Another easy and short hike is the one to reach Tvsongur, a sound sculpture built in 2012 by German artist Lukas Khne. You need 4 x 100 ISK in coins to take a shower, but a lady at the front desk offered us change automatically. Skaftfell building is a grand old house from 1907, that's on Austurvegur, on the back of the gas station on Hafnargata. Many puffin visits require you to get over your seasickness and buckle up for an hour or so on a boat, but quite a few good ones can be reached by car. It is pretty interesting that the distinctive orange bill appears only during the nesting season, and later in the year, the color fades to dull shades. That is one of the things we appreciated here the most. It's not a coincidence that artists from all over the world are moving to this very special place to work at their projects. The Blue Church used to stand at Dvergasteinn farm until 1882, and then it was moved to Vestdalseyri. One of the reasons was that we planned our trip to Iceland rather spontaneously and did not have much time to gather all the information about every single must-see place and top attraction in the country. Once you arrive at the information centre you'll appreciate it being warm and cosy, with sofas and free coffee and tea for visitors. I drove with headlights and hazard lights. With 1.600m of ski lifts and a ski run good for children as well as adults, you're going to have too much fun to mind the cold! Well, if we had to make our pick, it would be detouring to the fjord towns of Seydisfjordur and Borgarfjordur Eystri in the north east corner of the country. From April to October the town is full with travellers, well catered by hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, two Youth Hostels and a fully serviced campsite. Whales spend the winter in the fjord, when water is warmer there, then move to open sea for the summer. The location of this nesting site is absolutely fabulous. The road from Seydisfjordur offers some of the best views of the lake and the Fljotsdalur valley. A simple hat or umbrella will keep you safe. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. There is no need to have 4WD in the summer. There is also a shop, where you can find souvenirs, art books and prints. I warmed my hands on my coffee cup and looked out the window. We wanted to drive to Bakkageri, to see wild puffins. There was a rest stop on this road with a small hut with a vending machine inside and a guest book for visitors to sign. The road gets more exciting once the path turns right and you start climbing to the mountain pass. Gardens are decorated with strange and sometimes funny statues while creatures made up from woods, iron or recycled materials roam free. But no worries. 113 We've hand-selected the three best hotels in Seydisfjordur for every budget and every type of traveler. Our travel guide includes what to expect from visiting Seydisfjordur and tips on the best things to see and do while there. The cliffs, the other cars, it had been almost impossible to see the dangers. Well, the weather was pleasant, so watching the birds was quite entertaining, and the time just flew by. And btw, it was Borgarfjordur Eystri!!! The town stretches along the south side of the fjord, but along the shoreline, you can find access to the sea, rocky beaches, a puffin colony and ruins of former activity. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Drive slowly and carefully as there are no barriers along the way. A very varied day in the East Fjords taking in puffins and isolated hamlets at Borgarfjordur Eystri, then a strapping 17km . The musical connection goes further though as inside there is a pipe organ. Get a 5% discount on Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld. Skaftfell also organizes various seminars, in collaboration with the Icelandic Academy of the Arts. The views from the winding road between the mountains and amidst steep cliffs are spectacular. Dimmuborgir, near Lake Myvatn, is an areaof lava fields, volcanic caves and rock formations that can be explored by signposted hiking trails. Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price. Its easy to access and many breathtaking sights to see. We really love our swimming pools band we have strict rules you need to know about! So we already know the best season to see puffins, but what is the best time of the day to watch puffins at Borgarfjordur Eystri? Mind to wear proper hiking boots and to bring sticks, because some parts are a little difficult. There is a grocery store at the end of the street and we browsed the aisles and bought some chocolate. 7,5 Hours. While there is evidence of people living inSeydisfjordur dating back to Iceland's early settlement period, the town wasn't founded until the 19th century, when Norwegian fishermen built it up as a small port. Once you reach the coastline, it is only a short drive to Borgarfjordur Eystri. However, having a proper telephoto lens will help you keep the safest possible distance between you and them. 88 On one of the tables upstairs you can spot a massive book with photos and history for every house of Seydisfjordur. Improve this listing Similar Experiences Wildlife, scenery and cave exploring tour! A beautiful tour to one of Icelands most scenic and remote fjords with breathtaking views, cascading waterfalls and a WWII shipwreck. 1 day. Seydisfjordur is a remote village that you visit intentionally as the road from Egilsstadir ends here. Whatever your budget you can find the perfect spot for you. Well sheltered from the ocean, the islet is one of the best places for viewing puffins in Iceland. Last year there were boys from Poland and two energetic and very creative girls from South Africa in charge of building from second-hand materials the set for the festival, enclosing a working yellow lighthouse. Exploring the world from The Inside Cabin. Bjolfur and Mt. The weather made Seyisfjrur an eerie place, almost as if something from a horror movie. Sometimes forgetting that many countries do in fact also have their own south coasts. Graves dating back as early as the the 8th century have been discovered in the area and also the burnt ruins of a staf church built in the 10th century. From time to time, we retraced our steps to find a new group of puffins and observed their hunting and nesting habits. Once you reach the pass, there is a new viewing platform where you can take a break. You do not have to go far to figure out that this place has a lot to offer. In 2017 there were 3000 people for the final night, with groups of friends travelling from Reykjavik to enjoy music and dancing under the bright clear sky of the Icelandic midnight sun. Nestled between Mt. We could not be happier with our choice, as watching puffins in their natural habitat was one of our favorite activities in the Land of Ice and Fire. Just a short drive from the town is Gufufoss Waterfall, another gorgeous waterfall you should not miss. Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance. This hotel is modernly decorated, and the location could not be better. Wandering around the streets it's like walking in a surrealist painting. The area is a breeding ground for black-legged kittiwakes, a coastal bird that nests on steep cliffs. The observation platform will afford you an excellent view of nesting puffins, fulmars and kittiwakes; the latter being loud gulls named for their nasal "ki-ti-waak" callnotes. In this travel guide, we share with you tips on how to get to Borgarfjordur Eystri, when is the best time to see puffins, where to stay, and what to expect from birdwatching in Hafnarholmi Marina. Their growling sounds like a muffled chainsaw! Strandartindur. 1, Pickup and dropoff from the port Upon arriving in Egilsstair, I am greeted by Magnfrur lf Ptursdttir, better known as Magga, who promises to take me on a tour to discover elves, puffins and perhaps even some reindeer that are hiding in the area. Warmer seasons offer some spectacular options for avid hikers! Bakkageri was on the sea, on the other side of a mountain range. You will see art and handicrafts in almost every garden and virtually every house when you walk around. We recommend a boat trip from town Stykkishlmur to islands rishlmur and Steinaklettar. The way there was route 94, a long, gravelly, spine-shaking off road highway. During the nesting season, between April and August, there should be at least one bus per day connecting Egilsstadir and Borgarfjordur Eystri if you do not have your own transport. Hard 4 (12) Seyisfjrur, Eastern, Iceland. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to see both phenomena at the same time because puffins' bill loses its trademark orange color outside the nesting season, but more about it later. It was a long, terrifying, white-knuckled drive to get here and see the puffins. It is also a period when the town attracts crowds and prices are high. As we make our way to the town, we will stop at some of the most picturesque spots, including hidden waterfalls and breathtaking viewpoints. Heima Art Residency is an independent non-profit organisation founded in 2013. Seydisfjordur is a very small village, so you'll need approximately thirty to sixty minutes to walk around the tourist area. Seydisfjordur is a harbor for boats from Denmark or Faroe Islands, the same as for cruise ships. Small group tour with a local guide. Your cart is empty Even though seeing puffins in Borgarfjordur is completely free, you can donate some money if you want to support this site. The first part of the drive is a flat, mostly unpaved road, and you have the views on the right-hand side; this is where the mountains and plains with horses are. As we've already mentioned, the site is quite small, but there were so many puffins that we spent there approximately two hours. Puffin Tours In Seydisfjordur Iceland. There are actually two art residencies in town. The drive should take you around 30 minutes, but heads up. If you have a standard car you must leave it at the parking area by Austdalsriver, and from there it's 30 minutes quite easy and scenic walk. One can clearly recognise the Scandinavian style in the many wood buildings still existing in the village. Just east of Seydisfjordur is the remote farm of Skalanes. House walls are all in different colours, many of which feature drawings and naf paintings. Eventually, we decided to give it a go, and it turned out to be a great decision. Make a donation to help me to keep producing great hand-drawn content. Travel in the summer season and see puffins, or arrive a bit later, in the autumn or winter, and spot the Northern Lights. Landmannalaugar is a fascinating geological wonder, a geothermal oasis on the Highlands of Iceland, surrounded by multicolored mountains and steaming lava fields. . This is a private tour. Another reason was that ourIceland itinerarywas packed. Borgarfjordur Eystri is a charming fishing village situated on a grassy valley along a short wide fjord of the same name. Graves dating back as early as the the 8th century have been discovered in the area and also the burnt ruins of a staf church built in the 10th century. One was dead ahead. There are three ways to get to Seydisfjordur. The main reason probably was that Iceland is so scenic that all puffin colonies were located at beautiful spots. We never leave our home without travel insurance which is designed to help cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip. All this on Rnargata, the tiny street leading to Blue Church paved with stones painted in rainbow colours. As Egilsstadir is Iceland's transport hub, you should not have a problem getting to your next destination from here. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Right after the parking area, if you're visiting early summer, be careful of the arctic ferns! The parking is less than 4 kilometers from Seydisfjordur. Explore the scenic surroundings of the mystical Lake Lagarfljot serene forests, panoramic views, offbeat waterfalls and more! We arrived in Borgarfjordur after 9 PM, and the timing possibly could not be better because of the number of birds and the soft light. screen printing, crafting tools for agriculture, printing analogue photographs in a dark room. It's also one of the best places to see wild reindeer in Iceland. When you see a 90% chance of rain all day, it usually doesnt bode well for a nice day. What to do in Seydisfjordur, Iceland Cruise Port Still, few sights compare to Hafnarhlmi, a birdwatcher's paradise. Despite the lack of puffins at the puffin colony, I am all smiles. A top three location for spotting puffins in Iceland. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Read more:5 Things you need to know about Puffins. We never leave our home without travel insurance which is designed to help cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip. At the end of the day, you might even realize that you actually did not see and do much here. Sail into Faxafloi bay in search of minke and humpback whales, dolphins and harbor porpoises. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Or you can use the simple trick, that I tried myself, to collect a lupin flower and wave it above your head! It's a 3 hours hike but not difficult at all. The southern coast of Iceland is by far one of the most popular destinations that Iceland has to offer. Long gone are days when locals made a living out of fishing. Loading your cart She fell in love with Iceland a few years ago - of course through music! There is no entrance fee to Borgarfjordur Eystri. It is very possible to climb the island unless you're afraid of heights. Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld. Three of us took over the back row with 4 seats which gave us a little more room. Description This hike used to be a loop, but the western portion is closed and it can now only be completed as an out and back. On a clear day, we might have seen tall, snowy mountains, a still blue fjord, and a community of coloured wooden houses planted alongside a wooden church. Large puffin colonies on the island of Hafnarhlmi, and the chance to get up-close-and-personal with the birds. One of the things to know about Iceland is that it's a very expensive country - see our Iceland Travel Budget. We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. For more tips, head to this article: Iceland Summer Packing List. Singer Jamila was the featured entertainer on the World Stage. Between 12 and 3pm there's usually a 2 for 1 deal, a good one to try whatever you like without worrying about the bill! Step by step you'll see the fjord turning into open ocean, you'll meet sheep and Icelandic horses and you can also visit a real Viking archaeology site. Skaftfell Art Centre is an institution, not only for Seydisfjordur but for whole Iceland. We stopped overlooking a small bay where we spotted several Humpback whales swimming out to sea. With some luck and patience, we spotted a Puffin within 10 feet for about 15 seconds before flying away. Thankfully, the inside of the cafe was warm. Dont miss out on the biggest music festival of the year: Iceland Airwaves 2018, A classic tour of the Golden Circle. Quite a fascinating history for such a little church.