Thankfully, the inside of the cafe was warm. But the truth is puffins spend most of the time during the day hunting out on the sea, and those birds who protect their eggs are usually hidden in the nest. Our travel guide includes what to expect from visiting Seydisfjordur and tips on the best things to see and do while there. It, too, was mostly hidden by fog. We passed through it, just a few seconds of whiteness, and then we commenced the mountain climb. We continue north crossing another mountain pass to Borgarfjordur Eystri, best known as the home of elves and puffins. Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday. Do you have a question or want something customised?Send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Getting to Seydisfjordur by car or campervan is the easiest and most rewarding way to enjoy your trip. Seydisfjordur is no exception. One of the main attractions in town is the Blue Church and Rainbow street. The Museum is worth a visit anyway, and in other periods you won't regret paying a few kronas for two floors of exhibition focusing on the influx of modern times on local way of life from 1880 to 1960. So it is good to know there is a wooden observation shack for photographers (you can sit here quietly and open windows for better photos) where you can hide for a while. Join Pete and Judy on 2023 Grand World Voyage onboard the ms Zuiderdam, Subscribe to the Blog and Newsletter HERE, jQuery(function($){$(".divibooster_year").text(new Date().getFullYear());}); by The Inside Cabin All rights reserved. Egilsstair also has a local airport with frequent flights from Reykjavik, offering a quick and easy way to explore both the east as well as the north. The seas and winds were calm so tendering was easy and fast. Well, if we had to make our pick, it would be detouring to the fjord towns of Seydisfjordur and Borgarfjordur Eystri in the north east corner of the country. The fisherman puffins dive-bombed the sea. All throughout the year it schedules temporary exhibitions focusing on visual contemporary arts. Prepare yourself for a specific bird smell and the funny noises puffins make. It is newly refurbished, and guests can choose from dormitories and private rooms. There are several places in Iceland to see puffins, we saw three of them, includingDyrholaey PeninsulaandLatrabjarg, but Borgarfjordur, specifically Hafnarholmi Marina, was undoubtedly the best. Seydisfjordur is a town ringed by a rainbow of tin houses and dramatic snowcapped peaks. Articles & Photography by Lucie Hermankova and Martin Tychtl, what to see and do, travel guide, top attraction, europe, whale watching tour, collaboration, boat trip, North Iceland, what to see and do, travel guide, top attraction, europe, Southeast Iceland, how to choose the best campervan for Iceland, Blue Lagoon in Iceland: Everything You Need to Know, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: The Iceberg Lake in Southeast Iceland, Golden Circle, Iceland: Self-Drive Travel Guide, A Complete Guide to Iceland's South Coast, 21 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Iceland, A Guide to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall in Iceland. Here you can find more information on camping in Iceland. Please send us a line at icelandmag@365.is. It's not a coincidence that artists from all over the world are moving to this very special place to work at their projects. By the way, on Road 93 connecting Egilsstasir with Seydisfjordur, we saw an unusual exhibition showcasing TVs with mountains as a background. 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. There is also a Mountain Lodge where you can sleep overnight. From April to October the town is full with travellers, well catered by hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, two Youth Hostels and a fully serviced campsite. * Borgarfjrur Eystri, East Iceland Hosting has been a passion for locals throughout the years and is visible through the wide selection of accommodation. During the days of the Festival there's free entry to The Technical Museum of East Iceland, established in 1984. Alfaborg hill, believed to be the home of the Elf Queen, was nearby. 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. The island of Skrur is home to the biggest cave on the East Coast of Iceland, as well as a popular puffin colony. It's a great place to hang out with friends and family, featuring board games, art books, a record collection and of course free wifi. Two islands,Akureyand Lunday are homes to tens of thousands of puffins. Seydisfjordur (Seyisfjrur) is a small township in the East of Iceland located on the southern tip of a fjord of the same name. Only a thirty-minute drive from theRing Roadand the prosperous transportation hub Egilsstadir lies one of Iceland's most picturesque towns, Seydisfjordur. $ Seydisfjordur South Mountain Wall Hike. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Seydisfjordur is a harbor for boats from Denmark or Faroe Islands, the same as for cruise ships. The road is winding, and if the weather is clear, amazing views start to open up. See all Wildlife, scenery and cave exploring tour! If your response is positive, you should start looking for the best hotel in Seydisfjordur. History of Seydisfjordur Egilsstadir, the capital of the Eastfjords, is set on the banks of the Lake Lagarfljot. 88 The goal is to climb, in 24 hours, all the seven mountains surrounding the town and fjord. It's also expensive, but it is worth to try their Nordic Restaurant and their sushi bar, where they serve fresh local fish japanese style. These noisy white little birds have large colonies in the area, and you can expect them to dive from the sky to bite your headand it hurts! To fully understand why this day was the best, check back tomorrow for my recap of Seydisfjordur. It was a crazy day of driving but it was all in the name of adventure! The pretty Lindarbakki red turf roofed house The main road to reach the fjord is the one from Egilsstair, the town that's the crossroad of the North East. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 10 min to complete. Enough to fill your camera's space and wonder where on Earth there could be more. A staircase, viewing platform and wooden walkways make it easy to get closer to birds whilst remaining safe. Secondly, Seydisfjordur feels quite remote, especially when you take into account that the road ends here. Nowadays, the main source of income is tourism. All the mountains seemed to have a particular Icelandic style; the dramatic rocky mountain top, and a long, sloping grassy base, as if sculpted by thousands of years of wind. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. When abroad she badly misses harfiskur, srmjlk and hot tubs! We couldnt see much more than their backs as they glided through the water. Re: Cruise port. She performed a wide variety of songs from current hits to opera. For more tips, head to this article: Iceland Summer Packing List. Nestled between Mt. World Nomads Travel Insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers to cover your trip essentials. Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday. It's a 3 hours hike but not difficult at all. The Borgarfjordur Eystri area is well known for hiking trails. View Derrick_Sketchess profile on Instagram, Vatnajkull glacier lakes Fjallsrln andJkulsrln, Hverir geothermal area an alien landscape that cant bemissed, Things about Iceland that will inspire you to go StickyMangoRice, Iceland Ring Road the ultimate 2 week road trip StickyMangoRice, Renting a SADcar in Iceland My Experience Driving A Second-Hand Car Around Route 1 StickyMangoRice. We also share practical information that will help you get the most out of the trip to this town nestled between Mt. Some rooms have a sea view - go for it if it is still available. 89 helpful votes. You might have noticed when you travel around Iceland that almost every town, no matter how big or small has a swimming pool. It is also a good opportunity to see the route from a different perspective, especially if the weather is not cooperating on the way there. The main reason probably was that Iceland is so scenic that all puffin colonies were located at beautiful spots. Once you reach the pass, there is a new viewing platform where you can take a break. Your email address will not be published. Read more:The puffin population of Iceland is flying back to shore. As we've already mentioned, Seydisfjordur is one of Iceland's cultural centers boasting a vibrant atmosphere. It's also one of the best places to see wild reindeer in Iceland. When on top you'll find the 5 concrete domes of Tvisongur, the smallest being 2 meters tall, the tallest being 4 meters tall. This is quite an impressive number, which makes the village one of the most accessible and safest spots to see puffins in Iceland. Decades later, after having served as a base for the American and British armies, Seydisfjordur entered an economic depression following the gradual recession of the herring industry. The Bjargtangar part of Ltrabjarg is often called the westernmost point if you skip the mid-Atlantic archipelago of Azores. It was a long, terrifying, white-knuckled drive to get here and see the puffins. 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. Despite being difficult to access, it's well worth a visit. On each mountain's top you'll find a container with a guest book to sign and a hole puncher, with a different pattern for every mountain, that you must use to punch your map in the stated place. Sign up for our newsletter! Performances, concerts, dancing, theatre, poetry reading, comedy, visual exhibitions take place in every corner of the town, culminating in a two night music festival showcasing old and new talents from all over Iceland and abroad. Home / Tours / Seydisfjordur / Puffins, Elves & more, Puffins and other sea birds at the Hafnarholmi islet This hotel is modernly decorated, and the location could not be better. They might not have a bank or a hospital but theyll have a swimming pool! Also, have snow chains ready because the road is potentially dangerous when the conditions are icy. Borgarfjordur Eystri is a charming fishing village situated on a grassy valley along a short wide fjord of the same name. The way was steep and winding, and it was cold enough that the snow at altitude didnt melt. Seydisfjordur is a great place to explore the natural beauty of Iceland and experience the unique culture of the region. Puffin Paradise Borgarfjordur Eystri is one of the best places in the world to see Puffins. As the name suggests, it is located in an old hospital building. by using our unique promo code: "laidbacktrip". Go Campers Here you can search for the best deals on rental cars in Iceland or read our guide on how to choose the best campervan for Iceland. On Google Maps, you can find the birdwatching spot under several names, such as Hafnarholmi Marina or Borgarfjardarhofn. Warmer seasons offer some spectacular options for avid hikers! 88 Don't worry, we won't spam you. One of the things to know about Iceland is that it's a very expensive country - see our Iceland Travel Budget. A few minutes later we made another brief stop at the home of Icelandic painter Johannes Sveinsson Kjarval. Designed by MyIslandDesigns.com, Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the, The Eggs of Merry Bay Djupivogur (Post #15). A low fog had settled on the streets, whiting out the backdrop and limiting visibility to just the few houses around us. That is one of the things we appreciated here the most. The first settler was Bjlfur, who gave the name to the highest of the mountains surrounding the fjord. The way there was route 94, a long, gravelly, spine-shaking off road highway. While the harbor is new, the puffin colony is not and it is easier than ever to access the grassy mounds where they like to build their nests. So, later on, we had to buy an extra memory card for a camera inAkureyri. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The location of this nesting site is absolutely fabulous. Items in your cart The big part of the road is unpaved but without holes, and there is ongoing construction to improve road conditions. Learn how your comment data is processed. Parking in Seydisfjordur is plentiful and free of charge. The road is sneaking around the snow-capped mountains, and you will very soon see the sea views. Make a donation to help me to keep producing great hand-drawn content. We left the car there and covered the rest of the distance on foot. There are icelandic sweaters, and many sorts of decoration objects such as: candles, mirrors, statues and paintings. The islandViguris the largest of three islands in the fjord, and a good place to see puffins. 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 ? Seyisfjrur was used as a base for British/American forces during World War II and remnants of this activity are visible throughout the fjord, including a landing strip no longer in use and an oil tanker SS El Grillo that was bombed and sunk. Landmannalaugar is a fascinating geological wonder, a geothermal oasis on the Highlands of Iceland, surrounded by multicolored mountains and steaming lava fields. You will see art and handicrafts in almost every garden and virtually every house when you walk around. Iceland is a famous road trip destination. Aldan is the most famous and oldest hotel, open all year and hosting guests in different buildings. culture, heritage and hospitality in East Iceland. 110 Seyisfjrur is the heart of culture, heritage and hospitality in East Iceland. A low fog had settled on the streets, whiting out the backdrop and limiting visibility to just the few houses around us. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The female usually lays a single egg and keeps it warm (together with a male partner) for the next 42 days. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Located in the remote northeast corner of Iceland, the newly built harbor of Hafnarholmi lies just a few miles north of Borgarfjodur Eystri (aka Bakkagerdi). 2. Eventually, we decided to give it a go, and it turned out to be a great decision. Here you can find more information on the best time to visit Iceland. You'll stop a lot, so allocate at least an hour each way. 7,5 Hours, $ 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. Therefore, we've put together the top places to see puffins in Iceland that are well-accessible. Do you want to know more about this subject? The Technical Museum of East Iceland and Blacksmith Festival. Another way to get to Seydisfjordur is on a cruise around Iceland. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Gufa means steam, and once you get closer to the water, you will understand that the name is very fitting. One was dead ahead. We never leave our home without travel insurance which is designed to help cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip. Carefully designated boardwalks in Hafnarholmi Marina (often nicknamed Puffin Marina) and the location are perfect for birdwatching. You can visit Seydisfjordur year-round, but the conditions from late autumn to early spring are more challenging. 7,5 Hours. Many puffin visits require you to get over your seasickness and buckle up for an hour or so on a boat, but quite a few good ones can be reached by car. When the conditions are icy and snowy, it is essential to have 4WD and snow chains in the car trunk. Located in Vatnajkull National Park, Dettifoss is one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland. The ideal plan when visit Seydisfjordur is to take a leisurely stroll through its picturesque streets and admire the surrounding mountains and fjord. It is possible to visit the red painted Lindarbakki turf roofed house, one of the few remaining inhabited turf houses in Iceland and an important landmark of the village. From Egilsstadir, we abruptly climbed to the mountain pass. . In 2017 there were 3000 people for the final night, with groups of friends travelling from Reykjavik to enjoy music and dancing under the bright clear sky of the Icelandic midnight sun. If your schedule allows it, check out the hiking trails in the village's surroundings. We would return here later for lunch after viewing the Puffins. This is probably the easiest and safest place to watch puffins in Iceland. After climbing all seven peaks, go back to present the map with holes at the information centre and you'll get your precious rewardon top of all the inspiration, wilderness and fairy sceneries you'll have experienced and enjoyed throughout this incredible journey. Only 700 people inhabit this quirky destination in the Eastfjords, home to a technology museum, an arts center, Atlantic puffins, reindeer, eider ducks and the popular LungA festival. We head east on a scenic road across a . The chances are that you will drive this road twice in case you still want to return to the Ring Road and don't want to settle down in Seydisfjordur. If you travel in a campervan as we did, the cheapest place to stay in Borgarfjordur is the campsite. She also shared a little bad news and said that all the Puffins were gone as they tend to migrate in mid-August. Since we are not that active on social media, this was not the reason to put the town on our list. Our bus was a 20-passenger minibus. I loved seeing all these puffins! We could write essays about the town's location beauty, but even the journey there is an experience on its own. Easy to walk to center of town. Age 8+. It draped low in front of the mountains, so low as if swallowing the road ahead. So when should you arrive in Borgarfjordur to see puffins? 110 Go birding in Seydisfjordur. Welcome to our Village. The easiest way to get there is by car, but you can even opt for a bus or boat. Embark on a mystical journey to the land of puffins and elves in Borgarfjordur Eystri, where nature and magic come together in harmony. Thanks to its coloring - white head, black back and wings, white belly - and especially wonderfully colored flat-sided beak, this bird is very attractive for all enthusiastic birdwatchers, photographers, and also regular travelers who enjoy nature in its very best.
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