Iceland's Laugavegur Trail

In June and July, it doesn’t get dark in Iceland, so make sure to bring an eye mask.

Please be pack and be prepared for all weather conditions. The weather can be relatively harsh (very windy, cold and rainy usually mixed with some sunshine and calm conditions as well).

The trail huts are communal and have dorm-style sleeping arrangements. Amenities range from hut to hut and at most include hot water, showers or electricity.

This trip is operated in conjunction with Wildland Trekking, a wholly owned Intrepid Travel company and our trekking experts.

This trip requires a minimum of 3 clients to operate.

A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement only applies Days 1 and 6 of this trip, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

A good level of previous hiking experience and fitness is requited to successfully complete this trip.

PACKING
On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips. You can find Intrepid's Ultimate Packing List on our website. It should be used as a guide only and isn't intended to be a complete packing list., https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, CLIMATE
The Icelandic climate is very unpredictable the whole year round. We recommend bringing sturdy shoes with a good grip for trekking, a warm wind and rainproof jacket and trousers, gloves or mittens, good head wear and sunglasses.

WHITE NIGHTS
The closer you travel to the second half of June, the shorter the nights are in this part of the world. As many of our accommodations may not have suitable curtains to block out light you may want to consider bringing an eye-mask, especially if you are a light sleeper.

THERMAL BATHS
Don't forget to bring your swimsuit and a spare towel if you’d like to experience Iceland's famous thermal baths.

This is an active trip that includes hikes across rugged terrain, with daily hiking distances ranging from 6-22 kilometres (up to 8 hours hiking a day), and daily elevation gains/descents ranging from 60 metres up to 600 metres. There is no vehicle support on the trail so previous hiking experience and a good level of hiking fitness is strongly recommended to successfully enjoy this trek.
You will be hiking with a pack but a duffel bag with your main luggage will be transported between huts for you by jeep.
As on all Iceland treks, the weather can be relatively harsh (very windy, cold and rainy usually mixed with some sunshine and calm conditions as well) which can make the trek physically more challenging.

Fosshotel Raudara, Rauðarárstígur 37, Reykjavik, 105, ICELAND, Phone: +354 5147000

Fosshótel Rauðará is located in central Reykjavik, 150 metres from Laugavegur Shopping Street. The Church of Hallgrimur is located less than 1 km from the hotel. Klambratun Park is a 5-minute walk away.
Nestled among Reykjavik residences, Fosshotel Rauðará is located in the Reykjavik neighbourhood of Hlíðar, where you can escape the buzz of downtown Reykjavik while enjoying the multicultural surroundings. You’ll find Reykjavik’s main attractions just a short walk away, with the Reykjavik Art Museum close by, featuring the most influential and recognised artists in Iceland. Kjarvalsstaðir is also a great location to find eclectic dining options in Reykjavik.

Alternate Joining Point

Intrepid can assist with pre-booking a private arrival transfer from the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure.

If you have a confirmed private arrival transfer, upon landing at Keflavik Airport (KEF) please make your way to the Arrivals Hall. Your transfer driver will be waiting for you on the left side when you exit the customs area, holding a board with your name. In case of flight cancellations, changes, or if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly on +354 7903838 or +354 7923838. You can also call our emergency line directly: +49 8024 4679 540.

Alternatively, Grayline and Flybus operate shuttles between the airport and the BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavik. From there you can change to a hotel shuttle bus or walk to the joining point hotel. You can book these shuttles online, or upon arrival at Keflavik Airport.

You can also take a taxi from the airport to your hotel.

Fosshotel Raudara, Rauðarárstígur 37, Reykjavik, 105, ICELAND, Phone: +354 5147000

Fosshótel Rauðará is located in central Reykjavik, 150 metres from Laugavegur Shopping Street. The Church of Hallgrimur is located less than 1 km from the hotel. Klambratun Park is a 5-minute walk away.
Nestled among Reykjavik residences, Fosshotel Rauðará is located in the Reykjavik neighbourhood of Hlíðar, where you can escape the buzz of downtown Reykjavik while enjoying the multicultural surroundings. You’ll find Reykjavik’s main attractions just a short walk away, with the Reykjavik Art Museum close by, featuring the most influential and recognised artists in Iceland. Kjarvalsstaðir is also a great location to find eclectic dining options in Reykjavik.

Alternate Finish Point

Intrepid can assist with pre-booking a private departure transfer to the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to the start of your trip.

If you have a confirmed departure transfer your leader will advise your pick up time the day before your trip ends.

Alternatively, please ask your leader or hotel staff for assistance in arranging a taxi or taking a shuttle bus to the airport.

Breakfasts included: 4

Lunches included: 3

Dinners included: 4

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in Iceland. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try in Reykjavik. To give you maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally meals aren't included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though. In remote areas outside of Reykjavik the only option for dinner will be at the guesthouse we are staying at. Some guesthouses have kitchen facilities that are free to use if you wish. Stock up on food at a supermarket prior to arrival if you would like to opt out eating at the guesthouse's restaurant. Your leader will be able to advise on the facilities available at the guesthouses used on your trip departure.

VEGETARIANS
Vegetarians might find the menu selection in Europe less varied than they would see at home. Vegetarianism is not as common in this region and generally the choices are basic, involving vegetables, soups, salads, bread, cheese, fruit, yoghurt, eggs etc. Vegans and those on gluten-free diets may find this region very challenging and may need to supplement meals with their own supplies from supermarkets and markets. Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for any included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own.

BREAKFASTS
There are some continental breakfasts included on this trip which may simply include bread/toast or pastries, butter, jam, coffee/tea/juice (or similar).

Iceland can be cold throughout the year, especially at the start and end of the summer season, and at night. Rain is possible at any time of year. Please familiarize yourself with what climate to expect and bring appropriate clothing for adverse weather conditions, including base layers, hat, rain coat and anything else that you think may be applicable.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Intrepid's Local Operator: You may hear music or silence instead of a ring: – please continue to wait on the line until your call is answered : +1 928 224 0699

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.

TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.

CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.

PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.

PUBLIC BUS
On this trip we use the public bus (Highland Bus) to transport to and from the Laugavegur Trail start and finish points. While most of the road is paved there are some rough stretches on gravelly and windy roads.

JEEP
We use a jeep to transport sleeping bags pillows, luggage/duffel bag and food while on the trek. The jeep does not carry passengers.