Top 3 Tours in Eastern Iceland

It will be one of the most beautiful road trips you'll ever take: driving around Iceland. The country is one big adventure park with breathtaking scenery and a good outpost to discover the eastern end of the country is the town of Egilsstaðir.

With a population of around 2300 people Egilsstaðir is the largest town in east Iceland. It got it's name from the Egilsstaðir farm It's close to the portof Seyðisfjörður, where ferries to Denmark and the Faroe Islands depart from. You can access Egilsstaðir also by bus and plane.

So, now you've arrived and settled in your hotel room at Berjaya Hérað Hotel. What to do next? Here are our Top 3 tours to take in eastern Iceland!

Click on the links to see full tour description!

1. Reindeer Safari (all year round)

If you've never gone reindeer tracking yet, now is a golden opportunity! These majestic animals are only found in these eastern parts of Iceland and our local expert guides will take you right to them.

2. Eastern Landscapes and Legends (all year round)

Did you know there is a serpentine monster in Lake Lagarfljót? Well, now you know. Much more on the uninhabited surroundings of the inland and Eastern Iceland on this 5,5 hour day tour, that also visits the Vatnajökull national park area and a geothermal pool for you to soak in!

3. Dinner With The Locals (all year round)

There is nothing like diving into the a new culture by dining with the locals. This tour will take you right into an Icelandic home with some home cooked local food for you to enjoy.

All the above tours are operated by Iceland Travel. And if you want to go around looking for natural wonders by yourself, here are a few good pointers on where to start.

Hallormsstadur

Iceland might not be known for its forests, but on the eastern banks of Lake Lagarfljot you can find a forest plantation which is the largest of its kind in Iceland. It grows larch, red spruce, and other species that have been added to native birch, rowan, and willow. There are several good walking trails through Hallormsstadaskogur with opportunities for berry and mushroom picking during summer months. 

Hengifoss

This is the third highest waterfall in Iceland, Hengifoss. The red clay and black basalt patterns of the cliff are a magnificent backdrop for the narrow ribbon of water cascading down. You can walk behind the waterfall and into the small cave behind it as well.

Skriduklaustur

This is one of the most famous buildings of the Eastfjords in Iceland. Skriðuklaustur was built in 1939 by Gunnar Gunnarsson, one of Iceland’s most famous authors. He donated it to the Icelandic nation 9 years later. The building is a cultural history center and the home of the Institute of Gunnar Gunnarsson. It displays objects connected to his work and life.

Dyrfjöll

This incredible mountain rises up between Fjotsdalsherað and Borgarfjoður Eystri. It is famous for the huge gap in the middle of the mountain. This region is known for elf stories and it is said that the elf queen of Iceland resides here. Her name is Borghildur and she is said to live in Álfaborgir (Elf city) in Borgarfjordur Eystri, which is close by Dyrfjöll.

Skalanes

Skalanes is a private nature reserve located on a once-abandoned farmstead. It showcases the incredible flora, fauna and ecosystems of the region. The 677 meter (2,224 ft) coastal cliffs are home to more than 40 different species of birds.