Why I Hiked the Laugavegur Trail in a Guided Group, and You Should Too

I have done plenty of hikes in Iceland and across the Nordics, and I would consider myself quite knowledgeable about what to expect and how to prepare. However, the way that you get ready for a multi-day hike is very different from a day trip. After almost 10 years of being outdoors in the Nordic countries, I finally decided to do the Laugavegur Trail—which is the most popular multi-day hike in Iceland. 

For this trip, I had the option to go either on my own or as part of a guided group. I picked the latter for several reasons, and as it goes, this turned out to be the right decision. Besides feeling safer, I also had a much more fulfilling experience in general. 

This 55km hike is not the most challenging in Iceland, but it is far from easy. First of all, you can only do it in the summer. Beyond that, you’re hiking in the Icelandic Highlands. I had no mobile signal for most of the trail until I reached the end at þórsmörk, and even though I went in August, the weather was still all over the place. We had blue skies and no wind one day, and then winds that must have been at least 15 m/s on the next. I also left my swimming shorts outside to dry overnight and… they were frozen when I woke up. 

Not having mobile signal and being hours away from anything resembling a town are two pretty obvious reasons why you need to prepare. Alongside that, this was my first-ever hike lasting more than one day. I had been camping in Iceland before, but not on this level. Similarly, I needed to properly think about how I would eat (and how much I needed to pack).  

Ego Aside, I Knew That I Wouldn’t be Comfortable Doing Parts of the Laugavegur Trail on My Own

Even though The Iceland Trail offered me the option to go alone and meet at each campsite in the evening, parts of the Laugavegur Trail were a bit out of my comfort zone. For example, you need to cross multiple rivers—including a big one with a strong current just before you reach þórsmörk. I had never done this before, and I did not want to potentially take a wrong step. Having a guide handy meant that I got the support (and advice) I needed to make these crossings.

Some descents and ascents are also *very* steep. You need to be careful when going down, especially when you’ve just been hiking all day, and your legs are starting to feel fatigued. To be honest, having someone also give you verbal support is quite nice in these circumstances to keep going. 

The trail also involves crossing snow bridges, which can be quite dangerous if you take the wrong step. I could easily have been like “yeah ngl I’ll do all of this”, but the truth is that you need to know when it is the right time to ask for help. I wanted something that was physically demanding, but going alone without the right experience would have meant putting myself in needless danger. 

One thing I should note, however, is that you can—if you have significant experience with hiking on these kinds of trails—take a self-guided option if you book with The Iceland Trail. You’ll have a ranger present at the campsite each evening if you need assistance during the trip.

Being in a Guided Group Meant That Everything Was Also Handled for Me

Although you can organize the Laugavegur Trail on your own, I didn’t really want to deal with all of the logistics. Shocking for me to say, when my literal job involves helping people with organizing their trips, I know. 

Going as part of a guided group meant that all of the extras were handled for me. I had to bring my own hiking clothes, but I could borrow some trekking poles and sleeping equipment for the trip. These were paid add-ons, but I think they’re worth including. I also received transport to the start of the trail, which includes a very bumpy F-road to Landmannalaugar. After the hike, I received transport back to Reykjavík, too. 

Accommodation at the campsites was also included in my package. On top of that, I had the choice to transport my luggage between each base—which I chose and do not regret doing so either. This was also a paid add-on.

Another advantage was that if I had gotten into trouble, having guides—and being part of a group—meant that I would be safer than otherwise. On top of that, I wanted to know when it was safe to hike and where, since I had not done this kind of hike before.

To be Honest, I Also Wanted to Meet Other Like-Minded People

I used to be quite a social traveler in my early twenties, and would stay in hostels mainly to meet people. Well, that and to drink beer, I guess. Until recently, though, I forgot about how much I enjoy meeting like-minded people when I go on trips. 

On the previous Travelbase trip I did in Iceland (which was Iceland Nomads), I had said that it would’ve been nice if it was more social. As it goes, The Iceland Trail—and hiking in a group—was precisely what I wanted. 

When you’re away in the wilderness for several nights, and you hike with the same people each day, you naturally will have more opportunities to make friends. Also, to even do this hike in the first place requires you to have specific interests. 

One of the most underrated aspects of hiking in a guided group was that I learned lots of useful hiking tips. For example, I learned how to dress in a way where you aren’t too hot or too cold for such trails. Moreover, I became much more experienced in packing the right gear… let’s just say that I had to leave a lot of things at the basecamp 🤣. 

As I was going up steep parts and along unsteady ground, the guides I went with offered helpful advice to get across and reminded me when I forgot. The biggest piece of help was, for sure, about how to cross rivers safely.

Why I Strongly Recommend Doing the Laugavegur Trail in a Guided Group

If you’re new to multi-day hiking, doing the Laugavegur Trail in a guided group is—in my opinion—the safest way to complete the trail. This was my eighth trip to Iceland, and even then, I felt like I was much better off doing this hike with others rather than on my own. The conditions and terrain are no joke, and trying to do everything yourself can make things more challenging if you’re not used to them.

The trail can also get quite lonely in parts. As a group, we did not pass others for several hours in some instances. This is sometimes nice when you want some solitude, but I personally am—while quite introverted—also pretty social around the right people. I like one or two days to myself, but after that, I start to personally go a little crazy. If you’re like me, you may want to consider going in a group. 

Another reason why I recommend doing the trail as part of a guided group is to have what I think was a more fulfilling experience. I have told others this as well, but this trip was one of the best weeks of my life. I’d love to do it again, and I’ve already told my girlfriend that she needs to join for the next one. 😄

This Is How I Did the Laugavegur Trail…

As I mentioned earlier, I hiked on the Laugavegur Trail with The Iceland Trail. We all met just outside of Reykjavík before being transported to the starting point. In addition to Laugavegur, we also got to spend some time in the Icelandic capital after getting back. Moreover, we did some nice extra hikes on the side. 

The Iceland Trail runs throughout the summer, and I suggest booking as far in advance as you can. You can choose the paid add-ons that you want; for example, I picked food packs in addition to extra hiking equipment and luggage transfers.