Today we woke up to blue skies and bright sunshine over the huts at Emstrur.
![Botnar huts at Emstrur - Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](http://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-Botnar-huts-Emstur-blue-skies.jpg)
The trail led us towards the Mýrdalsjökull glacier
![Trekking towards the Mýrdalsjökull glacier - Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](http://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-towards-Mýrdalsjökull-glacier.jpg)
and, after crossing the Emstrur River
![Crossing the Emstrur River - Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](http://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-Emstrur-river.jpg)
we turned south to follow at a distance the north-western edge of this enormous glacier.
![Views while hiking on Day 4 - Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](http://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-hiking-day4.jpg)
It was such a joy to be hiking in fantastic weather
![Hiking in the sun on Day 4 - Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](http://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-hiking-couple-day4.jpg)
and Sigþór took a very relaxed approach to the day, stopping several times for long “rests”, including at the Markarfljót Canyon.
![Looking out over the Markarfljót Canyon - Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](http://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-markarfljot-canyon.jpg)
In contrast to previous days, it was positively hot (especially when one is wearing thermally insulated, high-altitude mountaineering boots!) and the arms came out as we came across a relatively rare sight in Iceland … trees!
![Rest stop on Day 4 of Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](http://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-rest-stop-day4.jpg)
This area was also quite grassy, with Icelandic sheep silently cropping the vegetation below the glacier.
![Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-day4-panorama Panorama of part of Day 4 of the Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](https://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-day4-panorama.jpg)
[move mouse over image to see full panorama]
After the last river crossing of the trek
![Last river crossing of the Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](http://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-river-crossing-day4.jpg)
we found ourselves hiking through the thick arctic birch forest of Þórsmörk (“Þór’s forest”) – quite a shock after the previous 4 days of barren landscape!
Tea, coffee, bikkies and cake on the patio of the enormous and gorgeous hut at Þórsmörk was followed by a delicious dinner of roast Icelandic lamb, peaches+cream+chocolate sauce, and “Glacier Chably” (ie water 🤣).
![Dinner at Þórsmörk - Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](http://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-dinner-Þórsmörk.jpg)
Life really doesn’t get much better than days like today 🙂
![Sunset from Þórsmörk - Laugavegur Trail - Icelandic Highlands](http://lisagermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Trekking-Iceland-Laugavegur-sunset-Þórsmörk.jpg)
Trekking Information
Distance = 16.32
Time taken = 7hr 27mins
Strava Link = https://www.strava.com/activities/1768355348
Map
Altitude Profile
Read more about hiking the Laugavegur Trail
If this post has piqued your curiosity, read about the rest of the 7-day Laugavegur & Fimmvörðuháls Combo Tour with Icelandic Mountain Guides
- Day 1 – Reykjavík to Hrafntinnusker via Landmannalaugar
- Day 2 – from Hrafntinnusker to Álftavatn
- Day 3 – from Álftavatn to Emstrur
- Day 4 – from Emstrur to Þórsmörk
- Day 5 – Þórsmörk Valley
- Day 6 – from Þórsmörk to Fimmvörðuháls
- Day 7 – from Fimmvörðuháls to Reykjavík via Skógar
Alternatively, check out my other posts about hiking and trekking in Iceland and around the world.