Iceland Volcanic steams between Hrafntinnusker and Alftavatn

Leaving Hrafntinnusker, the trail winds along the slopes of Reykjafjöll through a stark highland landscape of colourful rhyolite, black volcanic rock and snow-filled ravines. The terrain remains relatively open and undulating as you cross Kaldaklofsfjöll, with Háskerðingur rising above the route as the highest peak in the area. One of the highlights is reaching the edge of Jökultungur, where the landscape suddenly opens up and, in clear weather, you can see Mýrdalsjökull, Eyjafjallajökull and Tindfjallajökull in the distance. From here, the trail drops steeply through rocky terrain, gradually trading the barren volcanic highlands for greener valleys and moss-covered slopes. After crossing the Grashagakvísl river, the route becomes flatter and leads towards the vivid blue-green waters of Álftavatn, surrounded by dramatic mountains. The contrast between the raw volcanic landscape above and the lush valley around the lake makes this one of the most visually diverse sections of the Laugavegur.

For shots like this you should use the tele-zoom. Compromise the mountains and steams, different hills, light and shadow layers.

For a longer hike like the Laugavegur, I focused on carrying just two lenses: a wide-angle and a telezoom. The wide-angle is ideal for the big landscapes of this first stage, capturing the colorful mountains, lava fields and dramatic skies while keeping the trail and surrounding terrain in the frame.

The telezoom is just as valuable here, especially when you want to simplify the landscape. From the trail you can isolate distant ridges, geothermal details and layers of colorful mountains, turning the landscape into almost abstract compositions. It also allows you to compress different layers of the terrain and pick out small hikers in the distance, showing just how vast the Icelandic Highlands really are.

For a multi-day trek, this combination gives you a lot of flexibility without carrying a whole collection of lenses: wide for the scale, tele for the details and minimalist compositions.

For the Laugavegur hike, taking a Highland bus to Landmannalaugar is usually the most practical option. The trail is a one-way route of around 55 km, starting in Landmannalaugar and ending in Þórsmörk, so you don't have to worry about getting your car back to the starting point. Several seasonal bus services connect Reykjavík with Landmannalaugar, and buses can also take you back from Þórsmörk after finishing the hike.

For Laugavegur specifically, I’d recommend the bus: because the trail is not a loop, driving there means you would need to arrange transport back to your car in Landmannalaugar. The bus makes the logistics much easier. Get dropped off at the trailhead, hike all the way to Þórsmörk, and take a bus back from the other end.

Please check the booking page https://www.fi.is/en/mountain-huts/camping and reserve your hat or camp-spot with your own tent in advance.

Conditions can be very challenging and different each day. Please be well prepared and check our equipment before.