Hoffell reseguide

Hoffell is a farmland area in Southeast Iceland.

Explore this area while on a self drive tour in Iceland.

Photo above from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Gummao. No edits made.

Hoffell is located by the outlet glacier of Hoffelsjökull, a tongue of the largest ice cap in Europe, Vatnajökull. The area is unusual for Iceland due to the mountains and rocks being composed of gabbro, an igneous rock that cools slowly, rather than the fast-cooling basalt found around the rest of the country. Other examples of gabbro in Iceland include the nearby mountain of Vestrahorn, often nicknamed ‘the Batman Mountain’ for its sharp twin peaks.

Hoffell is a particularly fertile area with a wealth of flora and fauna. Some very rare plants, such as the Silver Saxifrage, can be found here, drawing many who are interested in botany. It is also home to abundant Arctic Foxes, the only native land animals of Iceland, and wild reindeer are occasionally seen here (although usually only in the winter months, when they move to lower land to feed).

Due to the incredible natural beauty, wildlife and diversity of the landscapes, Hoffell is popular amongst hikers, with trails leading to a variety of sites such as the glacier tongue. Due to its remoteness and the fact that few tourists know about it, it is also a favourite location for photographers.

There are several hot tubs in the area, which overlook the ocean. Like the vast majority of hot tubs and swimming pools in Iceland, these are heated naturally by the geothermal forces at work beneath the earth.

Hoffell is just 15 kilometres from the town of Höfn, the largest settlement in south-east Iceland. Höfn is located by taking Route 99 south from the Ring Road that encircles the country, and is about 460 kilometres east of Reykjavík. Both the town and Hoffell are often visited by guests headed to the south-east to witness the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.