Trek the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland: The Hut-to-Hut Edition

The has to be one the best ways to experience the wild and varied beauty of Iceland, all while avoiding the usual tourist crowds. Our trek was really well organised by the team and ran seamlessly. They even stepped in to save the day when the airline lost all our friend’s trekking kit, sourcing him some quality clothing and equipment to use in no time and at no extra cost. Our guide Christian was great; as well as being really knowledgeable about all aspects of the region he was able to use his French culinary prowess to produce excellent food for us up the mountain with very few resources. Visiting this part of Iceland already feels like going to another planet, but it was all topped off by a spectacular Northern Lights show against the pitch black sky of such a remote area.

From the point we met our guide, Christian, everything was taken care of. It's a rough trek but the views and the experience were something else; you will see scenery that doesn't even look real.

This was my 4th MBA trip and I really enjoyed it. The scenery was incredible and we had a really nice group of 16 (2 guys, 14 ladies). Compared to other MBA trips, I enjoyed the pace of this one - doing the hike over 4 days meant we had to time get up later, take photos along the way, etc. I arrived late the night before and left first thing the morning after - in hindsight, some extra time relaxing in the hotel(s) would have been nice.

I agree with all the comments Paula made below. As I've said in other reviews of MBA trips, there is always one or more hikers without the right kit in a large group like this and a quick equipment check at the start would save time and stress later.

Gore-Tex trousers and jacket are critical, even on dry days IMO. On day one, I tried to make do with soft shell trousers and ended up getting very wet and very cold as the weather slowly deteriorated. I spent the final 3 days in Gore-Tex from head to toe and was much more comfortable. Staying on top of temperature and venting early helped stay at a nice temperature throughout.

I tend to sleep very poorly on these trips so next time I'll look into possibly using sleeping pills :)

At times, the guide was very far ahead. It's nice to be able to have your own space without being bunched up but I think there does need to be more awareness of the back of the group. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how quickly you move at the front, you're still going to have to stand around in the cold waiting for others to catch up at some point.

The group was a mixture of solo travellers and small groups but we all got on really well - many thanks for a great trip.

This hike has been on my bucket list since 2016 when I did a day trip to Landmannalagur and realised there was a hike that started from there towards the ocean. 8 years later here I am!

I had the absolute best time on this trip not only because of the landscapes but the group I had. I was travelling solo so I was a bit anxious going on my own but it was no issue as I met everyone. I think it was so helpful having the WhatsApp group beforehand so we had a chance to chat to the others or meet up before the hike started. I’ve never seen such drastic changes to landscapes as this trail, it’s truly one of a kind!

The accommodation was expected for mountain huts (bunks, dormitory style) so don’t expect hotel standards but I feel that added to the great experience overall. I actually didn’t mind it one bit. We got amazing food considering we carried most of the food; the salmon pasta and lamb roast were chef’s kiss!

If you’re going to do this hike, pack light but pack for all weather conditions. Iceland’s wind is unpredictable and fierce. I ended up wearing one main hiking outfit and one outfit for the hut to change in. Also the river crossings are no joke, bring sandals or ocean shoes!

I would have rated this 5-star but had a few suggestions/improvement:

• it would have been helpful to have a quick check in meeting with the whole group and guide the night before we set off for Landmannalagur to check everyone had the right gear, what time we were leaving or any questions about the trip.
• it would have been great to stay in Landmannalagur the day before the actual hike started so we could spend time at the hot springs. We only got 15-20mins at the hot springs and I felt it wasn’t sufficient time to change, enjoy and change back into the hike.
• the first hut we stayed in was so hot to sleep in, it was actually really uncomfortable. I ended up having to get up a few times during the night to cool down outside. A lot of us didn’t get much or any sleep that night. Albeit it was great to dry all our wet clothes in.
• it may be good to have an extra guide with us as we were a group of 16x with various pace speeds so often we were quite spread out. Alternatively, the guide could have nominated one of the stronger hikers to lead and him to stay in the middle perhaps?

Other than that, I would recommend this trek to anyone wanting to explore more of Iceland and see its natural beauty outside of the city! I would actually do this hike again!

The Landscapes were otherworldly. Some of the huts were very cramped/overcrowded and you had to share with people not in the same group. Food provision for the longest days was inadequate. Only one guide for 16 people again inadequate.

Incredible experience.

I thought it would be a good trip but it turned out to be a truly spectacular hike, just when we thought it couldn’t get better the next view was even more beautiful. And we had a great group of people and wonderful guides. A really memorable four day hike across what must be some of the most unusual landscape in the world. Very sad that it had to come to an end. Saemi and Perla were a fabulous team, they kept us safe but also laughing most of the time. We had a great mix of people on the trip, and genuinely enjoyed getting to know them as we walked. I have another trip planned with Much Better Adventures in February and the bar is unbelievably high!

Excellent trip. Had a wonderful time. Excellent guide. Patient, good at managing pace of trek for whole group and everyone’s different needs. Landscape was awesome. Different each day. I was nervous about carrying a pack - as that was new experience for me but just steady and slow and it was absolutely encouraged on by others in the group and our guide.

Really great scenery.

A fabulous experience trekking across the Icelandic highlands! 4 days with varied scenery and terrain - and a bit more elevation than expected - but nothing too challenging. The basic mountain huts, carrying our food, and many beers with new friends at one of the huts made for a memorable experience. We got lucky with the weather and had a half day of low visibility - but neither wind nor rain were too terrible. A great way to experience this hike.

Overall it was an excellent trip: the scenery exceeded my expectations; Paulis , our guide, was both knowledgeable and supportive; the weather lived up to the unpredictability forecast in the pre trek information.

Great trip and excellent guide Pali. More or less as expected from your description

The trek was through fantastic landscape, and our Icelandic guide was very knowledgeable and a great leader for the group

Amazing few days hiking. One of the best holidays I've ever taken. The landscapes are gorgeous and utterly breathtaking. The accommodation and food is a little basic, but it's decided better than a tent, and absolutely what you should expect from the description on the website! Our guide was brilliant. Kept the group together well and was super knowledgeable on the geography and geology.

The quality of the scenery is absolutely first class and dwarfs other issues.

The logistics worked well and the guide, Palli, was pleasant and capable.

On the opportunity side, there was an absence of generosity in the food and drink provision given the high price of the tour. It was very disappointing that two of the three evening meals were dehydrated food eaten straight from the pack. It would only have taken a little imagination to bring the ingredients promised in MBA’s marketing (pasta, lentils, salmon etc) that would have made the evenings much more fun. Our party would have been more than happy to share the cooking.

It is also worth noting that the success of the trip is very conditional upon the fifteen members of the team moving at the same pace. In our case, this was not an issue but I have heard reports of one or two slow, unfit or injured trekkers causing enormous problems for the guide, who would be quickly be spread too thin.

Despite these observations, I do not regret going on the tour at all. The geology of Iceland is so spectacular that the trek is still an unmissable experience. A little more investment by MBA/Iceland Mountain Guides would , however, make a big difference to customer satisfaction and risk management. I wonder if they will rise to this challenge.

What a perfect week we had. Four totally different days with changing landscape, fauna and weather. We were so lucky that it never rained. A perfect sized group, five hikers with our guide Solvi and his wife. Solvi was absolutely fantastic. Always willing to help and advise, happy to,point out interesting geographical features and served up that night. Our group all got on so well right from the start with lots of laughs and one deeper conversations. I had no issues with the huts.They were all warm and well fitted out. It was great to see them at the end of a days hike. It really is a bewildering, beautiful landscape, one that’s hard to take in at times. Photos cannot do it justice. The Much Better Adventures team had excellent communications before and after the trip, accommodation at the hotel before and after was spot on and we were all sad when it was all over. It was tough and the toughness created lifelong bonds between all of us. A fantastic experience with great memories to look back on. Highly recommended.

Iceland is beautiful and I loved this trip! Our guide, Palli did a wonderful job guiding us and he even cooked a delicious meal for us on the last day. i would highly recommend this trip to anyone considering!!