While not the least visited region of Iceland since that distinction belongs to the West Fjords, East Iceland is also a less visited region of the country. Iceland is easily one of the most naturally stunning places I’ve been to and adding a stop in the Eastfjords to our Ring Road itinerary enhanced that beauty. Imagine snow-capped mountains, glistening fjords, colorful towns, the chance to see reindeer and puffins, and hiking opportunities a plenty. Not to mention one of my favorite places we stayed our entire trip: relaxing, peaceful and dreamy Skálanes! Read on to see why Eastjords is a must visit place in Iceland.
Seyðisfjörður in the eastfjords
Seyðisfjörður (say-this-fjur-ther) is such a picturesque town! It is set right on a fjord with snow-capped mountains in the background. It’s architecture is unique in Iceland since it contains colorful 19th-century Norwegian kit timber buildings. The adorable blue church was one of my favorites and I kept picking out which house I wanted to live in. The town is full of artists, musicians and the crafty so there’s plenty to see while walking around! The cozy bistro Skaftfell is perfect for taking a break and getting a feel for the vibe of the town. You can take a ferry here that goes to Denmark via the Faroe Islands. Now that’s on my list of things to do…
Skálanes
O Skálanes! This “mountain lodge” is set on a private wildlife refuge 19km east of Seyðisfjörður and accommodation is in the former farmhouse set perfectly beside the fjord with stunning views of it and the mountains from your window if you’re lucky. The road to the guesthouse is gravel and accessible for 2WD vehicles until the last bit. Then there’s a place to park cars and then you can hike in the last 4km which is an adventurous and view filled experience. 4WD pickup is also available and can be arranged through the lodge.
The farmhouse is a cozy, charming place to stay with delicious food served, excellent hosts, two dogs to cuddle and lounge with, and an opportunity for community with fellow travelers in cozy shared sitting areas. There’s also plenty of outdoor seating for enjoying a book, conversation, the birds or just the view. The bedroom was simple but the bed was comfortable and the shared bathroom, common throughout Iceland, was tidy. There’s even a turf-roofed sauna! Talk about relaxation.
Wildlife
The highlight of our stay at Skálanes was walking up to the birding cliff and seeing puffins! While it’s not a nesting colony, puffins come here to fish so we saw about 7 of them and got to observe them fishing. Also while we were driving the Ring Road through the Eastfjords, there were reindeer signs every so often! We saw two separate herds on the side of the road while driving. You can’t beat seeing two new kinds of wildlife in one region. Thanks, Eastfjords!
Have you been to the Eastfjords in Iceland? Does this post inspire you to add it to your list? We love hearing from you in the comments below?
Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.
