Laugavegur Hut to Hut Hike

Meet your guide and group at Reykjavík's bus terminal and jump on the highland bus towards the interior. As the road turns to rough track you pass the flanks of Hekla and thread between old lava flows until the colours of Landmannalaugar appear – steam vents, striped hills and a natural hot pool. After lunch you shoulder your pack and head south into the mountains, past small gorges, bubbling vents and the first snow patches. A steady climb brings you to Hrafntinnusker hut on a high plateau of obsidian and snow – exposed, otherworldly and a long way from the ring road. Distance: 12 km (7.5 mi), 4–5 hrs, Ascent ~470 m

From the high, often snowy plateau around Hrafntinnusker you descend through the gullies of Jökultungur, weaving between hot springs, mud pools and patches of lingering snow. As you drop, the world opens out and you get big views south towards Álftavatn, Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull. By late afternoon you reach the green shores around Álftavatn and the Hvanngil area – a welcome splash of colour after the monochrome of the plateau. Tonight's hut sits between lakes, hills and streams: a classic Laugavegur evening. Distance: 15–16 km (9.3–9.9 mi), ~5 hrs, Descent ~440 m

Leaving the green patch around Hvanngil, you head into the black deserts of Mælifellssandur – long stretches of dark sand and gravel with bright moss and old volcanoes for contrast. This is where the trail really feels like another planet. Later you turn towards Hattfell and the Emstrur region, once used for summer sheep grazing. Before reaching Botnar hut you detour to the lip of the Markarfljót canyon, where the river has carved almost 200 m down into the rock – one of the most impressive viewpoints on the route. Distance: ~12 km (7.5 mi), ~6 hrs, Descent ~100 m

You continue through the small valleys and gullies of Emstrur, with the bulk of Mýrdalsjökull never far away. As the day goes on, the terrain slowly softens and patches of green begin to appear. Eventually you drop into Þórsmörk – the "woods of Thor" – a sheltered valley of birch trees, flowers and braided rivers, framed by glaciers and cliffs. You reach the huts in Þórsmörk and finish the trekking section with a barbecue and a final evening swapping stories under the ridgelines. Distance: 19 km (12 mi), 6–7 hrs, Descent ~300 m

You spend your last morning exploring one of Þórsmörk's many short trails – perhaps a visit to Sönghellir ("song cave") or a quick climb of Valahnúkur for a wrap‑around view of the valley, glaciers and rivers you've just walked through. After lunch you catch the afternoon bus back out across the rivers and gravel tracks to the south coast and on to Reykjavík, rolling into the city early evening, legs pleasantly tired and head full of volcanic skylines. Distance: 5–10 km (3–6 mi), ~3 hrs, Ascent & descent ~200 m