Searching for Elves and other Ancient Lore in North Iceland

Survey the people of Iceland about the existence of elves and you get:

• 17% say most definitely

• 37% say probably

• 13% say maybe not

• 19% say no

Across the entire high-tech country of fire and ice, only 19% disclaim the existence of elves, probably because those few just don’t know any better, or because they haven’t seen the proof like everyone else has in Iceland — or perhaps they haven’t taken classes and workshops at the elf school in Reykjavik to learn about the thirteen different kinds of elves who inhabit the diverse and mesmerizing landscapes.

To learn for yourself, head to Akureyri in north Iceland to explore myriad mythical landscapes, then travel just a bit east to venture into a land of Viking lore, and edge just a bit further to Ásbyrgi and the spellbound world of Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.

South of Akureyri, Iceland stretches in long desolation across craggy plateaus and valleys scarred by volcanic activity. Travelers, especially in olden days, avoided the area to remain clear of trolls, ghosts, and the outlaws who perhaps survived only by making pacts with non-human beings.

Across Eyjafjörður, Iceland’s longest fjord, and just forty-five minutes to the east of Akureyri thunders Goðafoss, one of many spectacular waterfalls along your adventure. The falls roars along the Diamond Circle, a loop of road which travels across lava-scapes that make you think you’re traversing the moon. Around the corner looms Hverjkall, an unmistakable volcanic crater 420 m (1,380 ft) in elevation. Below it sits lake Mývatn, which ripples amidst rich vegetation, and huge populations of waterbirds. It is not surprising, according to legend, to find a monster below the surface of an Iceland lake.

One more jaunt to the east, life in Jökulsárgljúfur National Park is fed by the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum, which flows from beneath the Vatnajökull icecap in the south, and empties into Öxarfjörður bay on Iceland’s northern shores. The journey into the park begins at Ásbyrgi and a horseshoe shaped canyon, formed by a thundering hoof of Sleipnir, the eight-legged steed of Odin, leader of the Norse gods. Fifteen minutes away, along the river Jökulsá, stands the enchantment of Hljóðaklettar (“Echoing Rocks”). Geologist’s aren’t exactly sure how the towering basalt formed into strange spirals, rosettes, and honey-combs, but the acoustic effect reflected from the black walls makes it impossible to determine the direction of the echoing Jökulsá á Fjöllum. Upriver plunges Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Spray fills the air and sprinkles the sky with rainbows.

North Iceland abounds with landmarks that defy imagination, and as you explore the surrealistic formations of the earth you can’t help but see where trolls have been turned to stone…and then a faint sound, and as you look you’ll see just a glimpse of something — or a small someone — darting just out of sight. Those who know say the spirits of Iceland’s natural world will not bother you if you do not bother them. They are, however, just as curious about us as we are of them, so it only stands to reason that, with vigilance and a little patience, the human world comes into contact with a surreal world, in the same way that fire mingles with ice in Iceland. It’s up to you to discover what most Icelanders know: the country is alive with a world that some think exists only in our dreams.

Elves, trolls, ghosts, and other assorted spirits of the natural world abound not just in north Iceland, but throughout the entire country, and Berjaya Hotels has nine locations situated in all the places where you need to go to find the Huldufólk (elves).

In the north, you can stay at our Berjaya Akureyri Hotel, or our Berjaya Herad Hotel in East Iceland. Either puts you within easy distance for discovery!

You might also be interested in:

East Iceland: A World of Magic and Monsters

Álfaskólinn, Iceland´s Elf School

The Elves...

Iceland’s 13 Yule Lads - Don’t Call them Santas

Iceland’s Dettifoss Waterfall - Europe's Most Powerful Waterfall

Things to do in Akureyri