Travel Iceland with Iceland Travel Travel the Interior Contrasting profoundly with the more hospitable exterior regions, the interior of Iceland is a howling wilderness of otherworldly vistas, where pristine deserts of sand and cinder are broken-up every now and then by heroic floral blooms, occasional shivering rivers, gleaming icecaps and jagged mountains. Because of the unpredictable extreme weather and lack of vegetation, very few people were brave enough to inhabit the desolate heart of Iceland and most outlaws, who were sent there as a punishment, swiftly perished. Even now the interior of Iceland remains unpopulated, and closed for tourism most of the year. Kjalvegur (or Kjölur) and Sprengisandur – the two main routes through the interior, were originally forged by Vikings on horseback as they made their way to the annual meetings in Þingvellir. With its challenging untamed appeal, many people are attracted to this last true wilderness of Europe and visit during the restricted travel season, which falls somewhere between June and August - depending on the weather, but even in this period, travelers must be vigilant and prepared for sudden extreme weather conditions - including snow storms.
The Kjalvegur Route Travelling from either end of Kjalvegur (Rte. 35), the connecting 165km (103 128
miles) stretch of mountain track is best suited for those with appropriate 4WD transport and good suspension. From the northern end, Kjalvegur is accessed via a turnoff halfway between Varmahlíð and Blönduós on Rte. 731, and exits in the southwest region at Gullfoss. The ghosts of Kjölur There are many stories of outlaws and others who have ended up in snowdriven tombs on the highlands; one of the tales tells of two brothers named Bjarni and Einar Halldórsson, who in the autumn of 1780, together with their travel companions, traversed the highlands to buy some sheep and horses in the South. On their return they were caught in a blizzard northeast of Kjalfell and tragically perished, together with their livestock; their bones were found 65 years later in a place subsequently dubbed ‘Bonehill’ (Beinahóll). Visitors camping in the area often witness mysterious shadows, and animal bones still turn up there regularly. TRAVEL THE INTERIOR
