- Tour operator Arctic Adventures has announced a new women-only guided trek along Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail will launch in summer 2026.
- The four-day, small-group route follows the 55-kilometre trail from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk through Iceland’s central Highlands.
- Offering scheduled departures from July through August, the new adventure trip is designed with a slower, more immersive experience in mind.
- The new Laugavegur trek follows years of growth in the adventure tourism space, spurred by a rapidly developing female demographic.
For years, Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail has represented somewhat of a spiritual pilgrimage for adventure travel seekers. The 55-kilometre stretch that weaves through the country’s stunning central highlands has become a must-visit attraction for hikers, trekkers and long-distance trail runners, courtesy of its pristine views and dramatic terrain. On any one day, you could stumble across geothermal valleys and rhyolite mountains before finding your way to black sand plains and birch forests as you thread your way through some of the most remarkable landscapes on the planet.
In 2026, the path is changing, but for once, it isn’t because of global warming or mass tourism. In a move symbolic of sweeping change in adventure travel, operator Arctic Adventures has announced a new women-only guided trek along the famed Icelandic trail. Designed for true environmental immersion within a supportive, community-based framework, the women-only Laugavegur Trail experience is an important milestone in the evolution of travel.
Women-Only Laugavegur Trail
Set to launch in summer 2026, Arctic Adventures’ women-only Laugavegur Trail will take guests on an unforgettable journey through the much-loved scenic trek. Across four days, the small-group route will follow the 55-kilometre trail from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk through Iceland’s central Highlands.
Widely described as one of the country’s best-known long-distance hikes, the trail is renowned for its diverse, volcanic landscapes, with trekkers generally spending their nights in one of the six mountain huts and associated campsites. While the route has long attracted international hikers, the new departures are designed specifically for women seeking a smaller, more supportive group experience.
Running from July through August, the trek is led by an experienced female guide and limited to a small group size. According to Rebecca McCall, product manager at Arctic Adventures, the focus is less on speed or performance and more on shared experience, connection, and spending time in Iceland’s remote interior.
“There’s a comfort that comes from exploring in a group of women,“ McCall explained. “This trek is about enjoying the landscape, supporting one another in small ways, and letting those connections grow naturally along the trail.“
The trek itself is designed for hikers with a basic level of fitness who are comfortable walking for up to nine hours a day across varied terrain. While the inclines and elevation are not extreme, the changing weather conditions can make the Laugavegur Trail difficult and unpredictable at times, which is all part of the fun when it comes to adventure travel.
Thankfully, group members will only need to carry their day packs, with logistics handled in advance, allowing the focus to remain on the trail and the shared experience. The tour is open to travellers aged 15 and up and includes transportation to and from the trail, with amenities such as onboard Wi-Fi available during transfers.
The Rise of Women-Only Adventure Travel
Importantly, the latest development speaks to an emerging trend in the adventure space. While women have long been pivotal to the travel experience, often booking, planning and facilitating trips, in recent years, the onus has shifted. Skift Research’s 2024 The Woman Traveler report found that not only do women make 82 per cent of all travel decisions, they actually travel far more often than their male counterparts. What’s more, they are increasingly heading off the beaten path.
Sophie Andrews, founder of wellness retreat operator The Ancient Wellness Hunter, explained that more women are looking for travel offerings that represent true cultural immersion rather than stock-standard tourism.
“With women now making up 71 to 84 per cent of the solo travel market, this has now become a huge trend post-COVID as women seek out more freedom, personal growth, adventure and self discovery,“ Andrews said. ”Mix this with the massive surge worldwide in wellness travel, boosting physical and mental health and the unprecedented growth of spiritual tourism as people look to grow inwardly, seek ancient traditions, and find peace, and what we are seeing is a new style of travel.“
First-Hand Experience
Australia’s own Intrepid Travel, which is among the largest operators in the adventures and immersive experience space, has massively expanded its women-only offering, introducing tours through Turkey, Nepal, India and Saudi Arabia. These unique guided experiences offer opportunities to engage with local food providers and traditional customs while also seeing first-hand the diverse lives of women in these regions.
First introduced in 2024, Intrepid’s goal was to give female travellers the chance to learn about the everyday lives and challenges facing women around the world in a safe, supportive and community-minded environment. Less than two years on, the decision has paid off.
Not only is the tour operator the largest employer of female tour guides in both India and Morocco, it is also enjoying a serious uptick in bookings. Intrepid reported a 59 per cent increase in bookings for its Women’s Expeditions in 2024 compared to the year before, signalling just how strong the market for women-only travel really is.
For Arctic Adventures, the new Laugavegur Trail initiative kickstarts a new era for considered travel. Iceland’s Highlands remain one of Europe’s last true wilderness areas; a vast and remote region only accessible for a short window each summer. It’s a place that, according to the operator, strips travel back to its bare essentials where long days on foot and quiet evenings in the mountains create space for reflection. Now, you can add connection to that list.
Arctic Adventures’ Laugavegur Trail will launch in summer 2026, offering scheduled departures from July through August. The four-day, small-group route follows the 55-kilometre trail from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk through Iceland’s central Highlands. Prices start at USD$2,038 per adult with all meals included.
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