Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail
Reykjavík, Iceland
5.0 (35 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Most Iconic Iceland Hike
- Colorful Landscapes
- Hot Springs & Geothermal Features
- Icelandic Mountain Huts
- Jeep Supported for Resupply
- Stunning Views
- Waterfalls and Glacial Rivers
Description
This classic Laugavegur Trail hut-to-hut and jeep-supported trek is Iceland’s most iconic trek and for good reason! This hike will take you through a wide variety of landscapes from Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork. On the Laugavegur Trek we will experience rainbow-colored mountains, a variety of fantastic geothermal features, obsidian lava fields, plunging waterfalls, thundering rivers, pristine lakes and serene natural settings. Additionally, black sand deserts and beautiful, lush birch forests are accompanied by huge glacial ice caps.
This trip is paired with our Iceland’s Laugavegur Extended Trek. On Day 6 of this trip, the guests on the Extended trek will continue on for two additional days of hiking through the impressive, and more remote, Fimmvordurhals Mountain Pass down to Skogar.
As on all Iceland treks, the weather can be relatively harsh (very 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 true Icelandic hiking experience!
$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.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trip has some long days (11-14 miles), but the elevation gain/loss is not extreme. Hiking in Iceland is generally at low elevations – often near or just above sea level – which makes the hiking more moderate than many higher elevation destinations.
Hiking Distances:
Up to 14 mi
Backpack Weight:
15-25 pounds
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
1600 ft
Hiking Distances:
Moderate
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 15-25 pound backpack for 8-10 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on variable, uneven terrain
- River and creek crossings
- Potentially hiking in cold, windy, rainy conditions
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Iceland hike a solitude 2. You can expect to see no more than one or two groups per day.
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
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
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.
Day 2
- Driving Duration: 4 hrs.
- Hiking Mileage: 4-6 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal
- Trekking Duration: 4-5 hrs.
- 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. From mid to late August, the luckiest might even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights at night.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 7-10 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1600 feet
- Trekking Duration: 6-8 hrs.
- 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 hut itself is very rustic, but chances are you will be thankful for the simple basics offered by a warm and dry dorm in the harsh weather of the Icelandic backcountry.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 7-10 miles
- Elevation Gain: 50-700 ft.
- Elevation Loss: 1600 – 2000 ft.
- Trekking Duration: 7-8 hrs.
- 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 our favorite; while it’s quite simple, it is often less busy and cozier than the others, offering the perfect setting for a welcome rest, a big dinner prepared by your guide, and a good night’s sleep.
Day 5
- Hiking Mileage: 8-14 miles
- Elevation Gain: 350-900 ft.
- Elevation Loss: 500-1150 ft.
- Trekking Duration: 5-8 hrs.
- 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 n evening hike to the edge of the canyon 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.
Day 6
- Hiking Mileage: 10 miles
- Elevation Gain: 950 ft.
- Elevation Loss: 1900 ft.
- Trekking Duration: 7 hours
- Driving Duration: 4 hrs.
- Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavík
Today we leave 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 along the way. Eventually, we cross the Thronga glacial river and enter a native birch forest lush vegetation all around. Soon, the sounds of the river fade away and beautiful bird songs welcome us in a surreal world where life seems to thrive, sheltered by the majestic ice caps. Though our trek concludes as we board the scheduled bus back to Reykjavík, the adventure continues, as the first part of the bus ride has some impressive glacial river crossings. Once back in Reykjavík, we will check into our hotel rooms and your guide will make dining suggestions, as dinner is on your own this evening.
Note: Some guests on this trip may be continuing on with our Iceland’s Laugavegur Extended Trek. This extension offers 2 additional days of hiking to Skogar via the impressive Fimmvordurhals mountain pass trail. This section is more remote, absolutely stunning, and slightly more difficult.
Day 7
Today is the final day of our Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail hiking adventure. We will ensure you get on the proper airport (Flybus) Shuttle for departure to Keflavík International Airport. Thanks for choosing Wildland Trekking!
Please Note: If a private airport shuttle is desired, please reach out to our adventure consultant team to quote and arrange this service for you.
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
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
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
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
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 Days 1 and 6)
- Use of a backpack, trekking poles, sleeping bag
- 4×4 vehicle service for transportation of luggage and supplies between huts
- 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 6)
- 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
- Sleeping bags and pillows
- 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
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 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 7.
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:
| 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
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
4 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
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- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Steven K
Spectacular! Magnificent!
The Wildland Laugavegur Trail hike was spectacular. The scenery and terrain was magnificent and is more than comparable in scope and impact to the Grand Canyon, but completely different in form, structure and beauty. The hike is hut-to-hut, so you only have to carry a day pack, of less than 20 lbs. The hiking days are seven to nine hours, but there is a wondrous view or vista around every bend. Volcanoes, black sand deserts, lava fields, verdant valleys, and glacier fields in the distance. The guide we had was phenomenal. He knew the trail and terrain and kept us safe and encouraged us when we began to slow at the end of the day. He also took us on several "diversions" to see lesser know areas of the trail and these detours always proved fascinating. Our guide was an expert in the geology, history and terrain of the Park and an expert on the history, culture and social structure of Iceland. His knowledge, enthusiasm and trail expertise tremendously enriched the experience. The hike is relatively popular (for Iceland) and we passed and were passed by other groups on the trail. But those encounters were brief and infrequent. Most of the time our group hiked alone during the day. Listening to our guide and often gobsmacked by where we were and what we were seeing.
Leah B
Amazing guides and stunning scenery
This was one of the best vacations of my life. It had the perfect combination of challenging terrain, stunning scenery, and amazing guides. Mike and Emma are skilled guides who kept our spirits up, tended to our needs, and knew the area like the back of their hand. If Iceland is on your bucket list, this is the trip to take.
Ronda Q
Looking forward to more adventures with Wildland Trekking!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Even though the weather was tough this was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Mike and Emma were amazing and took wonderful care of us. They were always positive and encouraging. I am now planning another international trip for 2025. Wildland always provides me with the best adventures. Iceland was breathtaking and picturesque. Can't imagine traveling with anyone else.
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