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. You will find it behind the Blue Church mentioned in an above section, and with the outside walls painted with cartoons you cannot miss it! With some luck and patience, we spotted a Puffin within 10 feet for about 15 seconds before flying away. This place is BEAUTIFUL. It's a 3 hours hike but not difficult at all. Another great alternative is Viator. Foll. All rights reserved. We have opted for visiting Iceland in the summer, therefore, for birdwatching. Even though Borgarfjordur Eystri in East Fjords is quite a remote spot and a detour off the well-traveled Ring Road, it is one of the best places to see puffins in Iceland.. And in our opinion, Borgarfjordur Eystri is definitely worth the trip. The Viking Mars was in port and moored to the cruise terminal. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Photos (9) Directions. Secondly, Seydisfjordur feels quite remote, especially when you take into account that the road ends here. So, later on, we had to buy an extra memory card for a camera inAkureyri. If what you have been reading has inspired you to spend one or more days in Seydisfjordur, there's plenty of options when it comes to places to stay. Landmannalaugar is a fascinating geological wonder, a geothermal oasis on the Highlands of Iceland, surrounded by multicolored mountains and steaming lava fields. The sea was lapping below. Moreover, Seydisfjordur sits in the valley, and when it rains, many new waterfalls appear and flow down the steep walls. Old phones and typewriters, the very first computers, cinema projectors, and even an old medical studio. 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. - or to go by bike. If you have time to take a diversion from your ring road adventure, then there are so many things to see and to do that it really deserves at least a couple of days of your time. Puffin tours from Reykjavk - Iceland CLASSIC PREMIUM & MORE Classic Puffin Watching Tour . But no worries. The area's flowering plants may be the most beautiful and diverse in Iceland.Other selling points include puffin watching, legends about hidden elves, and . Moreover, the midnight sun on the way back made for spectacular views of the whole fjord. All rights reserved. In this travel guide, we share with you tips on how to get to Borgarfjordur Eystri, when is the best time to see puffins, where to stay, and what to expect from birdwatching in Hafnarholmi Marina. It is either in the morning between 7 AM and 10 AM and then in the afternoon, between 6 PM and 10 PM. It is paved andsuitable for any type of vehicle. $ Therefore, you do not need to be worried that there is nothing to do at Borgarfjordur except watch puffins. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Bjlfur (1085m) and Strandartindur (1010m) this tranquil town has a relaxed atmosphere and offers a range of cultural and outdoor activities, unique dining experiences and various shops for families and explorers to enjoy. However, having a proper telephoto lens will help you keep the safest possible distance between you and them. Still, it's an experience you hardly get anywhere else nowadays, so we are not afraid to call this town in East Iceland a calm oasis in a hectic world. Even though seeing puffins in Borgarfjordur is completely free, you can donate some money if you want to support this site. While there is not much to do in this town, it's worth a visit to witness real Eastern Icelandic local life. It's also possible to go fishing, and outside town Hagavollur is a nine-hole golf course with a club house, where you can hire equipment. It should go without saying that it is forbidden to touch the birds or feed them. Also, make sure you wear something warm such as a down jacket (that's what we wore that day). 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. Get a 5% discount on Go Campers Twenty minutes later, we stopped at an overlook for a photo-op of Egilsstadir, which was below us in the valley. 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. We also offer a group tour Puffins & Elves. From late May to July the famous puffins also migrate here in large colonies to build their nests. Each dome has its own resonance that corresponds to a tone in the Icelandic musical tradition of five-tone harmony and you can experiment with it using your voice. And btw, it was Borgarfjordur Eystri!!! Protect Puffins; 360 VR tour; slenska; Search. Today, the town continues to live off fishing, tourism and handicrafts, having been established as one of the main stops on cruises around Iceland. 1, Pickup and dropoff from the port An unsettling thought. 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. Nestled between dramatic mountains and one of Iceland's most beautiful fjords isSeydisfjordur, a tiny but beautiful town that embodies traditional Icelandic style. The road to see the puffin colonies on the east coast of Iceland is a winding mountain drive. The long road from Hfn to the ghost town of Seyisfjrur had looked like something from a Jaguar commercial. It's not rare in the summer, when the ferry arrives, to see flocks of motor bikers on fabulous Harley Davidsons hanging around at bars, ready to start their Icelandic adventure easy riders style! Capital of Elves, Puffins and Hiking It's yours to explore. Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour. We saw puffins in Iceland!!! The village is also home to a variety of wildlife, including seals, whales, and puffins. 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. As Egilsstadir is Iceland's transport hub, you should not have a problem getting to your next destination from here. A simple hat or umbrella will keep you safe. 110 We arrived back in Seydisfjordur around 3 PM. Around 8:30, the clearly marked Artic Shorex buses started to arrive and one of the guides on the first bus said we were in the correct spot. Locals and international tourists come here to enjoy the stunning nature, peaceful yet artsy and quirky atmosphere (Seydisfjordur is surprisingly one of Iceland's cultural centers), and to take a photo of that iconic Seydisfjordur blue church with a rainbow pavement next to it. The best thing about LungA is that it is a community festival. The weather made Seyisfjrur an eerie place, almost as if something from a horror movie. Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday. We recommend a boat trip from town Stykkishlmur to islands rishlmur and Steinaklettar. Sklanes is accessible only by foot, jeep or by mountain bike, because there are rivers to cross to reach the research and information centre at the very heart of the park. by using our unique promo code: "laidbacktrip". These cookies do not store any personal information. Drive slowly and carefully as there are no barriers along the way. 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. It's not a coincidence that artists from all over the world are moving to this very special place to work at their projects. At ground floor a delicious bistro, serving international dishes like pizza and soups reinvented with local ingredients like blueberries and reindeer's meat. Read more:5 Things you need to know about Puffins. Welcome to Borgarfjrur eystri. 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. 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. Print/PDF map. Visit with us Borgarfjordur, a small village famous for wonderful scenery and nesting Atlantic Puffins. Another easy and short hike is the one to reach Tvsongur, a sound sculpture built in 2012 by German artist Lukas Khne. The first part of the drive is a flat, mostly unpaved road, and you have the views on the right-hand side; this is where the mountains and plains with horses are. Aldan is the most famous and oldest hotel, open all year and hosting guests in different buildings. The apartments at top floor are for artists in residency. We never leave our home without travel insurance which is designed to help cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip. Your email address will not be published. Home of 100 people and 1000 elves. The location of this nesting site is absolutely fabulous. Welcome to our Village. Somewhere near the top of the range, I noticed the sheer drop alongside the road. 7,5 Hours. Receive travel guides, stories, tips and photos to inspire your wanderlust and save money while on the road! And turf roofed houses, the home Husavik Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall The main reason probably was that Iceland is so scenic that all puffin colonies were located at beautiful spots. However, it is still possible to drive from or to Egilsstadir in case there is no hotel available. See the world famous erupting geyser & hot springs, experience the magnificent Gullfoss Waterfall and follow in the footsteps of the Vikings, as you walk down the lava canyon in ingvellir, $ As we've already mentioned, Seydisfjordur is one of Iceland's cultural centers boasting a vibrant atmosphere. Seyisfjrur is the heart of Seydisfjordur, Iceland Features animals Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show. Monica fell in love with music as teenager, and has been writing for magazines and blogs europewide. 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. This is one of the best places to view the Puffins and there are several platforms and stairs which allow you to climb the small hill and get close to the Puffins and their burrows. Eventually, we decided to give it a go, and it turned out to be a great decision. All this on Rnargata, the tiny street leading to Blue Church paved with stones painted in rainbow colours. Last year there were boys from Poland and two energetic and very creative girls from South Africa in charge of building from second-hand materials the set for the festival, enclosing a working yellow lighthouse. Part 3 of our Road Trip along Iceland's Ring Road brought us to the town of Egilsstadir. Once you're there, you are likely to need to get on a boat to get close to the birds, but if observing from far is your thing, the numbers of puffin will work in your favour. At the tourist information point you can book tours and find maps for local hiking trails.