Fox Watching in Hornstrandir

Top Attractions:

Isafjordur

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

Overview

This tour will take us to an untouched paradise known as the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in search of the elusive Arctic Foxes that call it home.

Tour Snapshot

Duration

11 hours

Level

Easy

Availability

june - september

Starting point

Isafjordur

End point

Isafjordur

Languages

English

Trip style

One-day tours

Minimum age

All ages

What to Expect

On Tour

Boat ride both ways
Professional guide

Transportation

Meet on location
Pick-up & drop-off in Reykjavik

Accommodation & Meals

Meals
A delicious dinner!
Accommodation

Itinerary

11 hours

Arctic Foxes in Hornstrandir

The Arctic Foxes that live there are special – as it is one of the few places in the world where they can raise their cubs in peace, making them far more relaxed around humans. Seeing these incredible creatures in a stunningly beautiful habitat is an experience that will appeal to nature and wildlife lovers alike.

Hornstrandir is an isolated island that can only be reached by boat – a scenic one-hour journey across sparkling blue fjords that everyone is bound to appreciate. If we’re really lucky, then we might catch a glimpse of a whale on the way. Our destination is our restored farmhouse in Kviar, which stands on a lonely hillside, gazing across the beautiful bay.

A family of Arctic Foxes has lived close to the farmhouse for a number of years – greatly increasing our chances of seeing them. The Hornstrandir Arctic Fox has had less contact with humans than the ones on the mainland, allowing us to get much closer to them. The best time to visit is the summer when the cute young cubs creep out into the open to play and explore the surrounding area. We regularly take great photos of the foxes and we thoroughly recommend bringing a camera.

We won’t chain ourselves to the farmhouse in Kviar and will venture out and explore other parts of Hornstrandir to see craggy cliffs and enjoy some panoramic views over the entire fjord system. Our adventure ends with a traditional Icelandic dinner in the restored farmhouse – giving you an authentic taste of how rural Icelanders live.

Tour Itinerary

The day begins at our Service Center for a briefing, where we will answer any questions and make final preparations. We depart at 9 am from the harbor in Ísafjörður on our passenger ferry. The scenic boat ride lasts around an hour and will take us past mighty mountains, craggy cliffs, and sapphire-blue fjords.

We’ll be dropped off at a beach near our Kviar farmhouse at around 10:00, giving us plenty of time to explore this unspoiled natural wonder. Our friendly guide is very knowledgeable about the area and they will tell us about how Icelanders have managed to survive in this extreme environment. We’ll spend the morning seeking out the adorable Arctic Foxes that call Hornstrandir home.

We’ll try to tailor the rest of the day to what the group wants – we can hike up to the top of the cliffs and gaze across the fjord system in all of its glory, go and see the cascading waterfalls that are hidden behind the farmhouse or simply laze around the picturesque farmhouse and enjoy some of the cleanest air that we’ll find anywhere. We’ll enjoy a picnic for lunch and then you can spend the afternoon exploring Hornstrandir by yourself.

Our friendly guide will prepare a traditional Icelandic dinner, which we will eat together in the farmhouse, giving us a final taste of life in Hornstrandir. The boat will collect us and take us back to Ísafjörður at about 20:00 – after a day filled with majestic natural scenery and incredible wildlife.

Please note that the itinerary may change according to weather conditions and the ability of the group.

Packing List

Get ready for your trip, here are some items, you should not forget

What to bring (Required)

Good hiking boots with ankle support

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