A Week in Bakkagerði, East Iceland

Land at Egilsstaðir airport (EGS) and make the 70-kilometre overland journey to Bakkagerði. The base for the week is a guesthouse in the small fishing village of Borgarfjörður eystri. The first afternoon is for settling in and orienting to the village grid, perhaps with a walk to Álfuborg, a rock outcrop central to local elf folklore.

The day starts with a two-to-three-hour walk through the Borgarfjörður Valley, following trails around Urðarhólar Lake between rhyolite mountains. It’s a quiet landscape, with good chances for spotting local birdlife in the meadows. After lunch, the afternoon is unstructured. Options in the village include visiting the local microbrewery or booking time at a small spa. The day ends with a meal at the guesthouse, which focuses on ingredients from nearby farms and fishing boats.

Today is a close look at the industries and traditions that sustain a small East Fjords community. It begins with a visit to the Lindarbakki turfhouse, a classic grass-roofed cottage, before moving to a local fish factory to see how the daily catch is processed. Here you might see Harðfiskur (dried fish) being prepared.

Later, a hands-on cooking class focuses on preparing regional staples like a traditional cake, bread, and a fresh fish dish. The afternoon shifts to another unique local product: eiderdown. A visit to a small company explains the sustainable harvesting process, followed by a short walk to see the seabirds nesting along nearby cliffs.

The main objective today is an 8-kilometre hike along the coast to Stapavík. The trail follows the Selfljót river, offering views of the dramatic coastline and meadows. Though mostly flat, the route is rugged and feels remote, giving a sense of the isolation that historically defined this part of Iceland. After the three-to-four-hour walk, a scenic drive returns to Borgarfjörður Eystri for lunch. The afternoon is free to relax or to arrange a visit to a nearby working farm for a look at daily agricultural life.

A day trip heads out from the village to explore the surrounding region. The first stop is a local farm to meet Icelandic horses, with an option to ride. From there, the road leads towards Seyðisfjörður, pausing at Gufufoss, a wide waterfall in a mossy gorge. Lunch is in the village of Seyðisfjörður itself, known for its colourful wooden houses and arts community.

The return journey includes a stop at Vök Baths, a geothermal spa built on Lake Urriðavatn near Egilsstaðir. The design features floating pools on the lake, offering a modern take on the Icelandic bathing tradition. The day concludes with the 70-kilometre drive back to the guesthouse in Bakkagerði.

After a final breakfast at the guesthouse, an early morning transfer makes the 70-kilometre journey back to Egilsstaðir airport (EGS) to connect with morning flights back to Reykjavík. The trip concludes upon arrival at the airport.