Laugavegur Trail

The Laugavegur runs about 55 kilometres from Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork and is usually walked south over four days, staying in the huts at Hrafntinnusker, Alftavatn, Emstrur and finishing in the birch woods. The interest is how completely the ground changes: rhyolite hills in ochre and green with steam coming out of them, then an obsidian plateau that often holds snow into August, then black sand desert, then glacial rivers to be waded, then vegetation again. The huts are run by the Icelandic Touring Association and book out months in advance. Many walkers continue over Fimmvorduhals to Skogar, adding a day.

What you actually see

• Fifty-five kilometres of change - rhyolite, obsidian, sand, then birch.
• Four huts on the route - Hrafntinnusker, Alftavatn, Emstrur, Thorsmork.
• Rivers to be waded - glacial crossings on the southern half.
• Snow into August - on the high plateau early in the route.

When to go

Late June to early September, the only window the route is open and served. Four days.

Honest expectations

Huts sell out months ahead and camping needs full gear for cold, wind and rain in any month. River crossings are cold and require judgement. Weather kills people on this route - the section above Hrafntinnusker in particular. Buses run only in season.

Nearby

Landmannalaugar is the northern end; Thorsmork the southern.