What is the Laugavegur trail?
The Laugavegur trail is the famous trekking path that links to of Iceland´s most famous highland reservations, the Landmannalaugar Hot Springs and the Þórsmörk Valley. The trek can be done both ways, that is to say, starting from either Landmannalaugar or Þórsmörk, but it generally starts in Landmannalaugar and ends in Þórsmörk and that is the way we operate our trips.
How long is the Laugavegur trail?
The total length of the Laugavegur trail is approx. 54 kilometers.
How long do we hike each day?
We hike from 6 hours to 10 hours each day. This is a easy to challenging hiking trip, but anyone in a relatively good shape can undertake this tour.
Where does the Highlights of the Highlands trip start?
We start from Reykjavík and the tour includes a pick up from your accommodation. We will start with a drive to Landmannalaugar hot springs, either in one of our buses or with the scheduled bus from the BSI bus terminal.
What should I bring to wear on the trip?
The weather is very unpredictabel in Iceland so it is better to be safe than sorry.
Footwear: First of all you need good hiking boots, if you are buing new boots please try to wear them a bit before going on the trip. If you have not worn them at all before going on the trip it is likely that you will get blisters. We will be wading some small rivers and streams so you need to bring wading shoes with you. Those can be old running shoes, sandalls that will not come off in the stream or neophrene booties. Good hiking socks, preferably a wool mix, no cotton.
Waterproof clothing: We recommend
3-layer shells which are breathable.
Those can save your life in the rain.
First layer: It is very important that the first layer is
NOT cotton!! Because if cotton gets wet, it will stay wet and keeps you
cold. We recommend merino wool to be
your first layer, whereas your body can dry the wool and although the wool gets
wet it will keep you warm.
Second layers: Any fleece, techno – or quick dry clothing is
also recommended.
Footwear, waterproof clothing and first
layers is what we emphasize but in Iceland you can also expect sunny weather so
make sure you bring lighter clothing as well.
A down jacket is also nice to have to put on during evenings. You need to bring head wear and gloves.
Can you offer vegetarian food on your treks?
Yes sure no problem, we offer vegetarian options.
Can you offer vegan food on your treks?
No, sorry. Vegan cooking is not possible.
Do I need to bring a tent?
No, no need to bring a tent, we supply tents on all our treks.
Is the sleeping bag and mattress included?
No, but you can rent a sleeping bag and mattress from us. Please remember to pre-book such extras.
Can we book chalets instead of tent accommodation on the Highlights of the Highlands trek?
Yes, please contact us for prices and availability. How ever keep in mind that the chalets on Laugavegur can be very cramped and all accommodation is in bunk beds. For this reason we prefer to operate our trips in tents, it is much more cozy.
Are there Hot Springs at each camp?
No there is only a hot spring at Landmannalaugar. There are showers at each camp which cost 300 - 400 ISK so make sure you bring coins with you. (The wardens can give you some change)
What about my luggage?
Our luggage will be
transported the whole way. If you have
luggage that you do not need on the trip we kindly ask you to store it in
Reykjavík (please contact us if your hotel does not offer storage). It is
recommended that you have waterproof bags, or
that you will put your belongings in a plastic bag inside the bag you
bring with you on the trip.
Will there be places with a power outlet to recharge some minimal items, such as cameras?
There are power outlets available at the wardens hut in Landmannalaugar (day 1) and in Þórsmörk (day 4).
We use European adapters and our voltage level is 220/240 V.
What are the daily shower / hygiene facilities on the tour?
There are showers at every campsite. You need to pay for using them (usually 4 coins of 100 ISK for about 5 minutes long shower).
The only toilets on the way are at the campsites, so during the day we need to go the way our ancestors did...
What are the cooking facilities /arrangements?
We provide a big kitchen tent and gas stoves. Our guides are in charge
of cooking dinners but the trekkers give him a hand and help out with
the preparation and cleaning the dishes after meals. We eat simple
breakfast at the campsite in the mornings but we prepare sandwiches for
the day. We carry thermal bottles with hot water and coffee if somebody
feels like having some coffee or tea for lunch.
What kind of backpack is required for this tour?
We want your backpack to be big enough to carry spare clothing (either
warmer clothes and waterproofs if we have a warm day or if you´re
wearing those you might want to take them off at some point and then it
needs to fit in your pack), sneakers to cross rivers, lunch and your
personal stuff such as camera etc... Therefore a pack smaller than 35 L
is not enough and a pack bigger than 70 L is unnecessarily big.
What exactly will be transported between camp sites?
Everything else than what we need on track, during the day. All your
personal belingings you don´t think you´ll be needing during the day,
tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, food, kitchen equipment etc.
How do I book and what information do you need from me?
There are a few different ways you can book our trips. First of all you can book almost all our trips right here on our website. There is a booking window on each trip page and we do recommend that you book and pay for your trip there with some time to spare as we keep our groups small and frequently sell out.
If the trip you would like to book is not bookable online then you can call us directly at our office, the phone number is 00354 562 7000. Another way is to send us an e-mail with an inquiry, our e-mail address is info@adventures.is . What we need to have is your name, how many people are in your party, where you are staying and some way of contacting you either an e-mail or a phone number.
How do I pay?
There are three ways in which you can pay for the trips that you book with us.
1. You can pay through the internet, through our booking website. This is by far the easiest, safest and fastest way to reserve and pay for your adventure. If you choose this way then you will receive a voucher via e-mail which you will need to print and bring along on your trips. If you are going on a multi day trip then you will receive one voucher for all of the trips via e-mail and we will make you separate vouchers for each of your trips, which will be waiting your arrival in Iceland at our office at Laugavegur 11.
2. You can pay via phone, the phone number is +354 562 7000. If you choose to pay through phone then your vouchers will be waiting for you when you come to Iceland, either at our office at Laugavegur 11 or at your hotel.
3. Sometimes you can pay when you arrive to start your trip, but this is only possible in special circumstance.
Please Note: However you pay, you will always get a voucher: REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR VOUCHER ALONG FOR YOUR TRIP!
Where is your Reykjavík Office located and when are you open?
Our office is at Laugavegur 11, the main shopping street in Reykjavík. There you can get all the information that you need, be it about the trips that you want to go to or just general information about Reykjavík. You can also book and pay for various day trips. We are open everyday from 8:00 in the morning to 22:00 in the evening, all year round.
What is your cancelation policy?
Click here to read details on our cancelation policy.
What is assumed risk when participating in outdoor activities?
Click here to read more about what it means to take part in outdoor activities.
What currency do you accept?
We only accept the Icelandic króna. Our website presents prices is ISK and in EURO, the EURO price is obtained by converting it with the currency exchange rate of the Icelandic Federal Bank. If you would like to calculate the price of our tours in some other currency you can do so here.
Do you do private departures?
Yes we arrange private departures on all of our trips, please contact our office for further information: Info@adventures.is
How do Arctic Adventures, Arctic Rafting, the Glacier Guides and Reykjavík Backpackers connect?
We are one family of companies that work together and share facilities (f.ex. we all have the same office in Reykjavík). We also share guides, vehicles and equipment in order to run an organized and professional operation. All of these companies are run by guides and adventures and owned by guides and adventurers.
How long have you been in business?
We have been in rafting on the Hvítá river since 1983 which makes us one of the longest running rafting operations in Europe. Since the late 1990s we have been adding more and more activities to our selection. So we are NOT a travel agency, we are an adventure operator, owned by guides and world travelers and run by guides and adventurers.
What is the minimum age for a participant on a your tours?
Each one of our tours have unique characteristics and different age limits, how ever you can generally assume that kids 10 years and older, with shoe size 35 EURO or larger can participate in our tours more easy going tours. On demanding tours we generally have a age limit of 18 years. On motorized activity tours participants that want to drive (f.ex. snowmobiles) you will need to be at least 17 years old and hold a valid driving license. Younger kids and those that would not like to drive can in most cases sit at the back of the quad or snowmobile. Here below you can see a few examples of our age limits.
On the River Fun Tour: Kids 12 years old and older can raft the whole river if accompanied by a guardian. Kids between 10 and 12 can raft half way, for half price.
On the Wonderful West the minimum age is 10 years if accompanied by a guardian.
On the River Ride the minimum age is 18 years.
On the Beast of the East the minimum age is 18 years.
Do I have to know how to swim to go on river rafting and/or sea kayaking?
Yes, absolutely, each paddler on a rafting boat or a kayak has to know how to swim.
Can I drink alcohol before or during your tours?
No absolutely not. The consumption of alcohol makes you more prone to hypothermia and makes you to unpredictable mistakes (as you probably know : ). It is therefore strictly prohibited, if we suspect that participants are intoxicated we will prohibit them from joining the tour.
What do I have to bring with me for my tour?
Each tour is different and you will need to bring different things. How ever there are certain things that you always have to bring with you. Remember this is ICEland and for you to have a pleasant experience here in the High North it is vital that you bring good outdoor clothing. No one should come to Iceland (it does no matter if you are coming in summer or winter) with out a good water and wind proof jacket and pants, good, sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes, a warm hat that breaks the wind, good warm gloves, good warm woolen or other thermal undergarments. In Iceland there is no such thing a bad weather, just bad equipment and not the right clothing.
For rafting in South Iceland you have to bring; your swimming wear (or a change of underclothing) to wear under your rafting pants, a warm fleece or a wool sweater to wear under your rafting jacket (it will get wet) and a towel to dry of after your trip. Every thing else we will provide. Click here to see the equipment we will provide for you on your rafting trip.
For rafting in North Iceland you have to bring: Warm, lightweight, layered clothing-made of synthetic materials, fleece, or wool (no cotton if possible), warm woolen socks, any necessary medications (asthma inhalers, etc.), a change of dry clothes for after the river.
Can I bring my camera on the raft / on my snorkeling trip / sea kayak trip?
Well, on all our waterbased adventure trips like river rafting, snorkeling in Silfra, sea kayaking, white water canoeing, you can bring it if you like, but if it is not waterproof then it will 100% get ruined. You can buy disposable waterproof cameras at the Drumbó Base Camp, in the Hafgrímsstaðir Base Camp and in our Reykjavík Office at the Cintamani Center. Sometimes we have a staff photographer on the trips that sells his photos after the tour, but that is not guaranteed. You can also rent a waterproof digital camera that can both take pictures and videos, please contact us beforehand to make sure there is one available.
When can I bring my camera along?
On all our trips that are NOT on water you can bring you camera along, and you should definitely bring one since Iceland is positively full of amazing, scenic views!
Here is short briefing on safety and insurance:
Ensuring the safety of all our participants is our first and foremost priority. However, due to the nature of rafting as an outdoor and adventure activity, we are subject to the same environmental risks as in any wild natural environment. Should you wish to participate in one of our rafting trips, we ask you to be prepared to sign a contract with us stipulating that you are fit to participate in such activities and assume all risks inherent in doing so.
Do I need a insurance before going on one of your trips?
We recommend that you have personal health insurance coverage when participating in adventure activities in Iceland, we actually recommend that when ever and where ever you travel you take out a good travel insurance..as world travelers our selves it has saved us money and aggravation many times..
If I am travelling solo, can I book a trip or is there always a minimum of 2 people?
There is a minimum of 2 people for most of our trips, we usually run the trips on the guaranteed departure dates. If you are interested in some trips and are travelling solo we can put you on waiting list and contact you if more people book the trip.