Trek the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland: The Hut-to-Hut Edition
Tackle Iceland's legendary trek, hiking through 55km of multi-coloured mountains, thermal pools, glaciers and volcanic slopes
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, English-speaking guidesAll accommodation
2 nights in a Reykjavik guesthouse and 3 nights in mountain hutsMeals
5 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinnersTransfers
Transfers between Reykjavik and the Laugavegur trailhead (and back)Permits
All permits and entry feesSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 16 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
What's it like?
Trek through one of the world’s most iconic landscapes, including the otherworldly Landmannalaugar mountains, a multi-coloured geological wonder
Enjoy the pristine silence of Álftavatn and the undulating ‘Valley of Thor' before finishing beneath the infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcano
Thanks to this uncompromising scenery, the trek is included in National Geographic's '20 Best Hikes in the World'
Want to get even wilder? Check out our camping edition of the Laugavegur Trail to sleep out in the elements as you go
Key Information
Day 1
Reykjavik
Head to Iceland’s capital Reykjavik. After checking into your guesthouse, set off and explore the city’s huge array of quaint bars, cafes, art museums and churches.
Day 2
Landmannalaugar
Driving
Hiking
Grab an early breakfast and then catch a bus to the trailhead at Landmannalaugar, passing through the Dómadalur area along the way, home to several active volcanoes. Grab some lunch and then set off on one of the world’s great hikes - the Laugavegur Trail. The trail immediately winds through small gorges, steadily climbing past sulphur vents and yellow mountain ridges (yes, we mean yellow) before descending to steaming hot springs. Reach Hrafntinnusker mountain hut late in the afternoon and after dinner in this spectacular location, spend the night surrounded by nature at its wildest.
Day 3
Álftavatn (Swan Lake)
Hiking
From Hrafntinnusker, descend into the gullies of Jökultungur, home to hundreds of steaming hot springs and mud pools. As the trail turns south, prepare yourself for some spectacular views across dark volcanic plains stretching towards the Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. Make your way to Álftavatn hut beside 'Swan Lake' where you can rest up and reflect on an epic day's trekking.
Day 4
Ancient volcanoes and black deserts
Hiking
Skirt the foot of the green conic volcano of Stórasúla and negotiate a few river crossings before approaching the black deserts of Mælifellssandur. From this strange and mesmerising landscape, head towards another ancient volcano, the Hattfell, before entering the pasturelands of the Emstrur region. Take a short detour to visit the magnificent Markarfljót canyon, cut almost 200m down into the rocks, and then continue on to the Botnar mountain hut, where you'll spend the night.
Day 5
The finish line at Þórsmörk
Hiking
Hike the final stretch of the Laugavegur Trail through the undulating valleys and gullies of Emstrur, with the mighty Mýrdalsjökull glacier only a few kilometres away. Reach the trek's climactic finish beneath the shadow of Eyjafjallajökull volcano and soak up the fact that you've just completed one of the world’s great treks, before hopping on a bus back to Reykjavik.
Day 6
Time to head home
Check out of the guesthouse and either explore some more of the land of ice and fire or head back to the airport in time for your flight home.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
During the trek, the emphasis will be on lightweight meals prepared by the trip leader with some help from the group. For dinner expect soups, pasta with smoked salmon, couscous, sausages and freeze-dried meals. Breakfasts will consist of muesli, porridge, crispbread, swiss miss, tea and coffee. For packed lunches you'll make sandwiches from various ingredients, including Icelandic flatbread, pâté, salami, cheese, peanut butter, smoked salmon. Snack items include biscuits, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, fruits and energy bars. Vegans and vegetarians can be accommodated on this trek. Please let your host know in advance.
What is the accommodation like?
Reykjavik
Before and after the trek you'll stay in one of a selection of 3* star hotels dotted around the centre of Reykjavik. Depending on availability it'll be either the Hotel Leifur Eiriksson, or one of the Fosshotel Baron, Fosshotel Lind or Fosshotel Raudará. They are all similarly located, a stone's throw from bars and cafes in the heart of Reykjavik. You'll stay in twin-share rooms as standard, with private bathrooms.
The trek
During the hike, you’ll stay in classic Icelandic mountain huts in mixed dormitory-style accommodation. Due to their remote locations, the huts are basic, so it's good to prepare yourself for the simple comfort levels while you are on the trek. The huts have basic amenities, such as cold running water, furnaces for heating and gas stoves for cooking but there's no electricity for charging devices. Showers are available in all but the first hut for a fee of around ISK 500 for 5 minutes. Toilets are generally housed in separate huts. The surrounding scenery, however, is nothing short of epic.
Upgrades
For solo travellers wanting their own space, there is the option to upgrade to a private room if you would like to do so, subject to availability. See Optional Extras for prices. Note this only covers your nights in Reykjavik - there are no solo rooms available in the mountain huts on the Laugavegur trail.
If you'd like to extend your stay in Iceland your host can also help to arrange extra nights' accommodation in Reykjavik before or after the tour (subject to availability). Prices are available on request from your host.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Reykjavik accommodation
Flexible - arrive any time on Day 1
Ends
Reykjavik City Centre
Flexible - depart any time on Day 6
Transfers
Your adventure starts at your hotel in downtown Reykjavik. When you arrive at Keflavik Airport you'll need to hop on one of the frequent Flybus services operated in connection with all arriving flights at Keflavik Airport. You can buy a ticket in advance on the Flybus website or at the Flybus desk in the Keflavik terminal - tickets cost £20/€24/$27 each way. The bus is very easy to find right outside the arrival terminal - just look for signs for Flybus. Your host will provide details on where you need to get off the bus and how to find your hotel in the pre-departure information you are sent prior to travelling to Iceland.
Travel options
There are regular flights to Iceland from airports across the UK, Europe and North America.
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What do I need to bring?
Bags
- Trekking backpack 50-75 litres (you'll need to leave 8-10 litres of space for group food)
- Waterproof liner for backpack
Clothes
- Hiking boots (worn-in, waterproof and with ankle support)
- Long-sleeved thermal tops / breathable wicking layers (wool or synthetic)
- T-shirts
- Fleece jacket or similar
- Lightweight hiking trousers/shorts (quick-drying, e.g. softshell)
- Waterproof jacket with hood (windproof and breathable, e.g. Gore-Tex or similar)
- Waterproof trousers (windproof and breathable, e.g. Gore-Tex or similar)
- Gaiters (optional but recommended for June/early July departures)
- Lightweight down/synthetic fill jacket
- Lightweight gloves (wool or synthetic)
- Underwear
- Hiking socks (2-3 pairs, wool or synthetic)
- Buff or neckscarf
- Swimwear (for thermal pools)
- Sunglasses
- Sunhat
- Something to sleep in
- Sandals/beach shoes/old trainers for crossing rivers, and a pair or neoprene socks
- Clothes and shoes/sandals for the evenings in the huts
Other
- Lightweight sleeping bag (the huts are heated so no extreme temperature rating is required)
- Sleeping bag liner (optional)
- Pillowcase (stuff your down jacket inside to make a pillow)
- Eyemask
- Walking poles (optional but recommended, with rubber tips to protect the environment)
- Lunchbox
- Reusable water bottle x 1 ltr (2 of these if you have room)
- Water purification tablets/treatment system
- Headtorch (especially for late August departures)
- Universal travel adapter
- Power bank or solar charger (small solar cells tend not to work too well in Icelend so a power bank if preferable)
- Spare camera batteries
- Passports (and visas)
- Travel Insurance documents
- Earplugs
- Suncream
- Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
- Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
- Quick-dry towel
- Alcohol hand-gel
- Biodegradable wet-wipes
- Energy bars and snacks
Sleeping bag hire
Payable Before Departure
Sleeping bag hire
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Double/Twin Room in Reykjavik: 2024 Prices starting from...
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Double/Twin Room in Reykjavik: 2024 Prices starting from...
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Double/Twin Room in Reykjavik: 2025 Prices starting from...
Payable Before Departure
Double/Twin Room in Reykjavik: 2025 Prices starting from...
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Single Room in Reykjavik: 2024 Prices starting from...
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Single Room in Reykjavik: 2024 Prices starting from...
… Per Night
Single Room in Reykjavik: 2025 Prices starting from...
Payable Before Departure
Single Room in Reykjavik: 2025 Prices starting from...
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Optional Private Room Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room Upgrade
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A life changing trip
What a perfect week we had. Four totally different days with changing landscape, fauna and weather. We were so lucky that it never rained. A perfect sized group, five hikers with our guide Solvi and his wife. Solvi was absolutely fantastic. Always willing to help and advise, happy to,point out interesting geographical features and served up that night. Our group all got on so well right from the start with lots of laughs and one deeper conversations. I had no issues with the huts.They were all warm and well fitted out. It was great to see them at the end of a days hike. It really is a bewildering, beautiful landscape, one that’s hard to take in at times. Photos cannot do it justice. The Much Better Adventures team had excellent communications before and after the trip, accommodation at the hotel before and after was spot on and we were all sad when it was all over. It was tough and the toughness created lifelong bonds between all of us. A fantastic experience with great memories to look back on. Highly recommended.
Loved it!!!
Iceland is beautiful and I loved this trip! Our guide, Palli did a wonderful job guiding us and he even cooked a delicious meal for us on the last day. i would highly recommend this trip to anyone considering!!
Amazing trip
An absolutely amazing trip, the views are even better than the pictures.
The views were spectacular.The trail wasn’t too challenging but enough with a large pack.Our was excellent,but the mountain huts are a let down with no electricity in any of them and no showers in the first hut which also had us sleeping with a mattress on the floor and we’ll crammed in.
A wonderful experience, especially with the local guides
Absolutely gorgeous views, led by a fantastic local guide. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to truly experience Iceland.
Excellent trip, outstanding scenery and nice locals. However its the third most expensive country in the world and theres better value trips elsewhere invthe world!
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