by Janis / 11 comments - Orginally published:1st May 2018
Day Five, The Rugged Coastline
As we head out of Höfn back onto the Ring Road. You can immediately tell that this is where most tourists have turned around and headed back along the south of Iceland.
The roads weren’t too busy prior to this; now our Icelandic Ring Road adventure was going to be even more cherished.
Today’s planned route should be a distance of around 158miles/255km. Which is once again predominately along the Ring Road, but with of course our regular viewpoint stops to soak up the landscape.
For our overnight accommodation in Egilsstaðir; we stayed at Hótel Valaskjálf, which had ample parking and included breakfast.
Why not Pin it for later?
(You can pick-up any part of our Iceland Road Trip at the bottom of this post, along with a map of our route and the 'Highlight of the Day' for each of us.)
A different day in Iceland
Honest, there were ReindeerA new day on our Iceland road trip, and we were more or less hugging the coastline today, and no sooner we had left Höfn, the seascape opened out before us.
The view from Hvalnes Lighthouse
We were now even seeing signs for ‘reindeer crossing’, and lo and behold we saw some. But not too close, to be perfectly honest when we pulled over to take some photos they were unsure of us and walked in the opposite direction.
Reindeers in Iceland
Where to stay in Egilsstaðir
In Egilsstaðir we chose to stay at the Hótel Valaskjálf.
We had a few essential requirements from each of our overnight stays in Iceland, which were:
Breakfast included or available nearby.
Scooby snacks along the way can be expensive.
Parking is a requirement, as this is a road trip after all.
Nearby cafés/eateries, or onsite restaurant for the evening.
Preferably a close-by fuel station; they can be few and far between en route.
Exploring eastern Iceland
Hvalnes LighthouseA short hop along Iceland's quiet Ring Road of about 50km (31 miles) from Höfn, we came across Hvalnes lighthouse on a craggy outcrop.
Hvalnes Lighthouse
Along this coastline, there are so many inlets and unforgiving rocks. It’s no wonder Iceland has its fair share of lighthouses.
Our Advice
Go for a 4×4 for the reasonable ground clearance it affords you. You can, of course, hire a 2-wheel drive vehicle, but you are not permitted to drive on ‘F’ roads and other tracks.
Our experience was that even access to certain Points of Interest along roads a regular 2-wheel drive wouldn’t get you there. Trust us.
Our advice for an Icelandic Road Trip
Take your time
The Eastern Iceland Coastline
As we tour across the spectacular landscape we see tiny villages which are so isolated, it amazes me that there are communities living in these harsh surroundings. You'll spot tiny tranquil bays and remote harbour towns.
The coastline of Eastern Iceland, looking south.
Route One in Eastern Iceland
Some places are so isolated, and it amazes me that there are people living in these surroundings. Tiny tranquil bays and remote harbour towns.
Teigarhorn Natural Monument and Nature Preserve, Iceland
The bay at Teigarhorn Natural Monument and Nature Preserve
Useful tips for driving in Iceland
If you are planning a road trip around Iceland particularly over the winter months you need to be very aware of the ever-changing road and weather conditions. During winter, parts of the Ring Road may be impassable, and you may not get to areas of the country you intended to.
Regularly check the conditions by using these useful websites and apps, believe me, they will come in handy.
- Icelandic Met Office
- The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration – Vegagerdin also has an app.
We have also written a post packed with tips for driving in Iceland based on our research and experience than may be worth checking out.
Our first waterfall of the day
SveinsstekksfossWe found the waterfall we were looking for Sveinsstekksfoss. However, it was a bit obscured from view, so there was only one thing for it, launch the drone…..
Also, why not subscribe to our YouTube channel and get the latest clips as we post them?
Another drone flight over Iceland
Up and away
Just outside Breiðdalsvík
As this area of Iceland was so quiet and very few people were around, we decided to fly the drone again.
It gives an incredible perspective of the scenery.
Planning your trip to Iceland
So you're planning a trip to the Land of Fire and Ice? There is so much to see and do in Iceland that you'll wish you were staying longer. To ensure you make the most out of your visit, head over to the official website of Visit Iceland for a little help and guidance.
Have fun!
Create your own Icelandic adventure
A little detourOur timing was going well for today's route of our Iceland road trip, so we decided to take a little detour onto the 955 around the peninsula by the village of Fáskrúðsfjörður. Before heading, on we grabbed some sustenance from a supermarket and sat and admired the view across the bay.
Fáskrúðsfjörður
While here we found out that this village was also an outpost for French seaman fishing in Iceland during the late 19th and early 20th century.
Unfortunately, this was an unforgiving occupation, and a little French Cemetery is dedicated to the seaman who lost their lives.
Route 955 in Eastern Iceland
Our Advice
It’s your adventure, include whatever takes your fancy. Stop as often as you like, but obviously use a layby or a car park. Don’t just stop on the side of the road, be considerate and be aware of your surroundings.
Peaceful Iceland
Where is everyone?So, we left the Iceland's Ring Road for a gravel road bypass, once again the backdrop was breath-taking.
Heading around Vattarnes on route 955
Before we took the detour, we saw signs for falling rocks. So, expecting to see small rocks or stones along the way, but no these were boulders in the road. Keep moving was the name of the game, perhaps we could outrun them.
The view over the entrance to Reyðarfjörður
In search of the Northern Lights
If you are Northern Light hunting, you need to be aware of the sunset & darkness times and the KP Index for the evening. It also requires dark and partly clear skies.
KP Index scale ranges from 0 to 9;
0-2: Low
2-3: Moderate
4-6: A big solar storm is coming
7-9: Highly unusual
You can monitor this via the Icelandic Met Office which is updated around 6 pm.
Your own road trip through Iceland
Taking a mountain passAfter our 30 miles’ detour, we were back on the Iceland's rote 1 again and heading to the town of Egilsstaðir, our base for the evening.
Route One just outside Egilsstaðir
However, as we still had time to discover more of eastern Iceland we took the 93 towards Seyðisfjörður (I haven’t got a clue how to pronounce that).
Route 93 towards Seydisfjordur
Heading high over mountains we now have bright skies and the sun glistening on the snow. We weave our way into town passing skiers and snowmobiles.
If you're tempted to tour the Land of Fire and Ice and would love to discover the whole country, then take a look at this DK Eyewitness book. This Top 10 Pocket Travel Guide is invaluable, I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more.
You can now grab the revised copy.
Discovering Iceland
What a findWe arrive at Seyðisfjörður, and it such a delightful town, nestled at the mouth of a fjord of the same name.
The view over the bay at Seydisfjordur
The small fishing port has such character, the beautifully kept homes and shops encircle the fjord and create such a picturesque sight.
Reflections at Seydisfjordur
Finding the right car for your Icelandic Road Trip
Discover Iceland’s enchanting Ring Road with its rugged landscape or the waterfalls and geysers around the Golden Circle for yourself.
If you want to explore Iceland's F-Roads, you must have a 4x4, but we'd recommend one anyway for the improved driving position, and if the weather turns, you have a touch of added protection.
We recommend Rental Cars as they search multiple well-known car hire brands and discovers the deals that suit you the best.
Our Iceland Road Trip
The routeThe route that we took today was once again predominantly along the Ring Road, with a few detours and stops along the way. So, in total, our journey was about 343km (213 miles) and with all the stops took us about 8 hours.
Where we stayed in Egilsstaðir
Our stopoverFor the one night, we were based in Egilsstaðir; we stayed at Hótel Valaskjálf. It wasn’t quite as we’d hoped as we were informed on arrival that we couldn’t use their in-house restaurant, as they were catering for a conference. We were directed elsewhere in town, which wasn’t ideal as we had just had a long day driving.
Since our return, I have contacted the hotel and explained my displeasure and they said we should have reserved a table in advance. Is that acceptable? Still it was only one night.
Tomorrow we will be discovering more of eastern Iceland.
The journey will be a mere 105 miles/168 km but wether permitting there will be a couple of detours along the way.
Highlight of the Day
Every trip Gary and I go on, whether it’s a mini-break near or far or a road trip we chose a ‘Highlight of the Day’, here they are for day 5.
Janis; The whole route today was beautiful. However, I particularly enjoyed the little harbour towns and villages along the way.
Gary; Now this is difficult. On one hand it has to be getting the drone airborne to capture some different views of the beautiful landscape, but I think the detour from Egilsstaðir to Seyðisfjörður was stunning.
Trips to try in Iceland
Something from Get Your Guide?Why not check out what else is on offer through Get Your Guide.
* This post may contain links to affiliated sites where we earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Whoa those mountain peaks are impressive! Haven’t seen a post about this part of Iceland before! I’d love to pin it but still having difficulty as it says your site doesn’t allow pinning. #CityTripping
The scenery in eastern Iceland is incredible, less people tour this part of Iceland, so, it makes it even more special coming across these views.
Thanks for letting us know about the Pinterest issue, it was resolved, but obviously temporarily, another ticket raised with Pinterest.
Pinterest have once again said they have solved the problem, so fingers crossed, you should now be able to pin our images.
We’ll keep an eye on it, but once again thanks for letting us know.
This is my favourite of your Iceland posts so far. It does look as though you were the only people there and that you were following the path less travelled. And that photo of the fishing village across the water is just fabulous. I feel very inspired now to visit the Iceland you’ve seen. Thanks so much for sharing on #FarawayFiles
Thanks very much for your kind compliments.
Sometimes when I look at the photos I can’t believe we were there, the landscape was truly breath-taking. We hadn’t originally planned to go to Seyðisfjörður (the fishing village), but I am so glad we did, it was picture postcard.
I sincerely hope that you plan to make a book out of all these amazing photos because they are STUNNING! I’ve truly loved reading about your Iceland adventures! #farawayfiles
Thanks for your comments Hilary, they are really appreciated.
I’ll let Gary know, that you loved his photos, I’ll get him to work on the book.
The landscape is absolutely stunning, love your pics! My sister travelled to Iceland two years ago and she had a fantastic time too. She and her friend had rented a car to explore the various places and at one point they had decided to quickly move on to the next destination before it gets dark instead of stopping every now and then for photos, lol! #FarawayFiles
Glad to hear that your sister also enjoyed Iceland, did she tour the Ring Road or keep to the south of Iceland? There is so much to see around the south it can keep you occupied for days.
Thanks for the kind words.
What is the grocery and gas situation like on the southeast side of Iceland? Your pictures are breathtakingly beautiful. thanks for sharing!
Hi, thanks very much for your kind comments.
Travelling along the south section of the Ring Road isn’t too bad as it is reasonably popular around Selfoss and Vik. There are groceries and fuel in Hofn too, in the far southeast.
Our next stop from Hofn was further east to Egilsstaðir, continuing on the Ring Road, and they also had fuel stations and grocery stores.
I hope this helps, just shout if you need anymore info, have a fantastic time.