Vatnajökull region offers a wide selection of leisure activities for everyone.

Guests at Brunnhóll can choose from a range of organised tours or plan their own routes around the region's places of interest.  We are always more than happy to help.

 

We can supply our guests with all the information they need on what the Kingdom of Vatnajökull has to offer, both near at hand and farther afield.  In the reception there are leaflets and other information for guests, as well as information folders in the rooms.  Don't be afraid to ask for advice – we are always more than happy to help.

At frequent intervals along the main road there are stop-off points, often with information boards describing features of the neighbourhood.  A host of paths and tracks lead off to beautiful and little-known sites.  We can supply our guests with all the information they need on what the Kingdom of Vatnajökull has to offer, both near at hand and farther afield.

There are leaflets and other information for guests in reception, as well as information folders in the rooms.  Don't be afraid to ask for advice – we are always more than happy to help.

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone loves the seashore.  The easiest way to the coast from Brunnhóll is by the track just to the east of the Hólmsá river.  We advise guests to leave their cars at Skinney as the sand is rather soft and difficult to drive on.  4-wheel drive vehicles can make it all the way east along the shore to Melatangi.  From here you get splendid views across the water to the port of Höfn and of the ships navigating the narrow channel at the entrance to the fjord.

Other places with easy access to the sea are at the Jökulsárlón iceberg lake and at Stokksnes.

 

 

The Kingdom of Vatnajökull boasts a rich and varied bird life.  South-east Iceland lies on the path of many migrating birds to and from Europe, making the area ideal for observing the flocks of birds coming in in spring and gathering in autumn to prepare to move off to warmer climates.  Others, like the raven, beloved of Icelandic songs and folktales, stay with us all the year round.  Öræfaferðir organises birdwatching trips to Ingólfshöfði http://www.hofsnes.com/.  The information boards along the footpaths at Haukafell identify the main species found in the area.  The website of the Hornafjörður Ornithological Society gives information on local conditions and sightings in both English and Icelandic.  http://www.fuglar.is/.

http://www.icelandicBirds.com          Birdwathcing brochure

 

 

 

The Kingdom of Vatnajökull offers a huge variety of walking routes.  Whether you are looking for something short or long, easy or more challenging, you'll have no problem finding something to suit your needs.  Many of the paths are marked with posts or cairns.  There are walking maps of Suðursveit, Mýrar, Nes and Lónsöræfi with text in English or Icelandic.  These can be obtained at Brunnhóll or at Upplýsingamiðstöð Suðausturlands (The Southeast Iceland Information Centre) at the Glacier Exhibition.  Here you find maps of:  Mýrar, Nes, Suðursveit. (pdf) 

A number of travel companies offer organised walks in the region, including Öræfaferðir http://www.hofsnes.com/, Íslenskir fjallaleiðsögumenn http://www.mountainguide.is/ and the Austur-Skaftafellssýsla Travel Association www.horn.is/ferdafelag.

 

 

Mynd nr. 3 af einhverjum áningarstað

The Highways Administration has set up stopping points along the main road.  These are ideal places to break your journey and have a picnic.  Many have information boards describing the surrounding area and provide good starting points for short walks.  Just make sure you give yourself time to enjoy the sights and sounds of Icelandic nature.  For details, see www4.vegagerdin.is/thjonustukort/Grunnur.html.

 

Work is under way to improve access to Vatnajökull and the marking of footpaths and to set up information boards at various sites along the edge of the National Park, such as at Fláajökull and Skálafell.  There are a number of other tracks leading into the interior, e.g. to the Hoffellsjökull glacier.  Give yourself time to inspect the lakes of meltwater that form around the tongues of many of the glaciers, walk across land that until recently lay hidden under ice, and observe the traces left by the raging rivers that swept uncontrollably down from the glaciers, threatening the very existence of the neighbourhood – and try to put yourself in the shoes of the people who struggled to keep these waters in check.

 

 

 

 

 Finna hér texta af visitinu

In 2003 the Skaftafell National Park was expanded to take in almost the entire southern part of the Vatnajökull ice cap.  The Vatnajökull National Park is due to be formally opened in 2008.  From southeastern Iceland there is only track giving direct access to the glacier by motor vehicle, route F 985 to Jöklaselur under Skálafellsjökull.  There are also organised walking expeditions to Öræfajökull run by Öræfaferðir www.hofnes.com.

 

If you have ever harboured dreams of setting your foot the ice of a glacier, this is the place.  The Höfn region offers a range of glacier tours to suit different tastes and interests: Jöklajeppar http://www.glaciertours.is/, Öræfaferðir http://www.hofsnes.com/, and Íslenskir fjallaleiðsögumenn http://www.mountainguide.is/.

We strongly advise against going up onto Vatnajökull unaccompanied unless you are experienced in glacier travel, thoroughly familiar with local conditions, and leave details of your plans and route before setting off.

 

 

Mynd nr. 15 af báti á siglingu um Jökulsárlón:

One of the region's most popular attractions is a boat trip among the icebergs of the Jökulsárlón lagoon http://www.jokulsarlon.is/.  You can also take boat trips around the mouth of Hornafjörður http://www.fjoruferdir.is/.

 

 

Mynd nr. 13 af norðurljósum:

As autumn draws on and temperatures drop below zero, on a clear night you are likely to be treated to a dazzling display of northern lights.  The best displays are mostly late in the evening in very cold and still conditions.  Vatnajökull Travel http://www.vatnajokull.is/ runs special northern lights tours to the region.

 

Mynd nr. 6 af golfvellinum á Höfn:

From the Silfurnes golf course at Höfn there are magnificent views to the glaciers.  It is a 9-hole course, recently updated, and run by the Hornafjörður Golf Club.  The clubhouse is on Dalbraut.

 

Mynd nr. 10 af hreindýrum:

A special feature of the Kingdom of Vatnajökull is its herds of wild reindeer.  In summer they keep mainly to the mountains but move down to the lowlands as winter draws in.  They can frequently be seen grazing along the main road.  Please bear this in mind when driving in the dark!  Permits can be bought for reindeer hunting.  Information on http://www.hreindyr.is/.

 

Mynd nr. 14 af selum:

Few can resist the wide-eyed curiosity of the Icelandic seal.  If you are lucky, you can sometimes see them swimming among the icebergs of Jökulsárlón and off the mouth of Hólmsá at Skinneyjarhöfði.  For guests with the time to explore further afield, perhaps the best sightings are from the path around Horn east of Hornafjörður, where seals can often be seen basking on the rocks just offshore.  For details of the route, see the walking map of Nes.

 

Mynd  19 ??

Iceland is a paradise for anglers.  Fishing permits for the lakes and rivers of the region, including the salmon stream Laxá in Nes, can be obtained from http://www.strengir.is/.  In autumn the corn fields of the district are a favoured haunt of geese.  However, the rights to these fields are now controlled and it is no longer possible to buy hunting licences without prior arrangement.

 

Mynd nr. 9 af Handraðanum:

The Handicrafts House in Höfn sells a variety of articles produced in the region.

 

Heimamarkaðurinn ??

 

Mynd nr. 16 af sundlaug

No visit to Iceland is complete without a visit to a naturally heated swimming pool.  There are two pools in our part of Iceland, at Höfn and at Svínafell in Öræfi.  For opening times, see http://www.visitvatnajokull.is/.

 

 

Mynd nr. 12 af kirkju:

The region has several beautiful little churches.  Details of times of services can be obtained at Brunnhóll and from the tourist information centres.

 

 

 Mynd nr. 17 af gömlubúð t.d.

The southeast of Iceland has several interesting museums and exhibitions.  Gamlabúð in Höfn is a folk museum and museum of natural history.  At Pakkhús there is a maritime museum.  The Glacier Exhibition at Höfn is a fascinating multimedia experience, complete with walk-through ice cave and crevasse, exploring the history of Vatnajökull and its influence on the people's lives.  Thórbergssetur in Suðursveit is dedicated to the life and work of probably Iceland's best-loved modern author, Thórbergur Thórðarson (1889-1974), who was born and grew up in Suðursveit.  Gestastofan at Skaftafell provides an insight into the life and nature of the Öræfi region.

 

Mynd nr. 18 af einhverjum viðburð:

Probably the best-known of the region's cultural events are the Höfn Lobster Festival and the various shows put on by the Hornafjörður Entertainments Society (Hornfirska skemmtifélagið) http://www.skemmtifelag.is/.

 

 

 

• Birdwatching http://www.hofsnes.com/, http://www.fuglar.is/
• Coastal trips (Fjöruferðir) http://www.fjoruferdir.is/
• Mountaineering (Íslenskir fjallaleiðsögumenn)  http://www.mountainguide.is/
• Glacier Exhibition  http://www.is-land.is/
• Glacier tours  http://www.glaciertours.is/
• Jökulsárlón iceberg lake  http://www.jokulsarlon.is/
• Sightseeing tours  http://www.vatnajokull.is/
• Thórbergssetur cultural collection  http://www.thorbergur.is/
• Journeys into the wilds (Öræfaferðir)  http://www.hofsnes.com/

 

Mynd nr. 4 af útgerð Fjöruferða:

Fjöruferðir ehf www.fjoruferdir.is is based at Ósland in Höfn.  The company offers boat trips around Hornafjörður and across the mouth of the fjord to Melatangi, from where you can take quad bike runs along the shore.

 

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