Hornstrandir hike in the Westfjords of Iceland

*This trip is not available for 2021, but it will be back in 2022!*

Shielded by imposing bird cliffs on both sides, the Hornvík creek in Iceland is definitely worth your time. Join us as we take you on a day-hike to these incredible cliffs in the Westfjords.

The iconic Hornbjarg cliff stands tall at the top of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and makes you feel as if you have reached the “edge of the world”. Both the reserve and the cliff are accessible only by boat and it takes around 2.5-3 hours to get there.

The trip begins from Bolungarvík harbor. It is just a 20-minute drive from Ísafjörður airport and in case you are joining from Ísafjörður city, it shouldn’t take you more than 10-15 minutes. The boat sets off in 15 minutes from the scheduled starting time.

We will spend around 4-6 hours hiking on undulating terrain along the cliffs, taking in uncorrupted views. The trail leads onto a circular path to the cliffs and back.

Regarding difficulty, it is an intermediate hike that requires basic hiking experience and a good level of fitness.

These nesting cliffs are home to more than 50 species of sea birds including razorbills, kittiwakes, guillemots, fulmars, puffins and eiders. So, get ready to see a bunch of them. And if we are lucky, we might as well have a close encounter with the marvelous arctic fox.

Although Hornvík creek is our plan A in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, it is usually difficult to access due to weather conditions. That is why we can offer you two alternatives to explore this wonderful area: Adalvik to Hesteyri and Hesteyri.

The first one leads us through the abandoned villages of Saebol and Hesteyri and offers fantastic views of the northern fjords Isafjardardjup bay and the Jokulfirdir ‘glacier fjords’. It has a duration of 5-6 hours apart from the boat rides (2 hours) and the visit to Hesteyri (2 hours).

The other alternative invites us to explore one of the many hiking routes starting from the village of Hesteyri. We will enjoy hiking for 7-8 hours around the village and there will be plenty to do, from reaching the top of a mountain to visiting a black sand beach or the remains of an old church. There are endless possibilities!

Doesn’t it sound like a dream trip? Send us a message right away and reserve your seat on this incredible journey to the unexplored Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in Iceland. It will be our pleasure to guide you.

Also, check out our page for some other gorgeous adventures in Iceland.