Hiking the Classic Laugavegur Trail

Included:

• • An experienced, local, English-speaking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 5 or 6 days of guided hiking along the Laugavegur Trail depending on your chosen itinerary
  • Mountain hut accommodation in shared dormitories during the hike
  • All meals during the hike (from lunch on Day 1 through breakfast on the last day)
  • Transport at the beginning and end of trek
  • Luggage transfers
  • Lodging taxes

Add-ons (available to add upon checkout, must be added before the tour):

• • Sleeping bag — $65
  • Hiking poles — $30
  • Special dietary supplements (vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian) — $70

Not included:

• • Flights to Iceland
  • Airport transfers
  • Showers in huts (payable on-site, approximately 1,000 ISK per shower)
  • Accommodation before and after the tour
  • Meals before and after the hike (breakfast on day 1, lunch and dinner on the last day)
  • Travel and medical insurance — optional
  • Guide gratuities — optional

For the Laugavegur Trail, you need to be able to hike for 5 or 6 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!

• • For the 5-day tour, 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 the 6-day tour, the most you’ll hike within a day is on Day 5—20 km (12.5 mi), 7 hours, with 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of elevation gain/loss.
  • 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.

Not sure which itinerary to choose, the 5-day or the 6-day adventure? The difference is the addition of the Fimmvörðuháls hike in the 6-day tour. On Day 5, you’ll gain 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of elevation, and experience very challenging terrain over 20 km (12.5 miles). This day has some extremely steep drop-offs along the trail and some scrambling with the use of a chain both up and down. The 6-day adventure is, therefore, not suited for those with a fear of heights and those not ready for steep drop-offs.

Other than Day 5 on the 6-day tour, both itineraries are the same in terms of the route, distance, and elevation gain.

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

• • A duffel bag for the transport of your overnight gear between mountain huts
  • Day backpack for extra clothes and lunch pack during the day (around a 25-40L bag)
  • Your own sleeping bag – a basic sleeping bag with no specific temperature rating is sufficient for this entire trek since all the mountain huts are heated (available to rent)
  • Small thermal mat to sit on — optional
  • Hiking poles — optional (available to rent)
  • Gaiters — optional but recommended for departures in June and early July
  • Gloves – wool or synthetic 2 pairs of different thickness
  • Long sleeve shirt (thermal underwear) – wool or synthetic
  • T-shirt (thermal underwear) – wool or synthetic
  • Light wool or fleece sweater (2nd layer)
  • Warm, down jacket
  • Puffy jacket e.g. Primaloft — optional
  • Jacket with a good hood – windproof, waterproof and breathable, e.g. Gore-Tex or comparable
  • Soft-shell trousers – strong and light material that dries quickly
  • Rain pants – windproof, waterproof and breathable — full raingear is mandatory in Iceland, poncho is not useful because of wind
  • Socks – wool or synthetic
  • Change of clothes for wearing in the hut
  • Sunhat
  • Wool hat
  • Sturdy hiking boots – waterproof with good ankle support
  • River crossing 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
  • Comfortable shoes for the camp
  • Quick dry towel – lightweight and packable
  • Swimwear if you want to bathe in the hot geothermal pool in Landmannalaugar
  • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, etc.)
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
  • Lunch box
  • Pocket knife
  • Aperitif or other heart-warming spirits – liquor laws in Iceland prohibit the sale of alcohol, so having a thermos flask to share with your fellow travelers in front of the campfire can be the crowning of a good day — optional
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • Sunglasses
  • Earplugs
  • Portable power bank
  • Dry-bags for electronics and extra clothing — optional
  • Camera — optional (but recommended)

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

• • For this hiking tour of the classic Laugavegur Trail, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 16:1.
  • It takes a minimum of 6 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 16 participants.
  • Single supplement is not available as you’ll be staying at mountain huts with dormitory-style rooms.

Hiking the classic Laugavegur Trail can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements

• • If you are older than 16, you’re good to go.
  • Minors older than 14 may join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

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.

All rates are based on current purchasing prices in Iceland. Your guides reserve the right to change prices without notice due to inflation, changes in oil prices, government taxes, or any other cost increases that are outside the guide’s control. Your guides will absorb an amount equivalent to 5% of the price. Amounts that exceed the 5% will be charged and clients will be entitled to cancel their booking with a full refund if the surcharge exceeds 10%. Eventual changes in rates will not be made with less than 4 weeks’ notice before departures or on bookings already made and confirmed.

Your guides reserve the right to alter tours and itineraries due to weather or road conditions. All programs can be changed or cancelled at any moment during the trip to assure the safety of the clients and staff. No responsibility is accepted for losses, expenses due to delays, changes of flights, or other services or because of strikes, accidents, sickness, damage, negligence, weather, war, changes in schedules, or other similar causes.

IMG does not assume responsibility for accidents or death that can be traced to the participant’s negligence, acts of third parties or exterior circumstances, such as weather, natural occurrences, war, or other similar causes.

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