Fagradalsfjall volcano and Glymur falls

After a blissful 8+ hours of Zzzzzs, the breakfast basket with fresh baked bread, boiled eggs, yogurt, fresh pears  and a bunch of different spreads (way more than things they could be spread on as per Kahan!) was a treat. 

As we drove our rental Subaru through the Icelandic freeways, with melodious Bollywood tunes playing and a couple of British Indian and American Indian teens chatting away, it dawned upon me that we have managed to co-exist and thrive in a world that is so diverse.

The total 5.25 (around 8km) hike with an elevation gain of around 1000ft is fairly easy for the most past except a short steep patch which gets quite slippery when coming down. I had to rely on Chinmay’s guidance and hand holding for that patch, and even with that there were a couple of falls! It was quite a unique hike, the highlight of which was vast stretches of solidified molten lava fields. With steam coming from the cracks in between, the lacy wavy imprinted patterns solidified in time (no more than a few months old), the lava fields were fascinating to say the least. 
2 girls and the wilderness 
On the lava fields
Expansive molten lava fields 
En route the hike 

Lava fields were mesmerizing!

About a mile into the hike we had found out that the volcano was not erupting. Some of us still went to the top maneuvering through the thick fog cover. Completing a hike is a very gratifying feeling, the spectacular changing landscapes take that feeling up several notches. 

Watching a live volcano is an essential bucket list activity since March 2021 in Iceland with the proximity and ease of access from Reykjavik, and we are hoping we can check that off the list during our trip. 

After a not so quick yet delicious lunch stop at Lemon we drove an hour and half north to the Glymur falls, the second highest waterfalls in Iceland at 198m tall. The grilled vegan falafel sandwich was moist and flavorful, the bread was thin with a perfect texture and paired quite well with the filling. Fresh made smoothies were refreshing after the hike and made the beautiful drive even more interesting! 

The 3.5 miles hike to and from point #5 to the Glymur foss was one full of adventurous surprises and breathtaking vistas. If crossing a river on a narrow log, climbing a narrow steep patch of a mountain using a harnessed rope for support, going through a dark natural cave and peeking down a rocky cliff into 150+meter valley, or making your way through tall canyons strike your fancy, then you are in for an unforgettable thrilling hike. All of us who ventured to the Glymur foss fall into this category. We wish we had not lost our fellow group mates at different junctures stated above, because the difficulty level of the hike wasn’t as high as perceived based on some of these seeming obstacles. The kids were in for a treat, and so were the grown-ups- a treat for all senses that gets even sweeter with a group of friends and family. 
Along the hike
Log 🪵 river crossing
A captivating cave 
Can’t get enough of these vistas 
Glymur falls


Marveling at nature and the abysmal valley beneath
Climbing 🧗 with the rope
The adventurous gang



It was a long day of limitless adventure and fun that couldn’t culminate in a proper dinner as most places in town were closed by the time we reached back at 10pm. But skimping on a meal was a worthy trade-off for the rest of the treasures in our day. 





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