Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HIKING LAUGAVEGURINN
LAUGAVEGURINN IN FOUR DAYS
Touring organisation
Ferðafélag Íslands
breaks Laugavegurinn into four sections (see its
website for a detailed description), and many hikers opt to tackle one section each day
for four days, as carefully positioned sleeping huts (and adjoining campsites) punctuate
the start and end point of each leg.
Part 1: Landmannalaugar to Hrafntinnusker
(12km; three to five hours) A relatively
easy start to your adventure, the walk to the first hut passes the boiling earth at Stórihver
and sweeping fields of glittering obsidian. If you want to extend the walk, start at Land-
mannalaugar and hike to Hrafntinnusker via Skalli - the warden's office in Landman-
nalaugar has a handout that details this quieter route. You'll need to fill up on fresh water
before you depart as there's no source until you reach the first hut. About 2km before
Hrafntinnusker there's a memorial to a solo Israeli hiker who died on the trail in 2005
after ignoring a warden's warning - a reminder to properly prepare for your hike and al-
ways keep your ear to the ground.
Part 2: Hrafntinnusker to Álftavatn
(12km; four to five hours) At Hrafntinnusker you
can try a couple of short local hikes without your pack before setting off - there are views
at Södull (20 minutes return) and Reykjafjöll (one hour return), and a hidden geothermal
area behind the ice caves (three hours return) - ask the warden for walking tips. Views
aplenty are found on the walk to Álftavatn as well - hike across the northern spur of the
Kaldaklofsfjöll ice cap for vistas from the summit. Walking into Álftavatn you'll see loom-
ing Tindfjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and the infamous Eyjafjallajökull before reaching the se-
renely beautiful lake where you'll spend the night.
Part 3: Álftavatn to Emstrur
(16km; six to seven hours) To reach Emstrur you'll need
to ford at least one large stream - you can take your shoes off and get wet or wait at the
edge of the river for a 4WD to give you a lift over. Not to be missed is the detour to
Markarfljótsgljúfur - a gaping green canyon. It's well marked from Emstrur, and takes
about an hour to reach (you come back the same way).
Part 4: Emstrur to Þórsmörk
(15km; six to seven hours) Barrenness turns to lush Arc-
tic flowers and brilliantly verdant lands. If you're not planning on staying in Þórsmörk, you
need to arrive before the last bus leaves.
