Your Details
Please check all the details shown to make sure the names on your booking are the same as each person's passport. If not, please let us know within 48 hours of making your booking so we can change them. If you don't let us know straight away you may be charged. Names must be given at the time of booking and any shown as TBA will be classed as a name change and there will be a charge.
Disclaimer
Albatros Adventure Marathons reserve the right to change the itinerary and/or running course without further notice in the event of extreme weather.
By signing up for this event you agree to the Terms & Conditions.
On Request Bookings
This booking is on request. Request Bookings will confirm that you have accepted our Booking Conditions. Your booking is not however, guaranteed until our partner company confirms availability. Please expect confirmation of place within 1-3 days of making your booking. Your card payment details will still be required for the deposit to secure your space, though please be advised this information will be held securely, and the card will only be debited upon confirmation of booking.
Room Options
If you are a solo traveller and choose a shared double room when booking, we will pair you with another traveller of the same gender. If you prefer to have your own room, choose single room. A single supplement will apply.
Flight Times
Unless you're extending your stay, the tour will end on the 26th of September at Keflavík Airport. Busses that morning will bring participants from their hotels in Mývatn and Húsavík to the airport with an expected arrival at 14:30 in the afternoon.
If your return flight is on the 26th September, you should not book a flight earlier than 16:30.
Insurance
Destination Sport Experiences strongly recommends travellers to take out comprehensive travel insurance with sufficient healthcare cover, including cover for existing medical conditions and any activities you plan to do.
If you have a European Health Insurance Card it will be valid up to its expiry date. This will be replaced with a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). You can find further details here.
Special Assistance
If you or anyone on your booking needs any special assistance for reduced mobility, disability or any other medical condition, you should let us know at team@destinationsport.com
We can give you more information about the accessibility of different services and the assistance available from transport and accommodation suppliers, or at venues. Availability and access to certain services / seating may be limited by the service provider so we recommend you talk to us about what you need before booking. If you book online please add details of any special assistance you need in the special request box.
Special Requests
If you have any special requests please let us know. We will do our best to make them happen for you but we can't guarantee them.
Important Travel Information
It’s important be up to date with the latest information about where you’re travelling to and what documents you need to have in order to travel.
For information about passports and applying for them, you should check the passport pages of the UK Government Website.
To learn more about the destination that you are travelling to, including specific travel advise and entry requirements, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office (FCDO) publishes up to date information here.
When you travel, you should be 'Travel Aware'. By following the Travel Aware link, you’ll find a whole list of useful information put together by the FCDO, which will help you be 'Travel Aware' for your journey ahead.
The Route
The Iceland Volcano Marathon and half marathon both start at the foot of the mighty Hverfjall volcano crater. The route leads runners west across a road composed of volcanic sand and gravel and onto the main road that encircles Lake Mývatn.
The next 2.5km are run on asphalt and lead to the unique lava field of Dimmuborgir, which means “Black Fortress.” An eruption roughly 2300 years ago created this vast expanse of black lava stacks and caves – folklore surrounding the region often associates it with the gates of hell. In Dimmuborgir, the route follows narrow trails in a counterclockwise circle and then runs under the Gatklettur Arch (pictured).
From there, the trail narrows to a single track for the following 1.1 km. The flora here is extremely fragile and it is very, very important that all runners exercise extra caution and stay on the trail. Do not pass each other if it means stepping off the trail and do make room for each other!
As the trail widens up again, the mighty Hverfjall crater is now front and center. Running clockwise around it, we’ll pass the start line just before heading up the crater itself. Rising more than 100 meters, the view from the top offers a 360-degree view of the North Volcanic Zone. The route follows the rim of the crater all the way around – a 3 km circuit – and back down the same trail we came up.
Continuing north, the route comes very close to the Jardbödin Nature Baths and, although the baths can’t be seen from the route, the volcanic activity below the surface can be seen in the steam rising from the ground.
Marathon
The marathon runners will now split away from the half-marathon runners as they turn right and run along the east side of the Hverfjall crater. The surface changes to pitch black volcanic sand and lava rock in a landscape that looks more like the moon than the earth.
Shortly after passing the halfway mark, the marathon route changes back to a gray-green landscape consisting of lava rock and shrubbery and leads runners to the bottom of the Ludent crater. At the 25km mark, runners start an out-and-back stretch of approximately 2.5 km, running along a line of smaller craters that popped up more than 2000 years ago as the volcanic activities moved south.
There is a 5-hour cut-off point at 31.5 km, meaning that runners who did not reach 31.5 km within 5 hours of the start will be removed from the race and driven back to the finish line. After the cut-off point, runners will find themselves on another tough, shorter hill leading back onto the black volcanic sand, and then following the same path back towards the Jardbödin Nature Baths and merging again with the half marathon runners.
Marathon & Half Marathon
The final 4 km begin with about 1.5 km on asphalt, taking us past the Grjótagá cave, which was made famous in Game of Thrones (although the cave cannot be seen from the route).
The last 2.5 km stretch is run on a gravel road will lead runners to the finish line at the Vogar Ferdathjonusta.
Notes
When passing places of public interest it is important to keep in mind that this race doesn't have exclusivity in the area and all roads and sights are open to regular visitors and locals too. With the early start, however, most of the route will be fairly empty.
Do not forget that this is first and foremost an adventure. We are far away from comforts of home and this makes it impossible to offer services at the same level usually provided in city marathons.
Surface
The Iceland Volcano Marathon is run on a variety of surfaces, including asphalt, soft volanic sand, volcanic rock, gravel, and dirt. Although the race can be run in normal running shoes, trail running shoes are recommended if one is hoping for top placement.
