Basar Hut is a relatively accessible campground and hostel in the Thorsmork region. The site is a great base for exploring the charming area and surrounding attractions.
Basar Hut: a base for exploring all of Thorsmork
Basar Hut is definitely easier to access than, for example, Husadalur / Volcano Huts located in the main part of the Thorsmork valley. This is because it does not require crossing the Krossy River, but only several smaller tributaries and streams.
One of the fords on the way to Basar Hut
Remember, too, that glacial rivers and streams can be capricious, and can change very quickly. Therefore, before driving to Básar Hut, it is a good idea to inquire about the condition of the road and streams.
A small store operates in Basar Hut, but don’t expect much from it. The canteen at the hostel is available only to guests of the hostel. Campers are asked to use separate rooms in the shelters at the campground.
Hiking trails in the Basar Hut area
Basar Hut lies amidst the beautiful greenery of the Thorsmork Valley. The surrounding hills offer beautiful views of the valley itself, the surrounding glaciers and smaller side valleys. In late summer, the road is made more pleasant by the abundance of berries that grow in many places here. There are several hiking trails in the area for people of all abilities and fitness levels.
Tourist map of Basar Hut area
If you are going to the north side of the valley and want to cross the Krossa – look for mobile bridges. These are special footbridges/traps on wheels, rolled whenever hikers need them just in crossing the Krossa with dry feet. If you want to cross the Krossa by car you have to do it without a bridge, and this is certainly one of the most difficult off-road driving challenges in Iceland.
- Basar circle
This is the easiest route at about 1h walking climbing a bit around to the Bolhofud hill towering directly over the campground.
- Hvannargil
Map: the two trails to Hvannargil
The Shorter version leads from the campsite up the green trail to the nearby Fremra-Basasdard pass. Further we have several trails to choose from, but they are all marked in red and in the field they do not stick to the way they are marked on the camping map. You have several options:
- go down to the Hvanna valley and go north-west (if the river allows) to the Krossa valley and return to the campsite along the main road (F249);
- after descending into the valley, walk a bit north-west, but return to the Krossa valley through the Alfakirkja hill; this route is a loop of approx. 4 km / 2.5 mi with approx. 235 m ascents, i.e. a total route of approx. 1.5 hours (+ stops to admire the views);
- you can also go southeast to the top of Votupallar and only there go down to the valley to come back on one of the trails described above; this route is about twice as long as the previous one, i.e. about 3 hours; (before leaving, ask the ranger if it is actually possible to walk the trail on valley floor as shown on the map at present; and if it is, be prepared to cross the stream a few times;
Hvannargil as seen from the Fimmvorduhals trail
Those who walk fast and 6 hours is not enough for them (and if the weather is favorable), can walk a bit further south from the above-mentioned plateau, behind the chained cat-spine section and approach another plateau (not far behind the chains), where a beautiful view to the east with a large waterfall is visible. Here you can turn back or go further still – up to the Magni and Modi craters, which were formed during the Eyjafjallajokull eruption in 2010. This is an interesting place, but reaching them requires an additional 2 km and 260 m of elevation gain one way, so approx. 1.5h round trip;
- Strakagil
Strakagil Canyon
- Fimmvörðuháls
Fimmvorduhals is a trail leading through the pass of the same name to the village of Skogar, right by the famous Skogafoss waterfall. One-way crossing can be planned for 1 day (but rather long) or spread over two days with an overnight stay on the pass.
- other
Basar Hut is a great starting point for excursions in the ‘Godaland’ region, i.e. south of Krossy (and the F249 road at the same time). On this side, we have the longer Gudrunartungur trail marked (also) in red and going far to the east, to the foot of the Myrdarsjokull glacier, and also quite far to the east, another blue trail (after Fimmvorduhals) to the foot of the Tungnakvislajokull glacier;
From Basar you can also go on trips on the northern side of Krossa, but due to the need to cross the river itself, it is much more convenient to do it from Skagfjordsskali hut and Langidalur camp (same place, only the hut has a different name than the campsite). The northern trails can also be “attacked” from the hut and campsite Volcano Huts. However, while this place has many advantages, it is located the most out of the way and trips from here are longer.
T
his region is kept as natural as possible and so hiking trails in the valleys may be flooded by streams, and those on the slopes may have disappeared under a landslide. They certainly do not run exactly as marked on maps at the camping information boards…
Ask the ranger at the campgsite reception about the current status of the trails.
camping at Basar Hut
With relatively easy access, an on-site restaurant and plenty of hiking trails, this is one of Icelanders’ favorite campsites. So you can also see various, sometimes quite exotic local super jeeps and motorhomes. A large number of tourists, however, is not a nuisance precisely because you can easily find a secluded, hidden place.
You can book a bunk bed in the hut or pitch a tent at the campsite. They both provide rather simple conditions typical for huts in Iceland. You can book a place in the hut (the camping does not require a reservation) through the Utivist office in Reykjavik – by calling +354 562 1000 or sending e-mail to utivist@utivist.is.
Warden’s phone: +354 893 2910;
GPS coordinates of the shelter: N63°40.559 / W19°29.014
The hut
- price for a single bunk bed (own sleeping bag): 10,500 ISK (about $80 in 2023),
- accommodation for 75 people,
- toilets included, but showers paid extra (500 ISK – $4),
- charging your mobile phone: 500 ISK / $4 per hour,
- Gas stoves, kitchen utensils, barbacue available;
The campsite
- the price is 2000 ISK ($15) per person,
- multiple toilets and washing up areas (cold water only) throughout the property,
- showers (500 ISK / $4) paid extra at the warden’s (you get a bar code printout that you scan in the shower),
- you can leave any trash here,
- drinking water available without restrictions,
- no electricity (sometimes you can charge your phone at the warden’s (500 ISK – per hour),
- canteen tent available (white with blue stripes), but poorly equipped; a lot of wooden tables with benches across the campsite available for everyone;
The shop
- for a camping shop, the selection here is quite wide,
- snacks, carbonated drinks, oatmeal, granola, butter, cheese, crispbread;
- batteries, flashlights, stove gas, barbecue briquettes;
- souvenir t-shirts, hiking boots and water repellents;
- some basic hygiene and beauty products;
- unfortunately no freeze-dried food is available (or it’s not always available);
- there is a shelf in the shop with “almost used” gas bottles for hiking cookers – you can take them for free, although they usually have little gas left in them;
The restaurant
- from 8:00 to 10:00 breakfast buffet is served – 2500 ISK/person (approx. $20);
- from 11:30 to 14:00 pizza, fish and chips, burgers, pasta and salads are available; the prices range from 2500 to 3500 ISK (approx. $20 – $30);
- after 14:30 soup (e.g. mushroom or fish soup) with bread is the only available hot dish;
- soft drinks, muffins and beer are available all day long (0.3l for 1200 ISK / $9),
How to get to Basar Hut
To get to Basar Hut, take Road 1 and turn north on Road 249, just as you get to the waterfall Seljalandsfoss
Map: Driving to Basar Hut
A little further north of the waterfall, the road will change from paved to gravel. From this point on, it’s already the F249 mountain road and you’re likely to continue on at your own risk (the road is excluded from coverage for all/most cars and insurance). The road will turn east and enter the main valley crossing more streams.
At the deeper fords there are additional signs indicating that this is a crossing for high-suspension vehicles only. If you are unsure of your suspension or (very appropriate!) want to check the current water level in the stream simply wait until someone else passes this way or cross the stream on foot. Entering the stream is a cool but very effective way to check both the water level and the type of bottom (avoid large stones, of course, but also avoid loose sand).
The drive from Seljalandsfoss is about 30 km and 1 hr, but – weather permitting – it’s worth stopping at the Stakkholtsgja Canyon on the way and seeing it ‘from the inside’.
Photos from Basar Hut and surrounding areas
