Iceland review - 2013, Page 100

98 ICELAND REVIEW
The greater ísafjörður area,
encompassing the fishing
villages of Hnífsdalur in the
north, and Suðureyri, Flateyri
and Þingeyri in the west, is the
gateway to a region rich in
history and wild nature
waiting to be discovered.
travel
The largest town in the Westfjords, Ísafjörður (pop. 2,600), is locat-
ed in Skutulsfjörður in the larger fjord Ísafjarðardjúp in the extreme
northwest corner of Iceland. Popular year round for its rich culture,
local delicacies and proximity to nature, the town is an increasingly
popular addition to one’s trip to Iceland.
VibraNt Culture aNd aweSOme Nature
Despite its remote location, the town is connected with daily flights
and a host of festivals, including the annual Aldrei fór ég suður (‘I
never went south’) free music festival over the Easter weekend.
Filled with colorful old houses of all shapes and sizes, the town’s
rich architectural heritage is also a drawcard.
Ample opportunities await the adventure enthusiast, not least for
the magnificent Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in the north. Acces-
sible from Ísafjörður only by boat, a visit to the reserve—and Horn-
bjarg, one of the largest seabird colonies in the North Atlantic, in
particular—makes for an unforgettable day trip or a multi-day hike.
Also on the must-visit list is the impressive Dynjandi waterfall lying
to Ísafjörður’s south, cascading from a height of 100 m (330 ft).And
over winter, snow sports—including unrivaled off-piste skiing and
snowboarding—and glacier hiking keep the town buzzing.
When it comes to food, there’s plenty of regional delights to be
had, like the catch of the day served at the region’s many restau-
rants.
hikiNG paradiSe aNd SaGa SiteS
The village of Suðureyri, a 20-minute drive from Ísafjörður to the
northwest, has a rugged beauty typical of the westernmost part of
Iceland. Like other coastal villages, Suðureyri is a village built on
fish but is fast becoming a tourist hotspot. The town offers a host
of activities year-round from sea angling to berry picking, guided
walks and cooking classes.
In Flateyri, about the same distance from Ísafjörður, you’ll find am-
ple hiking trails, as well as a museum tracing the village’s history, in-
cluding the avalanche which claimed the lives of 20 people in 1995.
Fifty kilometers (30 miles) from Ísafjörður, Þingeyri, which features
in one of Iceland’s most famous sagas, Gísla saga Súrssonar, should
be next on your itinerary. The village hosts the annual Dýrafjörður
Viking Festival in July. There’s more good news for hikers too; Kald-
bakur (998 m/3,274 ft), the Westfjord’s highest mountain, and its
surrounding valleys offer unlimited opportunities. Horse and bi-
cycle rentals are also available.
But don’t just take others’ word for it; the region is the recipient of
a European Destinations of Excellence 2010 award and was chosen
as one of the ten world’s most interesting regions to visit by Lonely
Planet.
isafjordur.is
Adventure In ÍsAfjörður
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