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Unique 6 Day East Iceland Hiking Trek to the Mountain of Elves with Mountain Hut Accommodations
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Tour starts
Reykjavík
Starting time
at 08:00
Duration
6 days
Ending place
Reykjavík
Languages
English
Difficulty
Moderate
Available
Jul. - Sep.
Minimum age
12 years old
Discover the East of Iceland on this wonderful trek to the "Mountain of Elves". This fantastic tour will take you between the sea and mountains in Iceland's remote East Fjords over the course of 6 days, including 5 days of hiking, and shouldn't be missed by any nature lovers.
On the morning of day 1, you'll be picked up at Egilsstaðir domestic airport in the morning and whisked away to the beautiful fjord Seyðisfjörður for the first part of your trail. You'll hike past fjords, mountains and breathtaking sceneries that can only be accessed in summer by those with the tenacity to find them.
Along the way, your local guide will share all of their knowledge of this incredible land with you and make sure you reach each destination safely. When you arrive at the final point of your journey, you'll board a vehicle and be driven right back to Egilsstaðir airport.
You'll travel in a small and international group, with maximum 12 participants. This will give the travellers a chance to get to know each other well and to share incredible moments and memories together.
While on the trek, you'll spend the nights at special mountain huts, located at various points on the trail. A support vehicle drives your luggage and provisions from one hut to the other, so you can enjoy the scenic landscape without carrying heavy baggage.
On this tour, you'll be taken to a little-known region that is very well protected, so you won't come across many people, giving you the feeling of having Iceland, and its nature, for yourself. The area is also known for its magical powers and for being the land of the elves.
So don't hesitate! Book this unique tour of the remote and isolated Eastfjords and collect memories that will last you a lifetime. Check availability by choosing a date.
Note that this trekking will be offered either from Seyðisfjörður to Bakkagerði, or the other way around.
Included
English speaking guide
Food and luggage transport between accommodations
All meals between lunch on Day 1 and lunch on Day 5
Accommodation in mountain huts
Activities
Hiking
Sightseeing
Cultural Activity
Bird watching
Daily itinerary
Day 1
Egilsstadir - Lodmundarfjordur
At Egilsstaðir domestic airport is where you'll find your tour guide. Should you wish to book a domestic flight from Reykjavík, you can do so during the booking process.
Your guide will take you from Egilsstaðir to the large and picturesque fjord of Seyðisfjöður, where the first part of your trek begins, called Víknaslóðir.
Víknaslóðir means "The Track of the Bays". In the olden days, this part of Iceland was very isolated, completely separated from the mainland by a high mountain range which was very steep and difficult to cross. Some farms were close by the sea, far away from civilisation, linked only together by this trail.
The Eastfjord's wildlife is very diverse; eider ducks nest in the fjords, seals swim in the bay, horses and sheep roam around the mountains, and this is the only place in Iceland where you can find herds of wild reindeer.
Straight away you'll feel the isolation of the area. You'll be surrounded by the peaceful and soft landscapes, looking straight out to the sea, in the direction of the Faroe Islands.
You will hike over a mountain pass to reach the first hut which is where you'll spend the night. The hut is located at the very end of Víknaslóðir, at the bottom of Lóðmundarfjörður, which was for many years a very isolated fjord.
Today will require 5-6 hours of hiking.
Day 2
Lodmundarfjordur : 300 m Elevation Gain/Loss
Your second day will be a full day to explore and wander around the fjord of Loðmundarfjörður, which was for many decades one of the most isolated place in Iceland, hosting a very remote community.
Thousands of ducks nest there, as well as seals and raindeers; horses are sometimes left wild here in the vast moorland and swamps at the bottom of the fjord.
If weather permits you'll climb the rhyolite mountains in the direction of the pass of Kækjuskörð, to take in the breathtaking views of the area.
Day 3
Lodmundarfjordur - Husavik
Today's hike is very gentle and will lead you towards the north side entrance of the long fjord of Lóðmundarfjöður. If the weather allows, you'll find yourself very tempted to go swimming in the sea and enjoy the beautiful black sand beach.
However, the real point of today is to move on to the next bay, called Húsavík. There you'll get fantastic views over Hvítserkur, a very unique and colourful mountain.
If you reach the hut early, you'll have opportunities to explore the bay and have a look at the old, desolated farms by the sea.
Today will require 5-6 hours of hiking.
Day 4
Husavik - Breidavik
Today the aim is to reach a hut in a bay called Breiðavík.
Along the way, you'll walk by beautiful stretches of black sand beaches, cluttered with a large amount of driftwood from Siberian forests that have washed up on the shores.
Keep an eye out for the playful seals on this day, as you might spot a few of them swimming in the ocean or relaxing on the beach.
Today will require 6-7 hours of hiking.
Day 5
Breidavik - Bakkagerdi
Today you'll be trekking through the colourful mountains of the East. These rhyolite hills display almost all the colours of the rainbow, ranging from pink to striking blue.
You'll be making your way towards a village that was once the home of Jóhannes Kjarval, one of the most influent artists in Iceland's history.
As you get close to the village, you'll see a rocky hill named Álfaborg or 'the Mountain of Elves'. The whole area is acknowledged as the home of hidden folk, and it is said to be the very dwellings of the Elf Queen.
From there, we'll have a look at the small area's harbour, Fagrihóll or 'Beautiful Hill'. There you'll find a large number of seabirds nesting. Amongst them are eider ducks, kittiwakes and puffins.
You'll spend the last night in a local B&B guesthouse.
Today will require 6-7 hours of hiking.
Day 6
Bakkagerdi - Egilsstadir
Early morning (8 am) you'll be driven to Egilsstaðir.
The drive goes up and through a mountain pass to reach a plateau where the town of Egilsstaðir is located. Surrounded by beautiful nature, including the long turquoise lake of Lagarfljót, home of a mystic cousin of the Loch Ness monster.
From Egilsstaðir, you'll catch your flight back to Reykjavík, or continue your journey around Iceland on your own.
What to bring
Waterproof pants and jackets
Day backpack (30 to 40 liters)
Gloves and hat
Good hiking boots (high ankles, waterproof and stiff soil)
Sandales to cross rivers (with straps)
Warm mid-layer
Extra woollen or hiking socks
Fast drying clothes (pants, shirts and sweaters) - no cotton
Sleeping bags (can be rented)
Good to know
The accommodation offered is for sleeping bags (not included); toilets and showers are to share. You'll be staying in mountain huts on nights 1, 2, and 3; the 4th night will be in a local guesthouse or hostel. Dinners and breakfasts will be prepared in the accommodation's kitchen by the guide (for more conviviality you're welcome to join the cooking process). Lunches will be all sorts of sandwiches that the guests will prepare themselves every morning before to depart for the day's hike. Please note that you will be hiking between 5-7 hours each day.