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Ísafjörður

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Hornbjargsviti

Midnight Sun and Arctic Foxes

The Perfect Getaway! Midnight Sun and Arctic Foxes – Explore at Your Own Pace

The bright Icelandic summer nights offer the perfect opportunity to escape into the remote peninsula, where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Picture yourself reading a book while listening to the soothing sound of a river gently gurgling nearby, or spotting the diverse wildlife that calls this area home.

Surrounding the lodge is a stunning valley, a vast coastline, and towering mountain peaks—each waiting for you to explore. This open-ended tour gives you the most valuable thing in the reserve: time. You’ll have the freedom to take things at your own pace, allowing you to truly connect with the land and its wildlife. From ground-nesting birds to coastal creatures and Arctic fox dens in the adjacent valley, there’s no shortage of natural wonders to discover.

While we can almost guarantee sightings of Arctic foxes, please note that fox cubs aren’t always present every year. Regardless, the chance to observe these elusive creatures in their natural habitat is always special. Make the most of the midnight sun and capture breathtaking photos during the golden hours of light. The extended daylight gives you plenty of time to slow down, unwind, and savour the peace and tranquillity of the reserve.

Take a break from the rush of daily life and immerse yourself in the beauty and calm of Iceland’s wild landscapes. This is your opportunity to craft your own perfect getaway, where nature, wildlife, and the midnight sun come together to create an unforgettable experience.

Contents of this tour

Tour overview

  • 3 days
  • Min age: 12 years
  • Accommodation
  • Total Distance: 10-30km
  • Group Size: 2-8

Description

Kvíar Lodge is an old farmhouse located in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. When people abandoned the area in 1948, taking their livestock with them, the Arctic foxes became the only remaining land mammals. For 65 years, these foxes have roamed the fjords and bays, free from human disturbance, which has made them remarkably tame and playful. Kvíar is the only house for many kilometers and is accessible only by boat. During the summer, we welcome guests to spend a night in this historic house and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, where nature has reigned supreme for over six decades.

This is a unique opportunity to visit Hornstrandir in a relatively short time, experience the midnight sun, learn about the history of the area, and see wildlife in their natural habitat.

We respect the Arctic foxes and recognize that summer is their breeding season. Therefore, we walk carefully, maintain a respectful distance, and follow the guidelines set by wildlife specialists. It is a requirement for all guests to adhere to these rules.

This trip is highly flexible, with various activities available. Hiking in the mountains surrounding the farmhouse is spectacular, offering panoramic views of the region. We also have kayaks available, and a guided kayak tour is a fantastic way to explore the untouched coastline of this remote area. However, if you prefer to relax in the long grass with a blanket and a great book, that’s perfectly fine too!

Please feel free to drop us an email if you’re interested!

Included:

  • Boat ride to and from Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
  • All food
  • Accommodation at Kvíar Farmhouse
  • Professional guide

Not included:

  • Travel to and from Ísafjörður prior to and after the trip
  • Food on the first day until the trip departs
  • Personal medical insurance
  • Personal equipment and clothing

 

Difficulty:  Moderate.

Photos

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Itinerary

We meet at our office at Aðalstræti 17 (downtown main street) at 8:00 AM for a briefing, where we will answer any questions and make final preparations. We depart from the harbour in Ísafjörður on our passenger ferry at 9:00 AM and sail towards Hornstrandir, where we’ll be dropped off at Kvíar. En route, there is a very good chance we’ll see humpback whales, puffins, and other seabirds. Depending on the boat schedule, we may make one or two stops before arriving at our lodge. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the opportunity to see more of the area while asking your guide any and all questions!

The house at Kvíar will appear in its beautiful setting just above the beach. After bringing our luggage up to the house and watching the ship pull anchor and depart, you’ll experience the intense feeling of tranquillity and peace. It’s a wondrous sensation to arrive and have any modern problems taken away by the boat! After settling into the lodge and making our beds, we’ll have a short briefing on the history of Hornstrandir, and then begin our hike up Kvíadalur to get a sense of our surroundings. The hike offers a great chance to experience both the lush landscape of the lowlands and the barren terrain and lakes higher up, once carved out by glaciers. Our wonderful guides will bring the natural history and stories to life.

The views get better and better as we make our way up to the mountain ridges above the fjords. When we reach the highest point, we can begin our descent down to the valley floor, mainly following the river and enjoying the lakes and waterfalls along the way.

We’ll enjoy a relaxing evening with a delicious home-cooked meal and a rejuvenating session in the wood-heated sauna!

 

This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change depending on the weather, sea conditions and the ability and dynamics of the group.

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll head out for an adventure in the surrounding mountains and fjords. We typically split the day into a good morning hike followed by a sea kayaking tour into Lónafjörður fjord in the afternoon.

We’ll take a short walk up the valley to the mountain’s edge, where we’ll be treated to a panoramic view of the magnificent Lónafjörður fjord. While keeping a close lookout for Arctic foxes, guests can enjoy the rich birdlife in the area, from common species such as eider ducks, swans, oystercatchers, and snipes, to rarer birds like the white-tailed eagle.

After lunch, we’ll head to the shore where we’ll try our skills on the water—if conditions are favorable. Sea kayaking is easy and enjoyable, as we use stable and seaworthy kayaks for a comfortable paddle. Afterward, we return to Kvíar for a delicious dinner and another relaxing session in the sauna.

The plan is very flexible. If you prefer, we can do a full day of hiking or a full day of kayaking. Please let us know what you’d like to do!

 

This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change depending on the weather, sea conditions and the ability and dynamics of the group.

On our last day, we have the freedom to enjoy the area at our own leisure, with greater flexibility if sea conditions have not been favorable for kayaking. Whether you’d like to go on another hike, embark on another kayaking adventure, or simply relax in the fields while listening to your surroundings, it will be a special day. We can always fire up the sauna for another polar plunge if you’re up for it! It’s also lovely to pack a picnic and head to a beautiful spot, keeping an eye out for the curious seals or foxes that populate the shores and fields.

Afterward, we’ll return to Kvíar and await the passenger ferry, which will transport us back to Ísafjörður. The boat typically arrives around 5:00 – 6:00 PM, and we’ll be back in town at approximately 6:00 – 7:00 PM.

This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change depending on the weather, sea conditions and the ability and dynamics of the group.

What to bring

To ensure the quality and state of our experience remains high, please expect to give your guide a helping hand during your stay. Drying a couple dishes, and sprucing up you tent upon departure builds rapport and keeps vibes high! Leave no trace.

  • Warm outdoor clothing including hiking pants and warm upper layers. Please avoid cotton as it keeps you cold when wet and takes a very long time to dry.
  • Waterproof jacket and pants.
  • Hiking boots. Please use waterproof high-top hiking boots, which provide ankle support.
  • Hat and gloves.
  • Small backpack.
  • Slippers for the inside the house.
  • Personal medical kit i.e. band aids, throat lozenges, lip salves, seasickness tablets etc. Don’t forget your personal medication, which you may need (e.g. Asthma inhaler, even if you don’t always need it).
  • Sun glasses.
  • Sunscreen and after sun cream.
  • Binoculars are nice to have for watching wildlife. (Optional).
  • Water bottle.
  • Towel and bathing suit for the sauna.
  • Personal items e.g. toiletries, spare clothing etc
  • Don’t forget your camera!

FAQ

This tour is highly flexible in terms of its difficulty. We make a plan based on the ability and desires of the guests. The main aim is to learn about and enjoy the nature, culture and history of this unique area. The activities are all optional but are highly recommended. Please be in touch beforehand if you have any concerns about the difficulty of our tours.
Of course, we realise that we’re not all made the same and have different needs and desires. We try our best to cater to your needs. Please let us know ahead of time if you have any requirements so that we can plan the food accordingly.
For years, an Arctic Fox family has had their den in the farmhouse’s backyard and the cubs usually get curious when guests appear. However, the foxes are still very much a wild animal so we make no guarantees that we will see them. We expect all guests to abide by best practices and guidelines of the nature reserve.
The main problem that we’ve had to deal with is guests not having appropriate boots. High top ankle boots give much better support and keep you dryer than hiking ‘shoes’. We hike through a mixture of rough terrain including wet grass, loose rock, snow, streams and sand. Therefore, we need supportive boots to help prevent ankle injuries and waterproof boots to keep you warm and dry. We recommend Scarpa leather boots or nylon versions with Gore Tex. There are many other good manufacturers such as La Sportiva, Mammut, Merrell, and Meindl.
You arrive in Keflavik International Airport about 40 minutes away from the capital city of Reykjavik. From the domestic airport in Reykjavik there are 2-3 daily 40 minute flights to Isafjordur. You can take the Fly-Bus between the airports and most of the time you can continue same day. Check out Air Iceland Connect for schedules and special offers. You can also rent a car and drive to Isafjordur. The drive, over mountain passes and through fjords is an adventure itself. It’s about 440-500 km depending on which route you take. A new road via Arnkötludalur opened in 2009 which completes the asphalted pathway the whole way, and kills the old myth of bad roads in the Westfjords! The drive will normally take you 5-6 hours. A new tunnel opened in September 2020 under the infamous mountain pass between the fjords of Arnarfjörður and Dýrafjörður. That tunnel makes it much easier to travel through the Westfjords all year round and shortens the route up the West coast. For accommodation in Reykjavik there are many options of hotels and guesthouses that we can book for groups. Please ask us for individual bookings. We strongly recommend you to spend a few extra days visiting the West Fjords and other parts of Iceland. We’re happy to help you arranging few days in the area or give you good tips about exciting things to do while in Iceland.

Map

Beautiful three days experience in Westfjords, thanks also to a really competent guide. In this wilderness you can do hiking, kayaking and, if you're silent, patient and lucky, waching arctic foxes going around

Brenno Maria Savini via Google Reviews 2023

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