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Discover the stunning Hornstrandir Reserve on this exciting trekking and camping wilderness adventure! Wander through the unspoiled nature of an area that has been totally uninhabited since the 1950s.
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Traverse Hornstrandir Nature Reserve on a wilderness adventure you’ll never forget! Experience the untamed natural beauty of the Westfjords on this 3 day hiking and camping Hornstrandir tour. Our expert guides will lead you through rugged mountain passes and past steep cliffs inhabited by magnificent birdlife and Arctic foxes. All camping gear and food are supplied. The 3 Day Hornstrandir Trek is perfect for hiking enthusiasts and anyone who wants to experience the stunning natural beauty of Icelandic nature.
Join a small group tour of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve with an expert guide. The hike is approximately 35km in total and we hike trails most of the way. The reserve is rich with fascinating nature and wildlife unique to the region. Keep your eyes peeled for the roaming Arctic foxes and soaring seabirds that call this territory home. Along the way, your guide will teach you the history of nearby abandoned villages once populated by intrepid settlers on the edge of the Arctic Circle.
Accommodations are provided between hikes at our cozy basecamp. All camping gear and food is supplied and tour participants only need to bring a backpack for personal items. Enjoy glamping in a big two-person tent with your own bed. Gourmet dinners are served in the mess tent each night!
Please meet your guide at our office in Aðalstræti 17 (downtown main street) one hour before departure, where we will answer any questions and make final preparations. We depart from the harbor in Ísafjörður on our passenger ferry.
The ride to Veiðileysufjörður takes between 1 - 2 hours, and en route you can see the coastline of Snæfjallaströnd, and the South side of the Hornstrandir peninsula. You should keep a sharp lookout for whales that frequently visit the bay.
We land at the head of the fjord and start to make our way over to Hornvík. The hike takes us up to 520 meters and through Hafnarskarð Pass. There is usually some snow in the pass, but we take it easy and enjoy the panoramic view along the way.
From the top of the pass, we see over the whole of Hornvik Bay with its jagged peaks along the cliff’s edge. Truly a wonderful view. We then start to make our descend towards our base camp where we will enjoy a well-deserved home-cooked meal.
Distance: 12 km.
Altitude gain: 550 m.
After a hearty breakfast, we start on today’s hike by heading over the Kýrskard Pass and down to the lighthouse in Látravík, where we’ll have lunch and enjoy the rugged scenery.
We continue along the cliffs and through Almenningar pass where we stand at the edge of the cliffs. We get a good view over the whole of Hornvík Bay as we head down Innstidalur Valley and down to the coast.
There is a good chance to spot Arctic foxes on this hike since there are dens along the cliffs and the parents are busy hunting for their cubs.
The next stop is Drífandi waterfall, where stories of polar bear encounters will be told. Polar bears sometimes swim or drift from the east coast of Greenland to these bays and struggle for survival where nothing can be hunted.
We’ve now done a good circle and will be rewarded with a delicious dinner and rest our legs in our base camp.
Distance: 15 km.
Altitude gain: 500 m.
We make an early start by heading towards the old farm of Horn and shoulder our daypacks for a hike up to Hornbjarg bird cliffs. Our first stop is the very tip of Horn where the view over the whole bay is breathtaking.
We continue along the grassy slope next to the cliff’s edge up to Mt. Miðfell, while watching the thousands of birds that nest in the cliffs in the summer, soaring all around us.
The last part is up a pretty steep grass slope but nothing to be worried about. You’re in safe hands.
We then drop down to Miðdalur Valley where we get a good look down the sheer face of the cliffs. This is where the hard men in Hornvík Bay used to rappel down hemp ropes to collect eggs. Each summer they collected thousands of eggs to survive the long winter months.
We continue to the small lake in Miðdalur where whooper swans reside during the summer and kittiwakes come in hundreds to bathe in the lake each day, an impressive sight.
Next, we walk over the ridge of Múli before heading down to the shoreline and back to the farm. We say a final goodbye to Hornvik and our friendly foxes when the boat picks us up around 2 pm for a boat ride back to Ísafjörður.
Distance: 14 km.
Altitude gain: 450 m.
Meet on Location: Departure for treks is at 9:00 am. Please meet your guide at our Ísafjörður office on Aðalstræti 17 (downtown main street) one hour before departure. We depart from the harbor in Ísafjörður on our passenger ferry Bjarmi. For information on how to get to Ísafjörður see our Ísafjörður destination page.
Drop Off: On the last day of our trek, the boat will pick up the group around 6 to 7 pm. We will then make the journey back to Ísafjörður and drop you off at the main office.
Please note: We provide tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, and pillows. You do not need to carry any of this with you. However, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag liner and pillow cover. You can always rent sturdy hiking boots, waterproof jackets, and pants during the booking process.
The tour itinerary is a guide-only trip and is subject to change depending on the weather, sea conditions, and the ability of the group. Due to weather conditions, this tour may operate in the reverse order of days due to sea conditions. We will make our best effort to make this tour depart!
Don’t worry, you can always rent sturdy hiking shoes, a waterproof jacket and pants in the booking process or add them to your booking. You can book these items and more under the selection “Extras” in the booking widget when booking your tour on our website.
If you have already booked the tour and wish to add some rental gear to your booking, you can do so at least 24 hours prior to your tour starting by using our customer portal - My Adventures, or contacting our customer care.
Please keep in mind that we do not rent gear on location.
First of all, check the weather forecast but keep in mind that the weather in Iceland can be extremely unpredictable, as you may have heard. We have a saying “If you don’t like the weather in Iceland, just wait 5 minutes” which is sometimes disturbingly accurate!
The weather can be anything from sunny to snowy in almost any season although snow is rare during summer time. We do suggest that you dress accordingly. This means in layers, thermal closest to you and waterproof on top. We’ve prepared a guide to help you get ready for your adventures, check out – How to prepare for hiking and trekking in Iceland.
No, please do not wear jeans and sneakers on this tour, it’s not appropriate clothing for this type of tour. Check the list of what to bring to see what kind of clothing is appropriate.
