Solar Eclipse & Arctic Foxes

The Perfect Getaway! Solar Eclipse and Arctic Foxes – Explore at Your Own Pace

Experience the rare and awe-inspiring solar eclipse in one of Iceland’s most remote and stunning locations. As the moon moves in front of the sun, casting an incredible shadow across the sky, you’ll witness this breathtaking celestial event in the heart of nature. Surrounded by towering mountain peaks, a vast coastline, and a beautiful valley, this location offers the perfect setting to enjoy the eclipse at a carefully picked view point.

This open-ended tour gives you the freedom to explore, allowing you to take in the full beauty of the reserve. Before and after the eclipse, you’ll have plenty of time to discover the diverse wildlife, including Arctic foxes, ground-nesting birds, and coastal creatures. While sightings of Arctic foxes are almost guaranteed, please note that fox cubs aren’t always present every year. Regardless, the opportunity to observe these elusive animals in their natural habitat is always a memorable experience.

As you enjoy the aftermath of the eclipse, take a moment to relax by the river or explore the surrounding nature. The extended daylight offers the perfect opportunity to savor the peace and tranquility of Iceland’s untouched landscapes. This getaway allows you to craft your own perfect experience, with the solar eclipse as the highlight, surrounded by the natural beauty and wildlife of Iceland.

Tour overview

Description

Kvíar Lodge is a historic farmhouse situated in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. When the area was abandoned in 1948, taking livestock with them, the Arctic foxes became the only land mammals left. For 65 years, these foxes have roamed the fjords and bays, living free from human interference, which has made them unusually tame and playful. Kvíar is the only house for many kilometers and is accessible only by boat. During the summer, we invite guests to spend the night in this charming house and enjoy the surrounding beauty, where nature has remained undisturbed for over six decades.

This offers a unique opportunity to visit Hornstrandir in a short time, experience the solar eclipse, learn about the area’s history, and observe wildlife in its natural habitat.

We respect the Arctic foxes and understand that summer is their breeding season. As such, we walk gently, maintain a respectful distance, and follow the guidelines set by wildlife experts. It is essential that all guests follow these rules.

The trip is highly flexible, with various activities available. Hiking in the mountains surrounding the farmhouse offers stunning panoramic views of the area. We also have kayaks available, and a guided kayak tour is an excellent way to explore the untouched coastline of this remote region. However, if you prefer to relax in the long grass with a blanket and a good book, that’s perfectly fine as well!

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
Safe shades/solar eclipse glasses

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.

Note that this is not a private tour, and the house will be shared with another small group of photographers

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 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 set off for a morning of sea kayaking into the stunning Lónafjörður fjord. The kayaking is easy and enjoyable, using stable and seaworthy kayaks for a smooth paddle along the coastline. If conditions are favorable, we’ll explore the fjord, taking in the beautiful views of the surrounding area. After our kayaking adventure, we’ll return to Kvíar for a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon, we’ll embark on a scenic hike with the main goal of finding the perfect spot to view the solar eclipse. We’ll walk through the valley and gradually ascend to a mountain ridge, offering a panoramic view of the area. Here, we’ll settle in to witness the awe-inspiring eclipse, surrounded by nature. While hiking, we’ll also keep an eye out for Arctic foxes and enjoy the rich birdlife, including species like eider ducks, swans, and oystercatchers, as well as rarer birds such as the white-tailed eagle.

After the solar eclipse experience, we’ll descend back to Kvíar for a relaxing dinner and unwind in the sauna, reflecting on a day full of natural wonders.

The plan is flexible, so if you prefer more hiking or kayaking, just let us know! We’re happy to customize the day to suit your preferences.

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.

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Solar Eclipse & Arctic Foxes

Contents of this tour

Tour overview

Description

Photos

Itinerary

What to bring

FAQ

Map

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Solar Eclipse Hunt

Solar Eclipse and Whale Watching

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