Our crossing begins with transport from Selfoss into the Icelandic interior and towards Jökulheimar, on the western side of Vatnajökull.

From our starting point we ski onto the main ice cap and gradually climb towards the Grímsvötn and Grímsfjall area. From there we turn south, crossing the high plateau towards Hermannaskarð and Öræfajökull.

The route then takes us towards Mávabyggðir and the mountains of Esjufjöll before we begin our descent along Breiðamerkurjökull.

Eventually the enormous ice cap narrows and the landscape changes around us. Mountains begin to appear, the glacier flows towards the coast, and we make our way down towards Jökulsárlón.

Here we leave the ice and are picked up for the transfer to Skaftafell.

DAY BY DAY

Day 1 – May 6.
Meet in Selfoss. We use the day to meet the team, go through the expedition plan and prepare equipment. We check personal kit, pack food and sleds, and go through the routines we will use during the crossing. We also look at the latest weather and conditions before making the final decisions for departure.

Day 2 – May 7.
We leave Selfoss and drive into the Icelandic interior towards Jökulheimar. How far we can drive towards the glacier depends on conditions and accessibility at the time.

Once we unload, the expedition begins. We put on our skis, hook into the sleds and start making our way towards Vatnajökull. We aim to cover approximately 5–10 km / 4–6 hours before establishing our first camp.

Day 3 – May 8.
We continue towards Grímsfjall, gradually climbing onto the main ice cap towards Grímsvötn. The landscape opens up around us as we leave the lower glacier behind and enter the enormous white plateau of Vatnajökull.

Approximately 15 km / 6–7 hours.

Day 4 – May 9.
We continue towards Grímsfjall and onwards past the Grímsvötn area. From here we are properly established on the high ice cap, surrounded by one of the largest expanses of ice in Europe.

Approximately 15 km / 6–7 hours.

Day 5 – May 10.
We turn south and begin making our way towards Öræfajökull and Hermannaskarð. The terrain is generally open, but weather and visibility can make navigation demanding. Our goal is to make good progress towards Hermannaskarð, at approximately 1,343 metres above sea level.

Approximately 20–25 km / 6–7 hours.

Day 6 – May 11.
We continue south towards Hermannaskarð. The mountains gradually become a bigger part of the landscape as we approach the southern side of Vatnajökull.

Approximately 20–25 km / 6–7 hours.

Day 7 – May 12.
We make our way through Hermannaskarð and continue towards Mávabyggðir. Depending on our progress, weather and snow conditions, we establish camp around the pass or further east below the mountains.

Approximately 20–25 km / 6–7 hours.

Day 8 – May 13.
From Mávabyggðir we continue towards the mountains of Esjufjöll. After several days on the open plateau, the character of the expedition begins to change as mountains and increasingly complex glacial terrain surround us.

Approximately 20–25 km / 6–7 hours.

Day 9 – May 14.
Our final day of the crossing takes us from Esjufjöll down Breiðamerkurjökull. After days on the high ice cap, we descend through a completely different glacial landscape towards the coast.

Eventually we leave the ice close to Jökulsárlón, Iceland's famous glacier lagoon.

Approximately 15 km / 5–6 hours.

Here we are picked up and transferred to our hotel in the Skaftafell area. A shower, a proper meal and a bed will probably feel pretty good by now.

Day 10 – May 15.
After breakfast we might head back onto the ice for a glacier walk in the Skaftafell area. After crossing Vatnajökull on skis, this gives us the chance to experience the glacier from a completely different perspective and round off the expedition together.

The trip ends during the day, and participants can continue their journey from Skaftafell.

This itinerary is an approximation. Weather, snow and glacier conditions will determine our exact route, daily distances and progress. We have deliberately built flexibility into the schedule to allow for a weather or delay day if needed.

SAFETY

Vatnajökull is a serious glacial environment. Crevasses, changing snow bridges, whiteout, strong winds and rapidly changing weather are all part of travelling here.

The guides carry glacier rescue equipment, satellite communications, first-aid equipment and an emergency beacon. The team travels roped where conditions require it, and the exact route is continuously adjusted according to glacier and weather conditions.

Safety on an expedition like this is also about how the team operates. We keep track of each other, maintain good routines in camp, manage clothing and hydration carefully and make decisions early rather than late.

TRAINING AND PREPARATION

You do not need previous polar expedition experience to join, but you do need to arrive physically prepared.

Before accepting participants, we ask everyone to complete an experience form and a medical form. This gives us a better understanding of your background and helps us make sure the expedition is a good match.

You should be comfortable spending full days outside and be fit enough for 6–8 hours of steady physical work on consecutive days. You will be skiing while pulling a sled, and although the terrain is often relatively gentle, doing this day after day adds up.

Training should focus primarily on endurance. Hiking with a backpack, skiing, running, cycling and longer sessions in the mountains are all useful. Strength training helps as well, particularly for legs, back and core.

Tyre pulling is excellent preparation for the particular rhythm of pulling a sled.

It isn't where you train that matters, but that you train. The more hours, the better.

We provide individual training advice in the build-up where needed.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Two experienced guides

• Transport from Selfoss to the starting point of the expedition

• Pick-up at the end of the crossing and transport to the Skaftafell area

• All general expedition equipment, including tents, stoves, sleds and shovels

• Group glacier and rescue equipment

• Satellite communication and emergency beacon

• Group first-aid and safety equipment

• Breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner while in the field

• Fuel for the expedition stoves

• Expedition planning and advice in the build-up to departure

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Travel to Selfoss before the expedition

• Travel from Skaftafell after the expedition

• Accommodation before and after the expedition

• Food before entering and after leaving the field

• Personal clothing and expedition equipment

• Personal glacier equipment, including a suitable climbing harness

• Travel and cancellation insurance

• Personal medical and evacuation insurance

Participants are responsible for having the required insurance in place before departure.

If you have allergies or intolerances, we may ask you to contribute so we can be sure you have enough safe food. Unforeseen delays caused by weather, glacier conditions, transport or route changes may also lead to additional costs.

MEALS

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included from the moment we enter the field until we leave the glacier.

Breakfast is our expedition porridge plus coffee or tea. During the skiing day we normally don't stop for one long lunch. Instead, we take several short breaks and eat and drink small amounts regularly. It keeps the team moving and works much better in cold and exposed conditions.

Dinner is expedition freeze-dried food, supplemented according to our standard expedition food setup.

Food is fuel out there, and we make sure there is enough of it.

SIGNING UP / DEPOSIT / INVOICE

The Booking Form gives you a place in the queue. We then send a deposit invoice — non-refundable according to our Travel Conditions.

Once the deposit is paid, your place is confirmed.

Three months before the expedition starts, we send the final invoice with the remaining balance.

Price: NOK 50,000 per person.

Minimum group size: 6 participants.
Maximum group size: 12 participants.