13-19 July 2024
Seyðisfjörður, Höfn, Hvolsvöllur, Reykjavík.

We left Akureyri and on our way visited the magnificent Stuðlagil Canyon. It was my turn to be sick, and I wasn’t sure I was up for the hike, but boy am I glad I went. It was definitely a highlight of the trip.

After the canyon we stopped at one more waterfall before arriving in Seyðisfjörður.

The next day we drove to Borgarfjörður Eystri to see a puffin nesting site. It was extremely well preserved, which was surprising since it is right next to a busy marina.

On the way back to Seyðisfjörður we made a few stops to enjoy the magnificent scenery.

After lunch in Egilsstaðir, we found a local swimming hole where high-school-aged kids were jumping off a bridge into the pristine Eyvindará river.

Then we explored the area at the pass above Seyðisfjörður.

We stopped at a stunning waterfall on the way back down.

The car was starting to get really dirty from the intermittent rain and occasional dirt roads. We couldn’t see out the windows any more! Fortunately, gas stations in Iceland provide free water and brushes.

The next day on the drive to Höfn, we stopped at Hengifoss, which remarkably was even more fun than all our other great waterfall experiences. The hike took us past Litlanesfoss, a waterfall which would be worth visiting in its own right.

It’s hard to see the full waterfall without crossing the stream. We couldn’t find a rock hop, so off the shoes came!

The next day we drove to Troll Adventures to do a guided hike on the Falljökull glacier in Vatnajökull National Park.

On the way back to Höfn we stopped at Jökulsárlón, a lagoon full of chunks of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier.

Back in Höfn we hit a local tavern and then tried out one of the public bouncies we’ve seen all over.

The next day we had a long drive in the rain to Hvolsvöllur, but we made several stops.

The next morning I woke up at 4am, wide awake. Of course, it was broad daylight (it never gets dark this far north in the summer)!

So I snuck out for a solo adventure.

At the popular Seljalandsfoss waterfall I was COMPLETELY ALONE! Amazing, really, since the parking lot is designed to hold hundreds of cars.

A short walk from the main waterfall is another waterfall that sits at the end of a short slot canyon.

I backtracked to the main falls and did the hiking trail that goes behind them.

When I got back, the family was starting to stir and soon we headed back to Reykjavík. It was nice to have a final full day to enjoy the city for the last time.