Scenic 4 Day Hiking Tour from Iceland’s Mt Hekla to Landmannalaugar with Black Sands & Hot Springs

The barren Icelandic Highlands are filled with otherworldly colours
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Description

Summary

Tour starts
Reykjavík
Starting time
at 07:30
Duration
4 days
Ending place
Reykjavík
Languages
English, French
Difficulty
Moderate
Available
July - Oct.
Minimum age
14 years old

Description

Come along on this four-day trek of the barren Icelandic Highlands. Travel alongside the volcano Hekla all the way to the otherworldly Landmannalaugar area on this fun-filled tour. Hiking enthusiast should not let this amazing opportunity pass them by.

You'll start your hike at the foot of Mt. Hekla which was once believed to be the entryway to Hell. From there, you'll travel across the beautiful but barren Highlands of Iceland until you reach the colourful mountains of Landmannalaugar. Once there, you can bathe in the area's hot spring and soothe any aching muscles you might have from the previous days. 

If you feel that four days in the Highlands are not enough, you can add on extra two days of hiking during the booking process.

Don't hesitate and book this adventure now! Explore the magical highlands of Iceland with this fantastic four-day tour. Check availability by choosing a date.

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Included

Trekking guide
Transport from BSÍ bus terminal to the trekking area and back
Luggage and equipment transport by jeep
Food from lunch on day 1 to lunch on last day
Accommodation in mountain huts and camps

Activities

Hiking
Sightseeing
Hot Spring Bathing
Bird watching

Daily itinerary

Day 1
You'll see mighty mountains on a hiking tour of the Highlands

Day 1 - Reykjavik – Hekla : 3-4 hours – no elevation gain

Get to the BSÍ bus station early in the morning and be ready for your first hiking day. The bus will drive you straight to your hike’s starting point, at the western side of the Fjallabak region.

Today, you'll do an easy hike within the farmland at the foot of Mt. Hekla. You'll start slowly, as you walk the beautiful path to your first mountain hut.

Along the way, you’ll see both old farms and new ones, and gain an understanding of how the volcano forced the population to build their farms, again and again, pushing them further down towards the lower lands.

Food will be waiting for you at the camp which you will prepare as a team, and then enjoy your first great dinner in the Icelandic wilderness.

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Day 2
Moss covered lava are a common sight on a hiking tour of the Highlands

Day 2 - West side of Mount Hekla : 6-8 hours – 200m altitude gain

After breakfast, you'll set out early in the morning. Today you will have the first major river crossing of your trip as you make your way across the western Rangá river. 

You'll traverse through a series of hills made of Palagonite rocks, which is a type of rock formed sub-glacially when water interacts with volcanic glass, like basalt. 

Slowly you’ll be getting to a 'moon-like' landscape, and cross a stretch of flat volcanic slag. Like little ants, you and your hiking team will progress through a very mineral land towards the next camp.

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Day 3
You'll spend the nights in a mountain hut on a multi-day hiking tour of the highlands

Day 3 - Valagja, Mont Londmundur : 6-8 hours – 200m altitude gain

Today you’ll slowly leave the black 'moon-like' desert near Mt. Hekla, which is also known as 'the gate to hell'.

The landscape softens quite a bit, and the impressive, black mineral surroundings of Hekla gives way to green mossy land and mountain lakes and green hills and mountains.

You'll make your way towards the majestic Mountain Loðmundur, a volcanic monolith with a flat top, at the foot of which you’ll spend your next night. Close by is the cave Landmannahellir which still today is used by shepherds as a base when rounding up sheep in the fall.

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Day 4
You'll hike through the stunning Landmannalaugar area on a hiking tour of the Highlands

Day 4 - Landmannalaugar : 6-8 hours – 200m altitude gain

Today you’ll reach the pearl of the highlands, the beautiful Landmannalaugar area.

You'll walk by the northern edge of Hraftinnusker Caldeira and its obsidian field. As you traverse, you'll get more and more surrounded by the strange, pastel colours of a lavas. 

You’ll get to see the amazing view over the whole Landmannalaugar area before your descent towards its hot springs. There, you’ll have the opportunity to bathe in a geothermal hot spring to soothe any aching muscles.

Those who have chosen the four-day version will be transported directly from Landmannalaugar to Reykjavík city, and those who have chosen the six-day trekking will then be driven back to the previous camp near Landmannahellir.

On the two-day extension, you'll travel from Landmannahellir,  explore the Caldeira of Hraftinnusker, get to the hot springs of Reykjadalur and navigate through the maze of the obsidian field of black, glassy stones called.

Your fifth night will be by the hut of Dalakofi, in a very remote valley right by the edge of Ljósártungur mountain.

On the sixth day, you will traverse the area of Ljósártungur, which will give you magnificent views of three majestic glaciers, Mýrdalsjökull, Eyjafjallajökull and Timdafjallajökull. 

From there you’ll go down to the banks of the glacier river Markarfljót, and walk the way to Hvanngil canyon, where a bus will pick you up at the end of the day, and drive you back to Reykjavík through the rugged mountain track of Fjallabak Mountain.

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What to bring

Warm and waterproof clothes
Thermal underwear
Warm midlayer
Hats and gloves
Good hiking boots
Sandles for crossing rivers (with straps)
Extra woollen or hiking socks
Fast drying clothes (pants, shirts and sweaters) - no cotton
A good sleeping bag and a cotton sheet for the hut's mattress
Swimsuit, towel & toiletries
Water bottle

Good to know

You’ll need to bring comfortable and adequate clothing to protect you from the cold and wet weather, such as polypropylene, Capilene, or pile. Wool and wool/synthetic blends are also suitable - though wool, if wet, dries slowly compared to synthetic fabrics. We discourage the use of cotton in wet conditions it dries very slowly. When camping, tents are provided. You will be responsible for bringing your mattress and sleeping bag.

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