The Magic of Iceland – Laugavegur Trail

SUMMARY

Dates: Sunday July 30th to Friday August 4th – 5 nights/ 6 days hiking 55km of the Laugavegur trail.

There will be a welcome meal arranged in Reykjavík on Saturday July 29th for those who would like to meet up.

Local Guide: Eve from Viking Women

Walking Grade: Goat 3 – long days but steady and all luggage is transported from hut to hut. You only need day packs whilst walking . You do need a summer sleeping bag which can be rented in Iceland for approx £2 a day . This will be carried in the transport. Or bring your own. Huts are heated so it doesn’t need to be a thick one. 

Base: We will start and end in Reykjavik and stay in cosy mountain huts or alpine tents as we journey to visit and walk in some of Iceland’s incredible landscapes. This holiday is in shared accommodation as this is the Icelandic way with no options for solo occupancy in the mountains. There will be other guests in the huts. There will be the option of alpine tents at some locations.

Arrival: If you are travelling from outside Reykjavik you need to arrive on Saturday 29th for a 7am start on Sunday.

Departure: Returning you need to flyback on Saturday August 5th incase of delays returning to Reykjavik on Friday. This is not included in the price of the holiday as guests may want to arrive earlier or maybe even stay longer and join our holiday from August 5th to August 12th. Please book your hotel in Reykjavik early as it is the height of the season and Iceland has a lot of tourists visiting Reykjavík.

We can help with bookings.

Price: £1660

• Half Board Bed and Breakfast – accommodation is in shared rooms.
• Evening Meals
• All lunches
• Local Travel required which includes transportation to the highlands and back.
• Transport of luggage between accommodation
• Expert guiding – English speaking

Not included:

• Travel Insurance – mandatory
• Return Flights to Reykjavik
• Additional drinks
• Showers at the huts are an additional cost of 500 ISK or approx £2.80 per use if you need one.

DETAILS

ITINERARY

The itinerary is a tried and tested route but may change at the discretion of our local guide if weather conditions change.

Day 1 REYKJAVÍK – LANDMANNALAUGAR

We start from the BSI bus terminal at 07:00 to take the local public bus. The bus drives the mountain tracks that lead to Landmannalaugar, passing by the Hekla volcano and other volcanoes in the Dómadalur area. Arriving in Landmannalaugar at noon, we get settled in the hut and have some lunch. After nutritious food, we go for a lovely ‘warm-up’ hike in the area. Landmannalaugar is a magnificent geothermal wonderland whose colourful rhyolite mountains have become famous worldwide. In the evening, we have dinner, and later, we have some free time to relax in the natural hot spring or join the wardens at a fun game at KUBB by the Mountain Mall, which sells beer and wine.
Distance: 5-6 km (3,7 mi)
Walking time: 3 – hours                       

Day 2 LANDMANNALAUGAR – ÁLFTAVATN

We begin with breakfast at the hut before we journey towards Hrafntinnusker, an obsidian desert that grants an otherworldly sight. Then follow the beautiful Reykjafjoll Mountains, famed for their snowy peaks and majestic views of the surrounding area.

From Hrafntinnusker, we descend down into the gullies of Jökultungur with hundreds of steaming hot springs and mud pools. Up there, we enjoy fascinating views to the south of the Álftavatn area (Swan Lake) and the Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. In the afternoon, we arrive at Álftavatn hut, where we stay the night.
Distance: 24 km (15 miles)                          
Walking time: 7 – 8 hrs                       
Altitude value: 600 m (2950´)

Day 3  ÁLFTAVATN – EMSTRUR

We pass at the foot of the green iconic volcano of Stórasúla before entering the black deserts of Mælifellssandur. Heading towards another ancient and verdurous volcano, the Hattfell, we enter the Emstrur region where farmers used to graze their sheep in summer. Before arriving at the Botnar hut (Emstrur), where we stay the night, we visit the magnificent Markarfljót canyon cut almost 200 m down into the rocks south of Hattfell.
Distance: 15km (10 mi)                                
Walking time: 6 – 7 hrs                       
Descent: 40 m (130 ft)

Day 4  EMSTRUR – ÞÓRSMÖRK

We continue up and down through the small valleys and gullies of Emstrur, where the great Mýrdalsjökull glacier rises only a couple of kilometres away. As our hike ends for the day, we descend into Þórsmörk’s (the woods of Thor) green valleys filled with arctic birch forests and colourful flowers. Our accommodation will be in a simply magnificent location to spend a night, beneath the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. You can now celebrate your completion of the world-famous Laugavegur Trail!

Distance: 16 km (10 miles)                         
Walking time: 6 – 7 hrs                
Descent: 300 m (985 ft)

Day 5  FULL DAY IN ÞÓRSMÖRK

Today we will enjoy a full day in this magical paradise. Þórsmörk offers a numerous trails with breathtaking views. We will pick a trail that everyone is comfortable with and enjoy a relaxing day together.

Day 6 ÞÓRSMÖRK – REYKJAVÍK

We spend the morning in Þórsmörk and visit the Sönghellir cave (Song cave), climb up the small mountain of Valahnúkur from where magnificent view can be enjoyed, before taking the afternoon bus to Reykjavík.

We arrive at Reykjavik BSI bus terminal where the trip ends at 19:20.

If flying we recommend you book your flight for the next day on Saturday August 5th to allow for any delays.