cloudy

3°C

Ísafjörður

cloudy

2°C

Hornbjargsviti

Hornvík Heights and Sights

The Best Two Days – Hornvík Heights and Sights

Join us for a hike through the heart of Hornstrandir, one of Iceland’s most remote and breathtaking nature reserves, where you’ll experience all the beauty this pristine wilderness has to offer. Explore the dramatic Hornbjarg bird cliffs, home to countless seabirds, and take in the stunning vistas of Hornvík Bay. Whether you’re an avid hiker or a nature enthusiast, this journey will immerse you in the untouched splendour of Iceland’s wild north.

When you’re limited to just a couple of days in Hornstrandir, the toughest decision is often choosing where to go. With so much natural beauty in every direction, it can be hard to narrow it down. But Hornvík Bay is a clear favourite for many travellers—and it’s our top recommendation for those asking, “If I only have a couple of days, where should I go?”

Hornvík offers an unforgettable experience, and we highly recommend spending more than just a day in this remarkable nature reserve. The landscapes here transform as the day turns to night, revealing a whole new side of Hornstrandir. As evening falls, the Arctic foxes begin to emerge from their dens, searching for food under the soft glow of the midnight sun. This magical time of day brings an entirely different atmosphere to the area, where the land and wildlife seem to come alive in a new light.

After a day of exploration, there’s no better place to unwind than at our base camp. The cosy atmosphere, with the warmth of a cup of tea in hand, is the perfect way to reflect on the day’s adventures. Sit around the table with fellow travellers, share stories, and enjoy the serenity of the surroundings as the sun lingers on the horizon.

Hornvík is more than just a destination—it’s a chance to connect with nature, relax in an unspoiled environment, and witness the beauty of Iceland in a way that few ever experience.

Contents of this tour

Tour overview

Description

The wildlife in Hornvík is incredible, with over 6 million birds nesting on the cliffs, Arctic foxes so relaxed that you can enjoy their company up close, and many species of waders that call the bay their home.

The nature is so pristine and breathtaking that you will return from this trip a changed person.

We sleep in comfortable two-person tents and have a large, separate cooking/eating tent, which is heated. This is where we gather to socialise and dry off our gear!

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 our comfortable basecamp
  • 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: Challenging

Photos

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 boat at 9:00 AM.

The ride to Hornvík Bay takes between 2 and 3 hours. En route, you’ll see the entire coastline and the bays carved into Hornstrandir. These bays were once inhabited by our ancestors, who harvested the land and fished the waters. The ferry will drop us off near the old farm of Horn, and we’ll begin circumnavigating the edge of the magnificent Hornbjarg bird cliffs.

During the hike, you’ll experience the breathtaking view from the 400-meter cliffs (if you dare) and see kittiwakes bathing in the lake below, thousands of birds soaring along the edge, Arctic foxes searching for food on the beach, and the stunning, isolated scenery. We’ll then start our descent to our camp, where we’ll enjoy a well-deserved dinner.
Distance: 12 km
Altitude gain: 550 m

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

We start with a relaxed morning. After a hearty breakfast, we say goodbye to Hornvík Bay and begin our hike towards Veiðileysufjörður on the south side of the peninsula. The hike takes us up to 500 meters and follows a path for most of the way. When descending, the pass is often covered with snow and can be a little steep. Our guides will be there to assist every step of the way.
We’ll then follow the path down to the fjord, where the boat will pick us up around 5:00 – 6:00 PM. Afterwards, we’ll make the journey back to Ísafjörður, which takes about an hour.
Distance: 11 km
Altitude gain: 450 m

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

What to bring

Remember that everything you bring must be carried on your back for the entire hike. Try to pack as lightly as possible while still bringing everything you need.

Please note that we provide the tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, and pillows, so you won’t need to carry any of these. However, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag liner and pillow cover.

To ensure that the quality of your experience remains high, please be prepared to lend a helping hand to your guide during your stay. Drying a few dishes or tidying up your tent upon departure helps build rapport and keeps the vibes positive. 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.
  • 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.
  • Sleeping bag liner and pillow cover.
  • Don’t forget your camera!

FAQ

The hike is approximately 21km in total and we hike trails most of the way, however, there are rough sections of the trail, including loose rocks and snow. We start at sea level and the highest point is approximately 500m on the first day and approximately 400 on the second day, so we gain around 900m in elevation over two days. If you are an active and regular hiker, especially if you’re used to some elevation, then you will have no trouble on this hike. It is always best to do some practice hikes in your local area anyway!
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.
We often see Arctic Foxes on this tour. Because hunting is banned in Hornstrandir, there foxes are not timid around humans and therefore we can sometimes get very close. However, the foxes are still very much a wild animal, so we make no guarantees that we will see them.
Yes, that’s right. All camping gear will be waiting for you in Hornvík. Please bring your own sleeping bag liner and pillow cover though.
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

We had a wonderful time on the Hornvik heights and sights tour in early July! We had six people in our group and two guides, Luke and Orla (though typically there’s one guide). The Hornstrandir area is beautiful, and our guides told us about the history of the area and pointed out the different types of wildflowers we saw on our hike. On the first day, we hiked uphill from the fjord, took a lunch break (they provided a pack lunch), hiked over a mountain ridge (which involved walking through a few snow fields), and down into the valley where the campsite is located. The base camp area was nice, and it was great not to have to pitch our own tents! The tents do let in a fair amount of light, so I would recommend packing an eye mask. We also saw a few arctic foxes running around, and a seal not far from the shore! On the second day, we hiked on the beach near the campsite for a bit (including a short river crossing) before heading up the Hornbjarg mountain. On our way up, we encountered another arctic fox that hung around near us for a few minutes! Much of the hike was quite steep, but extremely worth it. From the top we had an incredible view of the fjord, the valley, the river we crossed, the surrounding mountains, and the sea. We finished the hike by descending down to the shore, and got picked up by the boat. This was a great capstone to our two week vacation in Iceland!

Book

Related Tours

POPULAR!
Popular
Popular
A three-day wilderness hiking and luxury camping trip in the astonishing Hornstrandir where nature has ruled the land for the last 70 years. Experience the sheer cliffs of Hornbjarg, rich birdlife, Arctic Foxes, wild flora and camping at our comfortable basecamp.

June 7, 2025
September 4, 2025
POPULAR!
Popular
Popular
A great full-day hiking tour in the pristine wilderness of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and a panorama view of Drangajokull. The hike takes traveler’s over streams, snow fields and through lush valleys. There are no trails or other signs of human presence.
June 1, 2025
September 2, 2025
Popular
This six-day backpacking and camping trip in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is a perfect chance to experience the isolation of this special and unique are while watching wildlife and enjoying the untouched nature of the Westfjords of Iceland.
June 27, 2025
August 22, 2025
Popular
A full-day hike for those seeking to experience the nature and history of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. With breathtaking views over the whole Ísafjarðardjúp bay.

June 9, 2025
September 1, 2025
Popular
A three-day nature and wildlife exploration at Kvíar Lodge. The valley of Kvíar and the coastline around is teeming with life in the summer and the area is also perfect for all sorts of outdoor activities.
June 8, 2025
August 31, 2025
Popular
A full-day tour in the famous Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, a haven for wildlife, featuring rugged landscapes and diverse flora. This tour is perfect for families, and those looking for a more relaxed hiking experience in the nature surrounding Hesteyri.
June 2, 2025
September 3, 2025