Guesthouse Gerði

Guesthouse Gerdi is a country-style guesthouse prettily perched on an impossible patch of green in the heart of the Vatnajokull Region. Run by amicable hosts Bjorn, Thorey, and 500 winterfed sheep (a few horses, too!), Gerdi caters to travelers of all ilk who are looking to combine a little bit of homespun rural hospitality with their outdoor South Iceland adventures.

Location & Nearby

The guesthouse is perfectly positioned just 13 kilometers (eight miles) northeast of Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and only 67 kilometers (42 miles) west of the town of Hofn. Numerous hiking trails as well as the shoreline are directly accessible from the property. Vatnajokull National Park, featuring a laundry list of natural attractions, just 71 kilometers (44 miles) west of Gerdi. Jokulsargljufur canyon is there. Dettifoss waterfall – the most powerful in all of Europe – calls Vatnajokull home as well. The horseshoe-shaped Asbyrgi canyon, too. Diamond Beach, a black sand which features otherworldly chunks of blue-hued icebergs that have run aground from the aforementioned Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, is another highlight.

Herds of wild reindeer, abundant birdlife, and some of Iceland's best seal-watching spots in the country highlight the fauna in the region. The impressive 66 feet (20 meter) Svartifoss waterfall is a similar distance west. It's one of Iceland's most popular falls due to the hexagonal basalt columns that frame the falls and lay scattered at its base.

The atmospheric fishing village of Hofn on the Hornafjörður fjord offers two national park visitor centers, a public swimming pool, shops, supermarkets, and gas stations. Besides the in-house restaurant, Gerdi is located next door to the highly-recommended Hali Country Hotel Restaurant, part of the Thorbergssetri cultural museum, which does an excellent fish stew, among other dishes; Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Café also does affordable soup, sandwiches, and coffee. And, of course, Hofn is home to numerous recommended restaurants for traditional Icelandic food, pizza, fish and chips, and burgers, among other options.

Facilities & Amenities

With 35 guestrooms, Guesthouse Gerdi wouldn’t be considered small and intimate by Icelandic standards, but its farmhouse feel and hands-on hosts ensure the hospitality here is always feels warm and tailored. Room types include double/twin, family (with two single beds, one double bed and one sofa bed) and self-standing bungalows (with two single beds). Highlights of the décor inlcude hardwood flooring, leather seating and orange bed throws. All rooms come with private bathrooms with shower, toilet and bidet, and a wardrobe. Bed lines are included as are the glacier views on display from all around the property.

Shared facilities at Gerdi include a shared lounge and a tour desk for arranging adventures to the glacial attractions. Free Wi-Fi is available in the main building. Gerdi's restaurant serves breakfast and dinner year-round and is hyper-focused on using local provisions (lamb from their own farm, fish from Hofn, eggs from Gaenahraun, and potatoes from Seljavellir, for example). Roasted lamb, pan-fried artic char, butter-fried chicken as well as vegan options are just a sample of what's for dinner (rhubarb crumble for dessert!).

Why Choose Guesthouse Gerdi?

Travelers looking for scenic countryside accommodations with all the facilities of a much larger hotel but the intimacy of family-run hospitality will feel right at home at Gerdi. Hop online and see if your travel dates coincide with a Gerdi vacancy – then let Bjorn and Thorey handle the rest.