Day 04 of 12 Day Roadtrip Iceland Hoefn Seydisfjoerdur
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 22-10-2025
Route Summary Driving in Iceland is a great experience, whether you travel by car or, as described in this review, by motorcycle.
These itineraries are based on information about Iceland found online, particularly from the Guide to Iceland, where you'll find a wealth of information to help you prepare for your trip. The material on this site has been compiled with great care; the link can be found in the review of the first itinerary in this series.
You will drive through landscapes that are varied and beautiful, you will see glacier tongues, volcanic mountains, geothermal areas with active geysers, lava fields, craters, forests, waterfalls and incredibly rugged stretches of coastline.
The routes in the north are part of the Arctic Coast Way
The main roads are of good quality, but you'll also be traveling on gravel roads, making them unsuitable for road motorcycles. Some of these roads are sometimes closed due to weather. It's therefore important to check the weather forecast and road conditions every day before you leave. This information can be found on the website of the Icelandic Meteorological Office and, for road conditions, on the website of the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration. The links are in the review.
Due to the Icelandic climate, this trip can only be done in summer.
I rate this route 4 stars because of the beautiful nature and sights.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
8h 43m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
296.23 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review On day four, you'll drive along the incredible fjords of East Iceland. This remote part of the country is very quiet and you'll experience little traffic noise.
The Eastfjords are spectacular in their own right: the eastern mountains are monumental and the bays sparkling and beautiful. The fishing villages you pass are sleepy and idyllic, and the scenery is breathtaking.
Most of the route follows the coastline, and you have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins. Along the coast, you'll see seals and numerous seabirds, including puffins nesting in the rocks. Wild reindeer also roam this part of East Iceland.
Traveling along Route 1 offers a wealth of stunning views and Iceland's beautiful nature.
The first stop is Vestrahorn, also known as Vesturhorn. This is a dramatic spot where dizzying cliffs converge on a flat black sand beach. The mountain is 454 meters (1,490 ft) high and is sometimes called "Batman Mountain." It's one of South Iceland's highlights.
The next stop is on the coast at Hvalnes Lighthouse. From here, you'll have a beautiful view. Afterward, you can visit the small Barkinafoss waterfall.
The first settlement you'll stop at is the village of Djúpivogur. Although it has fewer than five hundred inhabitants, it's known for its art and ethos. Djúpivogur is a small coastal town on the Búlandsnes peninsula, situated on the picturesque Hamarsfjörður fjord in East Iceland. The town has a population of approximately 400. Fishing has been the main driver of the local economy for centuries. In recent years, the tourism industry has also flourished, with a hotel, restaurants, cafés, and shops in and around the town. It's an ideal place to stop for lunch.
We stop at The Eggs of Merry Bay. In 2009, Icelandic artist Sigurður Guðmundsson created 34 enormous eggs to honor the 34 bird species that nest in the area. Each stone egg accurately reflects the shape, patterns, and colors of the bird egg it represents. The eggs are all roughly the same size, except one: the egg honoring the red-throated diver, the official bird of Djúpivogur, is larger than the rest. Each egg is accompanied by a plaque with the bird's name (genus and species) in Latin and its common name in Icelandic. This artwork also makes for a fun science lesson and language exercise.
A little further on lies the small Nykurhylsfoss waterfall. To reach it, turn left just after the bridge and drive about 400 meters along a gravel road – definitely worth it.
Also, stop for photos at the Streitisvík Lighthouse, built in 1984 to replace the first lighthouse from 1922. It was in use until 1958, when it was removed to allow for the construction of a new lighthouse in Breiðdalsvík. Streitisvík is a beautiful outdoor area, suitable for the whole family. A short, scenic hiking trail offers a wonderful insight into the geological history of East Iceland, particularly the dikes that are characteristic of the area.
We'll stop in the small town of Breiðdalsvík, population 139. This charming village is nestled on the coast and offers stunning seascapes and black sand beaches. This remote corner of the world offers a refreshing escape, where you can still discover the undiscovered.
You can also visit Petra's Stone Collection. This wonderful collection was the life's work of Petra Sveinsdóttir (1922–2012). In her house, stones and minerals are stacked from floor to ceiling—70% of them sourced from the immediate area. The collection includes beautiful blocks of jasper, polished agate, purple amethyst, glowing creamy "ghost stone," and glittering quartz crystals—it's like opening a treasure chest. A kilometer further on, you can stop for a drink.
The last part of the journey takes you along a beautiful, winding road to our hotel in Seyðisfjörður. You can stop along the way to take some photos.
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Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Iceland
About this region
Iceland (Icelandic: Ísland; [ˈistlant] (listen)) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Reykjavík. Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is the only part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that rises above sea-level, and its central volcanic plateau is erupting almost constantly. The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, and many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle. Its high latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, and most of its islands have a polar climate.
According to the ancient manuscript Landnámabók, the settlement of Iceland began in 874 AD when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island. In the following centuries, Norwegians, and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians, emigrated to Iceland, bringing with them thralls (i.e., slaves or serfs) of Gaelic origin.
The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the Althing, one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. Following a period of civil strife, Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. The establishment of the Kalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Iceland thus followed Norway's integration into that union, coming under Danish rule after Sweden's secession from the union in 1523. Although the Danish kingdom introduced Lutheranism forcefully in 1550, Iceland remained a distant semi-colonial territory in which Danish institutions and infrastructures were conspicuous by their absence.In the wake of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, Iceland's struggle for independence took form and culminated in independence in 1918 and the founding of a republic in 1944. Although its parliament (Althing) was suspended from 1799 to 1845, the island republic has been credited with sustaining the world's oldest and longest-running parliament.
Until the 20th century, Iceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and agriculture. Industrialization of the fisheries and Marshall Plan aid following World War II brought prosperity, and Iceland became one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world. It became a part of the European Economic Area in 1994; this further diversified the economy into sectors such as finance, biotechnology, and manufacturing.
Iceland has a market economy with relatively low taxes, compared to other OECD countries, as well as the highest trade union membership in the world. It maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens. Iceland ranks high in economic, democratic, and social stability, as well as equality, ranking third in the world by median wealth per adult. In 2020, it was ranked as the fourth-most developed country in the world by the United Nations' Human Development Index, and it ranks first on the Global Peace Index. Iceland runs almost completely on renewable energy.
Icelandic culture is founded upon the nation's Scandinavian heritage. Most Icelanders are descendants of Norse and Gaelic settlers. Icelandic, a North Germanic language, is descended from Old West Norse and is closely related to Faroese. The country's cultural heritage includes traditional Icelandic cuisine, Icelandic literature, and medieval sagas. Iceland has the smallest population of any NATO member and is the only one with no standing army, with a lightly armed coast guard.
Read more on Wikipedia
According to the ancient manuscript Landnámabók, the settlement of Iceland began in 874 AD when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island. In the following centuries, Norwegians, and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians, emigrated to Iceland, bringing with them thralls (i.e., slaves or serfs) of Gaelic origin.
The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the Althing, one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. Following a period of civil strife, Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. The establishment of the Kalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Iceland thus followed Norway's integration into that union, coming under Danish rule after Sweden's secession from the union in 1523. Although the Danish kingdom introduced Lutheranism forcefully in 1550, Iceland remained a distant semi-colonial territory in which Danish institutions and infrastructures were conspicuous by their absence.In the wake of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, Iceland's struggle for independence took form and culminated in independence in 1918 and the founding of a republic in 1944. Although its parliament (Althing) was suspended from 1799 to 1845, the island republic has been credited with sustaining the world's oldest and longest-running parliament.
Until the 20th century, Iceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and agriculture. Industrialization of the fisheries and Marshall Plan aid following World War II brought prosperity, and Iceland became one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world. It became a part of the European Economic Area in 1994; this further diversified the economy into sectors such as finance, biotechnology, and manufacturing.
Iceland has a market economy with relatively low taxes, compared to other OECD countries, as well as the highest trade union membership in the world. It maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens. Iceland ranks high in economic, democratic, and social stability, as well as equality, ranking third in the world by median wealth per adult. In 2020, it was ranked as the fourth-most developed country in the world by the United Nations' Human Development Index, and it ranks first on the Global Peace Index. Iceland runs almost completely on renewable energy.
Icelandic culture is founded upon the nation's Scandinavian heritage. Most Icelanders are descendants of Norse and Gaelic settlers. Icelandic, a North Germanic language, is descended from Old West Norse and is closely related to Faroese. The country's cultural heritage includes traditional Icelandic cuisine, Icelandic literature, and medieval sagas. Iceland has the smallest population of any NATO member and is the only one with no standing army, with a lightly armed coast guard.
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Route Collections in this region On an adventure in Iceland
12 Day Iceland Road Trip
Driving in Iceland is a great experience whether you travel by car or as described in this review by motorcycle.
This route collection is based on information about Iceland that you can find on the Internet, especially from the Guide to Iceland, where you can find a wealth of information to prepare you well for your trip.
You drive through landscapes that are varied and beautiful, you see glacier tongues, volcanic mountains, geothermal areas with active geysers, lava fields, craters, forests, waterfalls and incredibly rugged stretches of coast. You will also see many animals such as seals, killer whales, humpback whales, puffins, gulls, olives and petrels
The main roads are of good quality but you also drive a lot on gravel roads, so not suitable for road motorcycles. Some of these roads are sometimes closed due to the weather.
It is therefore important that you check the weather forecasts and the situation of the roads every day before you leave, this information can be found on the website of "Icelandic Meteorological Office" and for the roads on the website of "The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration" "
Due to the Icelandic climate this trip can only be made in the summer and is suitable for car and motorcycle. Renting cars (also 4x4) and motorbikes is possible in Reykjavik.
If you want your own car or motorcycle, you can make a ferry crossing from the Netherlands or Denmark via the Faroe Islands. Then take another week off for the crossings, or longer because you can also make beautiful rides on Faroe Islands.
This route collection consists of the following routes
Day 1 from Reykjavik to Vik (350km)
Day 2 from Vik to Kirkjubaejarklaustur (215km)
Day 3 from Kirkjubaejarklaustur to Hoefn (225km)
Day 4 from Hoefn to Seydisfjoerdur (295km)
Day 5 from Seydisfjoerdur to Husavik (300km)
Day 6 from Husavik to Siglufjordur (260km)
Day 7 from Siglufjordur to Blonduos (220km)
Day 8 from Blonduos to Reykholar (325km)
Day 9 from Reykholar to Patreksfjordur (455km)
Day 10 from Patreksfjordur to Grundarfjordur (280km)
Day 11 from Grundarfjordur to Borgarnes (210km)
Day 12 from Borgarnes to Reykjavik (270km)
Driving in Iceland is a great experience whether you travel by car or as described in this review by motorcycle.
This route collection is based on information about Iceland that you can find on the Internet, especially from the Guide to Iceland, where you can find a wealth of information to prepare you well for your trip.
You drive through landscapes that are varied and beautiful, you see glacier tongues, volcanic mountains, geothermal areas with active geysers, lava fields, craters, forests, waterfalls and incredibly rugged stretches of coast. You will also see many animals such as seals, killer whales, humpback whales, puffins, gulls, olives and petrels
The main roads are of good quality but you also drive a lot on gravel roads, so not suitable for road motorcycles. Some of these roads are sometimes closed due to the weather.
It is therefore important that you check the weather forecasts and the situation of the roads every day before you leave, this information can be found on the website of "Icelandic Meteorological Office" and for the roads on the website of "The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration" "
Due to the Icelandic climate this trip can only be made in the summer and is suitable for car and motorcycle. Renting cars (also 4x4) and motorbikes is possible in Reykjavik.
If you want your own car or motorcycle, you can make a ferry crossing from the Netherlands or Denmark via the Faroe Islands. Then take another week off for the crossings, or longer because you can also make beautiful rides on Faroe Islands.
This route collection consists of the following routes
Day 1 from Reykjavik to Vik (350km)
Day 2 from Vik to Kirkjubaejarklaustur (215km)
Day 3 from Kirkjubaejarklaustur to Hoefn (225km)
Day 4 from Hoefn to Seydisfjoerdur (295km)
Day 5 from Seydisfjoerdur to Husavik (300km)
Day 6 from Husavik to Siglufjordur (260km)
Day 7 from Siglufjordur to Blonduos (220km)
Day 8 from Blonduos to Reykholar (325km)
Day 9 from Reykholar to Patreksfjordur (455km)
Day 10 from Patreksfjordur to Grundarfjordur (280km)
Day 11 from Grundarfjordur to Borgarnes (210km)
Day 12 from Borgarnes to Reykjavik (270km)
View Route Collection
Adventure Tour along the Arctic Coast Way in Iceland
Iceland is a pearl on the earth with many natural beauties. In 2019, the Arctic Coast Way was opened to allow travelers to enjoy untouched nature. The Arctic Coast Way is a great opportunity to see wildlife, dive geothermal pools and take part in adventure activities such as hiking, boating and horseback riding, surrounded by sea and mountain views.
The Arctic Coast Way starts in Hvammstangi in the north-west and ends in Bakkafjörður in the north-east. This approximately 900 kilometer long “Off the Beaten track” route passes through rugged North Iceland and follows the beautiful Fjord coast.
Driving the Arctic Coast Way is different from what you might be used to. It is a true off the beaten track route that takes you through beautiful remote landscapes. This means leaving civilization behind in the spirit of adventure and exploration.
We drive large parts on unpaved roads (about 1/3 part), sometimes with large holes, so this route is only suitable for Adventure or Off Road motorcycles or cars with 4x4 drive. Drive slowly to enjoy the magical surroundings but because of the sheep and birds that can walk on the road.
The route runs close to the Arctic Circle and many stops are planned along the way to visit Iceland's many highlights. A number of examples are the many waterfalls, glaciers, fishing villages and fjords. In some cases you have to take a walk (hike), these can influence the planning of the rides, so keep that in mind. Due to the slower speed on the unpaved roads and the sights along the way, the routes have been kept short.
Enjoy the freedom along the way, but respect nature and keep in mind that wild camping is prohibited, you are only allowed to camp on campsites or with the permission of the owner on his private property. All villages along the route have camping options. All campsites have rubbish bins and sanitary facilities. Do not drive off-road, but stay on the designated roads. Off-road driving is prohibited, with heavy fines.
The routes are;
Day 1 from Hvammstangi to Blönduós
Day 2 from Blönduós to Grettislaug
Day 3 from Grettislaug to Siglufjörður
Day 4 from Siglufjörður to Húsavik
Day 5 from Húsavik to Raufarhöfn
Day 6 from Raufarhöfn to Bakkafjörður
The Arctic Coast Way starts in Hvammstangi in the north-west and ends in Bakkafjörður in the north-east. This approximately 900 kilometer long “Off the Beaten track” route passes through rugged North Iceland and follows the beautiful Fjord coast.
Driving the Arctic Coast Way is different from what you might be used to. It is a true off the beaten track route that takes you through beautiful remote landscapes. This means leaving civilization behind in the spirit of adventure and exploration.
We drive large parts on unpaved roads (about 1/3 part), sometimes with large holes, so this route is only suitable for Adventure or Off Road motorcycles or cars with 4x4 drive. Drive slowly to enjoy the magical surroundings but because of the sheep and birds that can walk on the road.
The route runs close to the Arctic Circle and many stops are planned along the way to visit Iceland's many highlights. A number of examples are the many waterfalls, glaciers, fishing villages and fjords. In some cases you have to take a walk (hike), these can influence the planning of the rides, so keep that in mind. Due to the slower speed on the unpaved roads and the sights along the way, the routes have been kept short.
Enjoy the freedom along the way, but respect nature and keep in mind that wild camping is prohibited, you are only allowed to camp on campsites or with the permission of the owner on his private property. All villages along the route have camping options. All campsites have rubbish bins and sanitary facilities. Do not drive off-road, but stay on the designated roads. Off-road driving is prohibited, with heavy fines.
The routes are;
Day 1 from Hvammstangi to Blönduós
Day 2 from Blönduós to Grettislaug
Day 3 from Grettislaug to Siglufjörður
Day 4 from Siglufjörður to Húsavik
Day 5 from Húsavik to Raufarhöfn
Day 6 from Raufarhöfn to Bakkafjörður
View Route Collection