Iceland’s East Fjords

Day 1: Arrive Egilstadaðir

The trip begins in the morning, meeting at Reykjavik Domestic Airport. As a group we board the early morning flight to Egilsstaðir in northeast Iceland and then transfer to our hotel, Lakehotel Egilsstadir. Our hotel in Egilstaðir is located on the bank of the long lake of Lagarfljót. There will be time to settle in at the hotel, explore the local area, and relax before our 6:00pm orientation meeting and welcome dinner. Accommodations: Hotel.

Day 2: Egilstaðir – Seydisfjördur – Loðmundarfjörður
From Egilsstaðir we will drive to the colorful village of Seyðisfjörður, an important fishing village as well as the only harbor in Iceland connected to Europe by ferry.

Seyðisfjörður was once an important center of trade in the mid-1800s. With its long and protected fjord brimming with herring, the town’s thriving fishing industry contributed to it becoming one of the most prosperous towns in East Iceland. Though the herring industry has all but vanished, Seyðisfjörður now has a vibrant arts culture, and its colorful wooden houses remain as testaments of that long-ago period when Norwegian merchants and whalers brought them over as building kits.

From here we cross a dramatic mountain pass arriving at the deserted Loðmundarfjörður fjord, once the home of one of the most isolated and inaccessible communities in Iceland. Wandering this beautiful, uninhabited fjord, we may be able to spot eider ducks, seals, reindeer, and possibly some wild horses roaming the vast moorland and swamps of this large inlet. Accommodations: Mountain Hut.

Elevation gain: 2,018′; Elevation loss: 2,352’; Distance: 8 miles; Time: 5-6 hours.

Day 3: Loðmundarfjörður – Húsavík
If the weather permits, today we’ll climb through rhyolite mountains to Kækjuskörð Pass with its breathtaking views. To the west, we can admire countless snowcapped mountains, to the north and south the fjord-lined coast, and to the east the vast curve of the ocean. Descending from the pass, we hike through moorland finally reaching the foot of Mount Hvítserkur one of the most picturesque and bizarre mountains in the country. Hvítserkur consists of bright ignimbrite, fancifully streaked with darker veins. Continuing toward Húsavík, we reach our mountain hut located on the site of a small, old farm, deserted since the 1950s after centuries of occupation. Accommodations: Mountain Hut

Elevation gain: 1,919’; Elevation loss: 1,595’; Distance: 9 miles; Time: 5-6 hours. 

Day 4: Day hike from Húsavík
We can have a more leisurely start to our day as we will be spending a second night here at the Húsavík hut. From the hut we can follow a track the undulates over streams and past waterfalls to a tiny church set on a bluff above the ocean. A trail leads down to a rugged bay that is worth exploring before retracing our way back to the hut.

Day 5: Húsavík – Breiðavík
We walk up and down toward the beautiful wild bay of Breiðavík. A wonderful place with coastal marsh and black sandy beaches covered with incredible amounts of Siberian driftwood and other treasures of the sea. Curious seals will almost certainly come to observe our evening fire and our strange attitude! Accommodations: Mountain Hut.

Elevation gain: 2,185’; Elevation loss: 2,438′; Distance: 8 miles; Time: 5-6 hours. 

Day 6: Breiðavík – Brúnavík -Bakkagerði
Today we hike through stunningly massive rhyolite mountains displaying an incredible range of ochre and pastel colors ranging from blue to pink on our way to Borgarfjörður via Brúnavík (“Brown Bay”). Departing the isolated inlet of Brúnavík we hike up and over the pass to the fjord of Borgarfjörður and on the small coastal village of Bakkagerði at the foot of the majestic Dyrfjöll Mountain range. The craggy bluff of Álfaborg (Fairy City), right next to Bakkagerði, is the source of the fjord’s name. Fondly acknowledged as the home to the fairies, it is said to be the dwelling place of their queen in Iceland. Our walk continues to the islet and fishing harbor of Fagrihóll. A great variety of birds nest here; some common species being the fulmar, kittiwake, eider duck and puffin. Accommodations: Guesthouse.

Elevation gain: 1,525’; Elevation loss: 1,275’; Distance: 10 miles; Time: 6-7 hours. 

Day 7: Dyrfjöll-Storurð:
Our last hike is in the amazing Dyrfjöll Mountains, whose massive presence dominates the bay of Borgarfjörður. We cross the Vatnaskarð pass, between the faces of the Skeggjaklettur cliff (“Bearded Cliff”) to reach Stórurð (“Big Rocky Ground”), an enormous chaos of large rocks intersected by a calm glacial stream. Between the dark rocks rest calm basins of turquoise-colored icy water surrounded by tender green short grass. We’ll return to our guesthouse for our last night. Accommodations: Guesthouse.

Elevation gain: 1,990’; Elevation loss: 1,990’; Distance: 11 miles; Time: 6-7 hours. 

Day 8: Bakkagerdi – Egilsstaðir:
We’ll start making our way back toward Egilsstaðir with the possibility of a hike along the way. Our hotel for our final night in Egilstaðir is located on the bank of the long turquoise lake of Lagarfljót. The lake is said to be the home of the legendary monster, Lagarfljótsormurinn, a close cousin of Loch Ness monster. We may have an opportunity to spot Lagarfljótsormurinn before our farewell dinner. Accommodations: Hotel.

Day 9: Departure
The trip will end after breakfast with a morning flight back to Reykjavik. Independent travel from the domestic airport in Reykjavik or onward to your next destination.