Iceland
Landmannalaugar
Steaming hot springs bubbling at the base of obsidian flows and rhyolite peaks.
Steam rises from water the colour of weak tea, curling against rhyolite peaks streaked in rust, lilac, and moss green. Landmannalaugar in Iceland's highlands is where the Laugavegur Trek begins and where the earth's palette seems calibrated to overwhelm. You wade into the warm river and the mountains close around you like an amphitheatre.
Landmannalaugar sits at 600 metres altitude in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, at the junction of several geological forces. The natural hot springs at the base camp are heated by the same volcanic system that produced the Laugahraun obsidian lava field in 1477 — one of the youngest lava formations in Iceland. The surrounding rhyolite mountains get their colours from silica-rich minerals oxidising at different rates, creating the rainbow striping visible from kilometres away. The Laugavegur Trek, a 55-kilometre route to Þórsmörk, is consistently ranked among the world's top long-distance hikes. Highland buses connect the area to Reykjavík in summer, making it accessible without a 4x4.
Solo
This is a rite of passage for solo hikers. Soak in the hot springs at dawn, trek the painted mountains, and sleep in highland huts surrounded by nothing but geological spectacle.
Friends
The Laugavegur Trek is a bonding experience — four days of rainbow mountains, river crossings, and hot spring soaks that no group ever forgets.
- Natural hot springs at the trailhead mean you can soak in warm water surrounded by rhyolite peaks.
- Starting point of the famous Laugavegur Trek, consistently rated among the world's top hikes.
- The obsidian lava field Laugahraun dates from 1477 and is one of Iceland's youngest.
- Highland bus services make it accessible without a 4x4 during summer months.
Hot dogs grilled over portable stoves and topped with crunchy fried onions and remoulade.
Skyr mixed with fresh mountain crowberries for a high-protein trail breakfast.
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