Laugavegur Hike Guide: What to Know — and the Best Alternatives When It’s Sold Out

The Laugavegur trail is one of the most iconic long-distance hikes in the world. Stretching from the geothermal highland oasis of Landmannalaugar to the lush birch forests of Þórsmörk, this 55-kilometre trekking route is loved for its volcanic landscapes, rhyolite mountains, black-sand deserts, steaming hot springs, and glacier-carved valleys. It’s a route that many hikers dream of — and one that often sells out months in advance.

If you’re researching the Laugavegur hike for your upcoming trip to Iceland, this guide will help you understand:

• What makes the Laugavegur trail so legendary
• How difficult the hike truly is
• What the huts and logistics are like
• The best season for trekking
• What to expect if you plan to hike it
• What to do when the Laugavegur trail is fully booked — including the best alternative multi-day hikes with Icelandic Mountain Guides that deliver the same magic, with fewer crowds

Even if you can’t secure a Laugavegur booking this year, there are extraordinary trails waiting for you in Iceland’s highlands.

Yes, but also no. This is a whole thing so let’s get into it. The word Lauga-vegur is Icelandic for “spring road” or “pool road” if you will. You’ll find a number of placenames all over Iceland beginning with Laug-something, usually in the vicinity of hot springs or natural pools. In Reykjavik, the shopping street Laugavegur is the historical route that the women of Reykjavik would walk with the household’s laundry to the hot springs of Laugardalur (currently the city’s favourite sporting area) on washing day. The Laugavegur hiking trail is almost always referred to as Laugavegurinn in Icelandic. That extra “inn” you’re seeing is the definite article and designed to highlight that you’re referring to THE Laugavegur, the one in the highlands. But in later years, people will refer to the most central part of Laugavegur with that same definite article as that general area so it’s not really helpful anymore. It does help that semantically it is very hard to mistake one Laugavegur with the other as one is an incredibly remote highland trek and the other is full of shops selling stuffed puffin keychains.

TL;DR: Don’t worry about it. Icelanders get this mixed up too.

The Laugavegur hike regularly ranks among the world’s top trekking routes because it packs an astonishing variety of landscapes into a relatively short distance. Within just four to five days, hikers encounter:

• Multi-coloured rhyolite mountains
• Steamy fumaroles and awe-inspiring valleys
• Black volcanic deserts
• Glacier rivers and canyons
• Moss-covered lava fields
• Jagged peaks and ridges
• The lush forests of Þórsmörk
• A final extension, Fimmvörðuháls, with views of the famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano

This diversity, combined with well-maintained trails and huts, makes the Laugavegur trail accessible for many trekkers while still feeling remote and adventurous.

But that fame comes at a cost: the trail’s hut system and guided tours sell out extremely early — often by January or February.

If you’re already too late this year, don’t worry. Several other highland routes offer the same awe-inspiring landscapes with a fraction of the crowds. Later in this article, we’ll walk through the best alternatives.

The standard Laugavegur trek is:

• Distance: 55 km
• Duration: 3–4 days
• Typical route: Landmannalaugar → Hrafntinnusker → Hvanngil → Emstrur → Þórsmörk
• Optional add-on: Fimmvörðuháls (adds one day)

Most guided tours take 4 days, with hut accommodation along the way.

The Laugavegur trail is considered moderate to challenging depending on weather.

You will need to be comfortable with:

• 5–8 hours of hiking per day on mountainous terrain
• Carrying a daypack
• Some steep ascents and descents
• River crossings (yes — real crossings, often thigh-deep)
• Rapidly changing weather (snow in summer is possible)

For hikers with good fitness and experience in uneven terrain, the Laugavegur is fully achievable. But it is no walk in the park, i.e. this isn’t an “easy” hike. This is the full Icelandic highlands experience.

If you prefer a guided, secure experience on rugged backcountry terrain, we offer some exceptional alternatives that offer similar or greater adventure levels.

Accommodation on the Laugavegur route is almost always in mountain huts, which must be reserved months in advance.

Expect:

• Shared dormitory bunks
• Heated huts
• No showers at some huts
• Limited or no electricity
• Limited phone signal
• Communal kitchens
• No luggage transport unless booked with a tour operator

These huts are functional, heated and cosy but basic.
Again — they sell out very early, campsites have limited capacity and wild camping is not allowed.

The season is short:

Late June – Early September

Outside these dates, snow makes parts of the trail unsafe or impassable.

If you're reading this outside peak summer or the season is fully booked, our other multi-day treks may be open into autumn, and some operate earlier in late spring depending on the year.

The Laugavegur can be hiked independently, but many travellers prefer joining an expert guided tour, because:

• Weather can change dramatically
• Rivers can be dangerous without knowledge of safe crossing points
• Navigation becomes difficult in fog or snow
• Guides manage logistics, meals (with help from participants), hut reservations, and safety

Guided tours also make the hike more enjoyable — you carry less, learn more, and relax more.

Bad news: the Laugavegur trail is so popular that we are usually fully booked months ahead.

Great news: Iceland has multiple other highland treks that are equally spectacular — and, in some cases, even more unique with the added charm of far less foot traffic than their world-famous sibling Laugavegur.

Below are the top alternatives we can confidently recommend to hikers searching for multi-day adventures like the Laugavegur.

The Volcanic Trails – 5 Days

The ultimate alternative to the Laugavegur trek — fewer crowds, more wilderness.

If you love the colourful rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar and the remote valleys of the Southern Highlands, the Volcanic Trails route is an extraordinary choice. It's often described by seasoned guides as “Laugavegur multiplied by three.”

You’ll see:

• Rhyolite mountains
• Volcanic formations
• Deep canyons
• Black-sand deserts
• Hot springs
• Remote highland valleys with almost no other hikers

It’s ideal for those wanting more solitude than the Laugavegur can offer.

If the Laugavegur is sold out or you’ve hiked it already and want a new challenge, this is the closest in spirit, but with even more adventure.

Fjallabak Nature Reserve – 4 Days

Highland isolation at its most beautiful.

Fjallabak is one of Iceland’s wildest protected areas, filled with:

• Lava fields
• Geothermal vents
• Mountain ridges
• Pristine valleys
• Technicolor rhyolite hills

This area borders Landmannalaugar, so you still get the classic colourful mountains — without the crowds.

The Off the Beaten Path in Fjallabak Nature Reserve trek is perfect for hikers wanting Laugavegur-style landscapes but with a more intimate, authentic highland feel.

4-Day Thorsmork Glacier Valley Adventure (Huts)

If Þórsmörk is your favourite part of the Laugavegur, this tour focuses fully on it.

Many trekkers consider Þórsmörk the highlight of the entire Laugavegur route — so why not spend four full days inside that landscape instead of one?

This tour is ideal if you want:

• Birch forests
• Glacier views
• Basalt ridges
• Volcano craters
• River crossings
• The “best parts” of the Laugavegur condensed into one area

It’s also an excellent choice for hikers who prefer hut accommodation and want a moderate but deeply scenic adventure.

5-Day Vatnajökull Wilderness Trek

For those seeking a glacial, cinematic landscape unlike anything on the Laugavegur.

This is an opportunity to trek near and on Europe’s largest glacier — Vatnajökull, covering 8% of Iceland.

The 5-day route includes:

• Sweeping glacier views
• Full day of glacier travel
• Remote highland valleys
• Ice-shaped canyons
• Vibrant mountain scenery
• Wild camping
• Most likely, no other hikers

If you want something even more dramatic, challenging and even more remote than Laugavegurinn, this is a top choice.

Many hikers report that these alternative treks ended up becoming their favourite experience in Iceland, often more memorable than the Laugavegur because of the solitude and the sense of exploration.

Whether you’re hiking Laugavegurinn or an alternative route, pack:

• Waterproof jacket & trousers (mandatory)
• Baselayers (wool or synthetic)
• Warm mid-layers
• Hiking boots with ankle support
• Hat & gloves/mittens
• Gaiters (optional)
• Trekking poles (optional)
• Water bottle
• Snacks
• Dry bags for electronics
• Quick-dry hiking trousers

Multiday treks require:

• Sleeping bag (unless provided)
• Sleeping mat (if camping)
• 30-40L daypack when there is luggage transport
• 60–75L backpack with no assistance
• River-crossing shoes (some tours do not cross rivers)
• Layers for cold nights

Even in July or August, the highlands can be cold, windy, snowy, or soaked in rain.

Short answer: yes — absolutely.

Many travellers come to Iceland fixated on the Laugavegur hike because it's so well known. But those who choose our alternative routes often claim they’re glad Laugavegur was full since their experience was perfect.

The highlands are huge. Only a tiny fraction of Iceland’s remote trails has any foot traffic. The rest offer:

• More wildlife
• More tranquillity
• More unspoiled landscapes
• More immersion
• More authenticity

If you're coming for nature, silence, vastness, or untouched beauty, our alternatives often deliver more of what people imagine Iceland is like.

Choose the Volcanic Trails or Fjallabak if:

✓ You want rhyolite mountains, colourful landscapes, geothermal activity
✓ You like the Laugavegur “vibe” but want fewer people
✓ You enjoy moderate to challenging highland routes

Choose Þórsmörk 4-Day if:

✓ You want lush scenery, forests, canyons, glacier views
✓ You want hut-based comfort
✓ You prefer moderate difficulty

Choose 5-Day Vatnajökull Wilderness if:

✓ You want glacier scenery and dramatic landscapes
✓ You want an isolated, remote experience
✓ You want a real challenge

The Laugavegur trail is a bucket-list trek and a truly worthwhile one, but it’s just one piece of Iceland’s vast highland wilderness. If your dates are full or huts are unavailable, you’re not out of luck. Icelandic Mountain Guides by Icelandia offers exceptional multi-day adventures that capture the same spirit and often deliver a more exclusive and immersive experience.

Whether you choose the remote valleys of Fjallabak, the glacier-dominated landscapes around Vatnajökull, or the hidden trails of Þórsmörk, you’ll discover that the heart of Iceland lies far beyond the most famous paths.

Your Iceland trek is waiting — even if the Laugavegur is sold out.