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The East Coast of Iceland is still quite unknown to the masses visiting this remarkable island. A 5-day, all-women hiking tour in Víknaslóðir lets you explore the mountains, the ocean, and everything in between—and there’s a lot of this, from enormous tuff boulders strewn across lakes to isolated coves and fjords. Apart from an incredibly knowledgeable guide, another perk of this trip is that all food is taken care of, as well as the accommodation! After a good night’s sleep in traditional, authentic hotels and huts, go out for the day and explore this unique, secluded area.
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Catch the 8:30 am flight from Reykjavik’s Keflavík International Airport to Egilsstaðir Airport. Meet your guide and your group at 10 am at the Egilsstaðir Airport—be ready and dressed to go straight to hiking. You will hike to Stórurð, an area featuring enormous tuff boulders strewn across a seamless blend of meadows and lakes. Continue onto the Borgafjörður eystri fjord, a charming place with 100 inhabitants, a great variety of hiking routes, and a marina for observing puffins. The reward for today’s hard work is a local fish soup and other delicacies in Borgafjörður eystri. Settle into Álfheimar, your hotel for the night. There’s an option to go out and visit the puffins in the evening!
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles
Hiking: 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Hotel Álfheimar
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Begin today’s hike in the eastern part of Borgarfjörður in the town of Hofströnd. Walk to Brúnavík, the first inlet of the day, and enjoy the views of the North Atlantic along the way. From there, head to Breiðuvíkur, which is a farmstead nestled in the little cove of Kjólsvik. Keep walking towards Glettinganes, and watch your step since the trail gets a bit rocky. As the day draws to a close, enjoy your evening at a cabin near the beaches of Breiðuvík.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 15 km / 9.3 miles
Hiking: 5-7 hours
Accommodation: Breiðavík
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Start your day by walking west from the cove and cross the Stóruá river via a good footbridge. As the trail turns south, a spectacular valley will reveal itself. Surrounded by Hvítuhnjúkur, Hvítafjall, and Hvítserk, mountains with mixed-in, deep blue lapis lazuli, the small valley is an ideal place for a leisurely stroll. You’ll also come across two lakes, Gæsavatn and Urðarhólavatn! Walk from the trail up to the road that leads you to Húsavík. You’ll soon reach your mountain hut located on the site of a small, old farm, deserted since the 1950s.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles
Hiking: 4-6 hours
Accommodation: Mountain hut
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Prior to today’s hike, feel free to explore Húsavík a bit, the largest cove in Víknáslóðir. Start walking to the Loðmundarfjörður fjord along an easy road. Once you walk over the Nesháls ridge and reach Loðmundarfjörður, it’s best to take a break so you can take in its beauty and the photos. On a clear day, you can see Loðmundarfjörður and Dalatanga from the ridge. Spend some time wandering around Loðmundarfjörður, a fjord that was once home to one of the most remote and inaccessible communities in Iceland. There’s a chance of spotting eider ducks, seals, reindeer, or even wild horses, all of them roaming the vast moorland of the area.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
Hiking: 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Mountain hut
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Kick off the final day of your hiking tour by going up to Hjálmárdalsheiði, which lies at an altitude of around 600 m (1,970 ft). You’ll hike out of the fjord towards the old town site Hjálmárströnd, but before you get there, you’ll hit the road. The path you are walking is an ancient one between two fjords, and it is relatively easy. Once you arrive at the edge of Seyðisfjörður, you have to go through Kækjuskárð to descend down the fairly steep slopes. You’ll soon come down to the road in the charming Seyðisfjörður town. Use your free time to explore the town before heading back to Egilsstaðir Airport, which is only 30 minutes away. It’s advisable to take the last flight of the day, which is at 7:30 pm. Get back to Reykjavik or feel free to stay longer in the area!
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles
Hiking: 6-8 hours
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