A fantastic multi day hiking holiday on the Laugavegur trail in the southern central highlands of Iceland. A trek from Landmannalaugar Hot Springs to Þórsmörk glacier valley. Trip difficulty: 3+ out of 5 possible. Challenging /
Demanding. This is a escorted trek. While you hike in breathtaking nature we will drive your luggage to the next camp site.
Our Laugavegur trek from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk is the most popular route through the South Icelandic Highlands, one of last unspoiled wilderness areas in Europe. There are precious few spots in the world that offer such diverse landscapes and scenic views. On the hike there are colorful rhyolite mountains, enormous and rugged glaciers, screaming hot springs, rivers of every shape and size, serene lakes, sharp ridges, impressive waterfalls, deep canyons and panoramic views of the North Atlantic Ocean.
This trek truly has it all!
Check out our environmental and social policy by clicking here! Price: 135.990 ISK per person. Minimum 4 people.
-Special offer, 120.000 ISK per person with minimum 6 people on 18/6, 25/6, 27/8, 3/9 & 10/9 2012. You can add one of our great value multi adventure tours to your trekking for an unbeatable Iceland vacation. Check out our selection of multi adventures
here. You can also add some of our day trips from Reykjavík, Skaftafell or Ísafjörður to your trekking holiday. Check out our selection of summer day trips
here. As an accommodation in Reykjavík we recommend
Reykjavík Backpackers.
Guaranteed departures for 2012: 18th of June International dept.
-Special Offer: 120.000 ISK. 25th of June International dept.
-Special Offer: 120.000 ISK. 2nd of July International & French dept.
9th of July International dept.
16th of July International & German dept.
23 of July International dept.
30th of July International & German dept.
6th of August International dept.
13th of August International dept.
20th of August International dept.
27th of August Intern.& Spanish dept.
-Special Offer: 120.000 ISK. 3rd of September Intern.& French dept.
-Special Offer: 120.000 ISK. 10th of September International dept.
-Special Offer: 120.000 ISK. More treks will be added as more people sign up for these dates. Private hiking tours are available up on request, please email us for more information,
info@adventures.is.
Rough itinerary: Day 1: Reykjavik - Landmannalaugar
Day 2: Landmannalaugar - Álftavatn
Day 3: Álftavatn - Emstrur (Botnar)
Day 4: Emstrur (Botnar) – Þórsmörk
Day 5: Þórsmörk – Reykjavík
See detailed itinerary below. Included in price: Guiding, transfer from/to Reykjavík by bus, jeep transfer for food, transfer of equipment between campsites, food for 5 days (except breakfast on day one and dinner the last day), tents & cooking gear.
Minimum: 4 persons (except otherwise specified).
Maximum: 12 persons per guide.
Bring with you: warm outdoor clothing, waterproof jacket and pants, head wear and gloves. Good hiking boots are a vital! Sleeping bag and mattress can be rented from us if you let us know in advance.
Check out our equipment list for multi day treks. Gear rental: You can rent a sleeping bag from us for 2.500 ISK per day and a mattress for 1.000 ISK per day. You can rent both for 12.500 ISK for the whole trip. Please let us know in advance if you need to rent the gear.
Click here for details on our cancellation policy.
Detailed itinerary: Day 1 The trip starts with a transfer from Reykjavík to Landmannalaugar so you´ll be picked up from your hotel in Reykjavík between 8:30 and 09:00 am. The journey is scenic and on the way we’ll drive past Mt. Hekla, the most active volcano in Iceland. It last erupted in the year 2000 so we’re holding our breath and soon expecting a new and powerful burst from this mountain, which has been called the gateway to hell. We will arrive in Landmannalaugar (approx. 600 m above sea level) through Dómadalur valley route and spend an afternoon exploring the area and relaxing in the naturally warm river beside the campsite.
Day 2 First section: Landmannalaugar - Álftavatn
Distance: 24 km
Estimated travelling time: 8-10 hrs
Vertical alteration: ~900 m
We start our Laugarvegur journey early morning in Landmannalaugar. From the campsite we stroll through the rough lava field of Laugahraun. From there we head up the beautiful hills by the colorful mountain Brennisteinsalda. The colors in this part are out of this world. Ancient rivers and streams mark the land so we will be going in and out of small gullies quite a lot. At this point we have reached a rather high altitude and therefore you can expect snow piles that we’ll have to traverse. At Hrafntinnusker there is a mountain hut where we can have lunch if the weather is bad. Lots of obsidian scattered around gives the place mystic appearance. When the weather permits the view from the hut is amazing. Above 1000 m there is nothing much but bare rocks and wasteland, the immense Icelandic highland desert. Along the hills of Reykjafjöll we continue walking through gullies until we get to Jökultungur. There are some changes in the landscape and we face dark tuff mountains and glaciers. We also start to see some stubborn plants scattered around. We decent down some steep slopes into a green oasis, which is a pleasant contrast after the rough landscapes behind us. From there the walk to a campsite at the northern shore of lake Álftavatn is easy.
Day 3 Second section: Álftavatn-Emstrur (Botnar)
Distance: 15 km
Estimated travelling time: 6-7 hrs
Vertical alteration: ~40 m
After yesterdays long journey this is going to be an easy and pleasant day. We cross Brattháls hill and head east for Hvanngil gorge. There we have to cross Bratthálskvísl River on foot. Soon after that we get to Kaldaklofskvísl that we cross via bridge. From there we head for the hut and campsite of Emstrur and on our way we cross the river of Bláfjallakvísl. Yeah, we’re sure going to give our feet a refreshing wash today. We cross between two sandy hills and soon after that we’ll see our destination for the night. If people are up for a nice evening walk after dinner we can take a peek at the unbelievable Markarfjlótsgljúfur canyon. The canyon is 200 meters deep and through it flows the powerful Markarfjót River.
Day 4 Third section: Emstrur (Botnar) - Þórsmörk
Distance: 15 km
Estimated traveling time: 6-7 hrs
Vertical alteration: ~300 m
The day starts with a crooked path down to Syðri Emstruá River which we’ll cross on a bridge. While crossing the river we’ll have to be very careful, as this is one of the riskiest places on the way. After our heroic crossing we’ll head south to an area called Almenningar. The landscape now starts to change once again and we’ll be seeing peaceful streams covered in arctic birch and flowers. More refreshing river crossing, a bit more demanding than before (Þröngá) is necessary but that’s fine because we’ll be experts by then. On the other side of this river we have left Almenningar behind and entered Þórsmörk valley. From there we have a 40 min walk to Langidalur hut in Þórsmörk and from there on to Básar hut where we’ll spend the night. This part is wonderful as vegetation has spread over the area and Þórsmörk is undeniably one of the pearls of Icelandic nature.
Day 5 Our last day is more flexible. You can sleep in and relax your tired bones and muscles after the 56km long hike, enjoying the magnificent Þórsmörk valley, named after Thor the Norse God of Thunder. We will take the bus back to Reykjavík in the afternoon getting us there around dinner time where you will end up at the BSÍ bus terminal, before taken by our mini van back to your accommodation in Reykjavík. We can however recommend hiking around to further experience this glacier valley, cornered in by three glaciers, offering a unique composition of glaciers, rocks and wood. Our guide will take you hiking in the area for a short half day, aiming for some 500m high mountains for a breathtaking view of the whole area and the glaciers.
Please Note: This is a escorted trek, that means that we will transfer your luggage from one campsite to the next in our super jeeps. Your luggage will have to be waterproof, dust proof and rainproof since these transfers are on rugged, dusty and wet mountain tracks. The jeep will even have to cross several rivers every day with the escort trailer. So make sure you pack your electronics, and other items that are vulnerable to hardships, well. It is your responsibility to pack your luggage right and Wild Iceland does not take responsibility for any of your belongings on a escorted trek.
The Highlights of the Highlands trek should present no serious difficulty for persons with at least some mountain walking experience, plus a good level of personal fitness. An experienced Icelandic guide assisted by a driver leads the trek. The group is expected to assist with all aspects of making and breaking camp, including preparing meals etc. This trek passes through some areas of complete wilderness. Most of the trekking is off-track, with underfoot conditions constantly changing. Therefore, sturdy, well worn-in hiking boots are a must. Most days involve river crossings, so it is essential that all trekkers carry suitable footwear to change into. We trek for 6-10 hours per day, on average, but this may be longer, dependent on weather conditions and group speed.
Disclaimer: All hiking trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Wild Iceland does not assume any responsibility for accidents which are caused by its customers or can be traced to there own actions. Participants may have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherit risk. 