Laugavegur Trail - Self Guided
Discover the most famous trail in Iceland and enjoy it your way. A once in a lifetime experience!
Tour code: IMGS31
Explore Landmannalaugar To Þórsmörk At Your Own Pace
Trek along the famous Laugavegur trail at a speed that you choose. Our self-guided package allows you to have an adventure that few others experience on this same route. As you traverse from Landmannalaugar’s bubbling geothermal area to the lush, green Þórsmörk valley, you are setting the pace. Trek fast, if it suits you, or slow down and really enjoy the magnificent nature around you. Either way, you will encounter yellow rhyolite mountains, black sand deserts, great canyons, volcanoes and more. See for yourself why National Geographic has named this classic trail one of the best in the world.
Tour Overview
- Meeting Point
- BSI Bus terminal at 6:30
- Language
- Travel documents are in English
- Accommodation
- Mountain hut
- Transport
- Public bus
- Walking per day
- 4 - 7 hrs
- Total Distance
- 59 km (37 mi)
- Max. Ascent
- 600 m (1900 ft)
- Note
- Self Guided Package
- Minimum age
- 8 years
- Duration
- 5 days
- Difficulty
- Challenging
Customer Reviews
“My husband and I recently visited the magical land of Iceland mainly because we are avid hikers and wanted to do the famous Landmannalaugar - Þórsmörk hike. We decided to do the trek version that meant we would be only carrying our daypack during the hike and the rest of our equipment would be transported to the huts we would be spending each night in by jeep each day. It was the first time we hadn't carried all our own equipment, and for me it made the experience more enjoyable…”
Tour Highlights
Included
- Mountain hut sleeping bag accommodation in dormitories
- Transport from and to Reykjavik at the beginning and end of trek
- Detailed information pack including self-guided walking-route, notes and maps
- 1x Transfer of luggage item per person (18kg) betwen huts
Not included
- Sleeping Bag
- Hiking Poles
- Food during the trip (not available as bookable extra)
- Showers in huts (payable on site)
Optional extras
- Sleeping Bag
- Hiking Poles
Tour Map and Itinerary
Click map for detailed itineraryLaugavegur Trail - Self Guided
Day 1
Hut Itinerary: Reykjavík - Landmannalaugar - Hrafntinnusker
You will take the public scheduled bus that, during the summer months drives the mountain tracks that lead to Landmannalaugar, passing by the Hekla volcano and other volcanoes in the Dómadalur area. The bus leaves from Reykjavík. Arriving in Landmannalaugar at noon, it is ideal to have lunch and then head south into the mountains. The trail takes you past small gorges, steaming hot springs and yellow mountain ridges. Arrival at Hrafntinnusker mountain hut in the late afternoon, were you will stay the night,.
Distance: 12 km (7.5 mi)
Walking time: 4 - 5 hrs
Ascent: 470 m (1540 ft)
Day 2
Hut Itinerary: Hrafntinnusker - Álftavatn
From Hrafntinnusker you descend down into the gullies of Jökultungur with hundreds of steaming hot springs and mud pools. Up there you enjoy fascinating views southwards to the Álftavatn area (Swan Lake), and the Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. In the afternoon you arrive at Álftavatn hut where you stay the night.
Distance: 12 km (7.5 mi)
Walking time: 4 - 5 hrs
Descent: 490 m (1610 ft)
Day 3
You pass the foot of the green conic volcano Stórasúla before entering the black deserts of Mælifellssandur. Heading towards another ancient and verdurous volcano, the Hattfell, you enter the Emstrur region where farmers used to graze their sheep in summer. Before arriving at the Botnar hut where you stay the night, you can visit the magnificent Markarfljót canyon, cut almost 200 m down into the rocks south of Hattfell.
Distance: 16 km (10 mi)
Walking time: 6 - 7 hrs
Descent: 40 m (130 ft)
Day 4
Continue up and down through the small valleys and gullies of Emstrur, where the great Mýrdalsjökull glacier rises only a couple of kilometers away. At the end of the day the vegetation starts to grow thicker and higher as you descend into Þórsmörk's green valleys (the woods of Thor), filled with arctic birch forests and colorful flowers. Accommodation in one of the huts in Þórsmörk.
Distance: 19 km (12 mi)
Walking time: 6 - 7 hrs
Descent: 300 m (985 ft)
Day 5
You spend the morning in Þórsmörk with a possibility of walking along one of its numerous paths. For example, visit the Sönghellir cave (“Song cave”) or climb the small mountain of Valahnúkur from where magnificent views can be enjoyed, before taking the afternoon bus back to Reykjavík. Arrival at Reykjavik Central bus Station at around 19:30.
Please note
- All of the huts are heated, some have electricity and some have hot water. They all have bunk rooms with single and twin beds, participants have to be prepared to share a bunk with other travellers.
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Practical Information
When do I need to arrive?
Please make sure your flight arrives at least one day before the departure as the highland bus leaves from Reykjavik at 07:00AM. You return to the city until the evening of day 5 on tour, so we recommend that you do not book your return flight on this day.
What experience do I need?
The trek suites those who are physically active and have some background in basic travelling in mountainous terrain with a backpack. 6 - 7 hrs walks per day. The trail is well marked so the navigation is easy. The main difficulty is to cross rivers. You will get some advises about this in the road book.
What are the mountain huts like?
The huts can accommodate between 52-75 people in different dormitories. You will need to share rooms with others. They are basic but they are heated are equipped with gas stoves, kitchen utensils and running cold water and the toilets are in separate huts. Please note that the huts no not serve any meals or drinks. There are showers available in all huts except for the first night for 500 ISK per 5 minutes (payable by cash or card).