Laugavegur Trail - Self Guided

Hut Itinerary: Reykjavík - Landmannalaugar - Hrafntinnusker
You will take the public scheduled bus that, during the summer months drives the mountain tracks that lead to Landmannalaugar, passing by the Hekla volcano and other volcanoes in the Dómadalur area. The bus leaves from Reykjavík. Arriving in Landmannalaugar at noon, it is ideal to have lunch and then head south into the mountains. The trail takes you past small gorges, steaming hot springs and yellow mountain ridges. Arrival at Hrafntinnusker mountain hut in the late afternoon, were you will stay the night,.

• Distance: 12 km (7.5 mi)
• Walking time: 4 - 5 hrs
• Ascent: 470 m (1540 ft)

From Hrafntinnusker you descend down in the gullies of Jökultungur with hundreds of steaming hot springs and mud pools. Up there you enjoy fascinating views to the south to the Álftavatn area (Swan Lake), and the Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. In the afternoon you arrive at Hvanngil hut, located at the foot of the green conic volcano Stórasúla. Here you will stay the night.

• Distance: 15-16km (9.3-9.9 mi)
• Active walking time: 5 hrs
• Descent: 440 m (1443 ft)

You leave the green oasis of Hvanngil and continue your hike, entering the black deserts of Mælifellssandur. Heading towards another ancient and verdurous volcano, the Hattfell, you enter the Emstrur region where farmers used to graze their sheep in summer. Before arriving at the Botnar hut where you stay the night, you can visit the magnificent Markarfljót canyon cut almost 200 m down into the rocks south of Hattfell.

• Distance: 12km (7.5 miles)
• Active walking time: 6 hrs
• Descent: 100 m (328 ft)

Continue up and down through the small valleys and gullies of Emstrur, where the great Mýrdalsjökull glacier rises only a couple of kilometers away. At the end of the day the vegetation starts to grow thicker and higher as you descend into Þórsmörk's green valleys (the woods of Thor), filled with arctic birch forests and colorful flowers. Accommodation in one of the huts in Þórsmörk.

Distance: 19 km (12 mi)

Walking time: 6 - 7 hrs

Descent: 300 m (985 ft)

You spend the morning in Þórsmörk with a possibility of walking along one of its numerous paths. For example, visit the Sönghellir cave (“Song cave”) or climb the small mountain of Valahnúkur from where magnificent views can be enjoyed, before taking the afternoon bus back to Reykjavík. Arrival at Reykjavik Central bus Station at around 19:30.

Please note

All of the huts are heated, some have electricity and some have hot water. They all have bunk rooms with single and twin beds, participants have to be prepared to share a bunk with other travellers.