How to get to Landmannalaugar (and back from Þórsmörk)

Landmannalaugar sits in the middle of the highlands, at the end of rough mountain roads. Þórsmörk, at the other end of the trail, is even harder to reach by car: the last stretch involves the notoriously dangerous Krossá river. For most hikers, the answer is the highland bus.

Highland buses

Two companies run the main routes from Reykjavik. Timetables below are for the 2026 summer season. Check the operators’ websites for the current year.

Reykjavik Excursions (Icelandia Highland Bus)

Landmannalaugar (HB02): 13 June – 20 September. Departs BSÍ bus terminal 07:00, arrives about 11:30. Return departs Landmannalaugar 15:45, arrives Reykjavik about 19:30.
Þórsmörk (HB01): 1 June – 20 September, stopping at Húsadalur, Langidalur and Básar. Daily return from Básar 15:00, Langidalur 15:15, Húsadalur 16:00. Between 20 June and 30 August there’s an extra evening bus from Húsadalur at 19:15, arriving at BSÍ around 23:30.
Skógar (HB03): 13 June – 20 September, useful if you add the Fimmvörðuháls pass.

TREX

TREX runs Reykjavik – Landmannalaugar with morning and midday departures in the core summer. Its 2026 morning bus left City Hall at 07:30 and arrived at 11:20. It also serves Þórsmörk.

Prices

The operators didn’t publish 2026 fares we could verify. Count on roughly 12,000–15,000 ISK one way per route. Look out for combined tickets (Reykjavik → Landmannalaugar plus Þórsmörk → Reykjavik). They are often cheaper than two single tickets.

Travel time is around 4.5 to 5 hours each way, including stops. That’s why most hikers either sleep in Landmannalaugar the first night or start walking the same afternoon to Hrafntinnusker (12 km).

Driving yourself

You cannot reach Landmannalaugar with a regular car. All routes are F-roads (mountain roads), open only in summer and only to 4×4 vehicles. The F208 from the north (via Sigalda) has no major fords; the southern routes have unbridged rivers. Check whether your rental company allows F-roads and river crossings: most insurance excludes water damage.

And remember: the Laugavegur is a one-way trail. If you drive to Landmannalaugar, you’ll need a bus back to your car from Þórsmörk anyway.

Parking in Landmannalaugar (2026)

Since 2025 a parking fee applies in Landmannalaugar. In 2026, between 20 June and 13 September, you had to book a parking slot for arrivals between 09:00 and 16:00, via Parka. A car with up to five seats cost 1,500 ISK.

Ending in Þórsmörk

Þórsmörk has three hut areas: Langidalur (FÍ, the official end of the Laugavegur), Básar (Útivist) and Húsadalur (Volcano Huts). The bus stops at all three, so you don’t need to walk between them. Don’t try to cross the Krossá on foot: there’s a footbridge near Langidalur and Básar.

Making it easy

Matching hut nights, bus seats and arrival flights is the most fiddly part of planning. If you’d rather skip that puzzle, look at an organised Laugavegur trip where transfers are included.