Iceland Hike to Markarfljótsgljúfur Canyon, Laugavegur Trail

Markarfljótsgljúfur Canyon is a spectacular gorge in Iceland’s southern highlands, carved by the powerful forces of glacial meltwater. Its steep canyon walls reveal layers of volcanic rock, while the turquoise river winds through the deep valley below. Along the Laugavegur Trail, the viewpoints offer a striking perspective on the scale and raw beauty of this remote landscape. The contrast between the dark terrain, green moss and glacial waters makes it one of the most memorable natural highlights of the hike.

Place a person for scale. This gives you more depth in the frame.

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.

The spot is reachable from the Emstrur hut in around 30 minutes. Just take care at the edge. Sometimes it's very slippery.

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.