Top 8 Things to do in East Iceland
Soak in the tranquillity of the Eastern Fjords.
Be captivated by the unique wildlife, and exceptionally good conditions to witness the Northern Lights and taste the freshest seafood of your life.
East Iceland is a once-in-a-lifetime destination where beauty and adventure meet.
Vestrahorn is one of the few Gabbro rock mountains in Iceland.
It is located in southeast Iceland and is notable for its two unique peaks, the black sand grassland sand drifts, and its closeness to the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, and East Fjords.
Alongside it lies Brunnhorn, a similarly craggy mountain known as "Batman Mountain" because its three distinguishable peaks that resemble the Batman symbol.
Seyðisfjörður is surrounded by an exceptionally stunning scenery.
There are several hiking routes in the village that you may explore if your schedule permits it.
Tvisongur, a site that mixes culture and nature, is among the most well-liked destinations.
Hiking along the river is one of the most popular things to do in the region.Other choices include the Vestdalsfossar Cascade, which is one of several.
You can see avalanche protection barriers all around the region when you look at the mountains.
This is because avalanches are common in the area, especially in the winter. As a result, the settlement is solely on one side of the fjord.
Vestrahorn Mountain is among the most photographed places in Iceland.
Above the tidal lagoons, black sand beaches, and tussocks, it has a spiky facade making it a very photogenic place.
The reflections from the tidal lagoon will be fantastic if the wind is calm and the tide is in.Additionally, the beaches with black sand near Vestrahorn Mountain are fantastic.
The tussocks in the surrounding region are beautiful even when the tide is out.In normal circumstances, we advise spending an hour or two exploring the area.
But if you want to go farther and shoot in lovely sunset or into the night, it is extremely simple to spend up to four or five hours discovering photographic angles and new foregrounds.
A wide-angle lens is the first step in approaching your photography at Vestrahorn.
This will give you a grandiose view of the magnificent scenery and allow you to include any of the beautiful foregrounds that undoubtedly make this location so special in your photograph.
Here at Vestrahorn, a solid tripod is another crucial piece of equipment.
Whether you are photographing the foreground of the grassy dunes, waves flowing in at low or high tide, or reflections in the sea, a reliable tripod will assist you in getting the ideal photo in this picturesque setting.
In addition to your photography preference, it may be highly windy in the area.The weather in the region can change dramatically in a matter of hours, so it's critical to modify your settings as needed and dress accordingly.
One of the most crucial elements to consider while photographing this region is the availability of an aperture of at least f/11.
This will allow you to concentrate on the front section of your frame and ensure that everything is in focus also in the background
The peak season for travel to Vestrahorn is from June through August,
which is also the period of the midnight sun.
As sunshine lasts about 24 hours a day, you may take pictures of the mountain day or night.
This will also provide colorful scenery where the golden hour (beginning at midnight) might stretch the whole night, and sometimes you can find yourself totally alone in the area.
Winter is Vestrahorn's greatest season since it provides a lovely setting with a blanket of snow, and mother nature can conjure up an otherworldly aurora on top of that.
As the frozen pools at its foot are frequently employed in imaginative compositions, the surrounding terrain also assumes an appealing range of foregrounds.
Keep in mind that the weather may change suddenly, so make sure you are always dressed appropriately. Always be prepared for an Icelandic weather change, whether it be in the summer or the winter.
Seyðisfjörður is a tiny, quaint fishing town in east Iceland that is well-known for its breathtaking scenery, rainbow-colored streets, brightly painted homes, vibrant culture, hospitable locals, and excellent food options.
This little hamlet of 700 people is a great spot to visit with family and friends.
Seydisfjordur is a small settlement in the east of Iceland.
Mountains encircle the little fishing community on all sides.
Mt. Strandartindur, 1010 m in height on the east, and Mt. Bjolfur, 1085 m in height on the west.
Seydisfjordur is located about 27 kilometers from the Ring Road.
From Egilsstaðir, the drive should take you around 30 minutes.
There are three methods to arrive to Seyðisfjörður.
The fastest method to get there is by car, but you may also take a bus or a boat.
GPS: 65.261080, -14.008943
The village is renowned for its exciting culture and fantastic food options.
A variety of wooden structures and eateries may be seen there as well.
Our first point of reference is the famous Blue Church (Seyðisfjarðarkirkja), which is accompanied with the Instagram hit "rainbow street"
As one of Seydisfjordur's busiest areas and a popular hangout for travelers after a long day on the road, the rainbow street is also home to few pubs and cafés.
Seyðisfjörður is also an excellent location for purchasing original souvenirs.
Since there are so many amazing sites and restaurants nearby, as well as the fact that this lovely town is exceptionally photogenic, we highly recommend taking a stroll through the town.
Additionally, we strongly suggest visiting the town swimming pool after your stroll.
Seyðisfjörður is surrounded by an exceptionally stunning scenery.
There are several hiking routes in the village that you may explore if your schedule permits it.
Tvisongur, a site that mixes culture and nature, is among the most well-liked destinations.
Hiking along the river is one of the most popular things to do in the region.Other choices include the Vestdalsfossar Cascade, which is one of several.
You can see avalanche protection barriers all around the region when you look at the mountains.
This is because avalanches are common in the area, especially in the winter. As a result, the settlement is solely on one side of the fjord.
Studlagil Canyon is located in the Glacier Valley in East Iceland.
It was concealed beneath the river Jökla until the hydroelectric plant Kárahnjúkavirkjun was constructed, it became visible.
One of the most beautiful landscapes in the nation is the basalt column canyon, which looms above a turquoise glacial river creating this incredible scenery
The Studlagil Canyon was shaped primarily by two factors.It was created as a result of the Jökla, a strong river that originated in the Highlands carved out the canyon.
But long before that, the basalt columns were formed when boiling lava was cooled
by the Glacial River, creating the columns.
The region around the canyon was deemed unsafe due to the great force of the glacier river, which spans 150km (90 miles) and has an extremely high water level.
Since it was nearly impossible to cross, it essentially divided the land in half and farmers in the area were blocked off in communication for centuries.
And for a long time, sheep were the only creatures in this area.
Prior to the construction of the hydroelectric facility Kárahnjúkavirkjun in 2009, the canyon was completely hidden beneath the river Jökla.
The construction of the Kárahnjúkavirkjun hydropower project in 2009 had a significant impact on the area by generating a huge reservoir lagoon.
One was the reduction in the water level in the Jökla River. The natural magnificence of Studlagil Canyon became apparent just after the water level started to drop.
Since its discovery, its fame has grown, and it has been visited by tourists and residents from all over the world.
Even though the canyon is accessible year-round, the winter months will cause some of its natural beauty to fade.
Every August, the hydroelectric reservoir overflow pours the dirty glacier river down the river path, significantly altering this natural beauty.
The color of the flora fades, and snow can be covering the area.
Despite the canyon's natural beauty, the river's color changes to brown and is no longer as vibrant as it is in the summer when the river is turquoise green and clean.
Lagarfljót is a 38 km long (24 mile) lake formed by glacial runoff.
Known for its famed serpentine monster, Lake Lagarfljot's breathtaking waterfalls and unusual rock formations provide for a stunning scenery.
There are several campgrounds and hiking routes in the region surrounding the lake.
The lake is next to Hallormsstadur, one of Iceland's biggest forests in Iceland
There are numerous myths and legends in Iceland, but the Lagarfljót lake monster stands out in a way because reports of sightings persist until modern times.
Numerous stories and poems have been written throughout the years on this natural feature.
The Head of Iceland's national forest service Sigurdur Blondal claimed to have seen the creature in 1963.
A large moving mass was spotted in 1983 by workmen installing a telephone wire close to Lagarfljot's eastern coast.
They subsequently discovered that the cable had been damaged, and in 1998, local schoolchildren and staff members also reported seeing the creature.
The monster was last spotted by a local farmer in 2012, and that sighting was even supported by footage of it swimming in Lagarfljót.
The southernmost point of Heimaey Island, Stórhöfði Cape, is one of the best places in Egilsstaðir, the region's capital, is located on the Lagarfljót riverbank.
There are several accommodation options in this town, which is the biggest in the area.
Hallormstaðarskógur Along the lake's edge lies one of Iceland's biggest woods, which is a fantastic location for bird viewing.
The stunning waterfall known as Hengifoss is one of the most well-known attractions in this region.
With a height of 128 meters, it is Iceland's third-highest waterfall.
The Hallormsstaðaskógur National Forest is located in East Iceland, near the region's capital Egilsstair.
It is more than 700 square kilometers in size and has a over 80 tree species, including red spruce, larch, and willow.
Having been conserved since 1905, it is Iceland's first national forest.
There was an old Icelandic joke that went something like this:
"What do you do if you get lost in an Icelandic forest?
You stand up!"
Unfortunately, it is no longer the case, even though Iceland is one of the least wooded countries in Europe.
The number of trees has greatly increased overall, but Hallormsstaðarskógur is thought to be Iceland's biggest forest.
In the Hallormsstaðaskógur National Forest, there are two camping areas.
One of them is Atlavík, a place located in the inner forest. The second one, Höfðavík, provides greater customer service.
Hiking and other outdoor activities are quite popular in the forest.
There are 11 designated hiking paths to choose from.
A map of the hiking paths is available at the beginning of each trail as well as at Hotel Hallormsstaður.
A little girl called Petra was very fascinated by rocks and pebbles at a very young age and began gathering them from the nearby mountains in the village of Stöðvarfjörur in East Iceland.
She would carry on doing thistill she passed away at the age of 89.
Slowly her house was transformed into a museum and is now a renowned tourist attraction.
Petra compared her enthusiasm for mineral gathering to fishing or hunting.
In order to locate fresh rocks, she frequently returned to the highlands, even tho she said the joy in discovering new things was always tinged with a hint of remorse.
Petra always felt that the stones belonged to those who dwell in the untamed outdoors, whoever they may be.
Since she was very little, Ljósbjörg Petra María Sveinsdóttir had been amassing stones.
According to the "BrennuNjálssaga" legend, a person's name contributes to one-fourth of their personality, with the remaining three-fourths coming from their parents, upbringing, and environment.
This is quite amazing as, in Greek, the term "Petra" simply means "stone."
Petra eventually expanded her collection to include ornamental pebbles.
When she acquired a home in 1946 and had enough space to keep all of her rocks, her passion really got off the ground.
She had previously discovered several minerals and stones, but she had left them in their original locations since she was unable to keep them.
"I knew where to go when I started my true collecting work", she once explained.
It is obvious that Petra had a talent for finding breathtaking stones.
There are several stories of individuals who were walking close to Petra and she would find some gorgeous mineral that was hidden from their eyes.
Located along a small, broad fjord with the same name, Borgarfjordur Eystri is a small charming fishing community of around 130 people.
With spectacular, multicolored mountains, gorgeous rocks, amazing hiking routes, and probably Iceland's best place to see the Puffin up, close and personal
Puffins generally arrive at Hafnarhólmi around the middle of April and depart by the middle of August.
The location has been developed with pedestrian routes due to the high population density, making it the safest location in Iceland to see the Puffins.
There are platforms and boardwalks where you can come up close to the puffins without harming their burrows
The distance between Borgarfjörður Eystri and Iceland's capital city, Reykjavik, is around 670 kilometers (416 miles).
You may either travel for around 8 hours and 30 minutes on Ring Road 1 to the North, then continue on to East Iceland.
Alternately, you might spend around 10 hours and 30 minutes driving down the South Coast.
To explore the stunning sites, we advised that you rent a car and travel the entire Ring Road.
Due to the variety of locations along the route and everything that Iceland has to offer, we advise a multi-day journey lasting at least 5-7 days.
Just to be able to marvel at what Iceland will throw at you on the way.
GPS: 65.543465, -13.756573
The Hengifoss waterfall in Iceland is notable for its eye-catching red clay and black basalt rocks.
The tiny ribbon of water is set against an outstanding gorgeous backdrop.
It is the third tallest waterfall in Iceland at 128 metres (420 feet)On top of that, there is a little cave to explore and you can climb up behind the waterfall.
Egilsstaðir, a town in East Iceland, serves as a significant entry point to this region.
You may access the waterfall by one of two routes: one travels through Lagarfljot's east side, and the other through its west side.
The distance is the same on both ways, about 35 kilometers (28 miles).
Expect a gravel road along the way if you're driving from the west.
The Egilsstair airport is not far from the Highway 1 intersection.
Signs pointing to the towns of Skriðuklaustur and Fljótsdalur are posted there and you take Route 931 that lead up to the parking area.
GPS: 65.096116, -14.889485
Summer is ideal time of year to view the waterfall.
The finest conditions for a stunning shot that captures the crimson color of the surroundings are when you arrive early in the day and light is shining into the waterfall.
But take note: The area next to the waterfall may be very crowded during the high season.
Attempt to arrive extra early in the morning to avoid the crowd.
There is plenty of water in the river that runs through the waterfall.
The falls are often quite steep in June and July.
The water levels, however, are predicted to be lower in August. But it's still amazing
Due to incredible photo opportunities and the fact that it may get rather lovely in winter, the winter season next to Hengifoss waterfall is constantly growing in popularity.
Nevertheless, the location requires that you use extreme caution.
The pathways leading to and from the waterfall are exceedingly slick.
Additionally, due to the possibility of falling ice, it is not advised to enter the gorge during the winter.
