ICELANDIC TRAVERSE: LOGISTICS AND ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE AND GETTING OUT 
When embarking on the Icelandic Traverse, managing logistics becomes a top priority. One of the foremost concerns is reaching the northernmost point, Hraunhafnartangi Lighthouse. Here’s how to make it happen: From Reykjavik, reaching the remote Hraunhafnartangi Lighthouse can be quite challenging. A bus ride from Reykjavik to Akureyri costs approximately 90 euros, but it won’t take you directly to the starting point. In fact, there is no public transport that is able to bring you to the lighthouse. In our quest for a more budget-friendly and adventurous option, we decided to hitchhike from Reykjavik to the lighthouse, and it turned out to be a fantastic choice! Hitchhiking not only saved us money but also allowed us to connect with fellow travelers. However, keep in mind that you might occasionally find yourself waiting by the roadside for extended periods. We reached Hraunhafnartangi Lighthouse within 24 hours, with the help of about 8 different rides. Hitchhiking is all about going with the flow and being flexible about your arrival time. An even better option would be to fly to the airport of Akureyri. The amount of hitchhiking you will have to would be fairy manageable. In our case flying to Akureryi would have been too expensive.
FOOD PARCELS 
During our journey, we encountered only one regular supermarket in Myvatn. In most other places along the route, options for purchasing food are extremely limited and can be prohibitively expensive. As a result, planning ahead and sending food parcels to yourself is essential. We arranged three food parcels during our trip:
Food Parcel 1: Myvatn Campsite – 100 km While passing through Myvatn, we stayed at the campsite and asked the owner if we could leave a food parcel to pick up in about four days. This request was readily accepted.
Food Parcel 2: Dreki Hut – 300 km We contacted Myvatn Tours, a company that organizes tours to the Askja volcano, to deliver a package to the Dreki Hut, situated next to Askja. Initially, they agreed to do it for a fee of 30 euros. However, when we visited Myvatn Tours to arrange this service, we were informed that they had discontinued it due to many hikers failing to pick up their packages. We recommend reaching out to Myvatn Tours first, and if they can’t help, explore alternative tour operators for this delivery.
Food Parcel 3: Volcano Hut – 500 km The Volcano Hut, located at the end of the Laugavegur trail, was our destination for the third food parcel. We used the services of Reykjavik Tours to send it there. If you’re in Reykjavik, visit the Reykjavik Tours head office and arrange for your package to be delivered to the Volcano Hut. Please note that you’ll need to hand your package to a bus driver; you can’t drop it off at the desk. This service cost us about 19 euros.
FOOD 
Given the absence of supermarkets or restaurants along our route, indulging in good food became a necessary luxury. As we’re both sizeable individuals (Bob towering over 2 meters), a mere pack of noodles wouldn’t suffice for us. Check out our food-dedicated page to find out everything you need to know about or daily food-intake during trails!
WATER SUPPLY 
Remarkably, we didn’t need to filter any water during our trip. Almost every day, we encountered at least one water source, except for a stretch after the Dreki Hut. Following the Dreki Hut, there’s a considerable distance to the next water source, which, during our journey, was the Kistufell Hut. In this hut, rangers regularly refill water containers. To be safe, check with the Dreki Hut staff if the containers were recently refilled. It’s advisable to carry a minimum of two days’ worth of water when leaving the Dreki Hut since the nearby glacial water is not drinkable.
A crucial tip for ensuring a reliable water supply is to thoroughly study your map for water sources. Occasionally, we encountered dried-up water sources, so having a backup plan is wise. Asking locals or fellow travelers about the status of nearby water sources can also be helpful.
Happy traversing, and may your Icelandic adventure be filled with incredible experiences!
NAVIGATION 
Some navigation skills are required to hike the Cape Wrath Trail. Using a gps-device will sufice, but some basic map and compass skills will help out a lot. The Cape Wrath Trail is a non-marked trail. Occasions occured in which we were walking through the highlands with no path, a lot of rain and even more fog. Since there are also many streams and rivers in the highlands you will have to check your map often, otherwise you will be hiking back and forth endlessly. We employed two navigation methods throughout the trail:
– A printed map created using Caltopo, although we eventually discarded it after the first week.
– GPX tracks on both out watches and smartphones.
We found that combination sufficed for safe navigation on the trail. It’s crucial to bring enough supply of power banks to ensure everything remains charged. The majority of the trail follows a well-marked track, indicated by wooden poles, making it challenging to veer off course. Regulary checking your GPX file will ensure a smooth and secure journey,
