East Iceland Highlands
3
Day Itinerary •
Iceland
Three days in East Iceland and the Highlands take you to the most extraordinary and least visited corner of Iceland, where the dramatic East Fjords meet the extraordinary Highlands interior. From Egilsstadir and the extraordinary Hallormsstadir forest, the only significant woodland in Iceland, to the remarkable Vestrahorn mountain reflected in the black sand lagoon at Stokksnes, one of the most photographed landscapes in the country. This route covers the essential East Iceland and Highlands. The extraordinary East Fjord coastline between Egilsstadir and Hofn, the famous Vestrahorn black sand reflection, the extraordinary Vatnajokull glacier edge at Skaftafell, and the remarkable Landmannalaugar Highland interior with its extraordinary rhyolite mountains and natural geothermal pool accessible by 4WD.
Best Time To Visit
Jun to Sep. Highland roads closed Oct to May. Vestrahorn year-round.
Getting There
Fly Reykjavik to Egilsstadir (1 hour) or Ring Road 6 hours.
Getting Around
4WD essential for Highland roads. Standard car for Ring Road.
Budget Per Day
Approx 20,000 to 40,000 ISK per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate. Highland roads require 4WD and experience.
DAY 1
EGILSSTADIR AND SEYDISFJORDUR
MORNING
EGILSSTADIR AND HALLORMSSTADIR FOREST
Egilsstadir is the most extraordinary gateway town in East Iceland, its remarkable position at the head of the Lagarfljot lake giving access to the entire East Fjord region. The extraordinary Hallormsstadir forest on the shores of Lagarfljot is the largest woodland in Iceland, its remarkable birch and larch trees giving the most extraordinary walking experience in a country almost entirely without trees. The Lagarfljot lake itself is home to the Icelandic equivalent of the Loch Ness monster. Forest free. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
SEYDISFJORDUR, THE RAINBOW TOWN
Seydisfjordur is the most extraordinary small town in East Iceland, its remarkable setting deep in a fjord with waterfalls dropping from both sides and the extraordinary rainbow-painted road leading to the blue church giving the finest townscape photograph in East Iceland. The town is the arrival point for the Smyril Line ferry from Denmark and has the finest arts scene in East Iceland. The remarkable Tvísöngur sound sculpture on the hillside above the town is outstanding. Entirely free. Travel: 1 hour drive to Hofn
AFTERNOON
THE EAST FJORD COASTLINE DRIVE
The Ring Road drive from Egilsstadir south to Hofn along the East Fjord coastline is the most extraordinary fjord coastal drive in Iceland, the remarkable succession of deep glacial fjords each with their own extraordinary character, the remarkable Djupivogur village with its Eggin sculpture of extraordinary bird eggs and the Papey island visible offshore making the finest Ring Road section in Iceland. The extraordinary Oxi mountain pass alternative route is remarkable.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Tvísöngur sound sculpture above Seydisfjordur is the most extraordinary hidden installation in East Iceland, a concrete sculpture of five interlocking domes designed by German artist Lukas Kuhne that resonates with the five tones of the Icelandic pentatonic scale when sung inside. Entirely free. The finest hidden artwork in Iceland.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Egilsstadir Coffee and provisions before the Hallormsstadir forest walk. | Lunch: Cafe in Seydisfjordur Outstanding fjord cafe. Local fish soup and Icelandic bread. | Dinner: Milk Factory Restaurant, Hofn Outstanding restaurant in the glacier lagoon town. Local langoustine and lamb.
DAY 2
VESTRAHORN AND HOFN
MORNING
VESTRAHORN AND STOKKSNES BLACK SAND LAGOON
Vestrahorn is the most extraordinary mountain in East Iceland, its extraordinary 454-metre peak of gabbro and norite rising directly from the sea with a black sand lagoon in the foreground giving the most photographed mountain reflection in Iceland. The extraordinary Stokksnes peninsula on the approach to Hofn gives the finest approach to the mountain. Entry to the Stokksnes peninsula is through the Viking Cafe, which charges a nominal fee. The reflection at high tide at dawn is extraordinary. Approx 1,000 ISK. Travel: 20 min drive to Hofn
MIDDAY
HOFN AND THE LANGOUSTINE CAPITAL
Hofn is the most extraordinary small town on the Southeast Coast, its remarkable position between the Vatnajokull glacier and the Hornafjordur lagoon giving the finest combined glacier and fjord view in Iceland. The extraordinary langoustine fishing industry makes Hofn the langoustine capital of Iceland. The remarkable Glacier Exhibition tells the extraordinary story of the Vatnajokull ice cap and its retreat. The Hornafjordur lagoon with its extraordinary seal population is outstanding. Travel: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
JOKULSARLON GLACIER LAGOON
Jokulsarlon is the most extraordinary glacier lagoon in Iceland, the floating icebergs calved from Breidamerkurjokull in extraordinary blue and white forms. The remarkable seals that live permanently in the lagoon and the extraordinary Diamond Beach on the ocean side of the bridge give the finest combined ice and beach experience in Iceland. Viewing from shore entirely free. Amphibious boat tour approx 6,000 ISK.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Hvalnes lighthouse east of Hofn is the most extraordinary hidden viewpoint on the Southeast Coast, the extraordinary 19th-century lighthouse on a lava peninsula giving simultaneous views of the Vestrahorn mountain behind and the Vatnajokull glacier ahead. Entirely free. The finest 360-degree view on the Southeast Coast.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Viking Cafe, Stokksnes Outstanding cafe at the Vestrahorn access point. Coffee before the dawn shoot. | Lunch: Pakkhus Restaurant, Hofn Outstanding langoustine restaurant. The finest langoustines in Iceland direct from the harbour. | Dinner: Sudurskali Restaurant, Hofn Outstanding glacier town restaurant. Local langoustines and Icelandic lamb.
DAY 3
LANDMANNALAUGAR
MORNING
DRIVE TO LANDMANNALAUGAR VIA THE F225
The drive to Landmannalaugar on Route F225 is the most extraordinary Highland road experience in Iceland, the remarkable river crossing of the Jokula a Fjallabaki and the extraordinary approach through the Laugahraun lava field giving the finest Highland approach in the country. The extraordinary rhyolite mountains visible from the approach road in colours of green, pink, yellow and brown are unlike anything else in Iceland. 4WD mandatory. River crossing required. Travel: 1 hour walk
MIDDAY
THE LANDMANNALAUGAR NATURAL HOT SPRING
Landmannalaugar is the most extraordinary natural geothermal pool in Iceland, its remarkable warm water flowing from beneath the extraordinary Laugahraun lava field into a natural pool giving the finest free geothermal bathing in the country. The extraordinary multicoloured rhyolite mountains rising directly above the pool in extraordinary green, red and yellow tones are the finest Highland landscape in Iceland. The Laugavegur hiking trail begins here. Pool free. Travel: 2.5 hour drive back
AFTERNOON
THE LAUGAHRAUN LAVA FIELD WALK
The Laugahraun lava field at Landmannalaugar, formed in a volcanic eruption approximately 500 years ago, gives the most extraordinary recent lava walk in the Highlands, its extraordinary rough obsidian and basalt surface still remarkably fresh-looking. The walk around the lava field edge gives continuous views of the extraordinary rhyolite mountains above. The extraordinary Brennisteinsalda mountain above the camp is the most colourful peak in Iceland.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Brennisteinsalda mountain above Landmannalaugar is the most extraordinary coloured peak in Iceland, its extraordinary striped surface of green, red, yellow and black rhyolite, sulphur and obsidian visible from the camp below. The walk to the Brennisteinsalda summit takes approximately 1.5 hours return. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe at Jokulsarlon or Hofn Coffee and provisions before the Highland drive. | Lunch: Landmannalaugar Mountain Hut cafe Outstanding Highland hut cafe. Hot lamb soup after the pool is extraordinary. | Dinner: Restaurant on Ring Road return Outstanding South Iceland lamb and fish on the return drive.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Egilsstadir, Night 1 Hotel Valaskjalf or Guesthouse Egilsstadir. Town centre. Approx 16,000 to 28,000 ISK. Hofn, Night 2 Hotel Hofn or Milk Factory Hotel. Glacier lagoon town. Approx 15,000 to 28,000 ISK.
Top Tips
1. Vestrahorn reflection is finest at high tide at dawn. Check tide tables before visiting Stokksnes.
2. Landmannalaugar requires a 4WD and experience of river crossings. Never attempt in a standard car.
3. Seydisfjordur is most extraordinary in the late evening light. The rainbow road is remarkable.
4. Hofn langoustines are the finest in Iceland. The local langoustine festival is in late June.
5. The East Fjords are the least visited part of Iceland. The extraordinary scenery rivals anywhere in the country.
6. Hallormsstadir forest is Iceland's largest woodland. Walking under actual trees is genuinely rare in Iceland.
Total Budget
20,000 to 40,000 ISK/day