Ísafjörður: 6-Day Holiday Package Hike to Hornstrandir

Over 6 days and 5 nights, explore the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve from Ísafjörður. Your journey begins with a boat ride from Ísafjörður to Hesteyri, continues with daily hikes through deep fjords, mountain passes, and coastal terrain while carrying your gear, and concludes with a final hike to Veiðileysufjörður Fjord and a boat back to Ísafjörður.

Stay in tents provided by the tour operator and travel on foot with a professional English‑speaking guide. Transportation, meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), tents, and the boat rides to and from Hornstrandir are arranged as part of the itinerary, and you will carry your personal equipment and shared gear for the trek.

Simply arrive in Ísafjörður on your selected date and follow the program. Book your return flight for after the tour ends on Day 6. This guided holiday is suitable for travelers in normal health who enjoy demanding multi‑day hiking and wilderness travel.

Day 1: Depart for Hesteyri

We depart from the harbour in Ísafjörður on our passenger ferry Bjarmi at 8 am. We make our way to the abandoned village of Hesteyri. We have now departed from the modern world and are entering a wonderland of sounds, from the 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: Climb Straumnesfjall and Reach Atlastaðir

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 occupy, so they abandoned the station in 1960. They might also have gotten weary of not sighting any enemies, ever. We will next 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: Hike to Hlöðuvík

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 following destination, Hlöðuvík. Overnight at Búðir with an optional evening walk to Hælavík.

Day 4: Ascend Skálakambur and Reach Höfn

Today we head up a steep slope to the mountain ridge Skálakambur and follow a route marked with cairns towards the steep Atlaskarð 327 meter 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, tranquil beauty and should not be missed by anyone travelling 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: Witness Hornvík’s Bird Cliffs

Nothing compares to the beauty of Hornvík, surrounding it are two of Iceland's largest bird cliffs. Like the entire Hornstrandir area, Hornvík is extremely remote and is only accessible by boat or on foot. We hike to Hornbjarg cliff where thousands of birds can be witnessed, and the massive sculptures of mother nature show us how small we are in comparison. Many visitors state that the hike to Hornbjarg was the highlight of their Hornstrandir trip. Ultimately, we head back to Hornvík where we spend the night.

Day 6: Cross Mountain Passes and Return to Ísafjörður

On this morning 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 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.

Remember that everything you bring will have to be carried on your back for the entire hike. Try to pack as lightly as possible while still bringing everything you need. We provide two-person tents, so you are expected to share with one other person. If you would like a tent for yourself, you can rent a 1-person tent. Please select this option during the booking process.

Please bring

• Warm outdoor clothing including hiking pants and warm upper layers (avoid cotton)

• Waterproof jacket and pants

• Hiking boots (waterproof high-top hiking boots, which provide ankle support)

• Hat and gloves

• Backpack - it needs to be around 50-60L, big enough to carry all of your belongings, including your sleeping bag and your share of the food

• 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)

• First Aid kit and personal medication

• Sunglasses, sunscreen and after-sun cream

• Binoculars (optional)

• Water bottle

• Camera