Hiking the Laugavegur Trail
Season
Mid-June through mid-September
Nearest city
The trail is a 3-hour drive from Reykjavik
57hours verified
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There are must-hike destinations on every hiker’s bucket list — the Appalachian Trail, the Haute Route, rim to rim in the Grand Canyon, or Shackelton’s Route — but the Laugavegur Trail, a 34 mile trek through Iceland’s southern highlands, stands out amongst its peers in that the scale of its geographical diversity is unmatched.
No matter whether you decide to hike the trail from north to south (Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, or Thórsmörk) or vice-versa, be prepared for glaciers, waterfalls, thermal springs, black sand deserts, mountains, and the odd, active volcano, yes, volcano. Eyjafjallajökull, which erupted in 2010, is just an 8.7km hike from the traditional terminus of the trail at Thórsmörk. Thórsmörk, coincidentally, owes its name to the Icelandic god Thor striking down his hammer and creating a valley between the Tindfjallajökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. Not every hike ends in a mythical place, but this one does. Along the way, there are huts for overnight stays in addition to spots for camping. Plan well in advance, keep your eye on the weather, and get ready for a hike unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.
Most popular tours and hikes for exploring the Laugavegur Trail
Laugavegur Trail
Are you visiting Iceland but don’t have enough time to hike the whole trail? On this two day tour, you’ll hike the trail from south to north, from Thórsmörk to Landmannalaugar, and cover about 16.2 miles out of the traditional 34. Don’t worry, though, there’s plenty of challenging hiking and scenery even on this shortened variation.
Laugavegur Trek Classic (Huts)
Hike the trail in its entirety with this 5-day trek. Look forward to spending each night in mountain huts along the way after walking an average of 4-7 hours per day. Your local expert guide will lead you and your group through all of the geological wonders along the way.
Grand Laugavegur Trek
Hike the classic but instead of going home after reaching Thórsmörk, hike to the high mountain pass at Fimmvörðuháls — the ridge between the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. After the former’s eruption in 2010, there are now two new craters to see, Magni and Móði. The second extra day of the classic will bring you to Mount Útigönguhöfði, where you’ll have an amazing view of the whole valley. After that, it’s back to Reykjavík.
Who should hike the Laugavegur Trail?
This one is definitely for intermediate-level hikers and kids over 14 years old. There are some steeper climbs and river crossings along the way, so previous experience definitely helps as hike the entirety of the trail. But if you are fit and looking for an adventure, this is a must-hike trail for sure.
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