4 Day Laugavegur Trekking Tour | Mountain Huts

This Laugavegur trekking tour is a 4 day guided hike along the 55 km trail from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, with three nights in mountain huts, meals and luggage transfer included.

• The full Laugavegur trail from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk in 4 days
• An evening in the natural hot spring at Landmannalaugar
• Coloured rhyolite mountains, black sand desert and the Markarfljótsgljúfur canyon
• Three nights in mountain huts with meals included
• A group of up to 16 with a guide, and your luggage moved between huts

Your day, stop by stop

2Day 1: Reykjavík to LandmannalaugarA drive of 3 to 4 hours into the highlands, then a warm-up hike among the coloured mountains.

The walk takes you through the Laugahraun lava field, past the Grænagil gorge and up the Bláhnjúkur volcano, with about 470 m of ascent. In the evening you can bathe in the natural hot spring beside the hut.

Distance · about 8 kmWalking time · 4–5 hours

Read our Landmannalaugar guide →

3Day 2: Landmannalaugar to ÁlftavatnThe longest day, over the high ground at Hrafntinnusker and down to the lake at Álftavatn.

You pass the slopes of Brennisteinsalda and the Stórihver hot spring area, then drop through the steaming gullies of Jökultungur. The day has about 900 m of ascent and ends with a river to wade before the hut.

Distance · about 24 kmWalking time · 8–9 hours

Read our Landmannalaugar guide →

4Day 3: Álftavatn to EmstrurAcross the black sand desert of Mælifellssandur to the hut at Botnar in Emstrur.

The day starts with a stream crossing and then crosses the black sand desert of Mælifellssandur, passing the volcanoes Stórasúla and Hattafell, with views of the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. Near the end you reach the Markarfljótsgljúfur canyon, about 200 metres deep, and then Botnar, the green patch at Emstrur where the hut stands.

Distance · about 15 kmWalking time · 6–7 hours

5Day 4: Emstrur to ÞórsmörkThe last stretch of the trail, down through the Almenningar area into the birch woods of Þórsmörk.

The last stretch of the Laugavegur trail goes through the Almenningar area, below Mount Einhyrningur, with glacier views, and descends about 300 metres into Þórsmörk, where sparse trees slowly give way to dense birch forest. You finish the Laugavegur in the valley, surrounded by mountains and glaciers. From Þórsmörk the highland bus takes you back to Reykjavík, arriving at around 9:30 in the evening.

Distance · about 15 kmWalking time · 6–7 hours

Read our Þórsmörk guide →

About the Laugavegur trekking tour

This Laugavegur trekking tour covers the whole 55 km trail from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk in four days. It is the shorter of the two hut treks on this route: you walk the Laugavegur trail only and finish in Þórsmörk, without crossing the Fimmvörðuháls pass.

The first day is a drive of 3 to 4 hours into the highlands and a warm-up hike of about 8 km around Landmannalaugar. The second day is the long one, about 24 km over the high ground at Hrafntinnusker to the lake at Álftavatn. Days three and four are about 15 km each, across the black sands to Emstrur and then down into the birch woods of Þórsmörk.

You sleep in mountain huts for three nights, in shared rooms with bunk beds or mattresses. Meals are included from lunch on day one to lunch on day four. Your main bag is carried between the huts, so you walk with a day pack only. You need to bring a sleeping bag, or rent one.

This is a real hike. You wade across rivers, the weather can change quickly and you are on your feet for most of each day. It is rated moderate, the minimum age is 15 and the group is no larger than 16 people with an English-speaking guide.

• Special diet meals
• Hiking boot rental
• Hiking pole rental
• Sleeping bag rental
• Waterproof jacket and trousers rental
• Rental package with hiking boots, poles, waterproof jacket and trousers, and a sleeping bag

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