Incredible Iceland – Laugavegur Trail in 2025

SUMMARY

Dates: Monday 4th August to Monday 11th August. 2 nights in Reykjavik and 5 nights  hiking 55km of the Laugavegur trail.

Arrival Monday 4th August and stay in Reykjavik overnight starting the Laugavegur Trail on Tuesday. You return to Reykjavik on Sunday August 10th for your final night together in Reykjavik before returning home.

Local Guide: English speaking guide from Viking Women and WalkingWomen support

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 staying at Hotel Ooinsve.

On the trail we stay in cosy mountain huts as we journey to visit and walk in some of Iceland’s incredible landscapes. This holiday offers single occupancy rooms at the hotel in Reykjavik and shared accommodation on the trail.  This is the Icelandic way with no options for solo occupancy in the mountains. There will be other guests in the huts.

Arrival: If you are travelling from outside Reykjavik you need to arrive on Monday 4th August. 

Departure: After breakfast on Monday 11th August. 

Price: £2,950 per person 

• 2 nights B and B solo occupancy room in Reykjavik
• Bed and Breakfast mountain hut accommodation during the trail – 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.

Monday August 4th – Arrival in Reykjavik 

Check in from 16.00. Settle in and meet together for a briefing at 17.00 with welcome dinner to follow.

Laugavegur Trail begins on Tuesday 5th 

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.

Return to your hotel in Reykjavik for your final night.

Monday August 11th Departure after breakfast to suit your travel arrangements.