Plan your Laugavegur Trail hike in Iceland with route details, camping info, and tips for tackling this 55 km highland trek.
The Laugavegur Trail is consistently ranked among the world's great multi-day hikes. The 55 km route runs through Iceland's Southern Highlands from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, crossing terrain that does not look real from any reasonable distance: steaming rhyolite mountains in colors that photograph like a filter, vast obsidian lava fields, glacial river crossings, and black sand deserts beneath ice caps. Between 75,000 and 100,000 people hike it each year during its short summer window.
This guide covers everything you need to plan and hike it: the route day by day, accommodation options, logistics for getting there and back, what to pack, and what the trail actually demands.
Trail Overview and Key Facts
The Laugavegur Trail runs 55 km point-to-point from Landmannalaugar in the north to Þórsmörk in the south, with a total elevation gain of approximately 1,000 meters. The highest point is near Hrafntinnusker at around 1,100 meters.
Difficulty is rated moderate to hard. The trail is well-marked with wooden posts throughout, but terrain varies significantly between sections: rocky volcanic ground, river crossings, snowfields in early season, and exposed ridgelines above the valleys. Good physical fitness for 4 to 5 days of consecutive hiking with a full pack is the baseline requirement.
The trail is open from late June through early September. Most hikers complete it in 4 to 5 days. Many continue over the Fimmvörðuháls Pass from Þórsmörk to Skogafoss waterfall, adding 1 to 2 more days and turning it into a 6 to 7 day traverse of the Southern Highlands.
Trail Season and When to Go
Late June sees the trail officially open, but significant snow may remain above 900 meters near Hrafntinnusker. River crossings are at seasonal lows, meaning easier crossings, but some hut amenities are not yet fully operational.
July is the peak month. Most reliable weather, longest daylight at 18 to 21 hours, and the trail fully snow-free under normal conditions. The Laugavegur Ultra Marathon runs in mid-July, which fills huts on that specific weekend.
August delivers excellent conditions with slightly shorter days at 16 to 18 hours, peak wildflowers, and rivers running higher after warm spells. Huts are still busy, but the trail has slightly fewer hikers than in July.
Early September brings autumn colors and dramatically empty trails. Temperatures drop to 0 to 6°C, and huts close around September 5 to 10 depending on the year. Weather is more variable. For hikers comfortable with cooler conditions and genuine solitude, early September is exceptional.
Starting on a weekday rather than a weekend significantly reduces congestion at hut sites.
The Route Day by Day
Day 1: Landmannalaugar to Hrafntinnusker
Distance: 12 km
Elevation: Significant gain to the ridge plateau
Landmannalaugar is the most geothermal and visually extreme section of the entire route. The trail leaves the multicolored rhyolite mountains and ascends through steaming vents, obsidian lava fields, and snowfields to the Hrafntinnusker plateau. The plateau sits at around 1,100 meters and gives panoramic views over the highland interior.
The overnight hut at Hrafntinnusker is basic: a sleeping loft, toilets, and cold water. The location, in an active geothermal area with steam vents visible from the hut, makes up for the limited facilities.
Day 2: Hrafntinnusker to Alftavatn
Distance: 12 km
Elevation: Descent from plateau to lakeside
The longest descent day on the trail. The route drops from the Hrafntinnusker plateau through increasingly green highland terrain toward Alftavatn Lake. This section involves the first significant river crossings of the trail.
Alftavatn is a glacial lake with mountain huts on the shore and glacier views across the water. The setting is one of the most conventionally beautiful campsites on the route.
Day 3: Alftavatn to Emstrur
Distance: 15 km
Elevation: Relatively flat across volcanic desert
The longest day on the trail by distance and the most geologically dramatic. The route crosses from the lakeshore into a black sand desert beneath the Myrdalsjokull ice cap. River crossings here can be the most challenging on the trail depending on water levels, particularly the Innri-Emstru crossing.
The Emstrur huts sit in a dramatic position above the Markarfljót canyon. The canyon gorge below the huts, carved by glacial meltwater, is one of the most impressive natural features on the entire trail and is reached by a short walk from the hut.
Day 4: Emstrur to Thorsmork
Distance: 15 km
Elevation: Final descent into birch forest
The final section descends from the volcanic desert into the birch-filled valley of Þórsmörk. The contrast between the landscapes of the previous three days and the green, sheltered valley at the end is one of the most satisfying conclusions any multi-day hike delivers.
Þórsmörk sits between three glaciers: Eyjafjallajokull, Myrdalsjokull, and Tindfjallajokull. The valley is protected from highland winds by the surrounding peaks, which gives it a completely different character from the exposed terrain earlier in the route. The huts here are more comfortable than those at the intermediate stops.
Accommodation Options on the Laugavegur Trail
Mountain Huts
The Iceland Touring Association (Ferdalag Islands) operates mountain huts at Landmannalaugar, Hrafntinnusker, Alftavatn, Hvanngil (an alternative to Alftavatn), Emstrur, and Þórsmörk. Booking is mandatory during the summer season.
The cost to reserve a spot at each hut is ISK 15,800 per location as of the 2025 to 2026 booking season. This covers a sleeping space in the dormitory-style hut with basic facilities. Showers and cooking facilities vary by location.
Book hut spaces through the Iceland Touring Association website at fi.is as early as possible. Huts fill weeks to months ahead for July travel. Cancellations and date changes carry fees.
Camping Along the Trail
Camping is permitted at designated areas adjacent to each mountain hut, not freely along the route. Tent pitches are booked through the same Iceland Touring Association system and cost less than indoor hut places.
The camping experience on the Laugavegur Trail is significantly more exposed than hut sleeping. Iceland's highland weather can turn severe without warning even in July. A quality 3 to 4 season tent rated for high winds is essential. The lightweight festival-style tents that work for European campsite holidays are not suitable here.
Getting to and from the Trailheads
Landmannalaugar in the north and Þórsmörk in the south are both accessible by highland bus from Reykjavik during the summer season. The main bus operators serving the Laugavegur trailheads are Trex and Reykjavik Excursions.
Buses from Reykjavik to Landmannalaugar take approximately 4 hours. Buses from Þórsmörk back to Reykjavik take approximately 3 to 3.5 hours. Both services operate only during the summer hiking season, typically mid-June through mid-September.
The roads to both trailheads are F-roads requiring a 4x4. Do not attempt to drive a standard 2WD car to Landmannalaugar or Þórsmörk. The highland bus provides safe access for hikers without a qualifying vehicle.
Book transport in both directions before booking the trail. Summer highland buses fill weeks in advance. Missing a bus from Þórsmörk means a significant problem since the location has no other practical exit route on foot.
What to Pack for the Laugavegur Trail
The Laugavegur Trail demands full self-sufficiency between huts. No restaurants or shops exist on the route. Carry all food for each day's hiking plus emergency reserves.
Shelter and sleeping:
3 to 4 season tent rated for high winds if camping
Sleeping bag rated to -5°C minimum, even for summer hiking
Sleeping bag liner for additional warmth
Clothing:
Thermal base layers, top and bottom
Fleece or insulated mid-layer
Waterproof and windproof hardshell jacket
Waterproof trousers
Warm hat, gloves, and buff or neck gaiter
Trekking poles are strongly recommended for river crossings and descent stability
Footwear:
Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support and grip soles
Gaiters for snowfields and wet terrain in early season
Sandals for river crossings (optional but useful)
Navigation and safety:
Downloaded offline maps for the Laugavegur route on AllTrails or Komoot before you leave cell coverage
Physical map of the trail as backup
Registered travel plan at safetravel.is before entering the highlands
Food:
Lightweight, calorie-dense meals for 4 to 5 days
No cooking facilities guaranteed at every hut, so carry a portable stove and fuel
River Crossings on the Laugavegur Trail
River crossings are the most serious safety challenge on the Laugavegur Trail and catch the most unprepared hikers. Glacial rivers change depth and current speed with temperature: crossings that were easy in the morning can be significantly more difficult by afternoon as snowmelt raises water levels.
The general approach for safe river crossings:
Find the widest and shallowest crossing point, which is usually not directly where the trail enters the water. Loosen your pack straps and undo the hip belt before entering so you can shed the pack quickly if you fall. Use trekking poles for balance. Cross diagonally downstream, not directly across. If traveling in a group, link arms for stability. If you are not confident in the crossing, wait or turn back.
Never cross a glacial river if the water is above mid-thigh, if you cannot see the bottom, or if the current seems stronger than expected. Glacial river accidents are a consistent cause of highland emergencies in Iceland every summer.
Self-Guided vs Guided Laugavegur Hike
Self-guided hiking gives complete control over your schedule and pace. You book the huts, arrange transport, carry your own food, and make all daily decisions independently. It is the more common approach and entirely manageable for experienced multi-day hikers with good navigational skills.
Guided trips handle logistics, provide a certified guide for safety and navigation, and often include food and hut bookings. They cost significantly more but reduce the planning and safety burden, particularly for less experienced hikers. Several operators run small group Laugavegur trips during the summer season.
The trail is well-marked enough that experienced hikers do not technically need a guide for navigation in good conditions. Where guides add value is in weather judgment calls, river crossing assessment, and the confidence that comes from having a professional make the go or no-go decisions.
