Immersive hike in the wilderness of Hornstrandir

The group will meet at 8:00 AM on the day of departure to take the ferry to Hrafnfjörður fjord, in the Hornstrandir nature reserve. After disembarking on the shore by Zodiac, we will begin our first day of hiking.

The hike between Kjós and Furufjörður is relatively easy. The group will be dropped off near Kjós, at the entrance to Hrafnfjörður, and will walk along the coast inside the fjord. The route to Furufjörður is stunning: we will follow a wide river through a valley dotted with rock formations, cross a picturesque arched bridge, and pass a magnificent mountain lake. Throughout this hike along the southern edge of the reserve, we will enjoy breathtaking views of the Drangajökull glacier.

This first day will end at the Furufjörður campsite. It's a charming little bivouac site by the sea offering a direct view of the glacier.

The second day begins with a leisurely breakfast, while waiting for the tide to go out. The trail starts at a rocky beach that can only be crossed at low tide .

After this technical section, the group will be rewarded with the sight of an iconic stack (a rocky spur) perched in the middle of a small cove. It's the perfect place to rest your ankles before skirting Bolungarvík and beginning the ascent to Göngumannaskarð . This pass, reaching an altitude of 360 m , is the highest point of the expedition. Both the ascent and descent are gentle. We will then cross the Bardsvik meadows, pass through Smiðjuvíkurhals, before arriving at the Smiðjuvík campsite.

After packing up camp, you'll head towards Hornbjargsviti , a charming lighthouse perched on the edge of a cliff. Along the way, you'll pass Drifandi , a huge waterfall that plunges directly from the cliffs into the sea.

With a bit of luck, the lighthouse will be manned upon your arrival, and you might even be able to have dinner there. This is, of course, not guaranteed, and we will plan our meals accordingly. The lighthouse is managed by the Ferðafélag Íslands association and is only open for a short period. For the first time on the expedition, you'll enjoy a touch of luxury: a flush toilet instead of a composting toilet, as well as an indoor cooking area. An old barn is also available for campers. The group will spend the night near the lighthouse, to the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs below.

We wake up to a bit more comfort (if luck is on our side): fresh coffee and pancakes by the lighthouse before hitting the trail again. If not, no worries: we always adapt to the situation and plan everything in advance. After breakfast, we begin the ascent towards Kyrskarð and the summit of Innstidalur . Here again, the climb is gentle. Once at the pass, the group is rewarded with a spectacular view of the Hornbjarg cliffs and the southern slope of Mount Kalfatindur .

Several options are available once we reach the summit, but the goal is to stay high up, following the cliffs. On this route, the group will hike along the southern slope of Kalfatindur to a small plateau overlooking the lake. This is an ideal spot for a break before descending back down to the lake, then climbing back up to the cliffs on the northern slope of Kalfatindur. From there, the hike continues up Mount Miðfell to the cape ( Horn ) before we are picked up by the boat at 4:00 PM. The return crossing to Ísafjörður takes approximately three hours.