Atlavik, East Region, Iceland

5Khash C 5:00 PM Aug 23, 2016

Mystical Aquatic Camping
Camping right next to a glacier lake – it doesn’t get better than this. I don’t know if it was because it was because of a weekend rain forecast or because it’s so far away from Reykjavik or because it’s normally like this or that we were simply lucky: we had a spectacular secluded campground site RIGHT NEXT to the lake and all that sublime primordial energy that emanates from it. We arrived late so the extent of that pure beauty didn’t hit me until I zipped-open the tent the next day and witnessed that human-less landscape backdrop of that massive lake, that lake with its cloudy water, a below-sea-level glacial-fed lake which has very poor visibility as a result of siltation, a lake with the legend of the gigantic Lagarfjot Worm, a serpentine creature is said to live in that cloudy water and whose myth and sightings are in-line with that of the Lockness Monster. It’s one of those memories that tend to stick with you for the rest of your life. My significant-other is Icelandic and she had come here often with her family. That morning I woke up and washed the dishes in the glacier lake and, as a result, ended up being a continual victim of ridicule by her family and Icelanders in general with statements like “Are you crazy? That glacier water is filthy.” Yet, in my defense, to an American, glacier water has connotations of being pure and clean. But I guess I should have known. But then again, that’s why I asked my significant-other if it was ok before washing the dishes and heard a groan of “yea” from the tent. (She said she didn’t pay attention to my question and wanted to get back to sleep. She said “It should have been obvious.”) Ahhh… no matter…. just remember that you can’t wash your camping dishes in that water. The bathrooms are legit – as with all the campgrounds in Iceland – and the place spreads-out camping sights so that you aren’t sardined together: a big win for you introverts out there that don’t feel like telling your family members to hush all the time because the tourist in the tent next to you needs to sleep. Anyhow… simply amazing.

4Syrinx 5:00 PM Jul 21, 2022

Tranquil cove and campsite
Atlavik is a tranquil cove in Hallormsstaður on the Lagarfljót river (often referred to as a lake). It is a lovely place to camp or enjoy some time where the forest meets the water. My kids love exploring the surrounding forest area and throwing rocks in the river. There is a rocky beach that you can enjoy and walking paths through the woods. The camping facilities are nice, but they do not offer electricity. In the old days, they had wild music festivals in Atlavik, but these days it is more of a peaceful place for nature lovers and families.