From CAD 6,365
Guarantee
Small Group
Unknown
Rating
(3 reviews)
Experience Overview
Iceland is now firmly established as one of the most dramatic trekking destinations on the planet – the varied landscapes forged over eons by volcanic eruptions and gigantic glaciers. One of the most popular trails is known as the Laugavegur Trail, and this is the focus of our week. All meals are included while camping, and we start in the colourful Landmannalaugar mountains before heading to the dramatic Thorsmork region where we discover the craters from the 2010 eruption. Few trekking routes can match the striking vistas on offer here.
In addition, the early departures offer long days, up to 24 hours of daylight in July, while the late August and early September departures bring darkness and with that the chance to see the Northern Lights.
Profile
— Accommodation: 2 Classic nights (hotels), 4 Simple nights (participatory camping) — Three full and two half days of walking — Low altitude throughout — Group normally 7 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 2 Classic nights (hotels), 4 Simple nights (participatory camping) — Three full and two half days of walking — Low altitude throughout — Group normally 7 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
Walks are of varying length and distance – the longest day is around nine hours. This trek is on a clearly defined path; however, there can be some loose ground and uneven terrain. Walks are subject to change in the event of adverse weather conditions. While camping, group members are expected to participate, including putting up and dismantling your own tent and helping the leader with some kitchen duties and preparing meals. Luggage is transported by minibus from camp to camp, meaning you only need to carry provisions for each day, see packing list for further details.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners are included.
Typical meals when camping:
Breakfast: Fresh fruit, yoghurt, porridge, muesli, bread, jam, tea/coffeeLunch: Bread and soup, cheese, tuna, biscuitsEvening meal: A combination of the following: meat (including Icelandic specialities such as smoked lamb), fish, pasta, beans, noodles, vegetables, and hot drinks. We will also have a few bars of chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits and some sweets to sustain us on the walks. Those who prefer evening drinks are advised to buy them in the duty-free upon arrival at the airport.
Dietary requirements: Vegetarians can be catered for, please advise at time of booking. As this is predominantly a camping trip, there is limited flexibility in camp. If you have specific dietary requirements, please ask at the time of booking to allow us to check with our local partners. Unfortunately, due to the remoteness of some locations, we are unable to cater for vegans.
Transportation
We use a comfortable van or bus, ruggedly built to Icelandic standards and able to cope with most types of terrain, including fording glacial rivers. Airport transfers are on the Flybus service.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Keflavik Airport (KEF)
Airport transfers
The start hotel is approximately 45 to 60 minutes’ drive from the airport. Prior to travel, everyone will receive a Flybus voucher, which must be exchanged at the Flybus counter inside the airport or on the first bus for two tickets – one to the hotel and another back to the airport.
The public Flybus system offers bus transfers throughout the day and stops at various city hotels, including our start hotel. You need to carry your own luggage and change bus at the Reykjavik bus terminal to continue your journey to the start hotel. There may be a wait of around 15 minutes between buses. You will receive further details in your Final Joining Instructions.
Why Flybus?
We use FlyBus so you have full flexibility to choose the flight times that work best for you. This also means we avoid adding to the road traffic and carbon emissions by having a private bus meet our groups. It is the most cost effective and responsible way to transfer from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik. If you prefer to be met by a taxi, this can be arranged at an additional cost. Contact your sales representative for more detail
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Weather Information
Iceland is on the northern edge of the temperate zone, meaning it has cool summers. Daytime temperatures in summer can be anything from 10C to 20C (50F to 68F), though they can reach 25C (77F) and could equally drop close to freezing point. As we are in a mountain area, you must be prepared for some days of poor weather with strong winds and rain, but usually the weather is quite pleasant, though cool. There is constant daylight, but not midnight sun, in May, June and July.
Spending Money
We recommend you allow 10,500-15,700 kronas (US$75-US$115) in total for the two dinners not included in Reykjavik. Unfortunately, Iceland is very expensive for eating out. For small snacks and drink stops en route allow about 4,350 kronas (US$32) in total.
The Blue Lagoon is a popular destination close to both Reykjavik and Keflavik airports. Depending on your flight times, you may be able to visit on your arrival or departure day. Destination Blue Lagoon offer packages with transfers between Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon and Keflavik Airport. Book direct at https://destinationbluelagoon.is or speak to your sales representative for more information.
Tipping
Our staff are paid fairly for their work; however, should you wish to tip the leader and/or driver this is entirely at your discretion. Icelanders do not expect a tip, and as such advice on an amount is not always forthcoming, so as a guide you could consider approximately 2,600 kronas (US$20).
Highlights
— Walk the famed Laugavegur Trail to experience the immense wilderness of Iceland — Discover multiple natural wonders: waterfalls, lava fields, craters and volcanic fissures — Take a warming dip in natural hot pools after scaling Blue Peak — Strap on crampons and pick up an ice axe for a glacier walk on Solheimajokull — Get back to nature with four camping nights, sleeping under the stars and joining camp life
Trip Details
Product Code: 4272
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: service.
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: TSE
Starts: Reykjavik, Iceland
Finishes: Reykjavik, Iceland
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical rating:
Unknown
Includes
— All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners — All accommodation — All transport and listed activities — Tour leader from meeting at hotel on Day 1 to the end of Day 6 — Glacier walk on Day 6 — Airport shuttle bus transfers for everyoneAccommodation
Hotel and campingThe first and last nights are spent in Reykjavik. Here we usually use Hotel Klettur or the Storm Hotel, which both have comfortable rooms. As hotel availability in Reykjavik can be scarce during summer due to strong demand, we may occasionally use one hotel on the first night and a different hotel on the last night. If this is the case, any luggage you choose to leave in Reykjavik will be transferred from one hotel to the other for you. When camping, we usually stay at organised campsites with good facilities. Showers are available for a small fee – about 350 Icelandic kronas (US$2.60) – at some and are included at others. Some also have facilities for washing clothes. Spacious two-person tents with sewn-in groundsheets and separate flysheets are supplied. We provide a dining tent with a table, campstools, and LED lamps. Please note, some campsites in Iceland cannot be prebooked, and are allocated on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis. In busy periods, we may occasionally use campsites different to those outlined in the itinerary. Single accommodation, including a single tent, is available on request.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 6365 (CAD 909 /day)
Itinerary
After a Flybus transfer to our hotel, we begin with a briefing from the leader, usually at 6.30pm. Here you receive an outline of the week ahead and have the chance to ask any questions. After, our groups typically go out for dinner together. Accommodation: Hotel Klettur/Storm Hotel (or similar)
We transfer up to the unmistakable Landmannalaugar mountains. The drive will take approximately four hours as we head through the south of Iceland, up the Thjorsardalur valley towards Mount Hekla, an enormous volcano responsible for enormous destruction in centuries past. Here, we turn into the Highlands and the black volcanic desert of the Fjallabak area. The Fjallabak Nature Reserve is one of the most popular areas in Iceland for trekking with a landscape like nowhere else, from black volcanic plains to multicoloured rhyolite mountains. At the heart of all this are the Landmannalaugar mountains, where we pitch our camp before having lunch. Typically, most trips begin the Laugavegur Trail today; however, we take the opportunity to enjoy a daywalk in these unique surroundings. Our afternoon walk heads to the top of Blue Peak and across the black Laugahruna lava field. The hot pools originate in this lava field, which was created in 1477, the last known eruption in the area. This area is believed to be the southern end of the Bardarbunga volcanic system. The last eruption in the Bardarbunga system was a fissure eruption in the northern end from 2014 to 2015. Some 93mi (150km) north of Landmannalaugar, it was the largest eruption in Iceland for more than 200 years, though luckily did not have the same impact on air travel as the more famous Eyafjallajokull eruption of 2010. Our guide will prepare the evening meal in our mess tent, though group members are expected to pitch in and help with food preparation and washing up. Accommodation: Participatory camping
For the next two days, we cross the Torfajokull volcanic area (rhyolitic stratovolcano), which was formed by a series of subglacial volcanic eruptions. It is the largest rhyolitic area in Iceland, consisting of rolling rhyolite hills with numerous hot springs and sulphur vents. We start by crossing the Laugahraun lava field to the slopes of Brennisteinsalda, known for its photogenic spectrum of colours. We take a short but very worthwhile detour to the top. En route we pass the Storihver hot spring, cross the high plateau and enter the Hrafntinnusker area. Here steam rises from hundreds of vents and our route passes numerous hot springs along the way. From Hrafntinnusker and across the Torfajokull Massif – the route meanders southwards and we hike past steaming hot springs and boiling mud pools before we start dropping down Jokultungur to the black volcanic plains west of the Myrdalsjokull glacier. The view is spectacular on a clear day with Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers in the foreground and the black volcanic landscape between. We enter a totally different landscape of Palagonite ridges and peaks with black volcanic plains and big glacier rivers all around. Our aim for the day is Alftavatn lake where we pitch our tents once more. Accommodation: Participatory camping
We head further south towards Myrdalsjokull ice cap across the black volcanic landscape. There are several rivers in this area, the largest are bridged but the smaller ones are not. We make a detour just before we make it to our destination of the day, Emstrur, heading west for the Markarfljotsglufur canyon. The Markarkfljot glacial river has cut this canyon nearly 655ft (200m) deep and it is worth a visit. After the canyon, we have a short distance to Botnar in the Emstrur area, a small green oasis in the black volcanic desert. Accommodation: Participatory camping
We start the day by crossing the bridge over the Emstrur River on our way to Thorsmork. We hike along the western edge of the Myrdalsjokull Ice Cap and leave the pitch-black volcanic area. Vegetation increases slowly and, eventually, we get to the lush birch-covered area of Thorsmork (Thor's woodland). Thorsmork valley is a beautiful place with magnificent glaciers, a river and wind-swept mountains. This area has been a favourite with local walkers for decades and it’s easy to see why. We hike across the Thorsmork valley and over the Krossa glacial river (by bridge) and to our camp in Basar. Accommodation: Participatory camping
Today we pack up ready to head back to Reykjavik. Before returning to the city, we go for a hike on Solheimajokull, an outlet glacier extending from the Myrdalsjokull icecap. We explore this wonderland of ice sculptures, crevasses, and long, narrow ridges. We strap on the crampons and get the ice axes before making our way up this massive ice flow. After the glacier walk, en route to Reykjavik we stop at Skogarfoss and Kvernufoss, two particularly photogenic waterfalls. On arrival in Reykjavik, we can check in and then head out for our final meal together. The leader can recommend or book a restaurant for the group. Accommodation: Hotel Klettur/Storm Hotel (or similar)
Those wishing to spend extra time in Reykjavik will find it time well spent as this busy city has plenty to offer, from the Harpa Concert Hall to the many restaurants and cafés, not forgetting the geothermal baths, a key part of Icelandic culture.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
Reviews
Paul Walsh - Traveled, June 2022
Good A fascinating introduction to the varied landscape of Iceland’s interior with a good range of trekking experiences. Walking through snow clad mountains, black volcanic sand, ice clad glaciers and magnificent waterfalls. Most Inspirational Moment The honour of walking through imposing rock formations, steam vents and glacier valleys. The creative force of nature unfolding beneath our feet. Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent! Petur was confident, engaging and witty. A strong character, who dealt with the complex organisation issues well. Although initially setting a strong walking pace, he adjusted to accommodate those at the back with more breaks. A second guide could have kept an eye on the back of the group. Advice for Potential Travellers 1. Use a good eye mask to shut out the light at night, to enable better sleep. 2. Ensure you have a decent, fully charged power pack, as charging phones etc is not possible in the hills. 3. Bring plenty of Krona for the time in Reykjavik.! Buying meals/drinks is expensive. Suggestions Having praised our guide (Petur), several of us felt he should have received more 'hands on' support. With thirteen clients in the group, and tent and cooking arrangements, there was too much for one person to manage. Also the support vehicle should have been travelling with our transport. A potentially dangerous situation on the first night was alleviated by quick actions from the guide, as we waited in developing wet conditions till after10.00pm for the tents, food/cooking equipment and our kit bags to arrive. Having said this we all appreciated the gesture of placing us in a bunk hut the following evening, instead of our tents.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/24/2022
Christine Gausden - Traveled, August 2019
'Storm Group' This was an unexpectedly challenging trek across a mix of terrains in the Laugavegur region of Iceland – not only did our group experience the most stunning & variable scenery but equally a variable mix of weather conditions & the unexpected evacuation of camp at speed due to extreme wind conditions that started to uplift our overnight accommodation – & a colleague’s possessions …. Most Inspirational Moment There were several - daily - which largely revolved about the scenery - 'wow' moments, which will not be forgotten Thoughts on Group Leader Gunner was affable, stoic & professional throughout; quietly unassuming, he was the calm amidst 'our storm' - whilst we were somewhat excited by the chaos he was efficient in his acquisition of alternative accommodation - at speed Advice for Potential Travellers Notwithstanding the weather, this is not a moderate trip - the walks are substantive in length, & whilst the pace was not over demanding, there were several high, steep, narrow &/or exposed parts to almost every day which a more moderate walker may not anticipate Suggestions Before visiting Iceland I was advised by fellow travellers I would love this seismic land - they were not wrong .. a fantastic trek in great company & highly recommended
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/20/2019
Ian Hudson - Traveled, July 2018
A walk through a lunar landscape A five day walk through the land that allegedly inspired JRR Tolkien to write “Lord of the Rings”. Go on your own journey to return your own one ring to Mount Doom. More volcanoes than you can count on both hands but no Orc’s. Iceland has quite a high rainfall but not a problem for this trip because: 1) It didn’t rain all week! 2) There is very little soil, so no mud, you spend most of the time walking over volcanic ash or lava! Most Inspirational Moment Walking over a mountain of obsidian boulders/cobbles. For non geologists obsidian is a volcanic glass that appears black , shiny and breaks with sharp edges. Usually difficult to locate but here there is a whole mountain of the stuff. Being informed that Icelandic trolls are bad, big, don't live under bridges and turn to stone if caught in daylight. Familiar if you have read the "The Hobbit". Petrified Troll spotting was a highlight of most days. The company of a great bunch of Exodus clients. Thoughts on Group Leader Gunnar is a very experienced Icelandic guide with a flexible approach to travelling in the mountains. The forecast of high winds early in the trip meant we we didn't use a couple of exposed campsites which made the trip more enjoyable, high winds and tents don't mix! He is a wealth of knowledge on the locality, its eruptive history and the Icelandic saga's. He even coached me in local pronunciation I can now say Eyjafjnallajokull .......(I think). Advice for Potential Travellers Read the trip notes the advice in them is good especially the bit about using duty free at the airport. Gunnar carried hot water flasks for lunch tea/coffee but if you a lunchtime cuppa soup person take your own flask and packets, plenty of hot water at breakfast. Strong winds over ash produce "dust storms", take a pair of close fitting sunglasses to keep it out of your eyes. Goggles would be a little OTT. Suggestions This is trip that will interest Geologists.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/06/2018
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