Iceland's Laugavegur Trek

Our transfer to Reykjavik will be using the Flybus service. Your leader will
have arranged a time for the welcome meeting, details of which will be at the
hotel reception. This is usually around 1830.

Day 2

We transfer up to the unmistakable Landmannalaugar Mountains. The drive will
take approximately 4 hours as we head through the south of Iceland, up the
Thjorsardalur valley towards Mt Hekla, an enormous volcano which in centuries
gone by has been responsible for enormous destruction. Here we turn into the
Highlands and the black volcanic desert of the Fjallabak area. The Fjallabak
Nature Reserve is one of the most popular areas in Iceland for trekking with
a landscape like nowhere else, from black volcanic plains to multicoloured
rhyolite mountains. At the heart of all this are the Landmannalaugar
Mountains where we pitch our camp before having lunch.

Typically most trips begin the Laugavegur trail today, however, we take the
opportunity to enjoy a daywalk in these unique surroundings.

Our afternoon walk heads to the top of Blue Peak and across the black
Laugahruna lava field. The hot pools originate in this lava field, which was
created in 1477, the last known eruption in the area. 

This area is believed to be the southern end of the Bardarbunga volcanic
system. The last eruption in the Bardarbunga system was a fissure eruption in
the northern end of the system from 2014 to 2015. Some 150 km north of
Landmannalaugar, it was the largest eruption in Iceland for over 200 years
though luckily did not have the same impact on air travel as the more famous
Eyafjallajokull eruption of 2010. 

Our guide will prepare the evening meal in our mess tent, though group
members are expected to pitch in and help with food preparation and washing
up.

Day 3

For the next two days we cross the Torfajokull volcanic area (rhyolitic
stratovolcano). An area formed by series of subglacial volcanic eruptions
which today are most commonly found in Iceland or in Antarctica. The area
consists of rolling rhyolite hills with numerous hot springs and sulphur
vents and is the largest rhyolitic area in Iceland.

We start by crossing the Laugahraun lava field to the slopes of
Brennisteinsalda, known for its photogenic spectrum of colours. We take a
short but very worthwhile detour to the top.

En route we pass the Storihver hot spring, cross the high plateau and enter
the Hrafntinnusker area. Here steam rises from the hundreds of vents,  and
our route passes numerous hot springs along the way. 

From Hrafntinnusker and across the Torfajokull Massif. The route meanders
southwards and we hike past steaming hot springs and boiling mud pools before
we start dropping down Jokultungur to the black volcanic plains vest of the
Myrdalsjokull glacier. The view is spectacular on a clear day with
Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull glaciers in the foreground and the black
volcanic landscape between. We enter to a totally different landscape made up
from Palagonite ridges and peaks with black volcanic plains and big glacier
rivers all around. Our aim for the day is Alftavatn lake (Swan lake) where we
pitch our tents once more.

Day 4

We head further south towards Myrdalsjokull ice cap across the black volcanic
landscape. There are several rivers in this area, the largest are bridged
however the smaller ones are not. We make a detour just before we make it to
our destination of the day, Emstrur. We head west for the Markarfljotsglufur
canyon. The Markarkfljot glacial river has cut this canyon nearly 200m deep
and it is worth a visit. After the Markarfljostgljufur canyon we have a short
distance to Botnar in the Emstrur area, a small green oasis in the black
volcanic desert.

Day 5

We start the day by crossing the bridge over the Emstrur River on our way to
Thorsmork. We hike along the western edge of the Myrdalsjokull Ice Cap and
leave the pitch black volcanic area. Vegetation increases slowly and
eventually we get to the lush Birch covered area of Thorsmork (Thor's
woodland). Thorsmork valley is a beautiful place with its magnificent
glaciers, river and wind-swept mountains. This area has been a local walkers'
favourite for decades and it’s not hard to see why. We hike across the
Thorsmork valley and over the Krossa glacial river (by bridge) and to our
camp in Basar.

Day 6

Today we pack up ready to head back to Reykjavik. We board the bus and drive
to the capital for our final night. Before getting to Reykjavik we go for a
hike on Solheimajokull, an outlet glacier extending from the Myrdalsjokull
icecap. We explore this wonderland of ice sculptures, crevasses, and long,
narrow ridges. We strap on the crampons and get the ice axes before making
our way up this massive ice flow. After the glacier walk en-route to
Reykjavik we stop at Skogarfoss and Kvernufoss, two particularly photogenic
waterfalls. On arrival in Reykjavik we can check in and then head out for our
final meal together. The leader will be on hand to recommend or book a local
restaurant for the group.

Day 7

Our trip ends with a transfer to the airport for our flight home.