Planning Your Visit to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, Iceland

Hornstrandir is one of Europe’s last wildernesses: a breathtakingly beautiful, hard-to-reach nature reserve of soaring mountains and precipitous cliffs.

Perched on the furthest tip of Iceland’s far-flung Westfjords, it has limited accommodation and transport links, a very short season, and challenging terrain. If you plan properly, it’s perfectly possible to experience the exhilarating beauty of this pristine wilderness. Here’s how to plan a visit.

Tucked into Iceland’s northwest corner, the 589-sq-km Hornstrandir Nature Reserve (227-sq-mi) has an end-of-the-world feel. Waterfalls thunder down mountains, the midnight sun kisses the ocean, cliffs plummet to the sea, and the mighty Drangajökull glacier overlooks the scene.

Hornstrandir occupies a jagged, fjord-scored peninsula, and access is largely by fleets of ferries running from the Westfjords’ biggest town, Ísafjörður, some 30km (18.6 miles) south.

The nature reserve is one of Iceland’s most important strongholds of the protected Arctic fox and is also home to a wealth of seals, whales, puffins, sea eagles, black guillemots, and Arctic terns.

Hornstrandir’s mountainous interior is edged by a string of campgrounds, huts, and hostels, often at ferry drop-off points. Hiking trails snake between accommodation and ferry sites, opening up memorable multi-day hikes.

The reserve is all but uninhabited. Designated a nature reserve in 1975, its last few farmers moved out in 1952 – a handful of their descendants return in the summers to their restored homes. Today, Hornstrandir is managed by the Environment Agency of Iceland, which has produced this handy map.

When to Visit Hornstrandir

The season on Hornstrandir is short. Ferries only run between June and August. The actual visitor season is even shorter – between late June and mid-August when the handful of hostels and huts are open. Many of Hornstrandir’s regular visitors say the best time to visit is an even narrower window, arguing that only July gives the best of the notoriously fickle weather.

Where to Hike

Hornstrandir is a hiker’s paradise. The most popular route is the Royal Horn (or Hornsleið), a four- to five-day hike that crisscrosses the peninsula from Veiðileysufjörður in the south via Hornvík in the north and back to Hesteyri in the south. This route takes in the sheer Hornbjarg bird cliffs, mountain passes, an abandoned village, and glacier fjords.

Alternatively, some use the Old Doctor’s House, a cafe-turned-guesthouse in Hesteyri, as a base for day hikes. Others venture to even more remote ferry drop-off points and strike out from there.

The Environment Agency of Iceland has an online hiking map available for reference.

Guided Tours of Hornstrandir

The harsh terrain prompts many to join guided treks. If you don’t have extensive mountain experience and top-notch gear, it’s the wisest and most enjoyable choice.

Companies such as West Tours, Borea, and Wild Westfjords – all with bases in Ísafjörður – offer Hornstrandir hikes of varying lengths ranging from a half-day tour around the abandoned village of Hesteyri to 6-16km day hikes (3.7-9.9 miles) and six-day backpacking expeditions.

Other options include single- or multi-day kayaking tours, Arctic fox photography trips, and wildlife watching excursions. These experiences are hugely popular; consequently, it’s advisable to make arrangements early to secure a spot.

Where to Stay

You’ll need to love camping to enjoy Hornstrandir – the 16 campgrounds are bare-bone affairs. It’s important to stick to designated locations; wild or backwoods camping isn’t allowed. The Environment Agency map shows campgrounds.

Hornstrandir has a handful of hostels offering “sleeping bag accommodation” – essentially a bed in a private room or dorm without bed linen; you bring your own sleeping bag and towels. However, as you’re carrying a lot of camping gear, that shouldn’t be a problem.

The most useful hostels are:

• Old Doctor’s House – Hornstrandir’s famous guesthouse-cafe set in the abandoned village of Hesteyri on the southwest coast, known for its legendary pancakes.

• Hornbjargsviti – Right beside a lighthouse, offering bunk bed accommodation and campsite on Hornstrandir’s northeast shore.

• Reykjarfjörður – Just outside Hornstrandir’s far southeast edge, providing basic sleeping bag accommodation, campsite, and two houses sleeping three to five people. Moreover, it features a geothermal pool and hot tub.

What Gear and Skills Do You Need to Visit Hornstrandir?

Hornstrandir is a hazardous outdoor environment. If you’re striking out on your own, be aware that there are no services, no phone signal, and even in summer, you’re likely to encounter snow, fog, and raging rivers.

While some trails are partly marked with cairns, others are routes on a map rather than clearly-defined paths on the ground. Therefore, a detailed map, a compass, and GPS are essential.

If you’re planning your own trek, you’ll also need to carry all gear, including clothes, tents, and stoves, as well as food and rubbish; campfires are banned. Good-quality waterproof clothes, boots, and a robust tent are also a must. The Environment Agency lists useful tips and the reserve’s rules.

Wardens warn that people routinely underestimate the challenges and dangers posed by Hornstrandir. Opting for a guided trip ensures you’ll be safe enough to enjoy all that extraordinary scenery.

How to Get to Hornstrandir

Iceland has a strong record of allowing travel by fully-vaccinated visitors, but it’s important to check the latest COVID-19 rules and travel advice.

The Westfjords are some 450km (279.6 miles) north of the capital Reykjavik – a 5-6 hour drive. Reykjavik has plentiful car hire options, including some at the country’s main entry point, Keflavík International Airport.

Icelandair operates a 40-minute flight from Reykjavík Domestic Airport (50km/31 miles from Keflavík) to Ísafjörður.

Ísafjörður has good accommodation options, although as elsewhere in Iceland during the summer, it is wise to reserve rooms well in advance.

The mountainous landscape means there are no roads into Hornstrandir. Between June and August, ferries, run by West Tours and Borea, shuttle from the main town of Ísafjörður and nearby Bolungarvík to a ring of drop-off points in Hornstrandir.

Strandferðir also operates boats between June and mid-August from Norðurfjörður on the Strandir coast to the eastern side of Hornstrandir.

Ferries don’t run every day to each pick-up point; some operate only once or twice a week. It’s crucial to book your return ferry in advance; if you don’t arrive, they need to know to send out rescue teams.

Drop-offs, routes, accommodation, and collection all need thorough planning. Alternatively, you can join an organized trip and let the guides handle the complex logistics.

Where to Go for More Information

Hornstrandastofa, Iceland’s Environment Agency, has a new Hornstrandir Visitor Centre in downtown Ísafjörður. Between September and May, it’s open Monday to Friday from 1pm to 3pm. Between June and August, it’s open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 4pm.

The agency’s useful Hornstrandir information webpage is full of essential information to help you maximize your trip.

The region’s tourist office has an office in Ísafjörður and can also advise over the phone.

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