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.

The Laugavegur Trail film: Southern highlands, Iceland

Southern highlands, Iceland · 3 days · 59 miles

Laugavegur Trail Hiking Guide

3 days alone from Landmannalaugar over Fimmvörðuháls to Skógafoss.

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Look inside

Real pages from the guide. Tap one to see it big.

A day page
A day map and elevation profile
At a glance
The river crossings

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The route

My GPS recording of 3 days on a relief map. The numbers are where each day starts; the red dot is the finish. The full GPX files and the day maps come with the guide.

Relief map of the Laugavegur Trail route: 3 days drawn in red with numbered day starts, labelled Landmannalaugar, Skógafoss, Hámundur and Hvanngil. — Map data: Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (EU-DEM) on AWS · Glaciers, rivers & lakes © OpenStreetMap contributors

At a glance

Days: 3 days
Distance: 59 miles
Climbing: About 8,880 ft (2,707 m) up
Season: Late June to early September
Route: Landmannalaugar to Skógafoss

What's inside

All three days. Stats, the time I took, my notes, the trail, where to get off, a map with an elevation profile, and links to that day in my film.
My GPX files. My own recordings for each day and the whole route, with waypoints for every hut, where I camped, the river crossings, the pass and Skógafoss, ready for AllTrails, Gaia GPS, Garmin or Organic Maps.
The huts and campsites. Every FÍ hut from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, the Volcano Huts and Básar, the two huts on Fimmvörðuháls, with 2027 FÍ prices, beds, showers and warden phones.
The river crossings. Every river on my line, which ones have bridges and which you wade, and how to cross.
Getting there and home. The highland buses from Reykjavík to Landmannalaugar and back from Skógar, and the public bus, with 2026 times and prices.
Fimmvörðuháls in 2027. The pass, its water and huts, and the 2026 warning and detour you need to know about.
Food, costs and gear. What I ate and paid, what the huts sell, and what to bring.
Before you go and a trip sheet. One page of year-to-year checks and a printable one-page summary of the whole hike.

About this trip

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.

Watch the film on YouTube (389K views).

Gear for this route

Paid links: I earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I camped at the huts and cooked some of my own meals in July 2022. I didn't list my kit for this trip, and the gear list I linked in the film isn't in the description any more, so here's what the film and my photos show, what I'd take now, and what I filmed with.

What I carried in 2022

Brands only where the film names them, so most of these have no link.

Packmy Hyperlite pack
Tenta small green NEMO tentI stayed in my tent the whole time on the trail, which saves money.
Stovea small gas stoveMy own dinner at Hvanngil and ramen at Emstrur.
Shoestrail runnersThere were so many water crossings, and I kept my shoes on.
Camp shoesblue and orange camp shoes
Layersa dark rain jacket, an orange insulated jacket and a beanie

What I'd take now

For the camping version or the huts, from my current kit.

PackHyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 2400 HyperliteRoom for a tent and food between the huts.
TentNEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 1P AmazonCamp only at the huts and designated campsites.
Sleeping bagHyperlite Mountain Gear 20° Quilt HyperliteYou need one for the huts or your tent.
Sleeping padTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Amazon
StoveJetboil Stash AmazonI bought fuel at the gas station next to the BSÍ bus terminal.
Rain shellArc’teryx Beta AR Jacket Arc’teryxWind, rain and hail are normal, even in July.
PuffyArc’teryx Cerium Hoody Arc’teryxThe wind can be relentless, mixed with rain and sometimes snow.
BeaniePATH Projects Hoyt Merino Beanie PATH Projects
GlovesUnigear Touchscreen Liner Gloves Amazon
PolesBlack Diamond Alpine Carbon Z Poles AmazonFor the river crossings and the snow.
Camp shoesCrocs Classic Clog AmazonFor the huts and camp.
WaterKatadyn BeFree AC · 1L AmazonTap water at the FÍ huts is safe, but there's none on the Fimmvörðuháls pass: carry about 2 liters.
Power bankNitecore NB20000 AmazonThere's no charging at the FÍ huts.
NavigationAllTrails+ AllTrails · 30% offLoad my GPX files and download offline maps before you get on the bus. Offline maps need the paid plan.
Phone dataAiralo eSIM Airalo · $3 offData in Reykjavík. Don't count on a signal between the huts.

Filming kit

What I filmed this trip with in 2022. My setup is much smaller now (below). Read the drone rules in Weather and safety before you bring one: they're banned in summer around Landmannalaugar and all year at Skógafoss.

CameraSony a7S III Amazon
Lensa Sony 16-35mm f/4
MicRode VideoMic GO II Amazon
Tripoda tripodGreetings from lovely Mordor: my camera setup on the lava.
Dronemy DJI drone

What I film with now

Since September 2026 I film with a smaller setup: the Pocket 4 and the Mic 3 on the trail, and the Mini 5 Pro in the air.

CameraDJI Osmo Pocket 4 Amazon
MicDJI Mic 3 · 1 TX + 1 RX AmazonIt pairs with the Pocket 4.
DroneDJI Mini 5 Pro Amazon
TripodSmallRig Carbon Fiber Tripod Amazon

Everything I carry now: my gear page.

The Day 2, Hvanngil to Þórsmörk page from the Laugavegur Trail Hiking Guide

Free sample + packing list

Try Day 2 free, plus my packing list

Hvanngil to Þórsmörk

The whole day page from the guide as a PDF, plus my camping packing list: the 42 things I carry, with a note on each, and this route's own list on top. The PDF opens right away and both come by email. You'll also get my emails about new guides and trips, a few a year.

The details

Format: A 47-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, in your own currency. Tax is included in the price, except in the US and Canada, where any sales tax is added at checkout.
Refunds: Not useful? Email me within 30 days for a refund: kraig@kraigadams.com.
Questions: Email kraig@kraigadams.com.

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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