Description
Summary
Description
Hike into Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, one of the most remote wilderness areas in Iceland, on this guided camping tour from Isafjordur. You trek along the Hornbjarg Cliffs, spend the night at a base camp in Hornvik Bay, and look for Arctic foxes along the way.
Hornstrandir Nature Reserve has no roads and can only be reached by sea. The boat ride, camping gear, meals, and guiding are all arranged for you, so you only need to get yourself to Isafjordur.
The tour starts with a briefing in downtown Isafjordur, where your guide answers your questions and helps with final preparations. Then you board a passenger boat at the harbor.
The ride to Hornvik Bay takes 2 to 3 hours. On the way, you see the Hornstrandir coastline and its bays, which people once lived in, farming the land and fishing the waters. The boat drops you off near the old farm of Horn.
From there, you hike along the edge of the Hornbjarg Cliffs, which rise about 1,310 feet (400 meters) above the sea. More than 6 million birds nest on the cliffs. You may see kittiwakes bathing in the lake below, birds soaring along the cliff edge, and Arctic foxes looking for food on the beach.
Hunting is banned in Hornstrandir, so the Arctic foxes here are not shy around people, and you can sometimes get quite close. They're still wild animals, so sightings can't be guaranteed. Many species of wading birds also live in the bay.
In the evening, you descend to the base camp in Hornvik Bay for dinner. The camp has two-person tents and a large, heated tent for cooking, eating, and drying off your gear. The tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, and pillows are already at camp, so you only carry a daypack while hiking.
On the second day, you start with a relaxed morning and breakfast. Then you say goodbye to Hornvik Bay and hike toward Veidileysufjordur Fjord on the south side of the peninsula. The trail climbs to about 1,640 feet (500 meters) and follows a path most of the way. The descent from the pass is often snow-covered and can be a little steep, and your guide helps you along.
At the fjord, the boat picks you up and takes you back to Isafjordur.
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