On this epic trek, we will journey into the alien world of the Icelandic highlands on the famous Laugavegur Trail, renowned across the world for its awe-inspiring scenery, ancient volcanic landscapes and emerald valleys.
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One minute you will be traversing rainbow-colored volcanoes in Landmannalaugar and the next you will be skirting around the foothills of glaciers in Thorsmork, it's the ideal way to explore the land of ice and fire. As a bonus, we will spend our last day exploring the most spectacular waterfalls on the South Coast and the mesmerizing world of glaciers on an exciting glacier hike on the blue ice of Solheimajokull. Perfect for those who wish to experience the profound beauty that Iceland has to offer and a must for anyone who loves hiking, nature and the great outdoors!
Your day begins with an early morning departure from Reykjavík, followed by a scenic 3 to 4-hour drive to Landmannalaugar. Along the way, you'll enjoy views of the South Coast before heading into the Highlands, passing by Iceland’s infamous volcano, Hekla.
The Laugavegur Trail starts in the stunning Landmannalaugar area. Before setting off on the full trek, you’ll spend the first day warming up with a scenic loop hike. This route takes you through some of the area’s most impressive sights, including the Laugahraun lava field, the colorful Grænagil gorge, and the striking Bláhnjúkur volcano—a perfect introduction to the trail and its wild beauty.
You’ll spend the night at Landmannalaugar. In the evening, enjoy a tasty dinner, connect with fellow hikers, and unwind in the peaceful surroundings of Icelandic nature.
Distance: 8 km / 4.9 mi. Hiking Time: 4 hours. Ascent: 470 m / 1540 '.
You’ll start the day by making your way through the Laugahraun lava field. You’ll pass the vividly colored slopes of Brennisteinsalda and head toward the steaming rhyolite mountains of Reykjafjöll. The trail leads you up through narrow gorges, past the bubbling Stórihver hot springs, and along striking yellow ridgelines. Eventually, the landscape opens up into the dark, shimmering expanse of the Hrafntinnusker obsidian desert—an ideal spot to stop and enjoy lunch.
After Hrafntinnusker, the path descends into the vibrant gullies of Jökultungur. The geothermal heat has shaped a colorful mix of hot springs, mud pools, and richly hued hillsides in reds and yellows. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views over the Fjallabak region. If the weather is clear, you might even catch sight of the Mýrdalsjökull, Eyjafjallajökull, and Tindfjallajökull glaciers in the distance.
To reach your campsite near Álftavatn Lake, you’ll cross a shallow river—a thrilling yet safe part of the adventure. The day ends with a warm meal and time to unwind by the peaceful lakeside, surrounded by the stillness of the highlands.
Distance: 24 km / 14.9 mi. Hiking Time: 7-8 hours. Ascent: 900 m / 2950 '.
After breakfast, you’ll continue your trek into new and striking landscapes. The day begins with another exciting river crossing before moving into the vast black sands of Mælifellssandur. You’ll pass the impressive volcanic peaks of Stórasúla and Hattafell, and observe their vivid green slopes contrasting against the dark, barren surroundings.
If the weather is kind, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the famous Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. Eyjafjallajökull halted air traffic in 2010 with its eruption, while Mýrdalsjökull conceals the active Katla volcano beneath its icy surface.
Then, you’ll discover the awe-inspiring Markarfljótsgljúfur canyon. This deep, narrow gorge carved by glacial waters is one of the most dramatic sights along the trail. In the evening, you’ll reach the campsite at Botnar, and after dinner, enjoy a well-earned rest and take in the calm of the highlands in the soft light of the setting sun.
Distance: 15 km / 9.5 mi. Hiking time: 6-7 hours. Descent: 40 m / 130 '.
Day 4 takes you on the final stretch of the Laugavegur Trail. You’ll leave the wild landscapes of Emstrur behind and head toward Þórsmörk. The trail passes through the beautiful Almenningar gorge, with the sharp peak of Mount Einhyrningur (Unicorn Mountain) standing tall in the distance. On clear days, you’ll see glaciers like Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull shining in the sun.
Approaching Þórsmörk, the surroundings gradually change. Trees begin to grow thicker, turning into a calm birch forest. The air feels fresh, and you hear birds singing and leaves rustling around you. Soon, you’ll arrive in Þórsmörk—a peaceful green valley surrounded by glaciers and mountains. It’s the perfect place to finish your trek and celebrate what you’ve achieved.
After the hike, you’ll hop on the highland bus and head to Hella. There, a cozy countryside hotel awaits, where you’ll rest up before exploring Iceland’s famous South Coast the next day.
Distance: 15 km (9.5 mi). Hiking Time: 6-7 hours. Descent: 300 m / 985'.
The final day begins with breakfast at your hotel before heading out to explore the beauty of Iceland’s South Coast. First stop: Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, where a 60-meter (196-ft) curtain of water drops into a green valley. You’ll even get the chance to walk behind it for a different view.
Then, your guide will lead you to Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls. Its powerful, wide flow sends up a steady mist, often catching the light to form rainbows. If you're up for the climb, a staircase takes you to the top for sweeping views. Along the way, you’ll spot rock formations that local legends say were trolls caught by the morning sun.
Next, you’ll visit Reynisfjara, the famous black sand beach. With its towering basalt columns, crashing waves, and sea stacks like Reynisdrangar, it’s one of the country’s most dramatic and photographed spots.
The last adventure of the day takes you to Sólheimajökull Glacier, an outlet of the larger Mýrdalsjökull ice cap. At the base camp, your expert guide will gear you up and lead you across the ice, sharing stories about the glacier's history and its impact on the landscape.
After the glacier walk, you’ll head back to Reykjavík. The journey ends with a drop-off at a designated stop in the city.
*Please note that only breakfast at your accommodation is included on this day. Throughout the day, there will be stops where you can purchase food and drinks.
8:15 a.m. - Selfoss N1 gas station
9:00 a.m. - Hella Bus Terminal
*Note that it can take up to 30 minutes before the bus departs the given locations.
After the south coast and glacier hike tour on day 5, you will be dropped off at your accommodation in Reykjavik at around 7- 8 p.m.
Prepare for your trip through the highlands of Iceland with our guide:
Please note that trek itineraries are subject to change due to various uncontrolled circumstances, such as weather, group ability, and safety. All adjustments to the itinerary will be made to ensure the best possible experience.
Standard menu includes milk products, fish, nuts, meat, and bread. For trekkers with special dietary requirements, a supplement is required to cover the cost of purchasing additional food to accommodate these needs. This applies to those who are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, have allergies, or have other specific dietary preferences. The supplementary fee can be paid at checkout, where customers are also asked to specify their dietary requirements.
Iceland is known for unforeseeable weather. It is likely that you can see all 4 seasons in one day.
Dressing for that kind of weather can always be demanding, so we suggest dressing in layers. 3 or 4 upper layers are highly recommended, for example, a light t-shirt (preferably wool) next to the skin, then a fleece or heavy wool garment topped off with a waterproof windbreaker.
Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they are not suitable for the weather conditions, they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.
Lightweight hiking pants, track pants or long cotton pants are convenient and wear wind/waterproof pants over them. There is high UV and sunlight reflecting off on the glacier so we highly recommend using sunglasses and sunscreen even if it is cloudy.
You will need sturdy hiking boots that fit crampons for the glacier hiking tours. If you do not own a pair then we rent out suitable hiking boots as well as a waterproof raincoat and trousers.
The scenery on the tour is full of stunning, breathtaking views that you’ll almost definitely want to capture forever, so you should definitely bring your camera along. Your tour guide will also be happy to take your photo.
It is good to bring your own backpack on our full-day or half-day tours. It’s the best carry-on for a small lunch, extra clothes, and other necessary items.
This is surely a personal choice, we do not deny pregnant women on our glacier trips but we highly recommend you to take a closer look at our trip description and difficulty ratings, they will hopefully give you a better idea. We also recommend you to contact your physician, as pregnant women’s health can be quite different. If you have any further questions or concerns then feel free to contact us.
Lunch is not provided on any of our trips, therefore we recommend you bring your own lunch, snacks, and a bottle of water (you can refill it on the trip). It is especially important to make sure you bring lunch on our longer trips.
Crampons enable you to walk on the glacier ice without slipping. They are metal spikes that we attach to the soles of your hiking shoes.
Yes, we have specially trained and certified glacier guides on every glacier tour that we offer. And for our 3rd party tours we only partner with operators that meet our quality and safety standards.
Yes, we provide you with all the necessary glacier gear for our glacier hiking tours. Ice axes, crampons, harnesses, and helmets are provided. This will help you to complete the tour safely. The minimum shoe size to attach crampons is EU 35.
Iceland is known to have a lot of snow and when the snow stays long enough in one place than it turns to ice. Over long periods of time, the ice layers up becoming huge blocks called glaciers. It forms to create ginormous glaciers that sweep across huge masses of land. Iceland is home of the largest glacier in Europe that is called Vatnajökull. The Glacier Guides can tell you more about and everything you need to know about the Glaciers.
Rain is common in Iceland but we never let the rain be in our way to go forward with our tours.
That’s why we highly recommend appropriate clothing so you can stay warm and dry.
Nature is out of our control and therefore we need to adapt to the weather. Your safety is our priority so if your safety is compromised by going on the tour then we will cancel it and you will get full reimbursement.
The guide on your glacier hiking tour will provide you with all the information you might need when preparing for a glacier hike.
All of our tours are small group experiences. We have a maximum of 16 participants on the hut tour and 14 participants on the camping tour.
Yes, you can fill your water bottles with tap water at the huts/campsites. It's perfectly safe to drink. There are also several streams along the way with safe drinking water, just ask your guide.
Gaiters are optional but we always recommend that our participants use them. The weather in Iceland can be quite wet so the trails subsequently get wet as well. They are not necessary but being drenched on a hike when conditions are wet and muddy is very unpleasant. Some rain pants have straps at the bottom which serve a similar purpose as gaiters so if you are equipped with those you don't need both.
Hiking poles are also optional. The choice of using them or not, of course, depends on your own personal preference. Note that we do recommend hiking poles if you are used to hiking with them.
