Trek the Laugavegur Trail: The Self-Launched Hut-to-Hut Edition
6 days · Iceland
Much Better Adventures charges £1,295
No-markup version: ~£560 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Iceland's legendary Laugavegur Trail — 34 miles of multicoloured mountains, steaming hot springs, glaciers and volcanic deserts — is entirely doable without a guided group tour. Book your own mountain hut nights directly with the Icelandic Touring Association (FÍ), grab a bus pass with Reykjavik Excursions or Trex, and hike one of National Geographic's top 20 trails in the world at a fraction of the operator price. This self-launched version follows the same classic south-to-north route (Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk), staying in the same network of mountain huts, for dramatically less per person. Costs are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavik — Explore the Capital
Reykjavik
Fly into Keflavik International Airport (KEF) and hop on the Flybus to downtown Reykjavik (£20 each way, bookable at flybus.is or on arrival). Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel in the city centre — options like Loft Hostel, Kex Hostel, or Hlemmur Square offer great value with social atmospheres perfect for meeting fellow hikers. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring Reykjavik's colourful streets, cafes, the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church, and the Harpa concert hall. Grab dinner at a local spot — try Hlemmur Mathöll food hall for affordable Icelandic bites.
🚌Flybus from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik city centre — ~£20 each way, book at flybus.is
🛏Loft Hostel or Kex Hostel, Reykjavik (dorm ~£40–55/night, private twin ~£80–110/night)
- →Explore Hallgrímskirkja church and the surrounding old town
- →Visit Harpa Concert Hall and the waterfront
- →Dinner at Hlemmur Mathöll food hall — budget-friendly Icelandic cuisine
Bus to Landmannalaugar — First Hike to Hrafntinnusker
Landmannalaugar → Hrafntinnusker
Rise early and catch the Reykjavik Excursions or Trex highland bus from the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik to Landmannalaugar (~4.5 hours, ~£55–65 each way — book well in advance at re.is or trex.is as these fill up fast in summer). Arrive mid-morning, register your hut booking at the warden's hut, grab a quick lunch from your packed supplies, and set off on the trail. The first section winds through small rhyolite gorges, climbs past sulphur vents and vivid yellow ridges, then descends to steaming geothermal pools before reaching Hrafntinnusker hut. Pre-book your mountain hut bunk through the Icelandic Touring Association (fi.is) — essential, as huts sell out months ahead.
🚌Reykjavik Excursions or Trex highland bus from BSI Terminal, Reykjavik to Landmannalaugar — ~£60, book at re.is or trex.is
🛏Hrafntinnusker Mountain Hut (FÍ-operated, dorm bunk ~£60–70/night — book at fi.is)
- →Hike Laugavegur Trail Day 1: Landmannalaugar to Hrafntinnusker (~7 miles, ~5hrs, 1,929ft ascent)
- →Walk through rhyolite mountains and past active sulphur vents
- →Soak in the natural hot spring pool at Landmannalaugar before departing (free with hut wristband)
Hrafntinnusker to Álftavatn (Swan Lake)
Hrafntinnusker → Álftavatn
After a self-prepared breakfast at the hut (pack your own oats, crispbread, and instant coffee), descend into the dramatic gullies of Jökultungur, passing hundreds of steaming hot springs and bubbling mud pools. As the trail turns south, you're rewarded with sweeping views across dark volcanic plains towards the Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. The descent to Álftavatn ('Swan Lake') hut is one of the trail's most scenic moments. Arrive in the afternoon, cook a simple hut dinner (pasta, couscous or freeze-dried meals — bring your own supplies from Reykjavik's Bónus or Krónan supermarkets), and watch the light play across the lake.
🚌On foot — self-navigated hiking
🛏Álftavatn Mountain Hut (FÍ-operated, dorm bunk ~£60–70/night — book at fi.is)
- →Hike Laugavegur Trail Day 2: Hrafntinnusker to Álftavatn (~7 miles, ~4–5hrs, 2,024ft descent)
- →Explore steaming hot springs and mud pools of Jökultungur
- →Enjoy panoramic views of Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers
Álftavatn to Botnar — Black Deserts and Ancient Volcanoes
Álftavatn → Botnar (Emstrur)
Today's longest hiking day. Skirt the foot of the green conic Stórasúla volcano, navigate several river crossings (trekking poles and sandals or neoprene socks are a lifesaver here — bring your own), and cross the stark black sands of Mælifellssandur desert. The landscape feels otherworldly and utterly remote. Head toward the ancient Hattfell volcano and into the pasturelands of Emstrur. Take the short but unmissable detour to the Markarfljót canyon — nearly 200m deep and carved dramatically into the rock. Reach Botnar hut by late afternoon.
🚌On foot — self-navigated hiking
🛏Botnar Mountain Hut, Emstrur (FÍ-operated, dorm bunk ~£60–70/night — book at fi.is)
- →Hike Laugavegur Trail Day 3: Álftavatn to Botnar (~10 miles, ~6–7hrs, multiple river crossings)
- →Cross the black sand deserts of Mælifellssandur
- →Detour to Markarfljót canyon — ~200m deep gorge
Final Stretch to Þórsmörk — The Finish Line
Botnar → Þórsmörk → Reykjavik
The final and most rewarding day on the trail. Hike through the rolling valleys and gullies of Emstrur with the mighty Mýrdalsjökull glacier as a constant companion. Reach the trail's dramatic finish in Þórsmörk ('Valley of Thor'), in the shadow of Eyjafjallajökull volcano — the same mountain that grounded European flights in 2010. You've just completed one of the world's great hikes. Pre-book the Trex or Reykjavik Excursions return bus from Þórsmörk to Reykjavik (~£50–60, essential to book ahead at trex.is or re.is — the last bus is typically early evening). Head back to Reykjavik and check into your hostel for a well-earned shower and celebratory dinner.
🚌Trex or Reykjavik Excursions bus from Þórsmörk to Reykjavik — ~£55, book at trex.is or re.is
🛏Loft Hostel or Kex Hostel, Reykjavik (dorm ~£40–55/night)
- →Hike Laugavegur Trail Day 4: Botnar to Þórsmörk (~11 miles, ~6–7hrs, 2,251ft descent)
- →Hike through the Valley of Thor beneath Eyjafjallajökull volcano
- →Celebratory dinner in Reykjavik — try Sægreifinn (Sea Baron) for famous lobster soup (~£10)
Reykjavik — Explore or Head Home
Reykjavik
A free morning to explore more of Iceland's brilliant capital or rest your legs. The Settlement Exhibition (£12) is a fascinating underground Viking museum right in the city centre, and the Reykjavik Art Museum (£12) is worth a look. Alternatively, splash out on the famous Sky Lagoon geothermal spa (~£50) for the ultimate post-trek muscle soak. When ready, catch the Flybus back to Keflavik Airport (~£20). Book the Flybus via flybus.is to match your flight time.
🚌Flybus from Reykjavik to Keflavik Airport — ~£20, book at flybus.is
🛏Check out — no accommodation needed
- →Optional: Visit the Settlement Exhibition Viking museum (~£12)
- →Optional: Sky Lagoon geothermal spa — perfect post-trek recovery (~£50)
- →Flybus back to Keflavik Airport for your flight home
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£560 | £1,295 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £735 per person (57%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Much Better Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£560
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.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Trek the Laugavegur Trail: The Self-Launched Hut-to-Hut Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £560 per person for 6 days in Iceland. 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 Much Better Adventures?+
Yes — Much Better Adventures charges around £1,295 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £560 — a saving of roughly £735 (57%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Iceland.
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, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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