Get ready to dive into the wild wonderland of Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail on this women-only adventure! Imagine this: you’re trekking through untamed landscapes shaped by the fiery fury of volcanoes and the icy embrace of glaciers. Everywhere you look, there’s something straight out of a fairy tale. From rainbow mountains and pitch-black deserts to petrified lava fields and lush emerald valleys—every step unveils a new marvel. But your extraordinary guides aren’t just here to point out the obvious—they’ll lead you off the beaten path to discover hidden gems that’ll blow your mind. So grab your gear and let’s embark on an epic journey through Iceland’s natural wonders. This is more than just a hike in one of the globe’s premier hiking destinations—it’s a chance to connect with amazing women and unleash your inner adventurer!
We take the public bus from the BSI bus terminal at 6:30/7am, which, during the summer months, follows mountain tracks leading to Landmannalaugar, passing by the Hekla volcano and other volcanoes in the Dómadalur area. Arriving in Landmannalaugar at noon, we have lunch before heading south into the mountains. The trail takes us through small gorges, past steaming hot springs, and along striking yellow mountain ridges. We arrive at the Hrafntinnusker mountain hut in the late afternoon, where we will spend the night.
Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Ascent: 470 m (1,540 ft)
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hrafntinnusker mountain hut
From Hrafntinnusker, we make our way down through the gullies of Jökultungur, where steaming hot springs and bubbling mud pools surround us. Along the way, we take in breathtaking views of the Álftavatn area (Swan Lake) and the majestic Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. In the afternoon, we arrive at Hvanngil hut, nestled at the base of the striking green volcano Stórasúla, where we will spend the night.
Distance: 15-16 km (9.3-9.9 miles)
Walking time: 5 hours
Descent: 440 m (1,443 ft)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hvanngil mountain hut
Leaving the lush oasis of Hvanngil behind, we journey into the vast black deserts of Mælifellssandur. As we approach the ancient, green-covered Hattfell volcano, we enter the Emstrur region, once used by farmers for summer sheep grazing. Before reaching the Botnar hut for the night, we take a detour to admire the breathtaking Markarfljót canyon, which plunges nearly 200 meters into the rugged landscape south of Hattfell.
Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Walking time: 6 hours
Descent: 100 m (328 ft)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Botnar mountain hut
We trek through the rolling valleys and gullies of Emstrur, with the towering Mýrdalsjökull glacier just a few kilometers away. As our journey nears its end, we descend into the lush greenery of Þórsmörk, where arctic birch forests and vibrant wildflowers create a stunning landscape. Upon reaching the huts, we celebrate our incredible adventure with a well-earned barbecue!
Distance: 19 km (12 miles)
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Descent: 300 m (985 ft)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mountain hut in Thórsmörk
We spend the morning exploring Þórsmörk, following one of its many scenic trails. Options include visiting the Sönghellir cave (Song Cave) or hiking up Valahnúkur, a small mountain offering breathtaking panoramic views. In the afternoon, we take the bus back to Reykjavík, arriving at the BSI bus terminal at 7:20pm, where our journey comes to an end.
Distance: 5-8 km (3-5 miles)
Walking time: 3-4 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Add-ons (available to add upon checkout, must be added before the tour):
Not included:
For the Laugavegur Trail, you need to be able to hike for 5 consecutive days while carrying a daypack. Each day you will hike between 4 and 7 hours. On top of that, volcanic terrain can be challenging and the weather unforgiving. That said, if you are looking for adventure and up to the task of multiple days of full-day trekking, you’ll be rewarded immensely!
The most you’ll hike within a day is 19 km (12 mi), up to 7 hours, with up to 470 m (1,540 ft) of elevation gain. For day-by-day distances and elevation changes, check out the itinerary!
In terms of backpack weight, you will only need to carry a smaller day backpack with your lunch, water bottle, medication, sunglasses, river crossing shoes, rain gear, and other items or clothing you might need for the day. A great thing about this trip is that luggage transfers are included, making your hiking experience far more comfortable.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in warm clothes you can move in. Iceland is home to infamously unpredictable weather, so you need to be prepared with the right gear.
There is a limited space on the luggage trailer, so try to pack light out of consideration to other passengers on the tour and use a a waterproof duffel bag which is easier to store. If you have extra luggage that you would like to leave, we recommend storing luggage at the BSI Bus terminal (fees apply) or another luggage storage space in Reykjavik.
Group sizes and pricing
All-women classic Laugavegur Trail tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 16, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
If you are an individual traveler, you are more than welcome to join the group. The guide will be adding travelers until the minimum group size to confirm the trip can be guaranteed. There are no supplements to individual travelers, as they will share a room.
To get to this Laugavegur Trail tours, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF). From there, it’s best to hop on a shuttle to Reykjavik, or you can take a taxi. It takes about 45 minutes to reach Reykjavik.
It is recommended to arrive at least one day before the tour. If you’re flying in from the U.S. or will be landing early (4-6:30 am), you should be able to join the tour, but some risks would follow (i.e., if the flight gets delayed) and could miss out on the tour. This is, therefore, not recommended! Accommodation for the night prior to the tour is at your arrangement.
You will meet your guide at 6:30am at the BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavik and begin your journey to into Iceland’s wilderness!
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Iceland, the “Land of Fire and Ice”, has forever lived with volcanic activity. Minor and major eruptions have occurred every few years since the island was formed. Some of Iceland’s appeal, aside from sheer natural beauty, surely stems from this very fact.
However, every new eruption, such as the recent Reykjanes Peninsula fissure, will make some travelers, tourists, and adventurers uneasy, especially given the fact that sensationalist media is not immune to misinformation and speculation.
Since we work with a number of expert local guides in Iceland, we thought we’d share their input and fill you in on what’s actually going on.
First of all, air traffic has not been affected. Flights to and from Keflavík International Airport and Reykjavík Domestic Airport are operating as they always do.
Second, the effects of volcanic activity have been localized, with some roads closed, and all services in Iceland are operating as usual. Reykjavik, the capital, is around 40 km (25 miles) away from the volcanic fissure, and life there is as normal as ever.
And third, trips offered by 57hours are taking place much further away, and are thereby even less likely to be affected by the volcanic activity, being perfectly safe for adventurers. Naturally, the authorities (and guides) are monitoring the situation and doing everything possible to keep both local residents and visitors safe and well informed.
In case you have any additional questions or dilemmas, feel free to get in touch with either your guide or 57hours. For more information, please visit:
https://safetravel.is/
https://www.visiticeland.com/article/volcano-info
Or watch the video with Dr. Matthew Roberts from the Icelandic Meteorological Office explaining the recent volcanic activities in Iceland:
https://youtu.be/QA3-BXYuYrw?feature=shared
Deposits
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
