Two hikers walking over expanse of green grassy mountainsStunning alpine waterfallTwo hikers walking over dark red brown earthIcelandic landscapeHikers climbing side of grassy rocky mountainHikers walking over hilly earthHikers descending down a dirt hillHikers walking on a dirt path near stream

Iceland’s Laugavegur Extended Trek

Reykjavík, Iceland
5.0 (11 reviews)

Trip Highlights

  • Glaciers & Stunning Views
  • Lava Field from 2010
  • Cozy Mountain Huts
  • World Class Trails
  • Colorful Landscapes
  • Hot Springs & Thermal Features
  • Big Waterfalls & Rivers
  • Guides Choice Trip

Description

This amazing Iceland’s Laugavegur Extended Trek combines the two most iconic hiking trails in Iceland: the famous Laugavegur Trail and the Fimmvordurhals mountain pass trail. These trails are iconic for good reason – they feature the best of Iceland on an adventurous, stunningly beautiful trek through classic Iceland landscapes!

The Laugavegur-Skogar hike begins at the Laugavegur Trailhead in Landmannalaugar, where we head out across colorful mountains, geothermal features, obsidian lava fields, green mossy hills, black sand deserts and the lush birch forests of the Thorsmork Valley. We will be trekking adjacent to 2 major Icelandic icecaps : Myrdalsjokull and the famous Eyjafjallajokull. From the Thorsmork valley, we continue hiking south, up and over the Fimmvordurhals mountain pass, until we reach an amazingly fresh lava field that was created in March, 2010!

This trip offers a combination of jeep-supported (i.e. lighter packs and fancier food) hiking for the Laugavegur section and then as we move onto the Fimmvordurhals Mountain Pass section on Day 6, our loads get slightly heavier as we say good-bye to our jeep-support and carry all that we need for the next 2 nights. Some guests on this trip are only hiking the jeep-supported section up until Day 6 as part of our Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail.

As on all Iceland treks, the weather can be relatively harsh (windy, cold and rainy usually mixed with some sunshine and calm conditions as well). The huts are communal and rustic and provide wonderful refuge from potentially bad weather in the evenings. Join us and prepare yourself for a very authentic Icelandic hiking experience! Give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) to learn more or book your spot today!

Read more …
From USD
$5800 Per Person
$230 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT  

$230 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

On this trip the single supplement includes single rooms in the hotels we stay at before and after the trek. Once on our trek we will not have the ability to put guests in single rooms. Please be prepared to sleep in a dormitory hut with other guests and hikers once we’re on the trek. Dormitories may be mixed gender.

Trip Type: Hut to Hut Trekking Tour
Difficulty Level:
Solitude Level:
Group Size: 3-12 Guests
Trip Length: 9 Days
Distance: 48+MI / 77+KM

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4

Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult

SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY
This trip has some long days of hiking (11-14 miles), and two days with significant elevation gain/loss (2,950 ft gain, and a 3,300 ft loss). The hiking is at low elevation (near sea level) compared to many trips, which helps moderate the difficulty. The last two days of the hike will require increased pack weight (15-25 pounds. on Days 2-5 and then 20-30 lbs. on Days 6-8). There is also one section of significant heights exposure on Day 6 during a ridgeline hike.

Hiking Distances:

Up to 14 mi

Backpack Weight:

20-30 lbs

Terrain:

Moderately Rugged

Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:

3000 ft

Heights Exposure:

Significant (one section, otherwise moderate)

Please Note: Terrain, Elevation Gain and Heights Exposure ratings reflect the section or day of the trip with the maximum difficulty of each. Much of the trip is at easier levels. See the trip itinerary for more detailed information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP

  • Hiking uphill or downhill with a 15-25 pound backpack (Days 2-5) and then 20-30 lb. backpack (Days 6-8) for 8-10 hours
  • Maintaining balance and footing on variable, uneven terrain
  • River and creek crossings
  • Potentially hiking in cold, windy, rainy conditions
* For an official and complete list of physical requirements, please see our Essential Eligibility Criteria.

SOLITUDE LEVEL 2

1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Iceland hike a solitude 2. You can expect to have as much as an hour of solitude at a time while hiking.

Minimum of 3 Guests

We require a minimum of 3 guests to confirm this trip. If a trip date is not confirmed yet, you can register and will be notified when the trip is officially confirmed. We recommend not making final travel arrangements until your trip meets the minimum number of guests and is confirmed.

In most cases, if a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 65-60 days before the departure date.

Private Trips

Private hiking group with Wildland Trekking

Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group or family!

In many areas we can run trips with group sizes larger than our normal capacity of 12 guests. There’s no minimum number of guests on a private tour, and in many cases, we have flexibility around minimum age as well.

For all international trips outside the United States, we quote private trip requests on a case by case basis. Please complete the form below to inquiry about a private tour.

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Itinerary

Itinerary

Day 1

  • Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavík

On this Iceland hiking tour, we provide you with a public bus shuttle (Flybus) voucher to get from Keflavík International Airport to tonight’s hotel. After checking into our first night’s accommodation, you are free to explore the capital city on your own. Reykjavík’s city center is small, and you can travel everywhere on foot. Icelandic weather can be cold and rainy so be sure to follow the gear list closely! We’ll meet at 5:00 PM at our hotel for our orientation meeting. The orientation meeting is time to ask questions, meet the group, check over gear, and review the itinerary. After the orientation meeting, your guide will make suggestions for fantastic dinner spots in Reykjavík, as dinner is on your own this evening.

Please Note: If your flight lands in the morning, your hotel room will not be ready for you to check in. However, you will be able to store your luggage and start your city exploration.

Buildings on far side of body of water

Day 2

  • Driving Duration: 4 hours
  • Hiking Mileage: 3-5 miles
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal
  • Trekking Duration: 1-2 hours
  • Accommodation: Hut in Landmannalaugar

This morning your guide will pick you up at the hotel and we’ll head to the local bus station. From there, you will have a 4-hour ride through the beautiful Icelandic countryside. You will have amazing views of the famous Hekla volcano and journey into the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. We will arrive at the stunning and busy Landmannalaugar around mid-day, where lunch will be served, and we will check into our rustic mountain hut. After check in, we will begin our first half-day hike. We will be immersed among colorful peaks and valleys, geothermal features and lava fields. Once we return from the hike, we will have time to soak in the geothermal hot creek which runs close to our hut. After we soak, we will enjoy the delicious dinner prepared by your guides. Typical Icelandic food consists of tender mountain lamb, delicious fish and lots of potatoes. Make sure you let us know if you have any dietary restrictions. After dinner, your guides will brief you on the plan for the next day and then the remainder of the evening is free for your enjoyment. Perhaps another soak in the hot creek or take a stroll around the encampment. In June and July, it does not get dark in Iceland, so make sure to bring a ‘buff’ or eye mask.

Two hikers on dirt trail

Day 3

  • Hiking Mileage: 7-10 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 1600 feet
  • Trekking Duration: 7-8 hours
  • Accommodation: Hut in Hrafntinnusker

After a delicious breakfast we will begin our trek. We will encounter multi-colored mountains, obsidian lava fields, and geothermal features. The scenery today is unique to Iceland and usually surprises people by how “unearthly” it looks. Depending on our weather, we may have views of Mt. Hekla and several icecaps. Our hike will eventually lead us to the obsidian dome where the Hrafntinnusker Mountain Hut is located. Don’t worry if you can’t pronounce it, we’ll teach you! The Hrafntinnusker hut is very rustic, but chances are you will be thankful for the simple basics in the Icelandic backcountry.

Group of hikers on trail by stream

Day 4

  • Hiking Mileage: 7-10 miles
  • Elevation Loss: 1600 feet
  • Trekking Duration: 7-8 hours
  • Accommodation: Mountain Hut

We start today with a nutritious breakfast and then pack our gear and begin our day’s trek. We start by hiking across the Hrafntinnusker plateau with wide open views of geothermal formations, hot springs, and mud pools. Depending on the month, we may be hiking in snow. Reaching the edge of this plateau, the view opens up to green plains and moss-covered hills. Tonight’s hut is also quite simple but offers a welcome rest, a big dinner prepared by your guide, and a good night’s sleep.

Hikers near river passing through grassy ravine

Day 5

  • Hiking Mileage: 8-14 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 900 feet
  • Trekking Duration: 7-9 hours
  • Accommodation: Hut in Emstrur

This morning greets us with a trek out of the mountains and across a black sand desert. Soon enough the glaciers and moss of the lush mountains we’ve been in will disappear and we will be hiking across an amazing desert of black sand. This afternoon we have the option – if weather and conditions permit – to hike along the Makarfljotsgljufur, a very impressive canyon, while being exposed to the neighboring icecaps. We can also enjoy a day hike to the edge of Makarfljotsgljufur and the ice caps after we’ve arrived at our hut if energy and time allow. We will be staying in the Botnar huts in the valley of Emstrur.

Icelandic plains with glacier in background

Day 6

  • Hiking Mileage: 10-11 miles
  • Elevation Loss: 1000 feet
  • Trekking Duration: 8 hours

This morning, we hand off our bags to our 4×4 vehicle support to take back to Reykjavík, and we add a bit more weight to our backpacks as we will need to carry all the food and personal items we’ll need for the next 2 nights. We will not have the jeep support as we head off of the Laugavegur Trail and onto the more remote Fimmvordurhals mountain pass trail. We begin today’s hike by leaving the Emstrur Valley after a steep descent and a bridge crossing. We will witness amazing basaltic columns, green mossy gorges and views of the large glaciers. Eventually, we descend into a Birch Forest with lush vegetation all around. We finally come to our mountain hut accommodation for the night at Langidalur in Thorsmork, where the view is absolutely stunning.

Note: Some guests on this trip may be leaving the trail today and returning to Reykjavík as part of our Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail trip.

Hikers climbing rocky hill in Iceland

Day 7

  • Hiking Mileage: 7-9 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 2,950 feet
  • Trekking Duration: 8 hours

We begin today’s trek by crossing the Thorsmork Valley. Then we begin to ascend the Fimmvordurhals Pass, which lies between 2 ice caps. As we go up ridges and traverse plateaus, the views get increasingly more dramatic. The two neighboring glaciers, Myrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, have carved a maze of gorges and valleys in the landscape. We will soon reach the edge of the 2010 volcanic eruption, where lava flowed down into the gorges. We will keep ascending to the two recently created volcanic craters, Magni and Modi. After pondering the magnitude of the volcanic forces around us, we will continue trekking until we reach our small, rustic mountain hut for the night. We will cap off this amazing day with a hearty dinner and much deserved night of sleep.

Distant hikers climbing grassy Icelandic mountains

Day 8

  • Hiking Mileage: 7-8 miles
  • Elevation Loss: 3300 feet
  • Trekking Duration: 8 hours

Assuming good weather, we will wake up to a spectacular view of the ocean. After breakfast, we will pack up and begin descending from barren mineral plateaus to greener, vibrant hillsides. Overlooking the south coast of Iceland we still feel the presence of the magnificent glaciers behind us. Eventually, we will reach Skoga creek and follow it until we reach the village of Skogar. There are many waterfalls along the way making the last day of our trek extremely beautiful and rewarding. Once in Skogar, we can relax in the café and wait for the bus to transport us back to Reykjavik. In Reykjavik, we will check into our hotel rooms and your guide will make suggestions for where to dine this evening, as dinner is on your own.

Hikers walking through a yellow-grass field

Day 9

Today is the final day of our Iceland’s Laugavegur Extended Trek. We will ensure you get on the proper airport (Flybus) Shuttle for departure to Keflavik International Airport. Thank you for choosing Wildland Trekking!

 

Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however occasionally trips are subject to itinerary changes based on a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to: lodging/campground availability, extreme weather, political or bureaucratic obstacles, earthquakes, fires, flooding and more. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.

Trip Dates & Booking

TRIP DATES & BOOKING

Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.

Available to Book

AVAILABLE TO BOOK

This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!

Going Fast

GOING FAST

This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.

Request a Reservation

REQUEST A RESERVATION

This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.

Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.

800-715-HIKE (4453)

Trip Details

Trip Details

What's Included

  • A detailed trip packet that takes the guesswork out of your travel, training, packing, and preparing for the trip
  • Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
  • Airport shuttle (Flybus) regardless of Arrival/Departure flights
  • Transportation for the duration of the tour starting on Day 1 and ending on the day you depart
  • Lodging for the duration of the tour including hotel in Reykjavík and mountain huts during the trek
  • All meals (excluding dinners in Reykjavík on Day 1 and Day 8)
  • Use of a backpack, trekking poles, sleeping bag, and pillow
  • 4×4 vehicle service for transportation of luggage and supplies between huts, excluding Days 7 and 8
  • Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device

What's Not Included

  • Flights to/from Iceland
  • Trip insurance that includes medical coverage and at least $200,000 in evacuation and repatriation coverage (strongly encouraged)
  • All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. flight cancellation, personal illness, strikes, etc. (we recommend trip insurance coverage for these variables)
  • Dinners in Reykjavík (Day 1 and 8)
  • Bar bills, drink bills, telephone bills, Wi-Fi bills and other personal expenses (shopping/laundry)
  • Clothes, rain gear, and footwear (see recommendations)
  • Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
  • Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
  • Guide gratuities are at the discretion of each customer. A suggested guideline is to reward outstanding service with a tip of 5-10% of the total trip cost. Local currency is preferred, or USD is also appreciated.

Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.

Meals: What to Expect

This Iceland hiking tour features a combination of in-town meals and meals prepared by your guide. Most meals are prepared on the trail by your guides.

Icelandic cuisine consists of dairy products, lamb from wild pastures, fresh fish, traditional breads, and locally grown geothermally warmed greenhouse vegetables. Breakfasts in Reykjavík are often a buffet offering Icelandic Skyr yogurt, Surmjok, bread, butter, sliced cheese and meat, veggies, eggs, and oatmeal.

Trail lunches often feature a sandwich spread with hot drinks.

Dinners will be wonderfully prepared by your guides in the huts. Our guides are quite the professional trail-chefs and will be sure to impress you.

We can often accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee, and in some countries may be more difficult to accommodate than others. Please inquire with us for more information about the specific trip you’re interested in.

Lodging: What to Expect

This Iceland hut to hut hiking tour features city hotels and rustic mountain huts.

There are some unique elements to the accommodations that are important for guests to understand:

  • Hotel rooms in Reykjavík may be smaller than you’re accustomed to in the US. They have all the amenities you will need.
  • The mountain huts are basic. They have hot water, heat, and toilets in outhouses. Most, but not all, have showers. The rooms are dormitory style and have mattresses. We will provide you with a sleeping bag and pillow. Though there is electricity, there are no electrical outlets for guest use.

Please see the Accommodations section for more information.

Gear We Provide

We provide all group gear which includes the following:

  • Backpacks
  • Trekking poles
  • Synthetic-fill sleeping bags (or bring your own), and pillow
  • Company-issued first-aid kit
  • Emergency communication device

Guest Packing List

When you register for this tour, you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now). All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.

Trip Logistics

Trip Logistics

How Do I Register?

Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.

Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!

Where Do We Meet?

We will pre-arrange a Flybus transfer for you from Keflavík International Airport (KEF) to Reykjavík. We will meet you at our first night’s hotel in Reykjavík where we’ll conduct an orientation meeting at 5:00 PM on Day 1. Please be sure to land no later than 3:00 PM in order to make our orientation meeting at 5:00 PM.

Our Iceland communications team will be in contact approximately 45 days before your trip to coordinate your rendezvous and answer any last-minute questions you have.

Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.

Travel to Reykjavík, Iceland

BOOKING FLIGHTS

The closest airport to fly into for this trip is the Keflavík International Airport (KEF) just outside of Reykjavík, Iceland. Flights to and from Iceland are the guest’s responsibility.

Arrival: Your flights should arrive before 3:00 PM on Day 1 in order to make our 5:00 PM orientation meeting.

Departure: You are welcome to leave any time of day on Day 9.

Airport transportation is included in the tour using a Flybus voucher that we will arrange for you. Private shuttle is also available for an additional fee.

Pre and Post-trip On Request Lodging

We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Reykjavík, Iceland as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.

Safety Precautions

Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.

In the interest of your safety, it’s important to refer to the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date recommendations on immunizations before your trip.

Essential Eligibility Criteria

Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.

Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.

The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.

Guides

Our approach to international travel is to combine the best of two worlds: the dialed-in details, professionalism and consistency Wildland trips are known for; and the cultural immersion and intimate regional knowledge that only locals can provide. To excel with this approach, we vet and hire the best local guides, welcome them into the Wildland family and train them to meet our standard of excellence with every aspect of a trip. But along with managing logistics and safety, your guides will teach you about the area’s history and culture, and provide a level of familiarity and intimate detail only locals can.

Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.

Age Restrictions

Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:

  • 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
  • 10 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements determined on a case-by-case basis

Trip Insurance

Field evacuation, repatriation, and medical insurance is highly recommended on all Iceland trips (field evacuation and repatriation minimum coverage is a combined $200,000 USD).

We recommend IMG/iTravelinsured. They are one of the world’s leading providers of travel insurance.

For information on the recommended IMG/iTravelinsured policies please click here.

If you already have insurance or wish to purchase from anyone other than IMG/iTravelinsured, we recommend careful consultation with the provider to ensure appropriate coverage. This is because many providers have a number of policy exclusions.

Weather in Iceland

The weather in Iceland is generally cool, and the country has what is considered a temperate climate. The relatively warm North Atlantic Current makes Iceland’s temperatures more temperate than many places of similar latitude. It can be quite cool, rainy and windy in the summer, so being prepared with the proper rain gear and warmth layers is critical.

The average temperatures and precipitation in Iceland are:

Average Iceland Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
Month Hi Low Wet Days
June 54° F 45° F 15 days
July 60° F 50° F 15 days
August 57° F 48° F 16 days
September 52° F 43° F 18 days

Accommodations

Accommodations

FOSSHOTEL RAUÐARÁ

FOSSHOTEL RAUÐARÁ

FOSSHOTEL RAUÐARÁ
2 NIGHTS

In central Reykjavík, this premier hotel is easy walking distance to the main shopping district, many great restaurants, and a wonderful city park.

ICELAND MOUNTAIN HUTS

ICELAND MOUNTAIN HUTS

ICELAND MOUNTAIN HUTS
6 NIGHTS

Iceland’s mountain huts offer cozy, dry, warm shelters with rustic, communal accommodations and dorm style sleeping. Amenities range from hut to hut and at most include hot water, showers or electricity.

* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.

Trip Reviews

Trip Reviews

  • Average Customer Ratings:

  • 5.0 (11 reviews)
Tom H
5.0

Challenging Terrain and Beautiful Scenery.

3 months ago

As always the staff was wonderful and very helpful. The registration is always easy. Micheal was a fantastic guide! Iceland is an incredible place with challenging terrain and beautiful scenery.

Joe C
5.0

Must-Take Event!

3 months ago

Absolutely awesome trip in every aspect. Antoine is unbelievably great at what he does. He has mastered this job and taking us off trail, which at some points was terrifying to me, really made the trip a must take event! 10/10 trip all the way around!

Adam J
5.0

The breathtaking views made every step worthwhile.

3 months ago

Our trek through Iceland's highlands offered a rare glimpse into the country's remote beauty. Michael, our guide, ensured our safety, provided excellent meals, and kept us on course, all while impressing us with his deep knowledge of Iceland and fluency in three languages. The huts we stayed in were both clean and secure. Despite the challenging hikes and climbs, the breathtaking views made every step worthwhile.

See All Guest Reviews!

Go to our reviews page

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