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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.