Country:
Landmannalaugar is served by the F208 and then the F224 tracks. You can get there from northern Iceland by bus 14 from Reynihlíð, the departure point (Mývatn site), then from the tourist sites of Skútustaðir and Goðafoss, or from the south by bus 11 from Reykjavik, the departure point, then from Hveragerði, Selfoos and Hella.
The Landmannalaugar base camp (altitude 580 m) consists of several buildings including a two-storey refuge with an attic, shower and toilet facilities, a common room with a kitchen, a small grocery store and a large campsite which is unfortunately very stony and prone to flooding in heavy rain, with few suitable pitches.
(S) From Landmannalaugar to Höskuldsskáli. Distance: 10.8 km; elevation gain: +595 m.
Head towards Thorsmork "Þórsmörk" (west), following the buildings, and head towards the swimming pool at the edge of a lava flow slope: Laugahraun. Climb the slope, pass a hairpin bend and, one kilometre further on, after a left-hand bend, you will come to a crossroads.
(1) Leave the trail on the right (altitude 620 m) towards Mount Sudurnámur (west). Climb (south) up the trail opposite, which crosses a large lava flow and its field of obsidian, from which hot water trickles. At the start of a wide hairpin bend on the left, you will reach a junction.
(2) Ignore the path on the left that leads back to the start. Pass the bend and follow the Brennisteinsalda volcano on your right, leaving the paths to its summit. The surrounding landscape takes on multicoloured hues of yellow, pink, red, blue, green and black, from which sulphurous fumes rise from the solfataras. These are the most beautiful colours of this trek. Continue climbing (south-west) and at an altitude of 950 m, you will reach a fork.
(3) Ignore the path on the left towards Mount Skalli. Descend to the right (west), then southwest, following a stream, until you reach a basin.
(4) From this low marshy point (altitude 900 m), climb (southwest) up a snow-covered pass between Mount Stöðull and Mount Hrafntinnusker.
(5) At the pass (altitude 1,040 m) and on the descent, ignore the side trails leading to these peaks and head for the Höskuldsskáli camp at Hrafntinnusker (altitude 1,030 m), which has a heated shelter but no hot water or showers. This is the least comfortable place on the route and there is also a campsite.
(6) From Höskuldsskáli to Álftavatn. Distance: 10.3 km; elevation gain: +46 m. Total: 21.1 km; elevation gain: +641 m.
Continue down the steep descent (south), then the slope levels out and you will walk through brightly coloured hills. Cross snow-covered ravines and climb up towards Mount Simonarsker opposite.
(7) At the fork, leave the path climbing up to the left (south). Turn right (south-west) and reach a snow-covered pass (altitude 1,000 m).
(8) Follow a stream (south) then descend the slope of its valley to cross it a little further down (altitude 950 m).
(9) After a wide bend, follow a descending ridge overlooking the previous stream on the right and the Grashagakvisl river on the left, which flows from the nearby Háskerðingur glacier to the east. Descend steeply (south) to reach this river. Follow it on the right bank (southwest) on a gentler slope and cross it via a difficult ford when the water is high (altitude 620 m).
(10) The descent continues through the valley of a stream that flows into the nearby lake. Join the road (F210) and then the Álftavatn base camp (altitude 540 m) (E).
Visorando Member
Very difficult 
