Landmannalaugar trek in Iceland

Please join me for one of the most beautiful hikes in the world, the Landmannalaugar trek.

I spend every summer 2 ½ months guiding in Iceland, from mid June till mid September. I can tell you that the interior of the country is just one big natural wonder! Rhyolite Mountains filled with many colours, deserts of ash, lava, fumaroles and hot springs make us feel that the earth is alive under our feet.

Here are some of the highlights of this unique expedition I propose:
– 4 to 6 days hiking in the wildest parts of Iceland;
– Live within one of best preserved natural areas of Europe;
– Take the option to visit the wonders of the south: Gullfoss, Geysir and the Thingvellir National Park;
– I organise everything so that your backpack remains as light as possible;
– Take the option to ascent the Eyjafjallajokull volcano;
– All is included except the flight and the dinner on the last day in Reykjavik.

My program in Landmannalaugar lasts for 8 days. Please find below the day-by-day planning.

Day 1
Arrival at Keflavik and transfer to the hotel in Reykjavik.

Day 2
After breakfast, my team will pick you up and you will take the bus to Landmannalaugar. You will arrive mid-morning. We will eat, bathe in the hot springs and then start hiking on the trail. We will go up the mountain until the Hrafntinnusker refuge in which we will stay for the night.
– Distance 11km
– Time: 4-6hrs
– Altitude change: +680m -260m

Day 3
We will keep on through Jökultungur, one of the three major points with geothermal activity in the world. We will enjoy the view on the glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, before going down towards the lake Alftavatn. Night in a mountain hut.
– Distance 11km
– Time: 5-7hrs
– Altitude change: +300m -800m

Day 4
Today we will cross the plains dominated by the spectacular Mont Stórasúla, we will go through desert of volcanic ash Maelifellssandur and we will pass through the valley of Hattafell. We will then reach the region of Emstrur where we will visit the impressive Markarfljótsgljúfur canyon. Night in a mountain hut.
– Distance 14km
– Time: 6-7hrs
– Altitude change: +350m -400m

Day 5
We will leave Emstrur under the gaze of the largest glacier in southern Iceland, the Mýrdalsjökull. We will cross the river and enter in an area where the vegetation becomes more abundant. From the shelter over the Valley Thórsmörk we will have a beautiful view on the forests. Night in mountain hut.
– Distance 16km
– Time: 6-8hrs
– Altitude change: +530m -750m

Day 6
From here there are 2 options that you have to choose before leaving.

Option 1: Extra route: This is the Alpine stage of the route that will take us to Fimmvörðuháls between the two famous glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull.
We will cross the impressive Krossà river. After passing to the other side, we will climb to the ridges, gaining altitude quickly until an extensive plateau with an exceptional viewpoint on the valley and the glaciers.
We will keep our ascent in the Fimmvörðuháls area and have the pleasure to go to the Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Night in a mountain hut.
– Distance 13km
– Time: 6-8hrs
– Altitude change: +1050m -230m

Option 2: Transfer to Reykjavik
After spending the morning in this beautiful valley we will take a bus crossing the rivers, with a brief stop at the Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
We will then reach the capital and you will enjoy some sightseeing for the rest of the day. Night in Reykjavik.

Day 7
Depending on the option you’ve chosen:

Option 1: Extra route
We will wake up in a magnificent viewpoint, from where you can see the glaciers and the entire south coast. Then we will begin crossing the Plateau Fimmvörðuháls and go to looking for the river Skógar.
We will end this beautiful hike by visiting the ultimate wonder: Skogafoss waterfall, 25 meters wide, 60 meters tall, one of the most visited places on the island. From there, we will take a bus and go back to the capital.
Free afternoon and overnight in Reykjavik.
– Distance: 15km
– Time: 5-6hrs
– Altitude change: +150m – 1200m

Option 2: Sightseeing in Reykjavik
– the Gullfoss waterfall,
– The geysir (Strokkur)
– Thingvellir National Park from where we can see the separation of the American and European tectonic plates.
In the evening: return to Reykjavik and evening / night free. Night in the capital

Day 8
Time to enjoy the city and fly back home.

Note: The itinerary can be done in one way or another.
For logistics reasons, a location or an accommodation may vary. This does not affect the program and you will be informed as soon as I am aware of this change.

If you are interested in this beautiful trek and if you need support in the organisation, please feel free to contact me.