The Laugavegur is Iceland's most-walked long-distance trail: 56 kilometres through the southern highlands, from the hot springs at Landmannalaugar to the birch woods of Þórsmörk. This four-day version covers the whole route, with a guide leading the group and a mountain hut waiting at the end of each day.

We handle both ends of the journey. You leave BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavík at 6:30 on the first morning aboard the Highland Bus, and you're collected at Húsadalur in Þórsmörk on the fourth afternoon and back in the city that evening. No hire car, no F-roads, no shuttle to arrange.

The walking is split into four stages: 12 km up to the Hrafntinnusker hut on day one, 12 km down to Álftavatn on day two, 16 km across the black sands of Mælifellssandur to Botnar on day three, and 17 km down into Þórsmörk on day four. Expect between four and seven hours of walking a day, depending on the stage.

Nights are spent in the huts along the route, in shared dormitories with a fully equipped kitchen and cold running water. Most huts have no electricity, so bring a power bank. Three breakfasts, four lunches and three dinners are included, and your main luggage is transferred between huts, so you walk with a daypack. Showers are available at some huts for a small fee, payable on site.

Departures run in July and August, and the minimum age is 14. This is a moderately challenging trek rather than a day hike: you should be physically active, comfortable on uneven mountain ground, and prepared for unbridged river crossings. If four days is more than you're after, the Highland Bus can also take you in and out for a shorter stay in Landmannalaugar.