| North Iceland’s
“Arctic North” region
There are unlimited possibilities
for travelers in
the North Arctic Region.
Numerous short and long tours are
available, and for individual itineraries
you can organise a wide variety
of interesting day programmes, for
example trout fishing, horse riding,
river rafting, island sailing, whale
watching, birdwatching, photo safaris,
interior-wilderness adventures,
and trekking to name a few. A
camera should always be at hand in
this area as the landscapes are ever
changing, as is the light.
The coast of Northern Iceland
is noted for its deep fjords and small
islands off the coast. The shores are
both sandy and stony, teeming with
flourishing birdlife. Small fishing
villages dot the coastline, while
fertile farmland stretches inland.
Access to the Highlands is easy via
Kjölur and Srengisandur.
 Húnavatnssýsla is the first
destination, known for its beautiful
shores abounding with seabirds and
seals (Vatnsnes/Skagi). Trout fishing
is in lakes both at the coastline
(at Skagi) and in the Highlands
(Arnarvatnsheiði heath). There are
also long, grassy valleys that support
sheep and cow farming (Vatnsdalur/
Svartárdalur). The towns of
Hvammstangi
and Blönduós are
commercial centres
for the area.
Skagafjörður
is known for
horses, river rafting,
island sailings
(Varmahlíð/
Sauðárkrókur),
and historical
places from
Viking times.
There are also
cultural centers
from the
past (Hólar/
Glaumbær).
The main fishing villages are
Sauðárkrókur and Siglufjörður.
Eyjafjörður is the commercial
and cultural centre for North
Iceland. There are four daily scheduled
flights to Rekjavík, and regular
bus connections. Two scheduled
ferryboats connect to Hrísey island
(pop. 186) and Grímsey (pop. 90).
Akureyri (pop. 16,000), the “capital
of the North,”
is known for its
excellent tourist
services and
beautiful setting.
The farming area
in Eyjafjörður is
among the most
fertile in Iceland.
Þingeyjarsýslur
is known
for its nature
beauty and geological
wonders,
such as Mývatn
lake, a magnificent
natural
treasure that tops
the list of attractions. The Nature
Baths at Lake Mývatn create a
sense of relaxation and well-being
which will linger on as a lasting
memory of a visit to this spellbinding
region of North Iceland.
Dettifoss Falls (Europe’s largest), Ásbyrgi Canyon, and Hljóðaklettar
National Park are quite extraordinary,
even by Icelandic standards.
Volcanoes, hot springs, boiling
mud pools, and steam vents are
among the many natural wonders.
Other well-known attractions are
Melrakkaslétta and Langanes peninsulas.
The Highland area south of
the region is the most seductive
part of the country. This area of
Iceland has often been referred to
as Europe’s “last wilderness,” and
is easily accessible from the north.
Part of the charm is that there are
hardly any services available: no
accommodation, restaurants, gas
stations, or bars–not even roads in
some places. This barren wilderness
has numerous volcanoes, large lava
fields, expanses of black desert sand,
and glaciers. Visiting this area is an
experience that no visitor to Iceland
should pass up.
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