| Travel | Hike days | Town prep | Exit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ A | Sa 11.07 → Mo 20.07 | 8 | — | Mon · direct to Ísafjörður |
| B | Fr 10.07 → So 19.07 | 8 | Fri eve | Sun · via Bolungarvík |
| C | Sa 11.07 → So 19.07 | 7 | — | Sun · via Bolungarvík |
★ Option A — recommended
8 hiking days. Direct ferry both ways. Mon morning return enables same-day flight home.
Pickup: Mon 20 Jul · Borea 09:00 · Hesteyri → Ísafjörður (earliest — fits domestic flight)
Day-by-day
Arrive Ísafjörður Sat evening. Buy gas canisters at N1 (24/7). Register travel plan at safetravel.is. Pack-out and sleep early — 09:00 ferry next morning.
Borea 09:00 to Veiðileysu. Cross Hafnarskarð (steep snow chute on north side mid-July). Camp at Hornvík (Höfn) — flush toilets, ranger station.
Day-pack only. Puffins, gannets, fulmars on the dramatic edge. Camp Hornvík.
Two passes, two river fords, "the heart of Hornstrandir" view. Camp Við Hlöðuvíkurós (pyramid dry toilet).
Coastal walk, Arctic fox spotting, swim at the black-sand beach.
Ford Kjaransvíkurá at the shoreline; another snowfield on descent. Camp Hesteyri — toilets, sink, ranger.
Doctor's House (Læknishúsið) cafe — waffles, soup, coffee. Walk to Stakkadalur whaling station ruins.
Sléttuhlíð side trail. Built-in slack for ferry weather cancellations.
No Sunday ferry to Ísafjörður — so one more night at Hesteyri. Pack out for the trip home.
Borea 09:00 is the only option that fits a same-day flight home (Borea 16:00 or Sjóferðir 14:00 would force an overnight in Ísafjörður).
Option B — with town prep evening
8 hiking days. Friday evening arrival gives buffer (visitor centre, supplies, gear check). Sunday exit goes via Bolungarvík.
Pickup: Sun 19 Jul · HornstrandirTours · Hesteyri → Bolungarvík + ~20 min shuttle/taxi → Ísafjörður
Day-by-day
Arrive Fri evening. Gas, supplies, optional Hornstrandastofa visitor centre Sat AM before the 09:00 ferry.
Sjóferðir 09:00 to Veiðileysu. Cross Hafnarskarð. Camp Hornvík.
Day-pack only. Puffins, gannets, fulmars on the dramatic edge. Camp Hornvík.
Two passes, two river fords, "the heart of Hornstrandir" view. Camp Við Hlöðuvíkurós (pyramid dry toilet).
Coastal walk, Arctic fox spotting, swim at the black-sand beach.
Ford Kjaransvíkurá at the shoreline; another snowfield on descent. Camp Hesteyri — toilets, sink, ranger.
Doctor's House (Læknishúsið) cafe — waffles, soup, coffee. Walk to Stakkadalur whaling station ruins.
Sléttuhlíð side trail. Built-in slack for ferry weather cancellations.
Exploration around Hesteyrarfjörður or pack-out for the trip home. Last camp before the Sunday ferry.
Boat leaves Bolungarvík 09:00 to Hesteyri, returns mid-morning. Confirm exact return time when booking. ~20 min shuttle/taxi to Ísafjörður (paved tunnel road). Domestic flight → KEF → home flight.
Option C — shortest version
7 hiking days. Same start as A (Sat travel, Sun ferry in), but exit on Sunday after 7 days via Bolungarvík instead of waiting until Monday.
Pickup: Sun 19 Jul · HornstrandirTours · Hesteyri → Bolungarvík → Ísafjörður
Day-by-day
Arrive Sat evening. Gas at N1, sleep early — 09:00 Sunday ferry.
Borea 09:00 to Veiðileysu. Cross Hafnarskarð (steep snow chute on north side mid-July). Camp Hornvík (Höfn) — flush toilets, ranger station.
Day-pack only. Puffins, gannets, fulmars on the dramatic edge. Camp Hornvík.
Two passes, two river fords, "the heart of Hornstrandir" view. Camp Við Hlöðuvíkurós.
Coastal walk, Arctic fox spotting, swim at the black-sand beach.
Ford Kjaransvíkurá at the shoreline; another snowfield on descent. Camp Hesteyri — toilets, sink, ranger.
Doctor's House (Læknishúsið) cafe — waffles, soup, coffee. Walk to Stakkadalur whaling station ruins.
Sléttuhlíð side trail or quiet pack-out before the Sunday ferry. Last camp Hesteyri.
HornstrandirTours Hesteyri → Bolungarvík mid-morning. Shuttle to Ísafjörður. Domestic flight → KEF → home flight.
Trade-off: one less hiking day than A or B, plus the same Bolungarvík logistics as B.
Why A is recommended
A and B have equal hiking days (8). A finishes with a direct Mon morning ferry to Ísafjörður — cleanest exit, one operator, one booking. B requires a Fri evening arrival (more buffer, but Fri flights typically cost more) and a Sunday transfer via Bolungarvík (two operators, an extra leg). C is the shortest version with the same Bolungarvík complications as B.
Logistics
Booking now
- Drop ferry · A+C: Borea Sun 09:00 · B: Sjóferðir Sat 09:00 — book@sjoferdir.is or westtours.is
- Pickup · A: Borea Mon 09:00 — info@borea.is · B+C: HornstrandirTours Sun — haukur@hornstrandaferdir.is · +354 862 2221
- ~14,900 ISK / leg / person ≈ €100
- Camp sites are free, no booking (Environment Agency)
- Book 2 months ahead — peak July fills fast
Travel to Ísafjörður
- Frankfurt/Amsterdam → KEF (direct ~3 h)
- KEF → RKV (Reykjavík city) by bus/taxi ~50 km
- RKV → Ísafjörður domestic flight ~40 min, frequent weather cancellations
- Bus alternative ~6 h via Strætó
Pack list (subarctic, July)
- 4-season tent (wind, not cold, is the killer)
- 0 °C-rated bag · Goretex shell · insulated layer
- Trekking poles · knee-high gaiters
- Microspikes (mid-July snow on passes)
- River-crossing footwear (neoprene + crocs)
- Garmin inReach Mini — strongly recommended
- Vestfirðir 1:100,000 hiking map (Ferðakort)
Food & fuel
- 7–8 days food, ~3,500–4,000 kcal/day
- Gas canisters can't fly — buy in Ísafjörður (N1/Olís) or Reykjavík
- ~3 × 230 g screw-on canisters for two
- Doctor's House at Hesteyri sells coffee/waffles/soup
Permits & rules
- No permit needed for July visits
- Camp only at designated sites (max 1 week each)
- Drones: forbidden without Environment Agency permit
- Campfires: forbidden everywhere
- Stay 40 m from arctic fox / nesting birds
- Travel-plan registration at safetravel.is recommended
Weather & bail-outs
- Vedur.is is the authoritative forecast
- If pass visibility <100 m → wait at base camp
- Hornbjargsviti lighthouse hut (paid bunks late Jun–Aug)
- Hesteyri Doctor's House (paid bunks)
- Borea + Sjóferðir run Hesteyri Mon–Fri — usually <48 h delay