East Iceland: A World of Magic and Monsters

Do you believe in monsters? Elves? Ghosts? You might after a visit to east Iceland and Lögurinn, the third largest lake in Iceland.

To follow the legends and to experience the magic of east Iceland, journey to Egilsstadir, by air, by sea, or by car.  Egilsstadir is a place of legends, stories that happened so long they begin with, “Once upon a time… .”

A young Viking girl took a gold ring, given by her mother, and placed it in a box beneath a lingworm, better known as a heath-dragon. The girl was told that to do so would increase the value of the ring. Instead, the wyrm grew so large that the girl became afraid and threw it in the Lagarfljót (also known as Lögurinn lake). Over the years, the wyrm grew even bigger, grew so large that not even magicians or wizards could defeat it. That wyrm has lived in the lake since the 14th century, and many Icelanders have film footage to prove it.

Along the southeast shore of Lögurinn lake — not more than twenty minutes from Egilsstadir — Hallormsstaðaskógur stands as Iceland’s largest forest, with over fifty species of trees, and more paths and trails than you can hike in a single day. The forest is a holy place and home to elves, which you will most likely see on the trail which leads to the magnificent Ljósárfoss waterfall. Indeed, scores of waterfalls (fosses) — Hengifoss, Litlanesfoss, and Lagarfoss, just to name a few — fill the air with spray throughout east Iceland. Look anywhere and you’ll see water tumbling from cliffs.

If you’re looking for something more edgy, you can travel the haunted highway (route 94) from Egilsstadir to Borgarfjörður-Eystri, a not-so-relaxing drive which winds alongside loose cliffs and remnants of fresh landslides. The road is said to be haunted by Naddi, a rather obnoxious fellow blamed for many fatal accidents which occurred on the route during Medieval times.

The journey, however, is well-worth the butterflies in your stomach, because you’ll find yourself in Borgarfjörður-Eystri, a fishing village also called Bakkagerði, which rests comfortably at the head of a fjord, lined by the Dyrfjöll mountains to the west, and basalt cliffs to the east. Just beyond the village is Álfaborg, a hillock which is considered an elfin city, home to an elfin queen, and a nearby elfin church. The landscape of the fjord is alive with puffins, kittiwakes, and gulls, and is criss-crossed with a network of hiking trails called the “Viking Path.”

But if the drive west toward the fjords seems a bit more than your nerves can stand, venture west from Egilsstadir, toward Snæfell, the highest free-standing mountain in Iceland. The girth of it covers the entire panorama as you head toward the interior of Iceland. Once there, keep a lookout for reindeer, abundant in the heath and lower slopes during the winter months, and farther up during the summer. East Iceland is the only place to see wild reindeer.

Just north of Snæfell is Aðalból in Hrafnkelsdal, the site of an Icelandic Saga… but that is a story for another time.

Right now, Berjaya Herad Hotel in Egilsstadir awaits you, along the Ring Road, and just a half-kilometer from Lögurinn lake and the Lagarfljót serpent. The magic of east Iceland lies just outside your door. In the evenings you can dine on local food: reindeer, wild game, goose, and homemade jams harvested from local berries, and fresh salads and vegetables.  Ask anyone about our Sunday brunch and you’ll see lips smack and eyes light up.

From Berjaya Hotels, Iceland's premiere hotel chain with 9 locations all around the country. Cheers!