This is one Iceland’s most popular trail! It starts at the colorful Landmannalaugar and finishes in the green valley of Thórsmörk.. Going south through the highlands, you’ll cross an active geothermal and volcanic area full of colors surrounded by glaciers and mountains, deserts of black sand and deep canyons. You’ll spend every night in a mountain hut or well equipped campgrounds along the way.
Get ready to experience beyond a change of landscape every day but a change of planet. A truly unique walk.
Length of the trek: 5 days
Length of each leg: 4-9 hours (12 to 20 km per day)
Distance covered: 60 to 70 km
Altitude: 200-1100 m.
Maximum change in altitude per day: 600 m.
Accommodation: mountain huts and sleeping bags or campsites
Luggage: carried by a vehicle during the day.
DAY 1 – Reykjavik – Landmannalaugar
Jump onto the coach at the Reykjavik bus station early morning. The bus drives you through the Domadalur valley where there are many volcanoes and you’ll get close to the lunar landscapes Mt. Hekla before arriving in Landmannalaugar for lunch time. The afternoon will be spent hiking one of the many well marked trails of the area and by the end of it relax in the hot springs!
DAY 2 – Landmannalaugar to Hrafntinnusker
You’ll start to follow the path of the famous “Laugavegur trek”. The trail crosses lava fields, canyons and goes up the high plateaus surrounded by mighty colourful mountains, hot springs and solfataras. Spend the night in the mountain hut or a basic campsite in Hrafntinnusker above 1000 meters altitude.
Today you’ll hike up and down the Jökultungur ravines with their hundreds of hot water sources and idyllic water spots. You’ll walk in a harsh landscape but you’ll distinguish some bits of colours here and there and far away the white caps of the Myrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. Then you’ll reach Alftavatn lake, known by Icelanders as “swan lake”, before heading across rolling hills to the next hut in Hvanngil. An oasis in the desert.
DAY 3 – Hrafntinnusker to Hvanngil
DAY 4 – Hvanngil to Emstrur
Today you’ll pass by Storasula a green volcanic peak before walking the black sand of the Mælifellssandur desert. The area is filled with small volcanic mountains with green slopes offering a vivid contrast with the flat dark desertic surroundings. On the way to Emstrur you may even come across some adventurous sheep! Before reaching the mountain cabin in Botnar, you’ll have an impressive view of the Markarfljot canyon that cuts deeper than 200 metres into Hattfell’s southern flanks. Overnight stay in the Botnar mountain hut with a magnificent view of the Myrdalsjökull glacier.
For the last day of the trek the hike is mainly downhill green valley and crossing little mountain passes until the Emstrur gorge. The tongues of Myrdalsjökull glacier come here to melt several kilometres up. The further down you go the greener and abundant the vegetation becomes and the first dwarf birch trees will greet you as you arrive in the forests of Thor. Thorsmörk. The sight of white birch trees in the glacial valley will be a delight to your eyes after the desert walks of the previous days. You can rest and relax a moment in the mountain hut before boarding the bus to Reykjavík.
Arrival around 7:30 PM at the central station.
DAY 5 Emstrur to Þórsmörk
