Laugavegur
Laugavegur
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Ben C
10 contributions
Sept 2021 • Friends
Crazy scenery, you won't be disappointed. It is tough at times, especially at the start with steep climbs and o real path.
Also it is tight in most huts and you need to be ready for that. If you can get past all that it's unbelievable. I recommend going with a decently sized group, the people really made it for me.
I went with Much Better Adventures who used Icelandic Mountain Guides as the actual tour provider. Our guide was Jón who was like having another mate on the journey. He's an absolute legend and I hope others get the same experience I did.
Also it is tight in most huts and you need to be ready for that. If you can get past all that it's unbelievable. I recommend going with a decently sized group, the people really made it for me.
I went with Much Better Adventures who used Icelandic Mountain Guides as the actual tour provider. Our guide was Jón who was like having another mate on the journey. He's an absolute legend and I hope others get the same experience I did.
Written 11 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antoinette L
3 contributions
June 2024 • Couples
I went on the laugevegur trail 4days plus an extra day to do a glacier walk. Fanny was our guide. It was the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen . The trek is not for the faint hearted. We encountered lots of snow & the distances per day ranged from 16 to 24km .
Fanny was terrific, always encouraging cheerful , and inspired confidence. She stood in freezing rivers to help us all cross safely .
We were very lucky to be part of a group of 16 & their company was an unexpected high point
The glacier hike with Daniel was great,
I would love to do it all again
Fanny was terrific, always encouraging cheerful , and inspired confidence. She stood in freezing rivers to help us all cross safely .
We were very lucky to be part of a group of 16 & their company was an unexpected high point
The glacier hike with Daniel was great,
I would love to do it all again
Written 25 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
_Pista_7
Budapest, Hungary35 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
Magnificent nature, high variety of shapes formed by the elements. We walked through the 55 kilometer long trip with food and tents in the backpack. This is the authentic experience here! Campsites are on the way, some of them even have a community tent.
One can perform the whole trip in 3 days, or 4-5 in a comfortable manner.
Weather changes are frequent and dramatic, rain may happen in minutes, even if the sky is clear.
Unfortunately, this area is bearable for only a couple of weeks in a whole year.
You can also make smaller walking trips once stopped in a camp.
One can perform the whole trip in 3 days, or 4-5 in a comfortable manner.
Weather changes are frequent and dramatic, rain may happen in minutes, even if the sky is clear.
Unfortunately, this area is bearable for only a couple of weeks in a whole year.
You can also make smaller walking trips once stopped in a camp.
Written 23 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin P
Raleigh, NC4,557 contributions
July 2012 • Couples
Most hikers come to Landmannalaugar to start (or finish) hiking the Laugavegur trail. But if you're only visiting for a short time, there is a wonderful and short 4-km loop trail at Landmannalaugar with absolutely breathtaking sights, without the time and commitment of a long-distance backpacking trip. As other reviewers have said, the best way to experience this area is backpacking the entire trail. But if that's not possible, it is still definitely worth a visit for a short time. We visited Landmannalaugar on a day tour with Iceland Guided Tours and only had about 2 hours here. After quickly eating lunch, the tour guide warned us that it could take up to 2 hours to hike the loop, but we assured him we could finish it in time. The loop starts following the Laugavegur Trail behind the huts up into the Laugahraun lava field and proceeds mostly west until it comes out in the most beautiful valley surrounded by the lava field on one side and multi-colored rhyloite mountains on the others. Although most of the area is devoid of life, this valley was full of green grasses and small white wildflowers. From here, the trail turns south and heads towards Mount Brennisteinsalda (sulphur wave). It's easy to tell that this volcano is still active from the numerous fumaroles spewing sulphurous gases. Quite beautiful, but not the most pleasant smell. The Laugavegur Trail continues up the volcano, while the Grænagil trail turns east and heads back into the lava fields. This trail goes through the lava fields and into the namesake gorge, formed by a river flowing between Mount Bláhnúkur and the lava fields. The river is quite small so the gorge is very narrow, but quite beautiful. The trail winds down into the gorge with side trails heading up Blánúkur and approaches the river as it exits the gorge. From here, the trail turns north and heads back to the camping area. We finished the hike in just over an hour, with taking many pictures, and still had time for a quick dip in the hot springs before our bus was getting ready to leave.
Written 1 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MagnusTheTraveler
Stockholm, Sweden184 contributions
July 2012 • Friends
We walked the "LAUGAVEGURINN" in the opposite direction than most people do (i .e. we started in Thorsmörk and ended in Landmannalaugar.
The wardens in most of the huts where very friendly and helpful. In Þórsmörk the lady I suppose was the manager was very friendly but many of the younger people working there seemed quite lazy and uninterested to help out mostly sitting there own "wardens hut" instead of helping arriving guests find their way around. It is also worth noting that in Þórsmörk there exists an alternative accommodation to the Langidalur huts (think it was the Volcano Huts) that is of higher standard (with a nice restaurant) that you may also consider (we wished we had booked it when we saw it!). Not all the busses in the schedule go all the way to Langidalur huts or take a long detour before going there (our stopped at the other huts and we had to walk the last bit - not far but a lot of up-hill so it probably took a good 25 minutes!).
Since we had quit heavy gear (tents, cooking equipment etc) we divided the walk over four days:
The first day we walked Þórsmörk to Emstrur. We had like 20 minutes of rain at the start but after that ended the rest of the trip was very nice. The view over Þórsmörk was fantastic.There was one part that was kind of difficult where we had to take off our heavy backpacks in order to scale up a quite steap and muddy cliff using a permanently mounted rope. If you are afraid of heights there is also a section just before the rope that may cause some concern where you need to hold on to a permanently mounted chain in the cliff wall while walking on a quite narrow ledge to avoid a long (probably deadly) drop into an river below to your right.
The second day we walked from Emstrur to Álftavatn with no rain (so nice!). The only real challenge with this walk is the river crossings but if you have some good Sandal to walk in and walking sticks they are not hard - just annoying to have to take your pants off and change shoes several times as it slows you down. The walk is over quite varied landscape with a good part covered in volcanic dust.
The third day we walked from Álftavatn to Hrafntinnusker with no rain (almost unbelievable!). The climb up from Álftavatn was quite demanding but the view is fantastic (see attached picture). This was all in all the most interesting day of walking in my opinion because of the fantastic views and varied nature. One also see a lot of small volcanic pools and cracks releasing steam. The Hrafntinnusker huts are small and I guess you need to book VERY long in advance to get in there. We had to camp and the camping site is not very nice. The high location makes the grounds very windy and cold (even when it is not rain or bad weather) and the facilities (a single toilet for all the campers, an outdoor table to wash (no showers) was primitive to say the least. The ground was very hard making it somewhat difficult to set up the tent in the wind. Walking sticks are really helpful for this leg as there are plenty of ups and downs that are slippery and otherwise slows you down.
The forth and last day we walked Hrafntinnusker to Landmannalaugar. Half the day was nice but then we encountered Islands (according to what I heard from other travelers) more typical weather - rain and wind. The views of the first part are very beautiful and the volcanic formations near Landmannalaugar very interesting. Once again walking sticks are very much recommended to allow you to keep a good pace. The huts in Landmannalaugar holds a lot of people but it seems to be one of the most popular places to stay so book far in advance! We had to camp. The camp grounds are quite ok. You can even buy some food and snacks in an old military buss turned into a shop. The thermal pools are really nice to bath in and nobody in our company suffered any effects of the water parasites they warned about.
In summary - the views on several of the legs during this walk was really fantastic (in particular the view over Álftavatn from the trail versus Hrafntinnusker was one of the most fantastic I have ever seen and I have traveled/walked a lot all over the world) and all in all it is a very nice experience not to be missed.
There are some things that you should be aware of:
1. The experience is much nicer if you manage to book lodging at all the huts so you can avoid carrying tents and other heavy camping gear (make sure you book at least 6 months in advance if you will travel there during high season). We had rather heavy tents etc and with this weight the route was much more demanding than we had expected due to all the up & down hill (do not get fooled by the relatively little "net height difference" of each leg - there is PLENTY of ups & downs that even each other out).
2. Bring walking sticks - many of the ups and downs are covered in snow/ice, small stones and volcanic dust that is "slippery" if you have no stick and this slows you down.
3. Bring good sandals to use when crossing rivers - trying bare foot is NOT recommended (we saw some people trying to cross in just socks and that was not easy)
4. We very VERY lucky with the weather and only saw rain the last hours of the four day walk (!!!!!)- most people will however see a lot of rain so bring good rain gear you will most likely use it a lot!
5. The quick weather changes along this route is not to be underestimated. Be well equipped with warm cloth, make sure you have maps and compass (in good weather it is easy mostly easy to follow the marked trail but in fog / heavy rain etc this may not be the case)
The wardens in most of the huts where very friendly and helpful. In Þórsmörk the lady I suppose was the manager was very friendly but many of the younger people working there seemed quite lazy and uninterested to help out mostly sitting there own "wardens hut" instead of helping arriving guests find their way around. It is also worth noting that in Þórsmörk there exists an alternative accommodation to the Langidalur huts (think it was the Volcano Huts) that is of higher standard (with a nice restaurant) that you may also consider (we wished we had booked it when we saw it!). Not all the busses in the schedule go all the way to Langidalur huts or take a long detour before going there (our stopped at the other huts and we had to walk the last bit - not far but a lot of up-hill so it probably took a good 25 minutes!).
Since we had quit heavy gear (tents, cooking equipment etc) we divided the walk over four days:
The first day we walked Þórsmörk to Emstrur. We had like 20 minutes of rain at the start but after that ended the rest of the trip was very nice. The view over Þórsmörk was fantastic.There was one part that was kind of difficult where we had to take off our heavy backpacks in order to scale up a quite steap and muddy cliff using a permanently mounted rope. If you are afraid of heights there is also a section just before the rope that may cause some concern where you need to hold on to a permanently mounted chain in the cliff wall while walking on a quite narrow ledge to avoid a long (probably deadly) drop into an river below to your right.
The second day we walked from Emstrur to Álftavatn with no rain (so nice!). The only real challenge with this walk is the river crossings but if you have some good Sandal to walk in and walking sticks they are not hard - just annoying to have to take your pants off and change shoes several times as it slows you down. The walk is over quite varied landscape with a good part covered in volcanic dust.
The third day we walked from Álftavatn to Hrafntinnusker with no rain (almost unbelievable!). The climb up from Álftavatn was quite demanding but the view is fantastic (see attached picture). This was all in all the most interesting day of walking in my opinion because of the fantastic views and varied nature. One also see a lot of small volcanic pools and cracks releasing steam. The Hrafntinnusker huts are small and I guess you need to book VERY long in advance to get in there. We had to camp and the camping site is not very nice. The high location makes the grounds very windy and cold (even when it is not rain or bad weather) and the facilities (a single toilet for all the campers, an outdoor table to wash (no showers) was primitive to say the least. The ground was very hard making it somewhat difficult to set up the tent in the wind. Walking sticks are really helpful for this leg as there are plenty of ups and downs that are slippery and otherwise slows you down.
The forth and last day we walked Hrafntinnusker to Landmannalaugar. Half the day was nice but then we encountered Islands (according to what I heard from other travelers) more typical weather - rain and wind. The views of the first part are very beautiful and the volcanic formations near Landmannalaugar very interesting. Once again walking sticks are very much recommended to allow you to keep a good pace. The huts in Landmannalaugar holds a lot of people but it seems to be one of the most popular places to stay so book far in advance! We had to camp. The camp grounds are quite ok. You can even buy some food and snacks in an old military buss turned into a shop. The thermal pools are really nice to bath in and nobody in our company suffered any effects of the water parasites they warned about.
In summary - the views on several of the legs during this walk was really fantastic (in particular the view over Álftavatn from the trail versus Hrafntinnusker was one of the most fantastic I have ever seen and I have traveled/walked a lot all over the world) and all in all it is a very nice experience not to be missed.
There are some things that you should be aware of:
1. The experience is much nicer if you manage to book lodging at all the huts so you can avoid carrying tents and other heavy camping gear (make sure you book at least 6 months in advance if you will travel there during high season). We had rather heavy tents etc and with this weight the route was much more demanding than we had expected due to all the up & down hill (do not get fooled by the relatively little "net height difference" of each leg - there is PLENTY of ups & downs that even each other out).
2. Bring walking sticks - many of the ups and downs are covered in snow/ice, small stones and volcanic dust that is "slippery" if you have no stick and this slows you down.
3. Bring good sandals to use when crossing rivers - trying bare foot is NOT recommended (we saw some people trying to cross in just socks and that was not easy)
4. We very VERY lucky with the weather and only saw rain the last hours of the four day walk (!!!!!)- most people will however see a lot of rain so bring good rain gear you will most likely use it a lot!
5. The quick weather changes along this route is not to be underestimated. Be well equipped with warm cloth, make sure you have maps and compass (in good weather it is easy mostly easy to follow the marked trail but in fog / heavy rain etc this may not be the case)
Written 10 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trekkers999
London25 contributions
Aug 2012 • Family
We did this four-day trek in August, with our 10-year-old daughter and it's a truly fantastic trek. We were camping, and most hut wardens allowed to pay a user fee to cook quickly, and at non-busy times, in the kitchens of the mountain huts, but it's better to bring cooking equipment. The first night's camping out of Landmanalaugar was unbelievably windy (you camp inside stone wall circular shelters but it's still a battle to get any tent up), but it was very memorable (toilets there are, however, truly gut-wrenching, and are best avoided if possible).
The four days were all memorable with fantastic scenery, and it's true you can get away from the crowds -- though there is also comfort in this desolate landscape from seeing people once in a while. It was only the jeeps at the mountain huts that we didn't like, though we felt superior having walked and carried our gear throughout.
One serious word, though, about the river crossings. We had checked wtih the mountain rescue team in Landmanalaugar about taking a 10-year-old and were told the trek was fine for a 5-year-old. In the direction we walked, the first river crossing is on the first day. This was narrow but deep, but everyone was helping each other and so it could be done safely. The two crossings on the third day are wider but less deep (when we did them), and with sensible shoes (not flip flops that can be torn off by the current) were fine. BUT, on the final day, just before Porsmork there is by far the most dangerous and challening crossing - one which did not even merit a mention in the description of the route at the mountain hut the night before. Perhaps because it was the end of a sunny day, though people coming the other way who had crossed in the morning also said it was deep then as well, this is a very dangerous crossing. We followed a crossing route taken by the trekkers before us, as there were some vague sticks in the banks (there are two or three separate stages to the wide crossing). A professional guide came after us and found a better crossing, but it was still wide, fairly deep and wth a strong current. We were helped to get our daughter across by two very kind, safety conscious Americans and could not have crossed without their help. So if you are not very confident about wading thigh deep in strong currents then you should stick with other groups for this crossing.
Finally we arrived at the gorgeous Porsmork (we went to the middle of the three hamlets).
The next day was a rest day so we thought we would go upstream to investigate the start of the optional fifth day of the trek, over the pass to the south. This river was so high that the usual bridge on wheels had been removed. Instead, the man who ran the small hut shop was driving people across the river in a jeep or in a trailer on the back of his tractor. (This is to get to the other side of the river by the Porsmork mountain hut, and is not necessary to reach the hut.) We went over by jeep at lunchtime which seemed just about OK, and arranged that we would need a lift back about 5pm. This time he came for us by tractor and the river seemed very deep after a sunny day. He said it was OK so we three got into the trailer. We had asked if our daughter should go in the tractor cab with him, but he said no. This crossing was undoubtedly the most dangerous experience in four months of travelling, including 7 weeks in the wilds and heights of Nepal. I do not believe that the mountain hut organisation would sanction this service if they knew of the conditions in which these crossings were being made. The sides of the trailer were only inches above the water level at times and it felt very unstable. Had our daughter been tipped in she would have drowned, and I'm not sure an adult would survive either.
To continue on to the optional fifth day of the trek, over the pass to the south, it is necessary to make this river crossing. We discovered afterwards that one option is to walk to the main bus point downstream and pay just to cross the river in the public bus. One can then get out on the other side and walk up the track to the start of the path up to the pass. Had we known, this is what we would have done. Of course the conditions are clearly not always as they were when we were there (indeed, that was why there was no usual bridge), but we hope this Trip Advisor helps to stop others having the same very dangerous experience.
The four days were all memorable with fantastic scenery, and it's true you can get away from the crowds -- though there is also comfort in this desolate landscape from seeing people once in a while. It was only the jeeps at the mountain huts that we didn't like, though we felt superior having walked and carried our gear throughout.
One serious word, though, about the river crossings. We had checked wtih the mountain rescue team in Landmanalaugar about taking a 10-year-old and were told the trek was fine for a 5-year-old. In the direction we walked, the first river crossing is on the first day. This was narrow but deep, but everyone was helping each other and so it could be done safely. The two crossings on the third day are wider but less deep (when we did them), and with sensible shoes (not flip flops that can be torn off by the current) were fine. BUT, on the final day, just before Porsmork there is by far the most dangerous and challening crossing - one which did not even merit a mention in the description of the route at the mountain hut the night before. Perhaps because it was the end of a sunny day, though people coming the other way who had crossed in the morning also said it was deep then as well, this is a very dangerous crossing. We followed a crossing route taken by the trekkers before us, as there were some vague sticks in the banks (there are two or three separate stages to the wide crossing). A professional guide came after us and found a better crossing, but it was still wide, fairly deep and wth a strong current. We were helped to get our daughter across by two very kind, safety conscious Americans and could not have crossed without their help. So if you are not very confident about wading thigh deep in strong currents then you should stick with other groups for this crossing.
Finally we arrived at the gorgeous Porsmork (we went to the middle of the three hamlets).
The next day was a rest day so we thought we would go upstream to investigate the start of the optional fifth day of the trek, over the pass to the south. This river was so high that the usual bridge on wheels had been removed. Instead, the man who ran the small hut shop was driving people across the river in a jeep or in a trailer on the back of his tractor. (This is to get to the other side of the river by the Porsmork mountain hut, and is not necessary to reach the hut.) We went over by jeep at lunchtime which seemed just about OK, and arranged that we would need a lift back about 5pm. This time he came for us by tractor and the river seemed very deep after a sunny day. He said it was OK so we three got into the trailer. We had asked if our daughter should go in the tractor cab with him, but he said no. This crossing was undoubtedly the most dangerous experience in four months of travelling, including 7 weeks in the wilds and heights of Nepal. I do not believe that the mountain hut organisation would sanction this service if they knew of the conditions in which these crossings were being made. The sides of the trailer were only inches above the water level at times and it felt very unstable. Had our daughter been tipped in she would have drowned, and I'm not sure an adult would survive either.
To continue on to the optional fifth day of the trek, over the pass to the south, it is necessary to make this river crossing. We discovered afterwards that one option is to walk to the main bus point downstream and pay just to cross the river in the public bus. One can then get out on the other side and walk up the track to the start of the path up to the pass. Had we known, this is what we would have done. Of course the conditions are clearly not always as they were when we were there (indeed, that was why there was no usual bridge), but we hope this Trip Advisor helps to stop others having the same very dangerous experience.
Written 25 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
antonettes
Arnhem, The Netherlands19 contributions
Aug 2011 • Friends
We did the Laugavegur mid August and even though we expected it to be very crowded, since it's named after Iceland's busiest street, it wasn't that bad. In the morning everybody starts roughly the same time and you can easily avoid walking in groups by waiting 5 minutes or taking a bit more stops along the way.
We started in Landmannalaugar but didn't have time to take a swim since we came in at 1 pm and wanted to hike to the first campground straight away. And we had already been to Landmannalaugar before, but if you have time, you should definetely take a bath there. The first part through the Laugahraun is crowded but once you're past Brennisteinsalda it gets more quiet. We had to cross some icefields where there were still remains of the volcanic activity from spring 2010 and in some places the ice was just black. The hike was fairly easy, but quite a lot of climbing, no technical difficulties though. The location of the Hrafntinnusker campground is stunning but it was very windy and cold. The toilets were really smelly and unclean, for the campfee you have to pay, I at least expected a toilet that would be a little bit maintained (as in the other huts). The smell was so bad I'd rather have just done my thing somewhere outside, but that's just not allowed.
The next morning we woke up in the sunshine and took off early as we wanted to hike the two next days into one. The first part led us through a lot of chasms that we still snow and ice covered (according to our Icelandic friends, there was a lot more snow left on the trail than the previous years around the same time) and you had to be careful where to cross because some layers were thin and could easily collapse. Then we climbed up to a rigde with stunning views over Alfavatn and the mountains we came from. The descend was quite steep (about 450 metres in 45 minutes) but do-able with hikingpoles if you take your time. Down in the valley came the first river crossing but the water was pretty low and we could wade through easily, though very cold! From there it was about one hour of flat walking to Alfavatn.
We stayed there for lunch and decided to walk on to Emstrur. We had to do another 2 river crossings, the second one up until the knees and quite wide, but the water was clear and the current not too fast. The hike to Emstrur is easy and leads through lavafields. It's all black sand and ash, as well as very green mountains. I would say this is the most boring part of the trip, basically because it's so long and straight on for hours. The campground at Emstrur was awesome and they even had flush toilets. It eventually turned out to be a 10 hour hike but because the 2nd part of the hike is rather easy, it wasn't something I wouldn't do again.
The next morning we took off for Thórsmörk which started with a steep descent (holding onto some cables at points) into a gorge On the signs at the hut they said the bridge over the river could be dangerous for people with vertigo, but I don't see why. The only part I could imagine being a bit tricky is the part where you have to hold onto the cable to get up/down, but it's no problem at all really.
We eventually had to cross the Throngá river which is apparently the most difficult to cross. The water was muddy and came to above our knees. We held onto each other and made it just fine, our poles helped us out though. I saw some girls wading through with their straps still clicked, no poles and no shoes on, cameras in their hands but they seemed to have some trouble and my boyfriend helped them a bit. The area around Thórsmörk is pretty awesome, one of my favorite places in Iceland. So lush and green, with glaciers all around. We stayed at the Laugadalur campground, which is much nicer and less crowded than Husadalur. We could've caught the bus home since it goes around 3pm but we stayed one more night to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
I would definetely recommend this hike even if you're not that experienced. If you plan on taking 4 days, it will be do-able and you might consider sleeping in huts rather than taking your tent. You will have to bring food though but drinking water is available at the huts. We are not the fastest hikers since we take a lot of time to make pictures and enjoy the scenery but usually we made it to the next place well within the given time for it. (At the huts they have signs saying what the distance and the route to the next hut is).
I can imagine though that when it's bad weather the hike is a lot more difficult and less fun. You should always be prepared and carry a GPS and compass, and sign in and out at the huts. A memorial of a guy who died on the trail a couple of years ago in a blizzard made us realise (again) how dangerous it can be out there.
We started in Landmannalaugar but didn't have time to take a swim since we came in at 1 pm and wanted to hike to the first campground straight away. And we had already been to Landmannalaugar before, but if you have time, you should definetely take a bath there. The first part through the Laugahraun is crowded but once you're past Brennisteinsalda it gets more quiet. We had to cross some icefields where there were still remains of the volcanic activity from spring 2010 and in some places the ice was just black. The hike was fairly easy, but quite a lot of climbing, no technical difficulties though. The location of the Hrafntinnusker campground is stunning but it was very windy and cold. The toilets were really smelly and unclean, for the campfee you have to pay, I at least expected a toilet that would be a little bit maintained (as in the other huts). The smell was so bad I'd rather have just done my thing somewhere outside, but that's just not allowed.
The next morning we woke up in the sunshine and took off early as we wanted to hike the two next days into one. The first part led us through a lot of chasms that we still snow and ice covered (according to our Icelandic friends, there was a lot more snow left on the trail than the previous years around the same time) and you had to be careful where to cross because some layers were thin and could easily collapse. Then we climbed up to a rigde with stunning views over Alfavatn and the mountains we came from. The descend was quite steep (about 450 metres in 45 minutes) but do-able with hikingpoles if you take your time. Down in the valley came the first river crossing but the water was pretty low and we could wade through easily, though very cold! From there it was about one hour of flat walking to Alfavatn.
We stayed there for lunch and decided to walk on to Emstrur. We had to do another 2 river crossings, the second one up until the knees and quite wide, but the water was clear and the current not too fast. The hike to Emstrur is easy and leads through lavafields. It's all black sand and ash, as well as very green mountains. I would say this is the most boring part of the trip, basically because it's so long and straight on for hours. The campground at Emstrur was awesome and they even had flush toilets. It eventually turned out to be a 10 hour hike but because the 2nd part of the hike is rather easy, it wasn't something I wouldn't do again.
The next morning we took off for Thórsmörk which started with a steep descent (holding onto some cables at points) into a gorge On the signs at the hut they said the bridge over the river could be dangerous for people with vertigo, but I don't see why. The only part I could imagine being a bit tricky is the part where you have to hold onto the cable to get up/down, but it's no problem at all really.
We eventually had to cross the Throngá river which is apparently the most difficult to cross. The water was muddy and came to above our knees. We held onto each other and made it just fine, our poles helped us out though. I saw some girls wading through with their straps still clicked, no poles and no shoes on, cameras in their hands but they seemed to have some trouble and my boyfriend helped them a bit. The area around Thórsmörk is pretty awesome, one of my favorite places in Iceland. So lush and green, with glaciers all around. We stayed at the Laugadalur campground, which is much nicer and less crowded than Husadalur. We could've caught the bus home since it goes around 3pm but we stayed one more night to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
I would definetely recommend this hike even if you're not that experienced. If you plan on taking 4 days, it will be do-able and you might consider sleeping in huts rather than taking your tent. You will have to bring food though but drinking water is available at the huts. We are not the fastest hikers since we take a lot of time to make pictures and enjoy the scenery but usually we made it to the next place well within the given time for it. (At the huts they have signs saying what the distance and the route to the next hut is).
I can imagine though that when it's bad weather the hike is a lot more difficult and less fun. You should always be prepared and carry a GPS and compass, and sign in and out at the huts. A memorial of a guy who died on the trail a couple of years ago in a blizzard made us realise (again) how dangerous it can be out there.
Written 29 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
APMD
Chicago, IL78 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
Trail is very manageable with good preparation. Sources of food are scarce and expensive - water is plentiful. Weather changes rapidly and one has top be prepared for everything from at least 1-2 days of rain to snow even in July or August. Lots of poorly prepared people on the trail - and several memorials to people who have died after being caught in sudden snow storms. Preparation for winter weather are crucial - especially is you plan to also do the Þórsmörk to Skogafoss crossing across the Fimmvörðuháls.
Even for the other portions of the trail and even if you plan spending the nights in huts (and have secured reservations for the huts), I believe bringing a tent is a good safety measure. Should the weather change and one get lost - setting up tent and waiting could be the safest option.
Food is only available and super expensive at Landmanalaugar, Alftavatn and at Þórsmörk.
Food is also expensive in Reykjavik - we brought in essentially all trail food from the States.
Reservations way in advance are crucial if you hope to secure spots in the huts. In our case - we started about 5-6 months out and despite being waitlisted at several huts we eventually got reservations at most (some last minute). The only hut where I would say reservations are crucial if at all possible to obtain are the ones for the huts on the Fimmvörðuháls (two huts there run by two different hiking associations). If you can't secure reservations and don't plan on spending the night in a beautiful but quite frozen environment - plan on taking an early start and going straight from Þórsmörk to Skogafoss in one day.
This was our schedule:
Left Reykjavik in early morning. Arrived in Landmanalaugar before noon and did a 4 hour warm up trek the first day. Slept the first night in Landmanalaugar.
Left early on the second day and arrived at Hrafntinnusker after less than 4 hours. We had no reservations at this hut (the smallest and least inviting of the entire trail). The hut is located in a stony wilderness and patches of snow were still present. It was cold and windy and although there are some treks that can be be done in the area (and reportedly a hidden hot spring), we decided to push on to Alftavatn. The second part of the trek took us close to 5 hours - it is a looong walk across incredibly varied terrain. It is amazing when after hours of walking through a barren volcanic landscape in shaes of yellow red and gray you get a first view of the lush valleys and peaks surrounding Alftavatn. The descent in the valley is quite steep (and I imagine problematic when wet) but seeing the lake in the distance is a great motivator. On the way down, before Alftavatn you also encounter the first torrent that needs to be forded - out come the sandals. Few people in our party tried to jump across from stone to stone - one made it intact, one fell in and one dropped their back pack in. After this experience no one tried jumping across again - takes a while to take off boots and put on sandals but it's well worth it.
We spent our second and third nights in Alftavatn. There is a small restaurant that serves dinner (I think they may also have breakfast and lunch). It is very small but they do have beer an hot food.
During the day we spent in Alftavatn we took a side trip to the Torfahlaup - I highly recommend this - it is an amazing canyon and well worth the detour.
If you arrive at Alftavatn early and you want to move on - the Hvanngil Hut is located a couple of km down the road and is less popular.
Leaving Alftavatn - there are two treks - the most popular that we took leaves the lake right away and crosses a series of streams (some have to wadded, some have bridges. There is another trail which is only recommended for "experienced hikers". This one hugs the lake for a good distance before Bratthals peak and (if I am not mistaken passing south of Stórasúla). We did not take this route but I was told that even though only one river has to be forded - water is up to your chest or higher - as opposed to up to your knees).
After Hvanngil, trail goes through desert like terrain covered in volcanic ash. This was the start of two days of rain for us - kept the dust down but made everyone unhappy. On this note - one thing that I did not bring and later regretted were waterproof gloves.
Once at Emstrur Botnar, we took a side trip to the Markarfljótsgljúfur Canyon. I highly recommend this - it is lots of fun once you drop your backpack. It's an easy and extremely rewarding hike with some incredible sights.
Spent our 4th night since leaving Reykjavik in Emstrur and started the next day to Þórsmörk. The final day of the standard trek seemed longer than the rest but was not only beautiful but also very varied. The micro forrest just before Þórsmörk was a welcome sight - the first trees (albeit very small trees still trees) since the start of the trail. On a side note, roughly half way through the trek, after crossing a small torrent on a bridge, we found an extremely picturesque and violent micro canyon - few dozen yards to the side of the main trail. Most of the other hikers seemed to stop here for lunch and we did the same - the canyon is hidden by the bushes that are by now again a part of the scenery.
Þórsmörk is a fully equipped base camp with bus access from Reykjavik, a store and BEEER.
We spent the night here and my wife an 12 year old abandoned us on the bus. Myself and the restb of our group (14,16,17 years old) continued on to the Fimmvörðuháls. On the one hand I was happy we were able to send a lot of equipment off to Reykjavik (and therefore not have to schlep it 1000m up an down), on the other hand I was sorry my youngest and wife missed some amazing experiences. After crossing the river (very wide and broken into numerous channels that can be skipped across or crossed on bridges) we started an amazing but brutal ascent. I was the only one to have any amount of weight in my backpack and this was the one part of the trail where I had to stop and rest repeatedly. It is not an unbroken climb to the plateau but it's not far from it either. Water is not available anywhere on the ascent and unless you are willing to melt snow it is not available until after you start the descent on the other side. The view and opportunities for amazing photos are countless - we were blessed with a crystal clear day until we reached the top. There are a few areas where chains have been placed and one very narrow passage between two precipices Kattarhryggir (The cat's spine - no chains here) but overall the hardest part of the day was the unrelenting climb. Just when we were congratulating ourselves on our stamina and on my wife's foresight in skipping the last day with our youngest, we came across an Icelandic couple happily doing the trail in the opposite direction with their two young kids (could not have been older than 7). :-)
Once we reached the plateau whether changed, visibility dropped and sleet started coming down. The trail markings were a bit confusing - there are two different trails that can be taken (both leading to the same place we later found out). Additionally, since the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjöll, the markings have been displaced to avoid the newly formed lava field (the old ones lead straight to field). Most of the plateau is covered in ice but just before arriving to the hut we ran into some ice (no fun on an incline and without ice shoes). That being said, ice was minimal and could be avoided.
We spent our final night on the trail split between the two huts - we were lucky to find spots in the Utivist hut there in addition to the two spots we already had in the FI hut.
Around lunch time, the FI hut which is right on the trail gets super busy but by afternoon it is super quiet. The views from the top are amazing and sunset causes the craziest colors to appear. The Atlantic is visible in the distance by this point.
There were a number of people who slept in tents - this was the one night when I really did not want to sleep outside because of the cold and snow all around. As I already mentioned, I later discovered that had I not wanted to spend the night, we could have completed the descent to Skogafoss the same day - It is long but easy and picturesque.
The final day was a very pleasant slow descent, walking past innumerable water falls and ending in the restaurant in Skogafoss.
Overall, I would say the Landmannalaugar was one of the most memorable hiking experiences in my life. I would return to Iceland in a heart beat.
The trail is quite popular and therefore reservations are crucial if you hope to stay in huts. When the weather is nasty, the huts are nice but on the other hand they do limit your freedom to skip stages or spend an extra day in a place. On this note, the guide books recommend that you register your itinerary online with the mountain rescue team before you start. Our book said you can also do this at Landmannalaugar - but when we enquired we were told this was not possible. If you do register online - you should make an effort to notify the hut wardens of changes in the schedule - when we were at Alftavatn we were woken up by the Icelandic Mountain Rescue complete with helicopter overhead. They were looking for a hiker which had not made one of her scheduled stops - turned out later she had skipped a stage and was in fact in one of the other camping sites.
Side note on crossing rivers - don't go where it is narrowest because it is also fastest and deepest. Generally try to cross where the river is broke into channels and where it is wider and therefore more shallow. Head slightly upstream and if possible lock arms with someone else for added stability.
Finally, read as much as possible about the trail in advance and be prepared for winter and rain. The best map I could find was purchased at the Reykjavik bus station but is also available online at unique-iceland.com (Iceland-the southern highlands).
Enjoy - a truly unique experience
Even for the other portions of the trail and even if you plan spending the nights in huts (and have secured reservations for the huts), I believe bringing a tent is a good safety measure. Should the weather change and one get lost - setting up tent and waiting could be the safest option.
Food is only available and super expensive at Landmanalaugar, Alftavatn and at Þórsmörk.
Food is also expensive in Reykjavik - we brought in essentially all trail food from the States.
Reservations way in advance are crucial if you hope to secure spots in the huts. In our case - we started about 5-6 months out and despite being waitlisted at several huts we eventually got reservations at most (some last minute). The only hut where I would say reservations are crucial if at all possible to obtain are the ones for the huts on the Fimmvörðuháls (two huts there run by two different hiking associations). If you can't secure reservations and don't plan on spending the night in a beautiful but quite frozen environment - plan on taking an early start and going straight from Þórsmörk to Skogafoss in one day.
This was our schedule:
Left Reykjavik in early morning. Arrived in Landmanalaugar before noon and did a 4 hour warm up trek the first day. Slept the first night in Landmanalaugar.
Left early on the second day and arrived at Hrafntinnusker after less than 4 hours. We had no reservations at this hut (the smallest and least inviting of the entire trail). The hut is located in a stony wilderness and patches of snow were still present. It was cold and windy and although there are some treks that can be be done in the area (and reportedly a hidden hot spring), we decided to push on to Alftavatn. The second part of the trek took us close to 5 hours - it is a looong walk across incredibly varied terrain. It is amazing when after hours of walking through a barren volcanic landscape in shaes of yellow red and gray you get a first view of the lush valleys and peaks surrounding Alftavatn. The descent in the valley is quite steep (and I imagine problematic when wet) but seeing the lake in the distance is a great motivator. On the way down, before Alftavatn you also encounter the first torrent that needs to be forded - out come the sandals. Few people in our party tried to jump across from stone to stone - one made it intact, one fell in and one dropped their back pack in. After this experience no one tried jumping across again - takes a while to take off boots and put on sandals but it's well worth it.
We spent our second and third nights in Alftavatn. There is a small restaurant that serves dinner (I think they may also have breakfast and lunch). It is very small but they do have beer an hot food.
During the day we spent in Alftavatn we took a side trip to the Torfahlaup - I highly recommend this - it is an amazing canyon and well worth the detour.
If you arrive at Alftavatn early and you want to move on - the Hvanngil Hut is located a couple of km down the road and is less popular.
Leaving Alftavatn - there are two treks - the most popular that we took leaves the lake right away and crosses a series of streams (some have to wadded, some have bridges. There is another trail which is only recommended for "experienced hikers". This one hugs the lake for a good distance before Bratthals peak and (if I am not mistaken passing south of Stórasúla). We did not take this route but I was told that even though only one river has to be forded - water is up to your chest or higher - as opposed to up to your knees).
After Hvanngil, trail goes through desert like terrain covered in volcanic ash. This was the start of two days of rain for us - kept the dust down but made everyone unhappy. On this note - one thing that I did not bring and later regretted were waterproof gloves.
Once at Emstrur Botnar, we took a side trip to the Markarfljótsgljúfur Canyon. I highly recommend this - it is lots of fun once you drop your backpack. It's an easy and extremely rewarding hike with some incredible sights.
Spent our 4th night since leaving Reykjavik in Emstrur and started the next day to Þórsmörk. The final day of the standard trek seemed longer than the rest but was not only beautiful but also very varied. The micro forrest just before Þórsmörk was a welcome sight - the first trees (albeit very small trees still trees) since the start of the trail. On a side note, roughly half way through the trek, after crossing a small torrent on a bridge, we found an extremely picturesque and violent micro canyon - few dozen yards to the side of the main trail. Most of the other hikers seemed to stop here for lunch and we did the same - the canyon is hidden by the bushes that are by now again a part of the scenery.
Þórsmörk is a fully equipped base camp with bus access from Reykjavik, a store and BEEER.
We spent the night here and my wife an 12 year old abandoned us on the bus. Myself and the restb of our group (14,16,17 years old) continued on to the Fimmvörðuháls. On the one hand I was happy we were able to send a lot of equipment off to Reykjavik (and therefore not have to schlep it 1000m up an down), on the other hand I was sorry my youngest and wife missed some amazing experiences. After crossing the river (very wide and broken into numerous channels that can be skipped across or crossed on bridges) we started an amazing but brutal ascent. I was the only one to have any amount of weight in my backpack and this was the one part of the trail where I had to stop and rest repeatedly. It is not an unbroken climb to the plateau but it's not far from it either. Water is not available anywhere on the ascent and unless you are willing to melt snow it is not available until after you start the descent on the other side. The view and opportunities for amazing photos are countless - we were blessed with a crystal clear day until we reached the top. There are a few areas where chains have been placed and one very narrow passage between two precipices Kattarhryggir (The cat's spine - no chains here) but overall the hardest part of the day was the unrelenting climb. Just when we were congratulating ourselves on our stamina and on my wife's foresight in skipping the last day with our youngest, we came across an Icelandic couple happily doing the trail in the opposite direction with their two young kids (could not have been older than 7). :-)
Once we reached the plateau whether changed, visibility dropped and sleet started coming down. The trail markings were a bit confusing - there are two different trails that can be taken (both leading to the same place we later found out). Additionally, since the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjöll, the markings have been displaced to avoid the newly formed lava field (the old ones lead straight to field). Most of the plateau is covered in ice but just before arriving to the hut we ran into some ice (no fun on an incline and without ice shoes). That being said, ice was minimal and could be avoided.
We spent our final night on the trail split between the two huts - we were lucky to find spots in the Utivist hut there in addition to the two spots we already had in the FI hut.
Around lunch time, the FI hut which is right on the trail gets super busy but by afternoon it is super quiet. The views from the top are amazing and sunset causes the craziest colors to appear. The Atlantic is visible in the distance by this point.
There were a number of people who slept in tents - this was the one night when I really did not want to sleep outside because of the cold and snow all around. As I already mentioned, I later discovered that had I not wanted to spend the night, we could have completed the descent to Skogafoss the same day - It is long but easy and picturesque.
The final day was a very pleasant slow descent, walking past innumerable water falls and ending in the restaurant in Skogafoss.
Overall, I would say the Landmannalaugar was one of the most memorable hiking experiences in my life. I would return to Iceland in a heart beat.
The trail is quite popular and therefore reservations are crucial if you hope to stay in huts. When the weather is nasty, the huts are nice but on the other hand they do limit your freedom to skip stages or spend an extra day in a place. On this note, the guide books recommend that you register your itinerary online with the mountain rescue team before you start. Our book said you can also do this at Landmannalaugar - but when we enquired we were told this was not possible. If you do register online - you should make an effort to notify the hut wardens of changes in the schedule - when we were at Alftavatn we were woken up by the Icelandic Mountain Rescue complete with helicopter overhead. They were looking for a hiker which had not made one of her scheduled stops - turned out later she had skipped a stage and was in fact in one of the other camping sites.
Side note on crossing rivers - don't go where it is narrowest because it is also fastest and deepest. Generally try to cross where the river is broke into channels and where it is wider and therefore more shallow. Head slightly upstream and if possible lock arms with someone else for added stability.
Finally, read as much as possible about the trail in advance and be prepared for winter and rain. The best map I could find was purchased at the Reykjavik bus station but is also available online at unique-iceland.com (Iceland-the southern highlands).
Enjoy - a truly unique experience
Written 22 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon S
Las Vegas, NV183 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
This was a great through hike. The description of weather is accurate-cold Arctic Icelandic weather systems can be a constant. We had hard wind the entire trek. We bought hut tickets for Aftavan and Emstrur but ended up not staying in the latter hut (which was much nicer and cleaner) and going all the way to Porsmork. 56km/35 miles in 2 days with 10,000km/6 miles of gain the first day. I have a word of caution about this trek. I have been teaching outdoor climbing for rock and snow for 8 years. The huts do NOT have drying spaces nor adequate space to dry/hang your clothes after a very wet day. Two men lost their lives on this trail due to hypothermia and I'd like the trail association to please do the following-add a drying room that's adequate for all Trekkers. Post signs in the huts and where campers cook about the importance of drying your clothes immediately upon Arriving at the huts. Any damp necessities like gloves, hat or socks should be stuffed into the bottom of your sleeping bag. In the morning hopefully all will be dry. Aftavan hut is terribly cramped. The space is warm enough and the kitchen large and adequate. But eating and sleeping in such a small cramped space means people lose gear which happened to 2 Trekkers.
One lost his rain pants-a detrimental article of clothing. To hang clothes to dry or a space for all packs is almost impossible. Due to several river crossings on this trek I feel this is a danger to not have enough dry clothes. The warden in this hut may want to remind Trekkers to dry their garments immediately upon arrival, as the next day's crossings can be treacherous at least at the 2nd River. The warden has a nice place to stay, I think it's not expensive to add more space to inhabit the hut and dry so much wet clothes.
We were so thankful we didn't attempt to drive our F Road approved SUV to Landmannalaguar. The bus drivers are fantastic at navigating the rocky terrain and river crossings. Upon leaving asphalt it takes about one hour to reach the start at Landamannalaguar. There is an information booth I suggest you stop to see any new info posted. Many Trekkers leave gas cans so you can snag one if you wish. But if staying in huts they have plenty of burners for cooking and mattresses on beds-however taking a gas and stove on the cold trail may be a good idea if you want something warm to consume.
We ended in Porsmorck which is super tiny and quaint. One restaurant/bar had self serve dinner for 4,500 kr. It was fantastic! Hot food, salad, wine or beer.
You can buy bus tickets to Hella or Reykjavik at the restaurant the last bus in summer left at 8:40pm. The previous bus leaves at 6pm. These buses navigate crazy rivers on the way out so when the tourism office says you can't take a car to Porsmork believe them!
The best aspect of this trail was the incredible changing scenery. Follow the advice before starting for all clothing and equipment. Fog can disorient you quickly, we had a GPS and helped others who did not. Don't slip off trail you may find yourself in a hot geiser!
One lost his rain pants-a detrimental article of clothing. To hang clothes to dry or a space for all packs is almost impossible. Due to several river crossings on this trek I feel this is a danger to not have enough dry clothes. The warden in this hut may want to remind Trekkers to dry their garments immediately upon arrival, as the next day's crossings can be treacherous at least at the 2nd River. The warden has a nice place to stay, I think it's not expensive to add more space to inhabit the hut and dry so much wet clothes.
We were so thankful we didn't attempt to drive our F Road approved SUV to Landmannalaguar. The bus drivers are fantastic at navigating the rocky terrain and river crossings. Upon leaving asphalt it takes about one hour to reach the start at Landamannalaguar. There is an information booth I suggest you stop to see any new info posted. Many Trekkers leave gas cans so you can snag one if you wish. But if staying in huts they have plenty of burners for cooking and mattresses on beds-however taking a gas and stove on the cold trail may be a good idea if you want something warm to consume.
We ended in Porsmorck which is super tiny and quaint. One restaurant/bar had self serve dinner for 4,500 kr. It was fantastic! Hot food, salad, wine or beer.
You can buy bus tickets to Hella or Reykjavik at the restaurant the last bus in summer left at 8:40pm. The previous bus leaves at 6pm. These buses navigate crazy rivers on the way out so when the tourism office says you can't take a car to Porsmork believe them!
The best aspect of this trail was the incredible changing scenery. Follow the advice before starting for all clothing and equipment. Fog can disorient you quickly, we had a GPS and helped others who did not. Don't slip off trail you may find yourself in a hot geiser!
Written 24 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Slstump
8 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
Just finished hiking this trail from Landmannalaugar to Skógar and thought I'd post some info that may be helpful!
First off, this trail is incredible. It's gorgeous every step of the way. However, do be prepared for cold, rainy, and foggy conditions. Also be prepared for several deep river crossings...bring water shoes or strap-sandals (no flip flops!) as the currents are strong and the rocks are sharp.
As of August 2017, hut prices were 8000 Kr and camping 2000 Kr. You can pay for everything with credit cards, so there's really no need for cash on the trail. We found that most huts along the way had availability, so if you planned to camp but change your mind, there's a good chance you could get a spot in a hut on the fly.
Huts and camping spots all have clean drinking water and toilets.
The camp Landmannalaugar has a "mountain mall" where you can grab last-minute supplies and food. It's really the only spot along the trail to stock up. There is also a small bar/restaurant at the Álftavatn. It's crazy expensive, but good. The Volcano Huts in Thórsmörk also has a buffet-style restaurant and bar where you can get a delicious hot meal and drinks.
Check out as many side-hikes as you can...there are many magical spots along the way.
Feel free to message me with any other questions. Good luck and happy hiking!
First off, this trail is incredible. It's gorgeous every step of the way. However, do be prepared for cold, rainy, and foggy conditions. Also be prepared for several deep river crossings...bring water shoes or strap-sandals (no flip flops!) as the currents are strong and the rocks are sharp.
As of August 2017, hut prices were 8000 Kr and camping 2000 Kr. You can pay for everything with credit cards, so there's really no need for cash on the trail. We found that most huts along the way had availability, so if you planned to camp but change your mind, there's a good chance you could get a spot in a hut on the fly.
Huts and camping spots all have clean drinking water and toilets.
The camp Landmannalaugar has a "mountain mall" where you can grab last-minute supplies and food. It's really the only spot along the trail to stock up. There is also a small bar/restaurant at the Álftavatn. It's crazy expensive, but good. The Volcano Huts in Thórsmörk also has a buffet-style restaurant and bar where you can get a delicious hot meal and drinks.
Check out as many side-hikes as you can...there are many magical spots along the way.
Feel free to message me with any other questions. Good luck and happy hiking!
Written 12 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, I want to take a flight that will arrive in Reykjavik at 18hrs and take the first bus the next day to the start go the trail. Is it realistic that I could buy a canister of gas at these hours? I already checked with the campsite - they don't sell any. The shop at the BSI busstation closes at 17hrs.
Written 17 December 2023
Hi
I am looking to do the Laugavegur trail to Dortsmork in July 2020. I know the trail is getting busier every year and am unsure how crowded the campsites will be.
Photos of the campsite show most tents being dome. I have a tunnel (backpacking) tent 410cm long and worried, with crowding, it will be too big. I don't want to buy a new tent just for this trip. Will it be okay?
Also, for the campstove, is gas or liquid fuel lost readily available in Iceland please.
Thank you.
Written 31 December 2019
By the way there are always extra spots for oversize tents. Not the most scenic spots and most of the time further from campsite facilities. But Icelandic rangers will always to able to help you out. Larger groups such as scouts always found a spot for the whole gang all along the trail. Cheers.
Written 31 December 2019
Ciao ragazzi, volevo chiedere in questo blog se cera qualche malintenzionato come me che avrebbe in mente di partire in solitaria per il laugavegur questo luglio, grazie mille
Written 6 June 2019
I am planning to do the hike and end in Skogar. I know the last part of the hike is about 25 Km (8-10) hours and I am wondering if it is possible to catch a bus back to Reykjavik at the end of the day - say leaving Skogar around 18:00. Any suggestions where to look for schedules/prices?
Written 27 January 2019
Per what I find on Google Map via public transportation direction, the last bus leaves at 4:25pm from Skoger on most days and you have a few option on transfer.
The bus company Strato’s phone is 354 540 2700
Written 27 January 2019
We will be visiting Iceland next week. We have rented a car for 15 days to cross the country mainly on the Ring Road. However, we also want to do the 4-day Laugavegur trail during our round trip. Is there a cost-efficient way to drop our car somewhere for 4 days(in the neighbourhood) and to take the public transport to Landmannalaugur and from Thorsmork back to the car? Or is it possible to reach one of these destinations ourselves (we have a 4x4) and to pick it up at the end? I have already done a lot of research, but only find trips starting in Reykjavik.
Written 29 August 2018
Hi, Kelsey. What would you like to know about this attraction?
Was there a general admission fee to hike? Or was the only thing that cost money on the hike was the huts/sleeping arrangements?
Written 19 July 2018
Fees are: transportation to site (usually the wonderful Landmannalaugar). Usually bus trip from Reykjavik. There are five huts (actually six, but two are close to one another) on the trip, and staying in huts is much more expensive than camping. At each designated site you can stay in a hut, or camp in a tent. Food is another expense, which you largely have to bring with you (there is a restaurant at the Alftavatn hut and then at Volcano Huts n Thorsmork.) These restaurants are good but expensive. There is no fee to access the trail. This is an absolutely wonderful trek, and I've just done it for the second time, now with my 16-year-old son.
Written 19 July 2018
Hi, I would like to know how much money we need to take with us? Is it possible to pay by card in camps? And do you think we can get to Landmannalaugar when we stop a car to hitch a ride?
Written 29 June 2018
sorry for delayed response
hitch hiking car: no idea; guess not, as its a business.......sometimes up to crazy prices, when going fancy largely overpriced 4x4
credit card; no iedea; guess so as Iceland is highly developed IT
anyhow, still always good to have sufficient cash, in case of power cuts whatsoever natural events: its Iceland
cheers
Tim
Written 28 August 2018
Hello. How did you get to Landmannalaugar? It says that the access roads are still not open. We are there next week and are a bit confused. Thanks.
Written 11 June 2018
Also; if you do travel inland using own transportation, please be aware to NEVER leave the tracks. Doing so will damage nature and being Iceland that will easily take over a decade to be replaced /regrow. Even if the greenery doesn’t look much and there is another car approaching, please be careful. We spotten quite a lot of damage done by people by not being careful (or just uninformed) and it’s such a shame.
Written 11 June 2018
Buonasera, a settembre faremo il sentiero del laugavegur allungandoci fino a Skogar, abbiamo a disposizione un giorno di relax prima di rientrare a reykjavik quindi la domanda è... meglio fermarsi un giorno a landmannalaugur il primo giorno o a skogar alla fine? Grazie
Written 7 June 2018
Buonasera, a settembre faremo il sentiero del laugavegur allungandoci fino a Skogar, abbiamo a disposizione un giorno di relax prima di rientrare a reykjavik quindi la domanda è... meglio fermarsi un giorno a landmannalaugur il primo giorno o a skogar alla fine? Grazie
Written 7 June 2018
tnx for writing Italian; what I understand is yoouwish a relaxing day, either at the beginning, or the end of the L-gar/Skogar trail;
depends on your wishes; both place can be crowded; at L-gar you'll have accessible thermal bath; why not go reykjavik, and have the asing menu at Apothek restautant.....
and apologies for dekayed response
cheers
Tim
Written 28 August 2018
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