Get thunderstruck by arresting vistas of Thórsmörk over 4 days on this hut-based adventure. Named after the hammer-wielding Norse god and nestled between three glaciers, this valley is Icelanders’ favorite hiking destination—and for a good reason. Once you cross the unbridged rivers, you will have reached a remote fantasyland where jagged basalt peaks are veiled in impossibly green moss and electric blue rivulets form braided streams at the bottom of awe-inspiring mountain passes. You’ll get to wander about lava fields before peaking into hidden caves and smell the sulfur near steaming craters while learning about Iceland’s mythology and geological history. Join your expert guide and get an in-depth, yet fuss-free experience of Thórsmörk—one of the best places to hike in Iceland.
The last section of Laugavegur, one of the world’s best treks
Volcanic landscapes, lush forests, and spots only locals know about
Stay in a hut scenically located in the heart of Thórsmörk
Thórsmörk is known for being the final and arguably most scenic section of the famous Laugavegur Trek. This adventure gives you a more in-depth experience of the famous valley, as well as nearby areas famous for volcanic activity—most notably Fimmvörðuháls. Every day, you will get to explore the different locations with epic natural phenomena and return to your hut conveniently located in the heart of Thórsmörk to enjoy freshly prepared meals.
Your journey starts with boarding the highland bus from BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik which will take you to the glacial valley of Thórsmörk. En route, your group will pass by the picturesque villages of Selfoss, Hella and Hvolsvöllur and finally get to the Langidalur hut, your accommodation for the next 3 nights. Your hiking starts after lunch with crossing the bridge over the Krossá river before visiting Tröllakirkja (“Troll church”)—a unique rock formation with a small cave underneath it. Later, you will choose with your guide to hike either into the spectacular Hvannárgil canyon or up to Mt. Réttarfel, which offers great views of the surrounding landscapes. After your hiking expedition, your group will return to the hut in time to prepare dinner.
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Hiking: 5-8 km/3-5 miles, active walking time: 3-4 hrs
Ascent/descent: 400 m/1,310 ft
On Day 2, you will explore the areas which remind you of the ever-continuing volcanic activity in Iceland. Climb up the hills leading you to the pass of Fimmvörðuháls, walking along the Kattarhryggir ridges surrounded by sprawling views over the impressive mountain of Útigönguhöfði up to the Morinsheiði heath. Reaching the end of the Morinsheiði plateau, enjoy the views of the petrified lava that flowed down from the Fimmvörðuháls volcano in 2010. You will also go to another lava field and the two craters—Magni and Móði—which were formed before the main eruption from the Eyjafjallajökull crater. Head back to Thórsmörk with the views of the glaciers surrounding the valley. After dinner, get a good night’s sleep at Langidalur Hut.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 18 km/11 miles, active walking time: 6-7 hrs
Ascent/descent: 1,000 m/3,280 ft
On Day 3, you will walk the scenic trail offering great views over Goðaland, the glaciers, and the inner part of Thórsmörk. Afterwards, your group will climb Mt Rjúpnafell before heading down following the sinuous Krossá river, bringing you back to the hut for a barbeque party with your guide and fellow hikers!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 14-16 km/8.5-10 miles, active walking time: 4-7 hrs
Ascent/descent: 450 m/1,480 ft
After spending the morning in Thórsmörk, you will climb up the mountain of Valahnúkur to get the last chance to relish the dramatic views over the surrounding landscapes. From there, your group will descend to the Sönghellir cave (“Song cave”) and to Húsadalur. Head back to Langidalur and board the afternoon bus to Reykjavík. You’re expected to arrive in Reykjavik at 19:20. Say goodbye to your group and to Iceland, or continue touring on your own!
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 5-6 km/3-3.7 miles, active walking time: 3 hrs
Ascent/descent: 200 m/650 ft
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
Optional extras (have to be rented before the tour):
To participate in this guided hiking adventure in Thórsmörk, you should have previous hiking experience and a fairly good level of fitness. You should be prepared to hike for 3 to 7 hours a day (depending on the day) and walk between 5 and 18 km with 200-1,000 m of ascent/descent per day in sometimes challenging and exposed terrain. You don’t need previous experience of multi-day hikes but you should be familiar with full-day mountain hikes. Keep in mind that your guide will assess your group’s fitness level and make adjustments when necessary, as well as make sure to take more breaks if hikes get too strenuous—all while taking you to the most spectacular places Thórsmörk has to offer.
Clients takes full responsibility for meeting the physical fitness level requirement of the trip. Clients that are physically unfit or not equipped for their tour can be dismissed from the tour at their own expense.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
You will spend your three nights in Thórsmörk in a simple and authentic mountain hut, where you will also prepare great meals from fresh ingredients provided by your guide. You will sleep in dormitory-style rooms in sleeping bags. If you don’t have a sleeping bag or don’t plan on bringing one, you can rent it from your guide for an additional fee—let them know in advance. Shower is available in the hut for an additional fee payable on site.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking in Thórsmörk can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to the starting point of this tour in Reykjavík, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport. From there, you can take a bus, shuttle, or taxi to Reykjavík.
You will meet your guide at the BSI central bus terminal in Reykjavík where you will take a bus to Thorsmork which leaves at 6.30am on Day 1.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Iceland, please refer to these official COVID-19 guidelines for traveling to and from Iceland.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA3-BXYuYrw
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
