafell is not technically challenging in the sense that does not requires technical climbing skills, it is a challenging hike and does carry our second highest difficult rating of 4, which we define as:

Feeling Adventurous?

If you are feeling really adventurous, Núpsstaðarskógar to Skaftafell can be combined with The Rivers and Glaciers of Vatnajökull. This nine-day combination trek is designed for the great hiking enthusiasts. This is a truly unforgettable experience, and it comes highly recommended.

So, have we convinced you? We think we might have, but the real test will be if you join us on this epic trail this summer. We hope to see you there!