Trek the Laugavegar Trail through stunning landscapes on this popular route from Landmannalaugar to the glacial valley of Thorsmork. Spend 5 days on the trail in a hut-to-hut trekking Iceland tour in one of the most breathtaking areas in the highlands. Hike through the third largest geothermal zone in the world. Observe the colorful yellow rhyolite mountains and pass by black-sand deserts. Arrive to the lush valley of þórsmörk, a popular day hiking destination. Spend the day here exploring the green oasis and see why it has become so popular. Each day you hike 4-7 hours with your guides pointing out the flora and fauna of the region. This has become a traveler favorite and is now a world-famous trek.
Highlights
Hike Landmannalaugar and the Fjallabak Nature Reserve geothermal area
Observe colorful rhyolite mountains, black-sand deserts, and lush valleys
Spend four nights in comfortable mountain huts during the five-day trek
Hike in the green oasis valley of þórsmörk and discover unique features
Activities that provide a reasonable level of physical challenge and elevate the heart rate. Focused on more active pursuits including multisport tours. Travelers may be active 5-7 hours total each day. Recommended for travelers with active lifestyles.
Arrive to Reykjavik where you transfer yourself to your hotel to rest up after your long journey. Arrive early in the day and arrange any number of additional excursions, or explore the town on your own.
Day 2: Reykjavik | Landmannalaugar | Hrafntinnusker
Take the public bus from BSI bus terminal at 07:00, 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. Arriving in Landmannalaugar at noon, 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, where you will stay the night, in the late afternoon.
Distance: 12 km (7.5 mi)
Walking time: 4 - 5 hrs
Ascent: 470 m (1540 ft)
From Hrafntinnusker, descend down in the gullies of Jökultungur with hundreds of steaming hot springs and mud pools. Up there enjoy fascinating views to the south to the Álftavatn area (Swan Lake), and the Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. In the afternoon, 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 4: Álftavatn - Emstrur
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Pass at the foot of the green conic volcano of Stórasúla before entering the black deserts of Mælifellssandur. Heading towards another ancient and verdurous volcano, the Hattfell, enter the Emstrur region where farmers used to graze their sheep in summer. Before arriving at the Botnar hut where you stay the night, 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)
Continue up and down through the small valleys and gullies of Emstrur, where the great Mýrdalsjökull glacier rises only a couple of kilometers away. As your hike is coming to an end for the day, descend into Þórsmörk’s (the woods of Thor) green valleys filled with arctic birch forests and colorful flowers. After arriving at the huts in Þórsmörk, top off this amazing adventure with a barbecue!
Distance: 17 km (10.5 mi)
Walking time: 6 - 7 hrs
Descent: 300 m (985 ft)
Day 6: Þórsmörk | Fimmvörðuháls
We start the hike in the magic landscapes of Goðalönd, the abode of the Gods. Nesting at the foot of two glaciers this is a wonderland of ridges and cliffs covered by a multitude of flowers and grasses. We continue up the hills leading to the pass of Fimmvörðuháls enjoying the view of the lava stream that flowed down from the Fimmvörðuháls volcano in March and early April 2010. As we gain height above Morinsheiði we come to the two craters Magni and Móði. We head back to Þórsmörk
with the magnificent view over the glaciers and this beautiful valley for our celebtration barbeque dinner and night in Básar hut.
Distance: 20 km (12.5 mi) Walking time: 6 - 7 hrs. Ascent: 900 m (2953 ft) Descent: 900m (2953 ft)
Spend the morning in Þórsmörk where you walk along one of numerous paths. For example, you can 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. Arrival at Reykjavik BSI bus terminal where the trip ends at 19:20. Return to your hotel in Reykjavik this evening.
Day 8: Return Home
1 Breakfast
Spend this day exploring the town, or add on additional time exploring South Iceland or the West Fjords.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check, or credit card. Final payments by credit card may be subject to surcharge a maximum $20,000 charge
The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
Gale Cantor
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.