Travel Insurance: World Nomads Travel Insurance covers against risks of travel. Sometimes forgetting that many countries do in fact also have their own south coasts. Carefully designated boardwalks in Hafnarholmi Marina (often nicknamed Puffin Marina) and the location are perfect for birdwatching. Mid-range | Blabjorg Guesthouse - Wonderful, newly refurbished guesthouse offers equipped kitchen, and there are even a sauna and hot tub. 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. Warmer seasons offer some spectacular options for avid hikers! Our Seydisfjordur travel guide includes tips on the best things to see and do, how to get there, where to stay, or when to go. It was a long, terrifying, white-knuckled drive to get here and see the puffins. I've been very lucky to have spent the summer of 2017 living and working in Seyisfjrur, on Iceland's North East Coast. In winter season Stafdalur Ski Area is open on Fjardarheidi heath, located 9km on the road to Egilsstair. To fully understand why this day was the best, check back tomorrow for my recap of Seydisfjordur. The area is popular for its outdoor activities, such as hiking, fishing, and kayaking. This is quite an impressive number, which makes the village one of the most accessible and safest spots to see puffins in Iceland. , Yeah they were cool! At ground floor a delicious bistro, serving international dishes like pizza and soups reinvented with local ingredients like blueberries and reindeer's meat. For more information on this topic, read our guide on what to pack for Iceland. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Do you have a question or want something customised?Send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. LaidBackTrip 2018-2023. There is however, another way to reach Seyisfjrur (WEB cam). A staircase beside the bar leads to first floor, where there the Art Gallery is located. There is a grocery store at the end of the street and we browsed the aisles and bought some chocolate. 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. From time to time, we retraced our steps to find a new group of puffins and observed their hunting and nesting habits. The drive should take you around 30 minutes, but heads up. The location of this nesting site is absolutely fabulous. It had been like this on the drive to Seyisfjrur, too. Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld. Iceland Shore Excursions - Arctic Shorex Both nature and the Arts go hand in hand in Seydisfjordur, inspiring and encouraging each other, It's impossible to miss the creative vibes in the air. support@getlocal.is. 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. The puffin is a rather small bird, around 26-29 cm long and weights around 450-500g. Despite there only being around 300 houses in Seyisfjrur, finding a place to stay is simple and easy. We were back on the ship at 4:30pm. The seas and winds were calm so tendering was easy and fast. Therefore, you do not need to be worried that there is nothing to do at Borgarfjordur except watch puffins. The Blue Church was actually moved several times, from Dvergasteinn farm to the hill overlooking Vestdalseyri, and many times was damaged or destroyed by fire, before finding its final home in 1920. Foll. Others flapped past in short bursts of flight, their short wings beating furiously as they circled their nests. We traveled to Iceland at the end of June, which is the summer season. Also, make sure you wear something warm such as a down jacket (that's what we wore that day). When the breeding season comes, puffins seek places such as Borgarfjordur, where they find protection on the cliffs covered with grass above the sea. History of Seydisfjordur Their nachos with fresh creamy local cheese are tasty and perfect. Today, the town continues to live off fishing, tourism and handicrafts, having been established as one of the main stops on cruises around Iceland. Would you like to know what we did do at Borgarfjordur for two hours? It's not rare in the summer, when the ferry arrives, to see flocks of motor bikers on fabulous Harley Davidsons hanging around at bars, ready to start their Icelandic adventure easy riders style! Drive slowly. As we've already mentioned, the site is quite small, but there were so many puffins that we spent there approximately two hours. It's only about 20 minute climbing, but it's best to wear waterproof shoes because there are small streams of water to cross. Only a short boat-ride from the city center. During the nesting season, Borgarfjordur is home to about 10 000 pairs of puffins. The village is also home to a variety of wildlife, including seals, whales, and puffins. It is newly refurbished, and guests can choose from dormitories and private rooms. The view of Seyisfjrur as you are driving down the road from Egilsstair is definitely unforgettable. 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. May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. And turf roofed houses, the home Husavik Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall by using our unique promo code: "laidbacktrip". You can experience a Norwegian town without leaving Iceland! Save. If you want more information on visiting Borgarfjordur and seeing puffins, you've come to the right place. Located in Vatnajkull National Park, Dettifoss is one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland. Home of 100 people and 1000 elves. The area is a breeding ground for black-legged kittiwakes, a coastal bird that nests on steep cliffs. The sun dips behind the clouds as I head back south to Egilsstadir and then east to camp in Seydisfjordur. Still, few sights compare to Hafnarhlmi, a birdwatcher's paradise. Welcome to Borgarfjrur eystri. Last year there were boys from Poland and two energetic and very creative girls from South Africa in charge of building from second-hand materials the set for the festival, enclosing a working yellow lighthouse. The history of Seyisfjrur dates back to the Vikings age. The sea was lapping below. Egilsstadir | Hotel Valaskjalf - Egilsstadir can easily be your base for visiting some of the stunning places in Iceland and starting off point for exploring East Fjords or the Northern part of the country. This is one of the best places to view the Puffins and there are several platforms and stairs which allow you to climb the small hill and get close to the Puffins and their burrows. Young students from different countries arrive in town to live together for 12 weeks, developing art projects and learning new skills. 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. This mid-valley hike starts and ends in Seydisfjordur. This is a private tour. Increase your chances on this tour from Reykjavik that takes you out on a boat to to either Akurey or Lundey, two islands that are well known for their plentiful birdlife. Ltrabjarg in the Westfjords of Iceland - Guide to Iceland 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. Getting to Seydisfjordur by car or campervan is the easiest and most rewarding way to enjoy your trip. Seydisfjordur is a remote village that you visit intentionally as the road from Egilsstadir ends here. Around 8:30, the clearly marked Artic Shorex buses started to arrive and one of the guides on the first bus said we were in the correct spot. Seydisfjordur, Iceland. Seydisfjordur Puffins, Elves & more A tour to remote Borgarfjordur Eystri, one of the best places in Iceland to see the much-loved Atlantic Puffin. About 10,000 pairs of puffins nest every summer in Borgarfjrur. The road to Borgarfjordur is paved in places, while some sections are still unpaved. Otherwise, you will need some patience as it's the most popular place in Seydisfjordur. Monica fell in love with music as teenager, and has been writing for magazines and blogs europewide. Puffins, Elves & more - Private Tour - Wild Westfjords Another easy and short hike is the one to reach Tvsongur, a sound sculpture built in 2012 by German artist Lukas Khne. 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. Enjoy this 2.0-mile out-and-back trail near Seyisfjrur, Eastern. We wanted to drive to Bakkageri, to see wild puffins. 7,5 Hours. Translated as steam waterfall, Gufufoss resembles the famous Skogafoss waterfall on the South Coast, but with far fewer crowds. Easy to walk to center of town. One of the landmarks of Seyisfjrur is The Blue Church / Blakirkja. Seydisfjordur (Seyisfjrur) is a small township in the East of Iceland located on the southern tip of a fjord of the same name. Read more:The puffin population of Iceland is flying back to shore. Photos (9) Directions. Our bus was a 20-passenger minibus. On Google Maps, you can find the birdwatching spot under several names, such as Hafnarholmi Marina or Borgarfjardarhofn. Have you had an experience related to the contents of this article? We've hand-selected the three best hotels in Seydisfjordur for every budget and every type of traveler. Heima Art Residency is an independent non-profit organisation founded in 2013. Iceland is a famous road trip destination. The town stretches along the south side of the fjord, but along the shoreline, you can find access to the sea, rocky beaches, a puffin colony and ruins of former activity. Between 12 and 3pm there's usually a 2 for 1 deal, a good one to try whatever you like without worrying about the bill! The sudden view of the port, the harbour, the multi coloured houses and the surrounding mountains, all covered in the blue of lupins during the summer, will leave you breathless. Spend a day exploring the stunning southern coastline of Iceland on our South Coast Tour from Reykjavik. Our geothermal energy makes this possible of course and provides hot water for our little paradise getaways. The first part of the drive is a flat, mostly unpaved road, and you have the views on the right-hand side; this is where the mountains and plains with horses are. As Egilsstadir is Iceland's transport hub, you should not have a problem getting to your next destination from here. Text about each place below the map, clockwise from Kollafjrur bay, West Iceland. - or to go by bike. Bjolfur and Mt. Seydisfjordur, Iceland Cruise Port - Things to Do! - Gangwaze.com That's why there are quite many nice hotels in the town, at least when we take into account the size of the town. As with any serious mission, you'll need a special map, available at the information centre. LaidBackTrip 2018-2023. 100% refund if your ship does not dock Although the winter scenery looks gorgeous in pictures, you must realize that getting from Egilsstadir to Seydisfjordur in winter is no fun due to ice and snow. House walls are all in different colours, many of which feature drawings and naf paintings. culture, heritage and hospitality in East Iceland. Step by step you'll see the fjord turning into open ocean, you'll meet sheep and Icelandic horses and you can also visit a real Viking archaeology site. The islandViguris the largest of three islands in the fjord, and a good place to see puffins. We believe it is quite easy to spend a peaceful couple of hours or even a full day in Seydisfjordur. The Borgarfjordur Eystri area is well known for hiking trails. From Egilsstadir, we abruptly climbed to the mountain pass. Viking was moored alongside the cruise terminal, and she had her own tour buses meeting her passengers. Prepare yourself for a specific bird smell and the funny noises puffins make. At the tourist information point you can book tours and find maps for local hiking trails. And there's no one here. Mind to wear proper hiking boots and to bring sticks, because some parts are a little difficult. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Nestled between dramatic mountains and one of Iceland's most beautiful fjords isSeydisfjordur, a tiny but beautiful town that embodies traditional Icelandic style. The combination of colors and the church at the end of the street is pretty photogenic, and if you want to enjoy the sight just by yourself, your timing must be perfect. Read more. We continue north crossing another mountain pass to Borgarfjordur Eystri, best known as the home of elves and puffins. Some rooms have a sea view - go for it if it is still available. They looked like cartoons, with big heads, sad eyes, and oversized beaks stuffed with fish. Dimmuborgir, near Lake Myvatn, is an areaof lava fields, volcanic caves and rock formations that can be explored by signposted hiking trails. If your response is positive, you should start looking for the best hotel in Seydisfjordur. 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? Cruises to Seydisfjordur, Iceland | Royal Caribbean Cruises Required fields are marked *. It's also one of the best places to see wild reindeer in Iceland. Oh well, wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but we hoped that a few Puffins might still be in the area. Eat, drink, buy stuff and be merry. It was a crazy day of driving but it was all in the name of adventure! Other than being a stop for cruises departing during the summer bound for America & Greenland, all year round the port is connected once a week to Denmark by Smyril Line. If what you have been reading has inspired you to spend one or more days in Seydisfjordur, there's plenty of options when it comes to places to stay. We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. If you think you have enough memory cards for your trip, take a few extra because Iceland is absolutely wonderful, especially during the puffin season. For a bargain go there for lunch. When on top you'll find the 5 concrete domes of Tvisongur, the smallest being 2 meters tall, the tallest being 4 meters tall. The Atlantic Puffin is not a rare species, but it's still one of the most stunning and beautiful birds in the world. When looking at the mountains around you, you can notice avalanche protection walls almost everywhere. The first settler was Bjlfur, who gave the name to the highest of the mountains surrounding the fjord. Even though the architecture and a blueish pastel color are charming, it would probably not be such a recognizable landmark without its trademark rainbow pavement leading down the street to it. The driver was the guide, and there were 17 passengers on the tour. The fisherman puffins dive-bombed the sea. Description This hike used to be a loop, but the western portion is closed and it can now only be completed as an out and back. 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. HOME OF THE ATLANTIC PUFFIN. Three of us took over the back row with 4 seats which gave us a little more room. Or you can use the simple trick, that I tried myself, to collect a lupin flower and wave it above your head! Explore the scenic surroundings of the mystical Lake Lagarfljot serene forests, panoramic views, offbeat waterfalls and more! * Breiafjrur A stunning bay in the West of Iceland between Snfellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords, with countless islands and skerries of all sizes and very diverse birdlife. There are also other Art Galleries in town for local talents, and my favourite is Galler Vigds. 10,5 Hours. It can host 6 emerging artists at same time, living and working in a 350 square meters space. Well, the weather was pleasant, so watching the birds was quite entertaining, and the time just flew by. The observation platform will afford you an excellent view of nesting puffins, fulmars and kittiwakes; the latter being loud gulls named for their nasal "ki-ti-waak" callnotes. This is a mission indeed, and the prize is to earn the official document crowning you as a Seyisfjrur Mountain Viking". Hosting has been a passion for locals throughout the years and is visible through the wide selection of accommodation. But no worries. World Nomads Travel Insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers to cover your trip essentials. You need 4 x 100 ISK in coins to take a shower, but a lady at the front desk offered us change automatically. Skaftfell also organizes various seminars, in collaboration with the Icelandic Academy of the Arts. Part 3 of our Road Trip along Iceland's Ring Road brought us to the town of Egilsstadir. Yes, visiting Seydisfjordur is a detour off the Ring Road. Just a short drive from the town is Gufufoss Waterfall, another gorgeous waterfall you should not miss. A black and white movie will teach you how life was in the village when fish processing was main activity for local economy. There is one thing you should know. 4 years ago. 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. Back on the tender pier, they were passing out small paper cups with hot chocolate. The harbor is very photogenic, so snap a few photos before you excitedly run to see the puffins. Egilsstadir | Gistihusid - Lake Hotel Egilsstadir - Egilsstadir is not the most picturesque town in Iceland, but it is a tourist hub with an excellent location. Travel Insurance: World Nomads Travel Insurance covers against risks of travel. screen printing, crafting tools for agriculture, printing analogue photographs in a dark room. Nestled between dramatic mountains and one of Iceland's most beautiful fjords is Seydisfjordur, a tiny but beautiful town that embodies traditional Icelandic style. All this on Rnargata, the tiny street leading to Blue Church paved with stones painted in rainbow colours. 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. A lonely sailboat waiting for the cruise ships to, Husavik has one of the prettiest harbours in Icela, Is Iceland on your cruise bucket list ? We knew that Seydisfjordur is home to one of the most Instagrammable spots in Iceland. Prepare to be blown away by the impressive basalt columns and the bright blue glacial river on this tour to the Studlagil Canyon. Spotting puffins: here is our map showing the best places around At the top of the mountain pass, the clouds had completely enveloped the world the snowy roadside, the other cars, the road itself everything was gone. * safjarardjp, the Westfjords It draped low in front of the mountains, so low as if swallowing the road ahead. Egilsstadir is not only a good starting point for puffins but also for visiting a picturesque Seydisfjordur town and Hengifoss Waterfall. Do you have a question or want something customised? Therefore, it is possible to visit the town even without a car. We would return here later for lunch after viewing the Puffins. 2. A few minutes later we made another brief stop at the home of Icelandic painter Johannes Sveinsson Kjarval. Apart from puffins, there are various other seabirds including kittiwakes, fulmars and eiders. The clouds were misbehaving here, lying lower than usual. You'll stop a lot, so allocate at least an hour each way. Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday. Even though Borgarfjordur Eystri inEast Fjordsis quite a remote spot and a detour off the well-traveled Ring Road, it is one of thebest places to see puffins in Iceland. Without any further ado, here's our pick of activities and things to see and do in Seydisfjordur. If you would like something more active, it is possible to include some hiking as part of a private tour. Once you arrive at the information centre you'll appreciate it being warm and cosy, with sofas and free coffee and tea for visitors. With 1.600m of ski lifts and a ski run good for children as well as adults, you're going to have too much fun to mind the cold!

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