Join us in Borgarfjrur eystri, also known as The Puffin Capital of Iceland and the home of the Elves, where our expert Captain will take you on an hour-long journey filled with excitement and breathtaking scenery that you won't soon forget. We were back on the ship at 4:30pm. Here you can find various restaurants and shops with local goods. 1, Pickup and dropoff from the port Others flapped past in short bursts of flight, their short wings beating furiously as they circled their nests. Seydisfjordur, in the Eastern Fjords, is one of the most picturesque villages in Iceland, as well as one of the country's main cruise ports. This hotel is modernly decorated and offers everything you will need after a long and tiring day on the road. I've been very lucky to have spent the summer of 2017 living and working in Seyisfjrur, on Iceland's North East Coast. This friendly team nurture the Festival with positive energies and the healing powers of arts and culture. Its goal is to nurture and exhibit visual art, the main emphasis being on contemporary art. There was a rest stop on this road with a small hut with a vending machine inside and a guest book for visitors to sign. Protect Puffins; 360 VR tour; slenska; Search. $ Because they tend to nest on rocky cliffs close to water, seeing puffins in their natural habitat is sometimes tricky. And btw, it was Borgarfjordur Eystri!!! You do not have to go far to figure out that this place has a lot to offer. 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. Landmannalaugar is a fascinating geological wonder, a geothermal oasis on the Highlands of Iceland, surrounded by multicolored mountains and steaming lava fields. The puffin is a rather small bird, around 26-29 cm long and weights around 450-500g. As we've already mentioned, the site is quite small, but there were so many puffins that we spent there approximately two hours. Seyisfjrur, on the far east coast of Iceland, was a ghost town. The Viking Mars was in port and moored to the cruise terminal. . Eat, drink, buy stuff and be merry. We continue north crossing another mountain pass to Borgarfjordur Eystri, best known as the home of elves and puffins. For a bargain go there for lunch. It is either in the morning between 7 AM and 10 AM and then in the afternoon, between 6 PM and 10 PM. Mid-range | Blabjorg Guesthouse - Wonderful, newly refurbished guesthouse offers equipped kitchen, and there are even a sauna and hot tub. Borgarfjordur Eystri. We couldnt see much more than their backs as they glided through the water. Required fields are marked *. For all waterfalls in Iceland, such as Gufufoss, Seljalandsfoss, Dettifoss, or Skogafoss, we recommend you to have your dry sack ready to keep your valuables safe. The hill is believed be the home of the Elf Queen and she enjoys panoramic views over the town and fjord. We could write essays about the town's location beauty, but even the journey there is an experience on its own. This is quite an impressive number, which makes the village one of the most accessible and safest spots to see puffins in Iceland. A low fog had settled on the streets, whiting out the backdrop and limiting visibility to just the few houses around us. Cruises to Seydisfjordur, Iceland | Royal Caribbean Cruises Cars would appear from the mist suddenly, their dim headlights ethereal as they rolled past. At first, we were not sure whether it was worth visiting Seydisfjordur. A beautiful birdFew places on Planet Earth offer better opportunities to lay eyes on puffins than Iceland, the home to nearly half of the worlds puffin population. Seydisfjordur is a harbor for boats from Denmark or Faroe Islands, the same as for cruise ships. This one is more a gathering and a meeting place for professionals interested in traditional jobs and skills. Seydisfjordur - What to see and do in the town - Introducing Iceland You'll stop a lot, so allocate at least an hour each way. They shared their home with noisy seagulls, screeching and complaining noisily in their cliffside nests. At the end of the day, you might even realize that you actually did not see and do much here. 7,5 Hours, $ The female usually lays a single egg and keeps it warm (together with a male partner) for the next 42 days. Moreover, Seydisfjordur sits in the valley, and when it rains, many new waterfalls appear and flow down the steep walls. From Egilsstadir, we abruptly climbed to the mountain pass. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Photos (9) Directions. The nesting season of puffins in Iceland lasts from mid-April to mid-August, so to increase your chances to see those wonderful birds, plan your visit between May and the beginning of August. On other side of the street there is Kaffi Lra - El Grill Bar, another good place to hang out. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to see both phenomena at the same time because puffins' bill loses its trademark orange color outside the nesting season, but more about it later. One of the things to know about Iceland is that it's a very expensive country - see our Iceland Travel Budget. It's not a coincidence that artists from all over the world are moving to this very special place to work at their projects. Connected by one mountain road, Seydisfjordur is a remote treasure. Travel Insurance: World Nomads Travel Insurance covers against risks of travel. $ The small towns center is known for its many original early 19th-century timber houses and picturesque setting around the lagoon. It's more pub style, serving big burgers with vegetarian choices, grilled meat and fish and an interesting choice of local and international beers, both draught and bottled. Puffin Tour from Seyisfjrur - Iceland Highlights Unless you arrive and leave the town by boat, you will need to tackle the wonderful stretch of the road between Egilsstadir and Seydisfjordur by car. Puffins, Elves & more - Seydisfjordur - Arctic Shorex There is also a Mountain Lodge where you can sleep overnight. Proudly made in Reykjavk City. If youre interested, you will have time to take the easy hike up the Alfaborg. Egilsstadir | Gistihusid - Lake Hotel Egilsstadir - Egilsstadir is not the most picturesque town in Iceland, but it is a tourist hub with an excellent location. Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour. It is also a period when the town attracts crowds and prices are high. Alfaborg hill, believed to be the home of the Elf Queen, was nearby. Located in Vatnajkull National Park, Dettifoss is one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland. You should rent a 4WD car in the winter, although that applies for the entire Iceland trip, not just Seydisfjordur. $ A staircase beside the bar leads to first floor, where there the Art Gallery is located. . Even if you spend a few hours there, the sense of freedom and true wilderness won't disappoint. When we returned, we were delighted that we decided to incorporate Seydisfjordur in ourEast Fjords itinerary, which you should definitely check out too. We continue north crossing another mountain pass to Borgarfjordur Eystri, best known as the home of elves and puffins. Seydisfjordur, Iceland Features animals Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show. Mid-range | Hotel Aldan - The Post Office - This hotel offers a central location, clean and nicely decorated rooms, and a wonderful atmosphere. St. Johns (Post #22), France in the North Atlantic St. Pierre (Post #23), The Invasion of the Towel Animals (Post #24), The Mountain and The Mansion Bar Harbor (Post #26), Itinerary, Menus, When & Where and Entertainers, Puffins and Elves -Seydisfjordur (Post #14). In fact, many of the picturesque wooden buildings in the village have their origins in those golden years, and some were even brought disassembled over from Norway itself. This is a mission indeed, and the prize is to earn the official document crowning you as a Seyisfjrur Mountain Viking". Skalanes is also a research point, with scientists and students from all over the world living and working there to study geology, wildlife and ecosystems. There is no entrance fee to Borgarfjordur Eystri. Skaftfell building is a grand old house from 1907, that's on Austurvegur, on the back of the gas station on Hafnargata. We stopped overlooking a small bay where we spotted several Humpback whales swimming out to sea. Borgarfjordur Eystri is a charming fishing village situated on a grassy valley along a short wide fjord of the same name. 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. Landmannalaugar, The geothermal paradise tourists never hear about, The South Coast of Iceland - the ultimate guide. Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that fishing and hunting were the primary sources of living here back in the day. A few minutes later we made another brief stop at the home of Icelandic painter Johannes Sveinsson Kjarval. If you travel in a campervan as we did, the cheapest place to stay in Borgarfjordur is the campsite. We left the car there and covered the rest of the distance on foot. The mountains in the east of Iceland were rocky and jagged, and were layered with snowcaps on their highest peaks. 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. Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price. Back on the tender pier, they were passing out small paper cups with hot chocolate. Another reason was that ourIceland itinerarywas packed. Seydisfjordur sits in a fjord, and you've probably guessed already that 'fjordur' means fjord in the Icelandic language. * safjarardjp, the Westfjords We found the puffins nesting and fishing at the end of a small peninsula, high atop an outcrop of sea rocks. Inglfshfi South of rfajkull glacier, Reynisfjall near Vk Mrdal, and Dyrhlaey (also en route to Vk) are puffin colonies on the South Coast. Skaftfell also organizes various seminars, in collaboration with the Icelandic Academy of the Arts. We wanted to drive to Bakkageri, to see wild puffins. All around there are sightseeing points to observe the birds and wildlife. Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price. Where to Spot Wild Reindeer in Iceland - We Seek Travel Blog There are also other Art Galleries in town for local talents, and my favourite is Galler Vigds. Vikings tales, mountains, waterfalls, whales, puffins, bohemian vibes, art festivals and tasty food. My Iceland #6: Puffins + Mountains - Seyisfjrur - YouTube The only thing we regretted during our two-week trip around Iceland was we did not have enough time for hiking. Also, make sure you wear something warm such as a down jacket (that's what we wore that day). We think it is impossible to travel around Iceland and not see at least one incredibly beautiful waterfall per day. The location of this nesting site is absolutely fabulous. Otherwise, you will need some patience as it's the most popular place in Seydisfjordur. Here you can find more information on the best time to visit Iceland. LungA also schedules workshops, some of them for children, to learn and experiment with different forms of creativity. 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. We knew that Seydisfjordur is home to one of the most Instagrammable spots in Iceland. The area here is completely devoted to wildlife, with seals, whales, reindeers and 47 species of birds. We knew that Puffins go hunting to the sea, but they're also exceptional divers, something we would not have guessed. 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. We also offer a group tour Puffins & Elves. So visiting it does not require any effort. Gufa means steam, and once you get closer to the water, you will understand that the name is very fitting. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. You'll get astonished by the amount of forgotten objects you'll see.
