The hike is moderate to strenuous, especially the first two days. All participants must commit to preparing themselves for this hike. Please do not show up having done no previous conditioning, hoping to wing it with will alone. You owe it to yourself to get your body strong for this event. It will be more enjoyable for you and your fellow hikers. Training should include cardiovascular (biking, running, swimming), and weights (squats), and hiking (distance and hills).

Expect to walk 6-7 hours per day, or about 7-12 miles per day over 5 days. The greatest single day elevation gain is 2300 ft from Landmannalaugar to Hrafntinnusker.

The first day we ascend about 3,000ft then the next day the elevation stays steady until a down, then an up about another 400ft. The max elevation in height is about 3400ft. Then we descended to Lake Alftavatn. The third day we will descend more over rolling hills. By day 4 it’s pretty much flat. There is a cumulative elevation of about 6,000ft after 5 days of hiking because of the rolling terrain.

Have you heard of Relive? It’s an app. It syncs videos and photos taken and GPS tracker to make a topographic video of the activity. The trip leader in 2021 used this app for all 5 days on the hike last July. Click on the links and play the video to get a better idea of the experience. In the top left of the video there is the elevation profile.

Day 1: https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qVpMZdm3O
Day 2: https://www.relive.cc/view/vMq5WBMjEQO
Day 3: https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOpdWdwARO
Day 4: https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDdmd8wwq
Day 5: https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qVp1pRz3O

No, but you should enjoy hiking, have experience on uneven terrain, and commit to training. Comfort with shared accommodations and changing weather matters too.

Your luggage is transported, but you must be able to walk each day’s route carrying your own daypack.

Participants will need to cross several rivers during the trek: Water levels can change from time to time due to seasonal conditions. At some river crossings, we may be able to step from stone to stone to reach the other side. At others, you will need to remove your hiking boots and socks, put on your river-crossing shoes, and wade through the water. Neoprene socks with sandals or neoprene beach shoes are the best choices. Your guide will provide advice on how to safely cross each river and will help you during the crossing. Trekking poles are also helpful for stability when wading through rivers.

We organize accommodations, luggage transfers, transportation to and from the trail, and meals during the trek. Your Icelandic guide and Green Edventures tour leader accompany the group.

You carry your daily essentials and complete the hiking under your own power.

All food is pre-purchased in Reykjavik, with the emphasis on fresh produce and easily-prepared meals. The huts are equipped with gas stoves, kitchen utensils and running cold water. Your guide will prepare the group’s evening meals and will be very grateful for any assistance from group members. Local specialties predominate, including excellent sea-fish, Icelandic lamb and salmon. Breakfasts will consist of porridge, muesli, bread, jam, cheese, ham, plus tea and coffee. At breakfast, snack items and sandwich materials will be made available so that group members can make up their own packed lunches. All meals and snacks while on trek are included in the tour price. A sample menu is towards the end of this document.

Water bottles can be filled in the huts and in rivers along the trek. The water is very good and safe to drink. There are no actual shops and few possibilities to buy refreshments, snacks or drinks during the trek. In Álftavatn, the second hut, the hut wardens sell a few necessities and recently there was opened a small highland restaurant in the area. On the last night in Thorsmork (Þórsmörk) you will find a small shop for beverages and snacks.

You will want to bring your favorite energy snacks and beverage mixes along for the trail. You can shop in Reykjavik for local items.

Special diets such as vegetarian, vegan, no-fish, gluten-free, dairy-free can be accommodated. If you have severe restrictions please contact us to discuss.

Laugavegur Trail (4 nights)
During the trek the accommodation will be in simple, heated, mountain huts in dormitories with single and double bunk beds or mattresses. Several of the huts are in places only accessible by foot and are surrounded by beautiful scenery including lakes, glaciers, mountains, and volcanoes. The Laugavegur trail is a popular trail in Iceland and indoor accommodations are extremely limited. The room in the huts is limited and provides hikers with the basics like a warm place to sleep, eat, and socialize out of the elements.

Beds are simple. Participants will have to share double mattresses in close quarters. The rooms accommodate 10-20 participants and we have reservations at each hut.

The beds are basically mats on bed frames. You bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. It is a lot like camping in a tent next to someone. If our group does not fill a room, other travelers (men and women) will stay in the same room with our group and possibly in the bed right next to you. If there are too many of us for one room, some participants may need to share a different room with another group. We do our best to keep everyone together, but it is ultimately the decision of the wardens.

Depending on the hut….

you could be in a bunk bed with a double mat on the bottom sharing with another person, and a single mat on top.
You could be on a mat on a long row of 6 single mats with enough room for your duffle, sleeping bag, and room to sleep for 6 people.
You could be in a bunk bed that has 4 single side-by-side sleeping spots on top (4 spots) and 4 single sleeping spots below.- 4 people on the top, 4 people on the bottom.
You could be in a bunk that has one single sleeping spot on top and bottom

In Reykjavik (2 nights)
We stay in a 3-star hotel in downtown for easy walkability to shops, museums, and restaurants. The hotel may not have an elevator. Contact us if you want to know the name of the hotel.

To begin the Laugavegur trek, we will take a private taxi or private bus from our hotel to the designated bus station or pickup point in Reykjavík. From there, we will board a scheduled public Highland bus for the journey into Iceland’s Highlands.
These are not ordinary city buses. Highland buses are designed for Iceland’s rugged interior roads and are able to travel on rough gravel roads and through the river crossings required to reach remote areas such as Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk.
Transportation in the Highlands is part of the adventure. Roads can be rough and bumpy, and travel times can be affected by road and weather conditions. Depending on our hotel and the Highland bus schedule, the bus may not be able to pick us up directly in front of our hotel. We may need to walk a few minutes to the nearest pickup point while carrying our duffel bags and backpacks. Please pack with this in mind—you should be able to carry your own luggage for a short distance.
At the end of the trek, we will board a Highland bus in Þórsmörk for the journey back to Reykjavík.

Iceland’s weather is not to be underestimated, especially in the highlands. Delightful days can become dangerous without warning. Plan for wind, soaking rain and possible snow. If that happens, we will pat ourselves on the backs and congratulate each other about how prepared we were.  If we have blue skies, and 5 solid days of sunshine in t-shirts, you all can look at your guide like she was crazy to have ever suggested anything otherwise. –  Both scenarios are possible for the entire duration of the hike, or mixed throughout.

Temperatures will likely be in the 40s but can drop below 30s in the highlands with rain, sleet, and snow. There can be soaking rain and high winds. On the other end of the spectrum, the average high is mid 60s to mid 70s.

On the very best days, It will be windy.

The average age range of hikers is 45-65 years. Our groups tend to be multi-generational, so there may be participants ranging from their 30s to their 70s. This trip is open to any woman who is healthy, active, and resonates with the itinerary.

Fitness, hiking experience, balance, joint stability, and preparation matter more than age alone.

Contact us if you’d like to discuss your experience and whether this trek is a good match.

No. Solo travelers are paired with other solo travelers. There are no forced single supplements. This tour does not have single room upgrade available during the trek because we stay in mountain huts with limited beds. You may be able to upgrade to a single room at the hotel pre/post trek.

Both! There is usually a 60/40 split between solo travelers and those traveling with friends. By day 3, we all become good friends, and it’s hard to tell who is solo and who isn’t.

Many women join on their own. We match solo travelers with roommates for the Reykjavík hotel stays, so you aren’t required to pay a single supplement. Mountain huts have communal sleeping arrangements.

The pre-departure meeting and group WhatsApp chat give you a chance to start getting acquainted before arriving in Iceland.

The trip will need critical mass within 90 days of departure. In the unlikely event we don’t reach this minimum, a full refund will be issued.

Yes! Pay a small deposit to secure your spot. Then, pay the balance in interest-free installments using a credit card or checking account. There is no bank transaction fees when you use your checking account. If you want the convenience of using a credit card, the bank will charge 3%. You can switch between two payment options at any time.

The package price covers land fees only. Participants need to book their own flights to Iceland. We can offer guidance, and once we have confirmed the tour, we will provide travel parameters for booking your flight.

It’s easy peasy to get from the airport to the rendezvous hotel in Reykjavik. The cost is about $35 USD. Details will be provided to you in the travel parameters.

Yes, we recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect you and your investment.
You can get more information and purchase travel insurance here:

https://greenedventures.com/travel-insurance/

Talk with us about fitness, hut accommodations, traveling solo, or preparing for Iceland. We’ll help you decide whether this is the right adventure for you.

(888) 622-4911
info@greenedventures.com