The Hornstrandir nature reserve is a place of magnificent untouched beauty and wildlife. The sheer basalt mountains stretch from the sea to the sky chaotically divided by deep fjords, secluded alcoves and valleys.
At the coastline, the relentless power of the ocean has molded towering sea cliffs, richly populated by birds. Many of the alcoves and scurries of the coast are home to an abundance of seals. Inland the crawling glaciers of the last ice age have hewn ancient mountain passes and lakes into the rugged peninsula and there the Arctic Fox wanders in its natural environment.
The Lost Fjords trip is a full-on backpacking trip where we are self-sufficient, carrying our equipment and sleeping in our own tents along the way.
Group size: 4-8
Minimum age: 16
Dates & Prices
Our prices are listed in Icelandic Krona and are the per person. For the most up to date foreign currency conversion rate please refer to the rates listed on the Central Bank of Iceland.
6 day
program
250.000 ISK
| LFJ-01 | June 12 |
| LFJ-02 | June 26 |
| LFJ-03 | July 10 |
| LFJ-04 | July 24 |
| LFJ-05 | August 7 |
| LFJ-06 | August 21 |
Included
- Boat ride to and from Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
- All food
- Tents
- Professional guide
Not included
- Travel to and from Ísafjörður prior to and after the trip
- Food on the first day until the trip departs
- Personal medical insurance
- Personal equipment and clothing
Itinerary
This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change depending on the weather, sea conditions and the ability of the group.
DAY 1
We depart from the harbour in Ísafjörður on our passenger ferry Bjarmi at 8am. We make our way to the abandoned village of Hesteyri. We have now left the modern world behind and are entering a wonderland of sounds, from soothing streams to the whisper of the waves by the beach. We start our hike in Hesteyri and head for Hesteyrarskarð mountain pass. From there we start to make our way down the other side to sea level. Overnight at Látrar.
DAY 2
From Aðalvík we have the option of a big detour to the top of Straumnesfjall mountain to explore an abandoned radar station built in 1953 by the American army. They quickly figured out this was a pretty harsh place to live, so they abandoned the station in 1960. They might also have gotten tired of not seeing any enemies, ever. We will then head over to Fljótavík. To get to our destination we need to cross Atlastaðaós river, which can get a bit tricky as it is sensitive to sea tides, so we need to aim to be there at low tide. Overnight at Atlastaðir.
DAY 3
We will start the day hiking along the green banks of Fljótsvatn lake. The lake is beautiful and the mountain range on our left-hand side is impressive. We need to cross a few mountain passes to get across the mountain range separating us from our next destination, Hlöðuvík. Overnight at Búðir with an optional evening walk to Hælavík.
DAY 4
Today we head up a steep slope to the mountain ridge Skálakambur and follow a route marked with cairns towards the steep Atlaskarð (327 m) mountain pass. We will go around Mt. Kollur and from there start making our way towards Höfn in Hornvík, the heart of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. This is a place of dramatic natural beauty and should not be missed out by anyone traveling in this area. It is necessary to spend more than one day at this awe-inspiring place so we will put up camp there for two nights.
DAY 5
Nothing compares to the beauty of Hornvík, surrounding are two of Iceland's largest bird cliffs. Like the entire Hornstrandir area, Hornvík is very remote and is only accessible by boat or by foot. We hike to Hornbjarg cliff where thousands of birds can be seen and the massive sculptures of mother nature make human beings feel very small and vulnerable. Many visitors state that the hike to Hornbjarg was the highlight of their Hornstrandir trip. At the end of the day we head back to Hornvík where we spend the night.
DAY 6
Today we will pack our tents and gear, hit the trail and cross yet another mountain pass to get to Veiðileysufjörður fjord. After crossing the mountain range, we descend down to the coast again, following the beach for a while until we get to Meleyri. From there we will get picked up by a boat that will take us to Ísafjörður, back to civilization after almost a week in the wild. For those eager to wash off their hiking dust, a visit to Ísafjörður swimming pool is ideal. Others can relax, go out, eat and just enjoy the town.
Packing List
Remember that everything you bring, you will have to carry on your back for one day. Try to pack as light as possible while still bringing everything you need.
Please note that we provide the tents. We use two person tents and therefore you are expected to share with one other person. If you would like a tent to yourself then you can rent a 1 person tent. Please select this option during the booking process.
- Warm outdoor clothing including hiking pants and warm upper layers. Please avoid cotton as it keeps you cold when wet and takes a very long time to dry
- Waterproof jacket and pants
- Hiking boots. Please use waterproof high-top hiking boots, which provide ankle support
- Water shoes, as we cross many streams, a lake and walk through some wetlands. Make sure they are sturdy and are well secured
- Thin neoprene socks are also nice to have for keeping your feet warm when crossing rivers (Optional)
- Light towel
- Hat and gloves
- Backpack. Sufficient size is 50-60 Liters
- Sleeping bag rated to at least 0°C. Down is best since it packs smaller than synthetic
- Sleeping mattress. A thin inflatable one is best as it easily fits inside the backpack
- Hiking poles might come in handy if your balance is not perfect and you're not used to hiking in rocky terrain
- Personal medical kit i.e. band aids, throat lozenges, lip salves, seasickness tablets etc. Don't forget your personal medication, which you may need (e.g. Asthma inhaler, even if you don’t always need it)
- Sun glasses
- Sunscreen and after sun cream.
- Binoculars are nice to have for watching wildlife (Optional)
- Water bottle
- Don't forget your camera!
