Many puffin visits require you to get over your seasickness and buckle up for an hour or so on a boat, but quite a few good ones can be reached by car. We left the car there and covered the rest of the distance on foot. The puffin population of Iceland is flying back to shore. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We recommend a boat trip from town Stykkishlmur to islands rishlmur and Steinaklettar. You will find it behind the Blue Church mentioned in an above section, and with the outside walls painted with cartoons you cannot miss it! Duration 2 hrs . This place is BEAUTIFUL. And there's no one here. There is no entrance fee to Borgarfjordur Eystri. Capital of Elves, Puffins and Hiking It's yours to explore. Watch on This is the entrance to the Puffin viewing area Puffin burrows While most of the Puffins have departed, there were about a dozen floating in the water below. screen printing, crafting tools for agriculture, printing analogue photographs in a dark room. Seydisfjordur is a harbor for boats from Denmark or Faroe Islands, the same as for cruise ships. Finally, it was moved to Seydisfjordur in 1920. Seydisfjordur is a remote village that you visit intentionally as the road from Egilsstadir ends here. One can clearly recognise the Scandinavian style in the many wood buildings still existing in the village. It's unmarked and tiny (it's just a pull-off area), and we have to admit that we missed it on the way down. It remains a divers' wreck at the bottom of the fjord. We also offer a group tour Puffins & Elves. Ltrabjarg is also one of the westernmost parts of Europe (2432'3" west). A popular puffin spot is Borgarhlmi which you can reach by car and on foot. Just east of Seydisfjordur is the remote farm of Skalanes. Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday. There are three ways to get to Seydisfjordur. All the mountains seemed to have a particular Icelandic style; the dramatic rocky mountain top, and a long, sloping grassy base, as if sculpted by thousands of years of wind. To fully understand why this day was the best, check back tomorrow for my recap of Seydisfjordur. The easiest way to get there is by car, but you can even opt for a bus or boat. Seydisfjordur is a harbor for boats from Denmark or Faroe Islands, the same as for cruise ships. Still, it's an experience you hardly get anywhere else nowadays, so we are not afraid to call this town in East Iceland a calm oasis in a hectic world. Seydisfjordur is also home to an annual culture festival called LungA, which takes place every July. That's why there are quite many nice hotels in the town, at least when we take into account the size of the town. Mind to wear proper hiking boots and to bring sticks, because some parts are a little difficult. At first, we were not sure whether it was worth visiting Seydisfjordur. The chances are that you will drive this road twice in case you still want to return to the Ring Road and don't want to settle down in Seydisfjordur. Go birding in Seydisfjordur. Sometimes forgetting that many countries do in fact also have their own south coasts. Seydisfjordur is famous for its vibrant atmosphere, colorful wooden buildings, cafes, handicrafts, mountainous scenery, and hard-to-beat location. Puffin tours from Reykjavk - Iceland CLASSIC PREMIUM & MORE Classic Puffin Watching Tour . She performed a wide variety of songs from current hits to opera. Once you have taken enough photos of the church, walk around the lake, head to the harbor, enjoy the superb views, and admire the traditional architecture. Whale watching is always a solid option and in the May of 2017 I was lucky enough to see whales jumping right in front of my room's window, only 1 km from the town centre! Skaftfell Art Centre is an institution, not only for Seydisfjordur but for whole Iceland. In fact, the town gets busy, especially in the summer season. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 10 min to complete. An unsettling thought. The views from the winding road between the mountains and amidst steep cliffs are spectacular. While there is evidence of people living inSeydisfjordur dating back to Iceland's early settlement period, the town wasn't founded until the 19th century, when Norwegian fishermen built it up as a small port. Also, make sure you wear something warm such as a down jacket (that's what we wore that day). Well sheltered from the ocean, the islet is one of the best places for viewing puffins in Iceland. You do not have to go far to figure out that this place has a lot to offer. The rustic Alfa Cafe is an interesting place to taste some local specialities like their waffles and fish soup. I could only see one or two road markings in front of me. So visiting it does not require any effort. The location of this nesting site is absolutely fabulous. Once you're there, you are likely to need to get on a boat to get close to the birds, but if observing from far is your thing, the numbers of puffin will work in your favour. As we've already mentioned, the site is quite small, but there were so many puffins that we spent there approximately two hours. Even if you plan on traveling further and do not plan on spending the night in Seydisfjordur, you should allow yourself some time to walk around the village. Rainbow path to the Blue Church in Seydisfjordur. Heima Art Residency is an independent non-profit organisation founded in 2013. Eat, drink, buy stuff and be merry. * Fskrsfjrur, East Iceland There are actually two art residencies in town. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Join our weekly hand curated newsletter to have all the latest news from Iceland sent to you. Artists whose applications are accepted can live for a small fee in studios where they can use all available equipment and tools. The Atlantic Puffin is not a rare species, but it's still one of the most stunning and beautiful birds in the world. Vigds puts in shapes of trees, crows and elves a dark and gothic tone with black humor. When looking at the mountains around you, you can notice avalanche protection walls almost everywhere. The more important reason why to stop here is that Gufufoss is so beautiful. The area is a breeding ground for black-legged kittiwakes, a coastal bird that nests on steep cliffs. Strandartindur. A top three location for spotting puffins in Iceland. Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance. Warmer seasons offer some spectacular options for avid hikers! Of course there's the fun side, with music, dancing, and home-made food served at the old pier in the harbour for affordable prices. The street is also lined with many bars and cafes, and it is one of the liveliest parts of Seydisfjordur, where people like to chill out after a tiring day on the road. haha. 88 One of the main attractions in town is the Blue Church and Rainbow street. Egilsstadir | Gistihusid - Lake Hotel Egilsstadir - Egilsstadir is not the most picturesque town in Iceland, but it is a tourist hub with an excellent location. 88 We parked the car at the designate area and followed the path to the nesting site. LungA Art Festival which in 2018 will be from 12th to 22nd of July - transforms the village into a stage for a wide selection of artistic expression. Otherwise, you will need some patience as it's the most popular place in Seydisfjordur. The parking is less than 4 kilometers from Seydisfjordur. The puffin is a rather small bird, around 26-29 cm long and weights around 450-500g. There are also other Art Galleries in town for local talents, and my favourite is Galler Vigds. We recommend you make a reservation well in advance because the puffin season coincides with the high season in Iceland. We have to admit that Road 93 was one of our favorite scenic drives in Iceland. Similar to the road toSeydisfjordur, the route to Borgarfjordur is so scenic that we recommend you drive it even outside the birdwatching season. We just couldn't get enough of the views. The road led across snowy plains, vast ice patches, and icy lakes formed by melted snow, and we could see white mountain tops in the distance. Sklanes is accessible only by foot, jeep or by mountain bike, because there are rivers to cross to reach the research and information centre at the very heart of the park. Nestled between dramatic mountains and one of Iceland's most beautiful fjords is Seydisfjordur, a tiny but beautiful town that embodies traditional Icelandic style. Loading your cart They looked like cartoons, with big heads, sad eyes, and oversized beaks stuffed with fish. It is pretty interesting that the distinctive orange bill appears only during the nesting season, and later in the year, the color fades to dull shades. Explore the area from above, discover new destinations and hikes. We continue north crossing another mountain pass to Borgarfjordur Eystri, best known as the home of elves and puffins. If you happen to be in the town when the church is open (opening hours vary), do not hesitate and go inside. All throughout the year it schedules temporary exhibitions focusing on visual contemporary arts. Expect to find the typical tourist list of the best things to see and do here. This is a mission indeed, and the prize is to earn the official document crowning you as a Seyisfjrur Mountain Viking". Luxury | Vid Lonid Guesthouse - Set in a wooden house and decorated in Scandinavian minimalist design, this guesthouse truly deserves to be one of the best hotels in Seydisfjordur. In 2017 there were 3000 people for the final night, with groups of friends travelling from Reykjavik to enjoy music and dancing under the bright clear sky of the Icelandic midnight sun. In fact, many of the picturesque wooden buildings in the village have their origins in those golden years, and some were even brought disassembled over from Norway itself. From here we went to hike at Hengifoss,. Iceland is a famous road trip destination. Skaftfell building is a grand old house from 1907, that's on Austurvegur, on the back of the gas station on Hafnargata. The steamy Gufufoss waterfall Egilsstair also has a local airport with frequent flights from Reykjavik, offering a quick and easy way to explore both the east as well as the north. We recommend you book a room with a balcony overlooking the fjord if available. It was cold, mid 40s, but the predicted rain was yet to materialize. Reykjavik (Post #16), Grundarfjrur canceled but Pinnacle Gala is a hit (Post #17), The Outdoor Museum in Nanortalik (Post #19), Sailing the Labrador Sea Westbound (Post #20), Puffins, Whales & Hockey? Once we climbed high enough, the scenery suddenly changed, and it looked like we were visiting Iceland in the winter. Sitting at the very end of the fjord of same name, Seyisfjrur is a visual feast of colour. Thanks to its coloring - white head, black back and wings, white belly - and especially wonderfully colored flat-sided beak, this bird is very attractive for all enthusiastic birdwatchers, photographers, and also regular travelers who enjoy nature in its very best. You can visit Seydisfjordur year-round, but the conditions from late autumn to early spring are more challenging. Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price. Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour. The most famous one is The Waterfall Lane, which starts nearby the swimming pool. 1 day. In Seyisfjrur there is also an indoor swimming pool, with sauna and two hot hubs, a public library, a pharmacy and a supermarket, plus several art crafts shops selling all colours and sizes of Icelandic traditional wool sweaters and local design's items. Dimmuborgir, near Lake Myvatn, is an areaof lava fields, volcanic caves and rock formations that can be explored by signposted hiking trails. When the breeding season comes, puffins seek places such as Borgarfjordur, where they find protection on the cliffs covered with grass above the sea. They might not have a bank or a hospital but theyll have a swimming pool! Landmannalaugar is a fascinating geological wonder, a geothermal oasis on the Highlands of Iceland, surrounded by multicolored mountains and steaming lava fields. For colder days, ask for a table in the back room, with view on the bay. The drive should take you around 30 minutes, but heads up. Cars would appear from the mist suddenly, their dim headlights ethereal as they rolled past. We really love our swimming pools band we have strict rules you need to know about! The highest chance to enjoy sunny weather in Seydisfjordur is during the summer, usually from June to August. It is right in the middle of the village, only a couple of kilometers from the nesting place, and it has everything you need a shared kitchen, toilets, and showers. $ The first settler was Bjlfur, who gave the name to the highest of the mountains surrounding the fjord. The road is winding, and if the weather is clear, amazing views start to open up. It had been a hell of a drive getting in obscured by fog, the mountain road had been almost invisible. We traveled to Iceland at the end of June, which is the summer season. Here you can find more information on camping in Iceland. 88 The highest (1085m) is the majestic and monumental Bjlfur. During the nesting season, between April and August, there should be at least one bus per day connecting Egilsstadir and Borgarfjordur Eystri if you do not have your own transport. The weather made Seyisfjrur an eerie place, almost as if something from a horror movie. It's only about 20 minute climbing, but it's best to wear waterproof shoes because there are small streams of water to cross. While puffin colonies are located all around Iceland, there are a few places where your chances of catching the bird are more likely than others, as shown on the map. We did not spend a night there, did not do any longer hike in the area, yet, the drive and the town itself were super-photogenic and worth the trip. We continue north crossing another mountain pass to Borgarfjordur Eystri, best known as the home of elves and puffins. It's also possible to go fishing, and outside town Hagavollur is a nine-hole golf course with a club house, where you can hire equipment. A staircase, viewing platform and wooden walkways make it easy to get closer to birds whilst remaining safe. By the way, the otherworldly scenery was one of the reasons that back in the 1850s attracted the first settlers to come and live in this area. A low fog had settled on the streets, whiting out the backdrop and limiting visibility to just the few houses around us. View Derrick_Sketchess profile on Instagram, Vatnajkull glacier lakes Fjallsrln andJkulsrln, Hverir geothermal area an alien landscape that cant bemissed, Things about Iceland that will inspire you to go StickyMangoRice, Iceland Ring Road the ultimate 2 week road trip StickyMangoRice, Renting a SADcar in Iceland My Experience Driving A Second-Hand Car Around Route 1 StickyMangoRice. On other side of the street there is Kaffi Lra - El Grill Bar, another good place to hang out. This is quite an impressive number, which makes the village one of the most accessible and safest spots to see puffins in Iceland. The card costs three times more than we are used to paying in the Czech Republic, so we recommend you one thing. The route to Seydisfjordur is the best example and answer to your burning question about why Iceland is best explored by rental car or campervan. Keep your eyes open for Icelandic sheep and puffins in Seydisfjordur. Seyisfjrur was used as a base for British/American forces during World War II and remnants of this activity are visible throughout the fjord, including a landing strip no longer in use and an oil tanker SS El Grillo that was bombed and sunk. It led towards a mountain range. However, having a proper telephoto lens will help you keep the safest possible distance between you and them. So when planning your trip and creating your perfect Iceland itinerary, you must solve a dilemma. The town of Egilsstadir was on the way, and we spent about 15 minutes driving thru with our driver providing some commentary. No spam, just fun! First of all, the Gufufoss is only a few meters from the parking lot, which is just off the main road. The goal is to climb, in 24 hours, all the seven mountains surrounding the town and fjord. It is one of Iceland 's supreme hiking areas with magnificent colorful mountains, beautiful rocks and rare stones.. It was a crazy day of driving but it was all in the name of adventure! Our content may not be reproduced without our written permission. If you have a standard car you must leave it at the parking area by Austdalsriver, and from there it's 30 minutes quite easy and scenic walk. Improve this listing Similar Experiences Wildlife, scenery and cave exploring tour! Quite a fascinating history for such a little church. At the end of the road ahead of the town are a picturesque little harbour and the Hafnarholmi hill. The harbor is very photogenic, so snap a few photos before you excitedly run to see the puffins. Another great alternative is Viator. Seydisfjordur (Seyisfjrur) is a small township in the East of Iceland located on the southern tip of a fjord of the same name. We arrived at Hafnarholmi hill around 11:15. Moreover, the midnight sun on the way back made for spectacular views of the whole fjord. 10,5 Hours, $ The driver was the guide, and there were 17 passengers on the tour. These birds can be found in North Atlantic, and you can watch them not only in Iceland but also in Greenland, Faroe Island, or Norway, just to name a few locations. We recommend a boat trip from town Stykkishlmur to islands rishlmur and Steinaklettar. Seyisfjrur is the heart of A low fog had settled on the streets, whiting out the backdrop and limiting visibility to just the few houses around us. We believe it is quite easy to spend a peaceful couple of hours or even a full day in Seydisfjordur. Two islands,Akureyand Lunday are homes to tens of thousands of puffins. Part 3 of our Road Trip along Iceland's Ring Road brought us to the town of Egilsstadir. Nordic's menu uses local ingredients as lamb and cod but with a modern twist, playing with traditional dishes from italian, french, spanish and british cuisine. Secondly, Seydisfjordur feels quite remote, especially when you take into account that the road ends here. Enjoy this 2.0-mile out-and-back trail near Seyisfjrur, Eastern. When abroad she badly misses harfiskur, srmjlk and hot tubs! On each mountain's top you'll find a container with a guest book to sign and a hole puncher, with a different pattern for every mountain, that you must use to punch your map in the stated place. Even though seeing puffins in Borgarfjordur is completely free, you can donate some money if you want to support this site. So we already know the best season to see puffins, but what is the best time of the day to watch puffins at Borgarfjordur Eystri? Seydisfjordur, Iceland Features animals Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show. , Yeah they were cool! Three of us took over the back row with 4 seats which gave us a little more room. HOME OF THE ATLANTIC PUFFIN. And in our opinion, Borgarfjordur Eystri is definitely worth the trip. Even though Borgarfjordur Eystri in East Fjords is quite a remote spot and a detour off the well-traveled Ring Road, it is one of the best places to see puffins in Iceland.. And in our opinion, Borgarfjordur Eystri is definitely worth the trip. There are icelandic sweaters, and many sorts of decoration objects such as: candles, mirrors, statues and paintings. Articles & Photography by Lucie Hermankova and Martin Tychtl, what to see and do, travel guide, top attraction, europe, Southeast Iceland, what to see and do, travel guide, top attraction, europe, Golden Circle Iceland, Hafaldan HI Hostel - Old Hospital Building, A Complete Guide to Iceland's South Coast, 21 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Iceland, A Guide to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall in Iceland.

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