Dreki Campsite — Drekagil at the Foot of Askja

Dreki sits on a black gravel flat in the Dyngjufjöll, where Drekagil gorge opens onto the lava plain. It’s a Vatnajökull National Park camp, and the hut next to it is run by Ferðafélag Akureyrar. You get a tent area on the gravel, a hut with a basic kitchen and toilets, and a paid shower if you want to rinse off the highland dust. It’s the staging camp for Askja and Víti. The walk or drive to the caldera starts right from here. Expect wind, cold nights even in July, and a fair crowd of tour buses and super jeeps during the day. It quiets down by evening.

If you’re coming off the F910 Gæsavatnaleið, you’ll have crossed glacial rivers and a lot of soft sand to get here. The way in from the north is the F88 off Route 1 near Mývatn. The road is only open in summer, usually from late June to September, depending on snowmelt. Check road.is and safetravel.is before you set out. Fees, hut hours and opening dates change, so verify with the park or the hut warden before you go. Bring your own water plan and a tent that can take the wind.

Askja's basecamp where the F910 ends