Southern highlands, Iceland · 3 days · 59 miles · solo, camping

Laugavegur Trail Hiking Guide

In July 2022 I hiked alone across Iceland's highlands in three days: the Laugavegur from Landmannalaugar through the rhyolite hills, snowfields and black-sand deserts to Þórsmörk, then over the Fimmvörðuháls pass and down past the waterfalls of the Skógá to Skógafoss. About 59 miles, camping at the huts. This guide has my GPS files, maps and notes for every day, the huts and campsites, the river crossings, the highland buses, and a 5-day version with a hut every night.

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The cover of the Laugavegur Trail Hiking Guide

What's inside

Look inside

At a glance page from the Laugavegur Trail Hiking Guide
At a glance
A day page page from the Laugavegur Trail Hiking Guide
A day page
A day map and elevation profile page from the Laugavegur Trail Hiking Guide
A day map and elevation profile
The river crossings page from the Laugavegur Trail Hiking Guide
The river crossings

The details

Format
A 45-page PDF sized for a phone (A5, prints fine too) and a folder of GPX files, in one zip download.
Edition
2027 season edition, updated September 2026.
Delivery
Instant. After you pay you get a private download link. Bookmark it to download again on any device.
Payment
Secure checkout through Stripe. The price is in US dollars, and sales tax or VAT is added where it applies.
Questions
Email kraig@kraigadams.com.
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Questions

How many days does the Laugavegur take?
Most people walk the Laugavegur in four days, sleeping in the huts, and add Fimmvörðuháls as a fifth. I did it in three in July 2022, about 20 miles a day: two days from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk and one over Fimmvörðuháls to Skógafoss, 58.7 miles on my GPS.
How hard is the Laugavegur trail?
It's low and not technical: you just have to do the miles. The river crossings are the hardest part; I had cold water up to my waist at one point. The other thing is the weather: wind, rain and sometimes snow and hail. Pick a good forecast window.
Can you wild camp on the Laugavegur?
No. The trail crosses protected land where overnight stays are only allowed in huts and at designated campsites, so you camp at the huts and pay per person. I camped at Hvanngil and at the Volcano Huts in Þórsmörk. In 2027 an FÍ campsite is 3,600 ISK a person and a hut bed 18,000 ISK.
Do you need to book the Laugavegur huts?
Yes. FÍ, the Iceland Touring Association, expects hikers to have confirmed hut or campsite bookings before they start, and it only books the huts north to south, from Landmannalaugar toward Þórsmörk. Book and pay online at fi.is.
When is the best time to hike the Laugavegur?
FÍ says the trail is open on average from June 25 to September 15, and that July and August are the most reliable. In 2026 it opened on July 2, with considerable snow between Landmannalaugar and Álftavatn. I went July 12 to 14, 2022, and walked in snow on the high section and on the pass.
Is Fimmvörðuháls safe to hike?
Check before you go. In late August 2026 FÍ, Útivist and the local rescue team warned against hiking Fimmvörðuháls because glacier retreat had opened ravines and crevasses between the two huts on the pass, and FÍ then marked a detour. There's also no water on the glacial pass, so fill up before the climb.

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