The Laugavegur Trail runs for 35 miles across Southern Iceland from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk. There is also an additional day that crosses glaciers and the high mountain pass over Fimmvörðuháls to Skógar, famous for its incredible waterfalls such as Skógarfoss.
In June 2022 I headed out to walk this route solo, with no pervious hiking experience in Iceland. Initially I planned to walk the route with the extra leg to Skógar in 5-6 days, but this once in a lifetime opportunity, with bubbling fumaroles, river crossings, snow fields, and vast horizons of colourful volcano mountains, saw me break this barrier and complete the trail in just 3 days, plus an extra day to Skógar. The Laugavegur has got to be one of the best and most stunning hiking trails in the world.
Want to know what I took with me for my hike? Check out my packing/kit list video here: https://youtu.be/VAJCGYgfDBs
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37 Comments
This one hit differently than all the videos you have made. The excitement and enjoyment literally jumped off the screen. What a truly wonderful adventure with the most mind blowing scenery. Thank you for sharing it with us
Absolutely loved watching this and felt as if I was immersed in a David Attenborough documentary … an Abbie version of David Attenborough. Looking forward to the next exciting and enlightening epic adventure. Well done on an excellent doco👏👏👏
Thank you 🙏 just what I needed to see at the moment… I'm off to Google now… I need an adventure
Thank you 😁
Cool looking tent. I wish there were more tents that pitched with the poles on the outside of the rainfly like that. Looks like a cool design that I would quite like to try out. They look like they would have an advantage if setting them up in climate weather so that the inner tent didn't get soaked.
Great film Abbie, I'm seriously considering whether I should do this next year now!!
Fantastic video. Bless Abbie. I think she's a lovely human being.
so many great memories – I remember Landmannalauger as a stopping place when four of us drove around and across Iceland in a Land Rover – stunning scenery
Amazing filming, Abbie. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. All the best for Christmas & New Year.
Wow thank you Abbie, what a spectacular adventure this was. Thanks so much for taking us all along with you. It sure does look like a landscape that is out of this world. You certainly inspire me more with each trip you go on! Fantastic video 😊
Thank you for sharing the stark and stunning landscape of Iceland with us. I’m so happy for you having accomplished this wonderful hike.
Thank you for showing us this beautiful, incredible nature, you are a taff woman for certain
This is a classic Abbie Barnes video, educational, motivational and inspiring. Loved it.
Thank you for the great inspiration
Absolute loved this, I've always wanted to go to Iceland
Well small practice you will be great to say those landmarks in Icelandic. Greetings from Iceland.
What an awesome video and a fantastic adventure!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!!
Absolutely fantastic video of your hike in Iceland. Thank you so much for this incredible experience… life changing for you!!💯👍🙏😍❤️
Walk sideway down next time.
So awesome Abbie. Thanks for taking me here 🌹👍👍🤗
Hi Abbie, This is brilliant, I've really enjoyed it. Your presentation style and cinematography are brilliant, you have a great skill. I'm going to Iceland in February and intend to dive in Silfra and hopefully do a day trek to see the lava flows. I'm very jealous of your trip and you've certainly whet my appetite. Thank you for taking the time to put this together. Merry Christmas and have a very happy and adventurous New Year.
Fab view, Abbie that I managed to watch in 4 chunks!
I have to say I found your addition to Skugar towards the end spectacular and breathtaking and made the Laugavegar trail look somewhat (dare I say it!) dull in comparison.
Holy hell. I cannot wait to sit down with a wee glass of port and witness these beauty. I'll take those over a Hollywood film any day. Thank you!
Quite simply some of the best cinematography you have ever produced, and I've watched u from those early days. You are a woman at the peak, your confidence is to be admired. Go, Abbs, go!
The trail is named "Laugavegur" after Reykjavik´s main shopping street – since it starts at a place named "Laugar" it seemed apposite. Similar to naming a hiking path starting in Oxford "Oxford Street" I guess 🙂
You should really find a better way to carry your camera – you will find that carabiniers can be attached to the backpack's shoulder straps (where the chest strap is attached) and the "eyelets" on the camera bag intended for the neck strap – leaves the camera over your chest and you can attach the neck strap to the camera itself instead of the camera bag …
When you say "campers are not allowed to use the hut" that could be misunderstood – what you meant to say is that you have to make prior arrangements with the Reykjavik Office of FI for a bed – they tend to sell out. If there IS room and if you have cash then you can certainly stay indoors – and as you say, in inclement weather everyone is herded inside without payment being required. I have shared that cabin with at least 60 very tired hikers, it was very noisy (the snoring overshadowed the wind noise) that night 🙂Ear plugs are de rigueur in Icelandic cabins.
I love Iceland, I've been many times and drove around the South ring road to the East coast and another time out to the West Fjords but never hiked there yet. Thanks for taking us along your journey into the beautiful landscape. That's an inspiring video you've put together. I need to get me some of that, I can never get bored of the place.
How you haven’t got a TV program is beyond me I would love to see you do a trekking video in Nepal.or South America.Thanks for the video much appreciated.Merry Christmas & all the best for 2023 .
A truly spectacular hike Abbie, that is one seriously beautiful landscape and your knowledge and humour is the icing on the cake!! 😀
went to Iceland last September, amazing country I can't wait to go back
I took my 23 y/o (at the time) daughter to Iceland in 2015, most of it a driving tour along the ring road, highway 1. We loved it. Now, seven years later, and after watching your video here, I need to go back and traverse the backcountry as you have inspired. While the crowds completely diminished after Skógafoss and Jökulsárlón, we were battered by the weather, as we traveled during September/October. We did many short out and back day hikes, but nothing like this. Not sure I have any family that would be willing or able, so it may be solo as well.
Thank you for taking the long way 'round to Skógar…great captures.
Take care!
I'm treating this video as the "Abbie Barnes Christmas special" and watching it over 2 nights. Thank you. Wishing you a Happy Christmas and an adventurous 2023.
Just spent a lovely Christmas Eve watching this. Thank you so much, and All the Best, Bonnie Lass!
Mega adventure and video Abbie!
Iceland…a place like nowhere else on the globe. ❤
Amazing film! Thanks for sharing Abbie
Good one, vintage Abbie – merry Christmas xo
Wonderful Abbie from start to finish. I'm watching this on Christmas day after doing a much less ambitious (but still rewarding) walk. What you said about the river crossings and how hiking forces you to do things that make you uncomfortable and that is good for you, but it doesn't feel like that at the time. You can't go back, you have to go forward. I'm not sure that you would like the Grand Canyon. I've seen the sun rise and set there and it is so touristy. There is very limited access to the bottom of the canyon. On the plus side, you can pronounce the place names in America.
Thank you for this great video! I reallly appriciate your awareness of what is happening around you and your open eye (and ear!) for details of the icelandic nature. Could not find anything like that in any of these other "Laugavegur-videos". Especially I loved the Golden Plover at 55:50! The lonely monotonous beep of this litte bird is so often the only sound in silence of the highlands of Iceland on moments when winds stopped blowing. But beware of the magic of golden plovers flute! Once it enchanted my soul so I had to roam the highlands for 30 years 🙂
At 29:50 you say: "Why rush, when you get an opportiunity just like this to be somewhere like this?". True words indeed! Being there makes the difference, not having it done. I just regret a bit that you got in that hurry mode again to the end of the trail. I like your real enthusiasm and that you not only have a story to tell but also a message to give.