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Interpretive program

Here you can find the interpretive program in Vatnajökull National Park for 2024.
The interpretive program offers short walks accompanied by rangers and are free of charge. The walks are easy and suitable for most.

Reykjavík
Akureyri
Fellabær
Höfn
Ásbyrgi
Mývatn
Skriðuklaustur
Skaftafell
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Vesturdalur
Askja
Nýidalur
Hrauneyjar
Lakagígar
Eldgjá
Breiðamerkursandur
Lónsöræfi
Herðubreiðarlindir
Snæfell
Kverkfjöll
Hvannalindir
Visitor centres
Park ranger stations
Offices
Click the dots to find where your interpretive walk starts from

Skaftafell

Interpretive program from June 15 - August 15

Melting glaciers

Daily at 10:30 AM
Duration: ca. 1½-2 hours
Starting point: Skaftellsstofa Visitor Centre
Walk towards Skaftafellsjökull and the impact of glaciers on the landscape is discussed as well as what impact we have on the glaciers.

Man & nature

Daily at 14:00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Starting point: Skaftellsstofa Visitor Centre
Culture, history and the interaction between people and nature reflected in a walk through cultural monuments in Skaftafell.

Special events in Skaftafell

May 13 – World Migratory Bird day - Interpretive walk at 13:00
May 24 – International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22) and European Day of Parks (May 24) - interpretive walk at 13:00
June 16 - Day of the wild flowers - interpretive walk at 13:00
July 12 –
Skaftafell - from a home to a world heritage site - interpretive walk at 13:00
July 31 - World Ranger Day - Ranger Games at 13:00

Bank Holiday Weekend

  • August 2: Disaster walk at 22:00
  • August 3: Scavanger hunt, suitable for everyone
  • August 4: Bonfire and music at 21:00

Jökulsárlón

Interpretive program from May 1 - September 30

Blue gold

Daily at 11 :00 AM
Duration: 45 minutes
Starting point: In front of the cafeteria at Jökulsárlón
The uniqueness of Jökulsárlón is discussed during a walk along the bank of the lagoon. The landscape is examined and how it changes when the glacier retreats.

About a mountain

Daily from June 15 - August 15 at 3:00 PM
Duration: 45 minutes
Starting point: In front of the cafeteria at Fjallsárlón
A circular route by Fjallsárlón and discussed the coexistence of man and nature in the area as well as the effects of water, glaciers and volcanic eruptions on Breiðamerkursandur. What was one of Iceland's most remote areas like centuries ago?

Special events in Jökulsárlón

July 31 - World Ranger Day - An interpretive walk at 11:00 AM about the effects of glaciers on habitation in the area. Starting point is at Jökulsárlón.

Jökulsárgljúfur

Interpretive program from June 15 - August 15

Ásbyrgi

Evening stroll

Daily from June 22 to August 15 at 8:00 PM
Duration: Around 1 hour
Starting point: Service house on the campsite
A light walk around the surroundings of Ásbyrgi.

Gljúfrastofa visitor centre
The key to the canyons

Daily in July from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Guided walk through the exhibition with a ranger.

Vesturdalur

Stroll around Hljóðaklettar

Daily at 2:00 PM
Duration: Around 1 hour
Starting point: Car park next to Hljóðaklettar
A walk around Hljóðaklettar and land formation will be examined.

Special events in Jökulsárgljúfur

June 18 - Day of Wild Flowers - We walk through the innermost area of Ásbyrgi exploring the flora with an emphasis on flowers, healing powers, and the benefits of wild herbs. The walk will take 1-2 hours.

July 14 - Svínadalswalk at 13:00. Starting point: The ranger house in Vesturdalur. A walk around Svínadalur where living, traveling, and nature in the valley are discussed.

July 27 and 28 – Magmatic dikes and their propagation - During the last years people in Iceland have experienced dramatic events on the Reykjanes peninsula, where magmatic intrusions, eruptions and fracture movements have caused significant social and economic effect. The area close to Ásbyrgi and Dettifoss has also experienced such events previously and offers an opportunity to look at various geological phenomenons resulting from such events.

July 27 - How does a volcano/old dike look from the inside? We will go to Hafragil which is north of the Dettifoss waterfall to look at grabens, fractures, eruptive fissures and the cross-section of an old dike.

July 28 - The propagation of dikes and fracture movements during the Krafla unrest 1975-1984, and its influence on the inhabitated areas close to Ásbyrgi. We will discuss the unrest and walk around areas where fractures moved and a graben was formed. We will compare this with what has been happening in the Reykjanes peninsula during the last years.

Participants are welcome to show up on either one or both days.

Askja, Holuhraun & Herðubreiðarlindir

Interpretive program from July 15 - August 15

Askja

Absolute silence and forces of nature

Daily at 1:00 PM
Duration: 1-1½ hour
Starting point: Vikraborgir parking lot, 20 min from Dreki
Guided walk to Víti (2,3 km) where we explore the geology of Askja and Dyngjufjöll, the mystery and surrounding forces - and the fateful visits of men.

Holuhraun

Land in the making

Daily at 9:30 AM
Duration: About a 40 minute drive each way - the walk itself takes 45 minutes
Starting point: The hut in Drekagil (guests follow ranger on their own car)
Standing on the very recent lava from 2014-2015 you see central volcanoes and active volcanoes all around. The lava brings a number of scientists with interesting researches every year, and living next to Bárðarbunga demands alertness.

Herðubreiðarlindir

An oasis in the highlands

Daily at 10:00 AM
Duration: 45 minutes
Starting point: Þorsteinsskáli hut
The walk takes you through the oasis, the vegetation as well as the lava field with it's many faces. The small things in nature are explored as well as the forces that created the lava, the springs and the queen of Icelandic mountains; Herðubreið.

Special events in Askja & Herðubreiðarlindir

July 10 – Knebel’s walk, at 13:00 o’clock, 1- ½ hour, Vikraborgir (Askja parking lot). Knebel’s walk is an annual interpretation walk in the memory of the German scientists Knebel and Rudloff, who disappeared during geological research at lake Askja on this day in 1907. The walk also tells the travel story of Ina von Grumbkof, Knebel’s fiancée, who travelled to lake Askja in 1908 in search for answers about their disappearance.

July 27 – Anniversary celebrations in Herðubreiðarlindir. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the nature reservation of the Herðubreiðarlindir area. We will celebrate with various types of events for all ages during the day, as well as evening entertainment. Live music, interpretive program, refreshments and more. Further info on the facebook event Afmælishátíð Herðubreiðarlinda closer to the date.

July 31 – World Ranger Day

· 15:00-17:00 – Coffee and chat in the rangers’ house in Drekagil

· 18:00-18:30 – Short interpretation walk from Drekagil at 18 o’clock (30 minutes). The mountain range and geology discussed.

August 4 – Space walk at 20:00, Drekagil, 2-3 hours. An evening walk to (astro)Nautagil, in an area that has often been compared to the moon. NASA astronauts visited the area for practice in 1965 and 1967, before heading to the moon. The history of the area’s connection to moon and space research is highlighted in this popular annual walk with rangers.

Snæfellsstofa & Hengifoss

Interpretive program from June 15 - August 15

Hengifoss

Geology and history of Hengifoss

Monday - Friday in July at 10:00 AM
Duration: 1 hour
Starting point: Hengifoss parking lot
A walk to Litlanesfoss which is about 30 meters high. Higher up in the gorge sits Hengifoss, the second highest waterfall in the country and a popular tourist attraction in the East of Iceland. The topic will be the geology and history of Hengifossárgil.

Hálslón

Ranger on site

Thursdays and Saturdays from June 15 - August 31 from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ranger gives information to visitors.

Snæfell, Kverkfjöll & Hvannalindir

Interpretive program from July 15 - August 15

Snæfell

An evening with a ranger

Daily at 8:00 PM
Duration: 1 hour
Starting point: Snæfellskáli hut
Rangers invite visitors for a chat about the diverse nature and history of highlands around Snæfell. The event takes place in the vicinity of Snæfellsskáli hut.

Kverkfjöll

Fire and Ice

Daily at 10:00 AM
Duration: 50 minutes
Starting point: Parking lot next to Kverkjökull, 10 min drive from Sigurðarskáli hut.
The traces of the retreating glacier are examined as well as the rough terrain that the glacier has eroded.

Hvannalindir

Desert Oasis

Daily at 1:00 PM
Duration: 1 hour
Starting point: Parking lot next to Kreppuhryggur
Visitors learn about the struggle for survival in this remote place and the ruins of 18th-century outlaws.

Special events in Snæfell, Kverkfjöll & Hvannalindir

July 31 - World Ranger Day (Event advertised on later date)

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Interpretive program from June 15 - August 15

Lovepath

Every Sunday at 1:00 PM
Duration: 1 hour
Starting point: Systrafoss

Culture and history

Tuesdays and Saturdays at 10:00 AM
Duration: 1 hour
Starting point: Memorial chapel of Jón Steingrímsson
A walk around Kirkjubæjarklaustur looking at the buildings and how they are connected to the town's history. During the walk, we also examine the connections of artists Kjarval and Erró to the area how nature affected their work and life.

The secrets of the Pseudocrater

Wednesdays and Fridays at 2:00 Pm
Duration: 1- 1½ hours
Starting point: Skaftárstofa
A walk through the hills of the area called Landbrot and how they can be utilized.

Dverghamrar
Basalt and beach

Mondays and Thursdays at 2:00 PM
Duration: 1 hour
Starting point: Dverghamrar

Eldgjá, Hrauneyjar, Lakagígar & Nýidalur

Interpretive program from July 15 - August 15

Eldgjá

Formation of Iceland

Daily at 1:00 PM
Duration: 1 hour
Starting point: Eldgjá Parking lot
Description: A walk from the parking lot in Eldgjá and along the bottom of the gorge towards Ófærufoss.

Nýidalur

Wilderness

Daily at 9:30 AM
Duration: 1 hour
Starting point: Nýidalur hut
Description: A walk around the area with a conversation about the wilderness from different perspectives.

Lakagígar

Beauty and catastrophe - the impact of Skaftáreldar

Daily at 1:00 PM
Duration: 1 hour
Starting point: Laki parking lot
Description: A walk to the top of Laki mountain and the impact and history of Skaftáreldar discussed.