Thorsmork and Eyjafjallajokull Superjeep Tour

Thorsmork got its name from Thor, the god of thunder and son of Odin. First settlers had consecrated their farms to Thor.

The rivers in Thorsmork, mostly Markarfljót, Krossá and Þrongá, are glacier rivers that change often. Our experienced guides know how to navigate through the stream when crossing the rivers, but travellers should never attempt to cross the rivers themselves, especially if their vehicles are not modified for such conditions.

Thorsmork is a valley between glaciers and high mountains, and thus is protected from winds and rain clouds. Therefore, the weather here is often better and warmer than the rest of the southern region. Thanks to this, there is lush vegetation in the valley, mostly mosses, ferns, birch trees and other small shrubs. In the past, the farmers from Fljótshlíd and under Eyjafjall used to graze their sheep here whole year round due to the mild climate, and they also engaged in logging. After the Katla eruption in 1918, Thorsmork became a protected area under the governance of the National Forestry. To preserve the environment, grazing and logging became forbidden, and visitors must respect nature and behave responsibly.

As we approach Thorsmork, we stop at some secret sites, to stretch and take pictures. One of the most unique stops is undoubtedly Nauthusagil, a narrow ravine in the mountainside at the foothills of Eyjafjallajökull. As we navigate our way into the ravine, the walls get taller and the crevice narrower. The ravine has a river flowing at the bottom and we step on the rocks along the stream. Don’t worry to get little bit wet, since you have packed that extra pair of socks! 

The hike is not very long, and as the ravine gets narrower, there are chains to hold onto. The deeper we get, the more fairy-tale like the scenery becomes, with black rocky walls, green moss and huge boulders inside the river – and don’t forget to look up to admire the vegetation at the top. The end of the ravine greets us with stunning waterfall. To make this place even more special, we hear stories about how this place is believed to be haunted.  

Gígjökull glacier is our first stop as we enter Thorsmork valley. This is one of the southern outlets of Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Most of the glaciers in Iceland are volcanoes. The mountain itself is a stratovolcano, 1651 m high, with crater of about 3 – 4 km wide in diameter. The south face of the mountain was once a part of the coast line, but over the years, the sea had retreated of about 5 km. 

When Eyjafjallajökull erupted in 2010, there was a considerable amount of melting which took place as heat from the erupting volcano underneath the ice cap made its way to the surface. This caused a massive flood, which inevitably needed to find its way down to the plains along the path of least resistance. In this case, the path was down through the Gígjökull outlet glacier. The flood caused even further melting as the melted glacier ice made its way to the Markárfljót River at the bottom of the valley, consequently reducing the size of an already receding Gígjökull by a significant amount.

The eruption has also produced ash clouds so large that it obstructed the day light at some areas. Thorsmork valley was filled with the volcanic ash and it took many months for nature to recover to the original look. 

While in Thorsmork, we will have lunch and relax, absorbing the natural beauty around us. 

Thorsmork is a paradise for hikers, and many popular trails start or end here, the most famous being Laugavegur trail, which connects Thorsmork to Landmannalaugar, and Fimmvörðurháls, which connects Thorsmork to Skógar. You can choose any of the shorter hiking trails to nearby hills to climb up, and each of them will reward you with amazing views.

In favourable conditions (after early December and in clear weather), we may choose to traverse up to the top of Eyjafjallajokull glacier, Europe’s most notorious volcano. During its most recent eruption in 2010 when it spewed ash into the atmosphere, consequently halting international air traffic for weeks on end. Today, all is hopefully forgiven as we negotiate our way to the top for astounding panoramic views of the area. If you do opt for the challenge of Eyjafjallajökull, about a 3-4 hour trip, you may find that we would need to sacrifice some of the other sites on the tour.