LANDMANNALAUGAR

LAUGAVEGUR

Listed as one of the most beautiful trails in the world, the Laugavegur trail connects Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk. If you’re hiking south, you can continue onto the Fimmvörðuháls trail, or if you’re hiking north, you can start with the Fimmvörðuháls trail, pass through Þórsmörk, and end in Landmannalaugar.

MT. BRENNISTEINSALDA

Get a taste of the Laugavegur trail with a hike up Mt. Brennisteinsalda, technically an active volcano that is known for its colorful appearance due to rhyolite. You’ll pass over a lava field, walk by sulfuric vents, and enjoy panoramic views of Landmannalaugar. For a detailed hiking guide, visit Earth Trekkers post, here.

BLÁHNÚKUR

You can make a loop out of Bláhnúkur and Brennisteinsalda, or do each on their own. Another volcano, it is blueish black in color due to volcanic ash and lava flows. The beginning of the hike is steep and narrow, but it is worth getting past this part to summit and view five different glaciers. There is loose sand on this hike, so hiking boots or a sturdy sneaker are heavily recommended.

THE HOT SPRINGS AT LANDMANNALAUGAR

After a hike around the volcanos, enjoy a relaxing dip in the hot springs beside the campground. They are free to use and anyone can use it, but if you need restroom facilities, there is a small coin fee.

FIMMVÖRÐUHÁLS TRAIL

Starting in either Þórsmörk or at the top of Skógafoss, the 16 mile Fimmvörðuháls trail passes between the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull and while is doable in a day, can also be broken up into two days with a stay at the Baldvinsskáli hut or the Fimmvörðuskáli hut. I’ve hiked this trail south to north (Skógar to Þórsmörk) and can confirm that it is the easier direction to hike in versus north to south, plus you get the face-on views of the many waterfalls throughout the Skógá River. If you do choose to break your hike into two days, you’ll need to make a reservation for the hut. We stayed at the Baldvinsskáli hut and it had an outhouse, potable (but not running) water, and sleeping quarters. Everyone sleeps on the second floor in the same room on mattress pads- and overflow guests will sleep downstairs.

The majority of the trail is well marked, minus a snowy field in between the glaciers. Here you can increase your hike with a hike to the peaks of Magni and Móði, two mountains that were created during the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010.

If you’re ending in Þórsmörk, you can catch a bus back to Skógar or you can camp. There is camping at Þórsmörk Básar, which you’ll find immediately upon the conclusion of your hike, continue on to the hut at Þórsmörk Langidalur, or go a bit further to Volcano Huts which is in Þórsmörk Húsadalur. We caught the bus back to Skógar from the Volcano Huts, so you’ll want to plan yourselves accordingly for your bus reservation!