Hiking in Hornstrandir 

We meet at our office in Aðalstræti 17 (downtown main street) for a briefing, where we will answer any questions and make final preparations. We depart at 9am from the harbour in Ísafjörður on one of our passenger boats.

After about an hour scenic boat ride over fjords and along mountain cliffs, we will be dropped off at Slétta, where there is a beautiful sandy beach, a lighthouse and we often see curious seals swimming along the shore.

We begin our hike by making our way slowly up to a small lake called Teistuvatn, where we can see graceful Whooper Swans and Kittiwakes swimming on the water.

We continue over a mixture of easy grassy terrain and some rocky patches along the tops of the cliffs. This is where we can peek over the edge and see the waves crashing against the rocks, almost 500m below. Many bird species nest on the cliffs. Birds such as Fulmars, Gulls, Guillemots and even the colourful Puffins can be seen soaring high above the ocean, using the updraft from the cliffs to fly effortlessly.

We then reach the British naval radar station which was constructed in 1943. We can explore the ruins of the generators, warehouse and barracks and even see the turret which housed the Oerlikon 20mm cannon. This was a very secret operation during the war and the purpose was to watch out for any enemy planes or ships coming into Icelandic waters.

From here we follow the jeep track which leads down the mountain towards the bay of Aðalvík. We reach the shore at Látrar, which was once a thriving village, where we will take the boat back to Ísafjörður. Keep your eyes open for whales on the way home!

This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change depending on the weather and the ability of the group.

• Warm outdoor clothing. 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.
• Hat and gloves.
• Sun glasses.
• Sunscreen and after sun cream.
• Small backpack.
• Lunch for the day. One or two sandwiches and your favourite snacks. 
• Water bottle.
• Don't forget your camera!

How difficult is the hike?

The hike is approximately 15km and there are no trails. The ground is mostly soft and easy going. However, there is some rough terrain including loose rock. We start at sea level and the highest point is approximately 500m, so we gain around 500m in elevation.

If you are an active hiker then you will have no trouble on this hike.

Will I see Arctic Foxes on this tour?

We often see Arctic Foxes on this tour. Because hunting is banned in Hornstrandir, there foxes are not timid around humans and therefore we can sometimes get very close. However, the foxes are still very much a wild animal so we make no guarantees that we will see them.

How do I get to Ísafjörður?
Here you can see your options on how to travel to our beautiful town: How do I get to Ísafjörður.