Hornstrandir friðland - Ísafjörður

Ethan L.

This place is absolutely a gem of nature. Came here on a backpacking trip and its remoteness ensures some breathtakingly beautiful views of nature away from human influence. The land is a haven for any outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore some of the wildest and most pristine landscapes in Iceland. Please care for the delicate ecosystem there though!

In terms of wildlife, I primarily encountered arctic foxes, seals, seabirds, and a lot of bugs (though I never got bitten by anything). The trails range from level ground along the coastline to challenging hikes up steep mountain paths. Be sure to know where you are setting camp, as there are designated areas, and the only amenities are the occasional outhouse. The only time I had service there was at the peak area of The Horn. In August, there were still some remaining snow patches, but spikes were not needed. The one thing to be aware of is the windiness in the flats, two of our Nemo tents snapped under the conditions. The very last night we also got a view of the Aurora Borealis, which was absolutely stunning. Words alone cannot describe such nature, if you ever get the chance to visit yourself, it is a must.

Fernando C.

In this remote area of Iceland, if you like untouched nature, you must take a boat and visit Hesteyri in Jökulfjörður. The village was abandoned by its few dozens of remaining inhabitants on the 1950’s. It’s a place out of this world: no cell phone nor internet signal over there!

Uve K.

Sind in dieser Gegend über eine Woche unterwegs gewesen und sind in dieser Zeit nur wenigen Leuten begegnet. Was wir gesehen haben war Natur pur mit allen seinen Widrigkeiten. Regen, Sonne, Wind, Nebel und Graupelschauer konnten uns nicht davon abhalten die Natur mit allen unseren Sinnen zu genießen. Steile Hänge, schneebedeckte Flächen und kalte Flüsse, die durchwatet werden mussten, waren vergessen, wenn wir abends bei einer heißen Suppe den Tag ausklingen lassen konnten.

paula J.

If it didn't require so much effort and money to get here, I would give it 5 stars, as it was good. This is the only excursion we booked off our ship and the price was almost double of going direct to the company. I just couldn't seem to seem to find a trip ahead of time that worked with our port time. If you actually email them, they may have something for you. I would have liked to have more time to hike around out there, an extra hour would be nice. Our skipper was great and he spotted a humpback whale and we got all excited chasing it down and seeing it up close. The boat is an easy short walk from the cruiseport.

Katerina J.

If you can, take the time to visit Iceland's Westfjords and take a tour with the West Tours from Isafjordur to this beautiful untouched place. This is the experience you won't forget: 2-2.5hr boat ride (that can be very bumpy on a choppy sea so hold tight!) and 5-7 hours roundtrip hike through this fragile land to the magnificent cliff from where an incredible view opens up.
Make sure you check the weather forecast though - you don't want to be there when the weather is bad meaning rain and fog. At least some visibility needs to be there for you to enjoy the view

Kate

This place was breathtaking. The vegetation, waterfalls and fjords were absolutely stunning. If you decide to visit this place please be aware of the delicate ecosystems all around you. The moss takes 59-100 years to grow as complex and thick as it is, and it only takes one step to crush and kill a large area of it. We went on a guided hike with Borea Adventures, who took great care in educating us about the nature we encountered. The jellyfish, seals and Arctic fox we encountered added to the wild beauty of this magical place!

Ronan D.

Great hidden space in Europe. Be careful, hiking times for locals are underestimated - a 2 hours hike for them can take you 3 to 4. It adds up on a full day hike. I recommend this place for sure, people are so nice and nature is intact.

Mel W.

An amazing experience! Some of the most remote and rugged backpacking I have done, but we'll worth the effort. I was able to see an arctic sunset in the north.