Self-Launched Laugavegur & Fimmvörðuháls Trek (6 Days, Huts)
6 days · Iceland (Laugavegur Trail & Þórsmörk)
Arctic Adventures charges £2,360
No-markup version: ~£520 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of Arctic Adventures' 6-day guided Laugavegur & Fimmvörðuháls hut trek. You book the same mountain huts yourself (Landmannalaugar, Álftavatn, Emstrur, Þórsmörk) via the Ferðafélag Íslands (Icelandic Touring Association) booking system, take the public Strætó/Ferðafélag bus to Landmannalaugar and back from Þórsmörk, and carry or arrange luggage transfer between huts. You hike the classic 55 km Laugavegur trail southbound in 4 days, then a full day out to the Fimmvörðuháls craters, and finish with a short walk before the bus back to Reykjavík. This removes the guided-group premium and the included cooked meals — you self-cater in hut kitchens (pre-buy food in Reykjavík or use the small hut shops). No guide, so you need solid navigation skills (the trail is well marked but weather changes fast) and you should register your route with safetravel.is. Costs are rough, mid-summer backpacker estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Reykjavík to Landmannalaugar — warm-up loop & hot spring
Reykjavík → Landmannalaugar
Buy groceries for the trek the night before (Bónus or Krónan in Reykjavík — freeze-dried meals, oats, bread, salami, nuts, chocolate; huts have stoves and pots). Board the public highland bus (Ferðafélag Íslands / Strætó route 9 + connections, or the Reykjavík Excursions highland bus) from BSÍ towards Landmannalaugar, roughly 3–4 hours through volcanic desert. Check into the Landmannalaugar hut (booked months ahead via fi.is). Afternoon: walk the free 8 km Laugahraun lava-field → Grænagil gorge → Bláhnúkur volcano loop (4–5 hrs, superb views). Finish with a soak in the natural geothermal stream beside the hut. Self-cook dinner in the communal kitchen.
🚌Public highland bus BSÍ → Landmannalaugar, approx. £55–70 one way
🛏Landmannalaugar Mountain Hut (dormitory, own sleeping bag) — book via fi.is
- →Bus transfer into the highlands
- →Laugahraun lava field & Grænagil gorge loop (8 km)
- →Bláhnúkur volcano ascent
- →Natural geothermal hot spring soak
Landmannalaugar to Álftavatn — the classic long day
Landmannalaugar → Hrafntinnusker → Álftavatn
The big day: ~24 km / 7–9 hrs over Brennisteinsalda's colourful rhyolite slopes, the Reykjafjöll mountains, Stórihver hot spring, the black obsidian desert at Hrafntinnusker and the Jökultungur geothermal area with mud pools, then a river crossing (knee-deep, check with hut wardens for conditions) down to Álftavatn lake. Start early. There is a small shop/kiosk at Hrafntinnusker and Álftavatn for emergency supplies. Optional luggage transfer between huts can be booked with the hut association or a local transport operator. Cook dinner at the Álftavatn hut.
🚌On foot (~24 km); optional luggage transfer ~£25–35 per bag
🛏Álftavatn Mountain Hut (dormitory) — book via fi.is
- →Brennisteinsalda & Reykjafjöll rhyolite mountains
- →Stórihver hot spring
- →Hrafntinnusker obsidian desert
- →Jökultungur geothermal area
- →River crossing to Álftavatn
Álftavatn to Emstrur — black sand desert
Álftavatn → Emstrur (Botnar)
A shorter but exposed ~16 km day: an early stream crossing out of Álftavatn, then across the Mælifellssandur black sand desert between the Stórásúla and Hattafell volcanoes, past the dramatic 200 m Markarfljótsgljúfur canyon, to the green Botnar oasis and the Emstrur hut. Views back to Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers most of the way. Cook in the hut kitchen and refill water from the stream.
🚌On foot (~16 km)
🛏Emstrur (Botnar) Highland Hut (dormitory) — book via fi.is
- →Mælifellssandur black sand desert
- →Stórásúla & Hattafell volcanoes
- →Markarfljótsgljúfur canyon viewpoint
- →Botnar oasis
Emstrur to Þórsmörk — into the birch valleys
Emstrur → Þórsmörk
~15 km through the Almenningar gorge, passing below Mount Einhyrningur ('Unicorn Mountain'), with glacier views opening up as you descend into the greener Þórsmörk valley and its birch scrub. Reach the Langidalur or Húsadalur hut in the afternoon — this is your base for two nights. Optional short evening walk up the valley for sunset on the glaciers.
🚌On foot (~15 km); optional luggage transfer
🛏Þórsmörk hut (Langidalur or Húsadalur, dormitory) — book via fi.is / Volcano Huts
- →Almenningar gorge
- →Mount Einhyrningur viewpoint
- →Glacier views of Eyjafjallajökull & Mýrdalsjökull
- →Þórsmörk birch forest
Fimmvörðuháls day hike — Magni & Móði craters
Þórsmörk (Fimmvörðuháls trail)
Day-pack only: hike up the Fimmvörðuháls trail from Þórsmörk past the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption craters Magni and Móði, across black sand plains and lava ridges with steaming vents, and on to the snow bridge/ridge section for panoramic glacier views (turn back at your comfort point — going all the way to Skógar makes a very long 25+ km day). Getting to the crater field and back is ~14–18 km / 6–7 hrs. Return to the same hut for the night.
🚌On foot; no transport needed
🛏Þórsmörk hut (Langidalur or Húsadalur, dormitory)
- →Fimmvörðuháls trail
- →Magni & Móði volcanic craters
- →Steaming lava vents and black sand plains
- →Glacier panorama viewpoints
Þórsmörk morning & bus back to Reykjavík
Þórsmörk → Reykjavík
Short morning options depending on weather: the steep scramble up Mount Útigönguhöfði for valley views, a flat stroll to Húsadalur, or a lazy morning at Langidalur. Catch the public Þórsmörk bus (Ferðafélag Íslands/RE highland bus, ~3 hrs) back to Reykjavík — many services stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall en route for a 20-minute photo break. Arrive Reykjavík late afternoon/evening.
🚌Public Þórsmörk → Reykjavík bus, approx. £40–55
🛏None included — hostel in Reykjavík (~£35–50 dorm) if you stay the night
- →Mount Útigönguhöfði hike (weather dependent)
- →Húsadalur & Langidalur stroll
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall stop en route
Self-launched vs. Arctic Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Arctic Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£520 | £2,360 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,840 per person (78%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Arctic Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£520
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Laugavegur & Fimmvörðuháls Trek (6 Days, Huts) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £520 per person for 6 days in Iceland (Laugavegur Trail & Þórsmörk). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Arctic Adventures?+
Yes — Arctic Adventures charges around £2,360 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £520 — a saving of roughly £1,840 (78%) per person.
How long is the Iceland (Laugavegur Trail & Þórsmörk) trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Iceland (Laugavegur Trail & Þórsmörk).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, backpacker trip through Iceland (Laugavegur Trail & Þórsmörk), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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