Hiking & Trekking Multi-Day Tours

4-Day Thorsmork Glacier Valley Hiking Adventure

New tour

Get into the journey of a lifetime on this amazing hiking experience in the glacier valley of Þórsmörk and up to the Fimmvörðuháls pass.

2024 Dates

10 - 13 June
01 - 04 July
08 - 11 July
22 - 25 July
05 - 08 August
19 - 22 August
26 - 29 August
02 - 05 September
09 - 12 September

Tour code: IMG32

Spectacular view over the glacier on the Thorsmork hiking trail

A group of people with a guide walking on a lush walk path on Fimmvörðuháls

Lisa

A person in the distance with a glacier in the background

Arnar Már Ólafsson

A group with a guide hiking on a sandy mountain on Fimmvörðuháls

Andrea Burgherr

Sandy mountain on Fimmvörðuháls

Andrea Burgherr

A group of people with a guide walking on an icy path on Fimmvörðuháls

Lisa

A group of people with a guide walking on a sandy path on Fimmvörðuháls

Lisa

A view of Thorsmörk valley and Skogar with streams and lush grass

Kristín Manúelsdóttir

Þórsmörk (Thorsmork) is the last part of the famous Laugavegur trail, considered by many, the most beautiful part. It is named after the Norse god Thor, situated between three glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and Tindfjallajökull. To get there you need to cross several unbridged rivers, only reachable by large 4x4 vehicles.

Þórsmörk is regarded as “the hikers paradise” among Icelanders: breath-taking scenery, vast landscapes, and numerous trails to follow, you will immerse yourself into the purest Icelandic nature has on offer. In this relatively small area, you will be able to cross rivers, hike mountains, walk by lava fields, contemplate the uniqueness of a glacier, and get amazing views of this unique area.

All of this while having fun in a safe way with our top-of-notch guides, which will show you the amazing hidden gems these valleys treasure, such as the canyons, craters, and caves that only experienced locals know about. We top off this amazing adventure with a celebratory BBQ on the last night in our Hut! All three nights are spent in the same hut.

Tour Overview

Meeting point

BSI bus terminal at 6:30 am
Group size

4-16 participants
Language

English
Accommodation

Mountain Hut
Walkin per day

4-7 hrs.
Total Distance

40 km
Max Ascent

1000 m (3280 ft)
Difficulty

Moderate
Availability

Summer Hiking Season
Duration

4 days
14

Minimum age:

14 yrs

2024 Dates

June

10-13th

July

1st-4th 8th-11th 22nd-25th

august

5th-8th 19th-22nd 26th-29th

September

2nd-5th 9th-12th

Book this tour

Tour Highlights

Included

Experienced and qualified guide
Mountain hut sleeping bag accommodation in dormitories
Transport at the beginning and end of the trek
Breakfast (3), lunch (4), dinner (3)

Not Included

Sleeping bag
Hiking poles
Showers in the hut (payable on site)
Vegan/vegetarian/pescatarian meal plan

Optional Extras

Sleeping bag
Hiking poles
Vegan/vegetarian/pescatarian meal plan

Tour Map and Itinerary

Click map for detailed itinerary

We start our journey by boarding the highland bus from BSI bus terminal which will drive us all the way to the beautiful glacier valley of Þórsmörk. On the route we will pass by the picturesque villages of Selfoss, Hella and Hvolsvöllur. We’ll get off the bus at Básar hut, where we will lodge for the next 3 nights. After lunch, our first hike will be to visit Álfakirkja (church of elves), a unique rock formation with a small cave underneath and hike either into the beautiful Hvannárgil valley or up to Mt. Réttarfell. Return to our hut in time to prepare dinner.

Hike 5-8 km (3-5 mi)

Active walking time: 3-4 hrs.

Ascent and descent 400 m (1312')

We climb up the hills leading to the pass of Fimmvörðuháls, walking along the Kattarhryggir ridges with views over the impressive mountain of Útigönguhöfði up to Morinsheiði heath. At the end of the Morinsheiði plateau we will enjoy the view of the lava stream that flowed down from the Fimmvörðuháls volcano in March and early April 2010. As we gain height above Morinsheiði, we will reach the lava field and the two craters Magni and Móði that erupted prior to the main Eyjafjallajökull crater. We head back to Þórsmörk with the magnificent view over the glaciers and this beautiful valley for our dinner and another night in our hut.

Hike 18 km (11 mi)

Active walking time: 7 hrs.

Ascent/descent 1000 m (3280')

Today we will hike a scenic trail with an extraordinary view over Goðaland, the glaciers and the inner part of Þórsmörk. We start the hike by crossing the Krossá river on foot bridges, and then we will proceed into the Slyppugil valley and towards Tindfjallagil where we will find a unique rock formation with a small cave underneath, called Tröllakirkja (church of trolls). Heading down, we will follow the banks of Krossá river until we find the brigde, and return to our hut for a delicious barbeque feast!

Hike 16-18 km (10-11 mi)

Active walking time: 4-7 hrs.

Ascent/descent 450 m (1470')

We spend the morning in Þórsmörk and climb up the small mountain of Valahnúkur and enjoy its breath-taking views over the surrounding landscape. From there we descent to the cave Sönghellir (Song cave) and to Húsadalur. We then head back to Langidalur from where we will board the afternoon bus to Reykjavík. Arrival at Reykjavik BSI bus terminal at 19:20.

Hike 5-10 km (3-6 mi)

Active walking time 3 hrs.

Ascent/descent 200 m (650')

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

Click to activate the map

I am a vegetarian/vegan/gluten intolerant, will there be a food option for me, what is it?

Special dietary options, such as vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, and gluten-free, are available for an additional cost. These options will provide meals that meet the requirements of your diet.

The date I want to book is not available, can I still request to book?

How is it best to train for my tour?

To train for this tour, we highly recommend taking regular hikes in your local area, especially in places where the route includes both uphill and downhill segments, as well as uneven terrain. It's beneficial to carry some weight on your back during these hikes to simulate the conditions you'll experience on the tour. Begin with shorter walks and progressively increase their length to build the endurance needed for the longer hiking days you'll encounter during the tour.

Incorporating both low aerobic and aerobic training will help you build the strength and endurance required for longer hikes.

Lastly, it's crucial to train in the boots you plan to wear on the tour. Ensure they are well broken-in and comfortable to prevent blisters and discomfort during your trip.

For your own well being and safety, we strongly suggest following the advice of our equipment list, this includes having good quality rain-gear, tops and bottoms! Please respect that cotton clothing is not appropriate for any strenuous outdoor activity. Modern outdoor clothing is by far more comfortable and will greatly improve your experience.

Boots and Clothing

Sturdy Hiking Boots – waterproof with good ankle support.
Long sleeve shirt (thermal underwear) – Wool or synthetic.
T-shirt (thermal underwear), Wool or synthetic.
Light wool or fleece sweater (2nd layer).
Trousers – Strong and light material that dries quickly e.g. soft-shell.
Jacket with a good hood – windproof, waterproof and breathable, e.g. Gore-Tex or comparable.
Rain trousers – windproof, waterproof and breathable. Please note that full raingear is mandatory in Iceland, poncho is not useful because of wind.
Gloves – Wool or synthetic 2 pairs of different thickness.
Socks – Wool or synthetic. Two or three pairs.
Warm hat – Wool or synthetic.
Swimwear if you want to bathe in the hot geothermal pool in Landmannalaugar.

Other gear

A duffel bag for the transport of your overnight gear between huts. Please avoid bringing a suitcase!
Day backpack for extra clothes and lunch pack during the day. 25 – 40L (1500 – 2500 cu in).
River shoes – Walking sandals or old running shoes with a good grip are a good choice, along with a pair of warm socks or neoprene socks. Open sandals or flip-flops will not do the job.
Sleeping bag. A basic sleeping bag with no specific temperature rating is sufficient for this trek since all the huts are heated.
Towel – light weight and packable.
Sunglasses & sun protection.
Water container – thermos flask, water bottle 0.5 – 1L. or camelbak.
Headlamp for reading and getting around the hut.
Change of clothes for wearing in the hut.
Personal first aid kit – including blister care.
Prescription medication and other personal health items.
Toiletries; Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap etc.
Earplugs.
Lunch box

Optional gear

Walking pole(s). To preserve the vulnerable nature please keep the rubber tip protectors on.
Power-bank / extra battery for your electronics – small solar cells usually do not work that well in Iceland, so a pre-charged power bank is a better option. Charging your electronics in the highlands often is not an option or will cost you extra. Having converters adapters for 220 V and/or USB will help.
Gaiters (recommended for departures in June and early July).
Pocket knife.
Sun/rain hat or a cap. Shorts.
Small thermal mat (to sit on for lunch breaks).
Puffy jacket (e.g. Primaloft or down).
Dry-bags for electronics and extra clothing.
Slippers for indoor use.
Pillow or pillow case (to wrap around your warm sweater or down jacket for a pillow).
Playing cards and travel games – or other toys you might like and can travel.
Cash– for the showers, a shower normally costs about 500 ISK.
Book - to read during the evenings.
Aperitif or other heart-warming spirits: Liquor laws in Iceland prohibit the sale of alcohol in most places you come by on your trip in the highlands. So, having a flask (preferably plastic or metal) to share with your fellow travels in front of the camp fire (gas heater) can be the crowning of a good day. You can take care of this in the duty-free up on arrival in Iceland if you like. Just follow all the Icelanders on your flight, they will take you straight to duty-free!