From Isafjördur: 6-Day Hike to the Lost Fjords of Hornstrandir

At the coastline, the relentless power of the ocean has moulded towering sea cliffs that are richly populated by sea birds. Many of the alcoves and scurries off 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 tents along the way.Check out our itinerary.

Day 1 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 generate 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 the year 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 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 mountains 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 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 tranquil beauty and should not be missed out 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 Nothing compares to the beauty of Hornvík, surrounding 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 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.Please note: remember that everything you bring you will have to carry on your back for the entire hike. Try to pack as lightly as possible while still bringing everything you need. We will 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 for yourself then you can rent a 1-person tent.

Remember that everything you bring you will have to carry on your back for the entire hike. 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 for yourself then 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