Country:
(S) From Álftavatn to Hvanngil. Distance: 3.8 km, elevation gain: +91 m. Total from Landmannalaugar: 24.9 km; elevation gain: +732 m.
Leave the camp heading east, parallel to the road, and cross the two footbridges over the lake spillway.
(1) Turn right (south) and descend gently to the confluence with the Bratthálskvísl River and cross its wide ford (altitude 550 m).
(2) Continue south for about 2.5 km on a ravined slope, then a green plateau, and cross a track (F210). Avoid the track's ford by taking a footbridge (altitude 570 m) and rejoin the F210 just after.
(3) Do the same a hundred metres further on. Leave the track and take a path to the Hvanngil plain and then the camp of the same name (altitude 560 m). The refuge is equipped with showers and toilets and the campsite is located on lava ash ground.
(4) From Hvanngil to Emstrur. Distance: 15.2 km, elevation gain: +239 m. Total since Landmannalaugar: 40.1 km, elevation gain: +971 m.
Head south towards the plain and take the F210 track (south-west).
(5) Leave it to cross the Kaldaklofskvísl River on a footbridge. Shortly after, you will reach an intersection.
(6) Leave the F210, which branches off to the left (south-east), and follow the F261 track opposite (south-west). Cross the Blafjallakvísl River ford (altitude 550 m), which becomes deep and adventurous at the end of the day.
(7) Follow the track on the right, then begin the long, hilly crossing of the Mólifellssandur ash desert, dotted with broken rocks and dominated by a series of volcanoes. Follow a depression and descend towards the F261 track.
(8) Cut across the bend and follow the track. Cross the bridge over the turbulent Innri-Emstruá and shortly afterwards come to a fork.
(9) Leave the track heading west and take the path on the left (southwest). The desert gradually gives way to sparse vegetation. Pass a small pass (altitude 600 m) overlooked on the right by Mount Útigönguhöfðar.
(10) On the descent (southwest), cross a stream (altitude 530 m) and then, 2.5 km further on, turn left south. After 100 m, there is a small detour of 3.4 km and 165 m of elevation gain to admire the impressive canyon of the Markarfljot River.
(11) Leave the path descending towards the base of Emstrur and turn right. Cross a path and join the intersection with the loop to be followed.
(12) Take the path on the right, returning via the path on the left. Continue along the edge of the canyon. After a hairpin bend, climb back up to the intersection of the loop.
(12) Turn right and climb until you rejoin the trail.
(11) Go right, descend a valley and reach the Emstrur camp (altitude 465 m). The refuge is equipped with showers and toilets and its campsite is located in the middle of stunted vegetation.
(13) _From Emstrur to Thorsmork. Distance: 16 km, elevation gain: +361 m. Total since Landmannalaugar: 56.1 km, elevation gain: +1332 m.
Head east, cross a stream, then head south-east, climbing up the left side of the valley and crossing the Botnaà stream via a ford.
(14) Cross a plateau and descend (south) the side of the Fremri-Emstruà river valley, which can be crossed via a footbridge (altitude 360 m).
(15) Continue left (east) along the river and climb (west) up to the plateau above it. Turn left (southwest) and follow the Markarfljot River along the top of its valley. Cross a few streams flowing into the Markarfljot and gradually descend towards the valley of the Ljósá River, a tributary of the Markarfljot. Cross it on a footbridge (altitude 260 m).
(16) Climb up the opposite side of the valley (altitude 320 m). Still following the river valley at a distance, descend towards the river Þröngá (altitude 230 m). Crossing the river can be dangerous at the end of the day. The ford is easier to cross at its widest point, just downstream from the central islet.
(17) Cross the small Hamraskógar Forest, populated by birch, willow and rowan trees, whose growth is limited by the harsh climate. To finish this trek, head for the base of Thorsmork "Þórsmörk" at the edge of the woods (altitude 220 m). The refuge is equipped with showers and toilets, with a tree-lined meadow that serves as a small campsite.
(18) The departure point for bus 9 to Seljalandsfoss waterfall is about a hundred metres further on. At a height of 65 metres, it offers the attractive feature of being able to walk behind it (E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
