Many people who travel around Iceland imagine there is less to see along the 156 mi (252 km) stretch of Highway 1 between Höfn and Egilsstaðir. This really is a misnomer. There are diverse and truly captivating sights and places to experience. With hauntingly beautiful mountain and coastal views accompanying you every step of the journey, the delights of the East Fjords will surprise you. The air of unspoiled remoteness, that this region is renowned for, will add its own very special dimension to your travels. This is one of the increasingly few places where you can feel that you have left the world behind.
Vestrahorn
This stunningly beautiful black beach even has sand dunes! The Vestrahorn mountain gives this place mystical overtones. Enjoy the Stokksnes beach, hiking paths, and the best-ever views over Hornafjörður from the viewing point.
A 9 USD fee is charged to use the private beach, with access to the road and parking near the Viking Café included.
Vestrahorn and Vesturhorn are the same places, located 8.5 mi (13.8 km) east of Höfn. Journeying in an easterly direction, after the left turn to the old road to Almannaskarð, you need to turn right onto Stokksnesvegur, Road 9720.
Skútufoss
This scintillating waterfall drops from a low cliff onto moss-clad boulders, before tumbling into a pretty pool on the beach, like a scene from a fairy tale. Really remote and highly photogenic, Skútufoss is seldom visited, and the nearby cave is charming.
Skútufoss can be found to the left of Highway 1 around 13 mi (20.9 km) from Höfn. A useful map is shown here. You will need to walk over a short distance to the waterfall. GPS coordinates 64.340103, – 14.938596.
Red Chair
This is where people doubt the evidence of their own eyes! The red-painted wooden chair stands like a surreal monument. Sized for a giant, it sits secured to a moss-covered hillside with the Atlantic rolling waves at its back. A map showing the exact location beside Highway 1 can be found here.
Hvalnes Lighthouse
This bright orange towering beacon, whose official address is the North Atlantic Ocean, is next on the agenda as you head eastwards. Built-in 1954, the light is still operational, emitting two white pulses every 20 seconds. The Atlantic waves crashing onto the beach reiterate the need for a lighthouse on this fabulously wild headland. Hvalnes Lighthouse is a picturesque lighthouse located on the southeast coast of Iceland. The lighthouse was built in 1950 and stands 19 meters tall, providing a stunning view of the surrounding landscape. Hvalnes Lighthouse is a popular spot for birdwatching, as many seabirds can be seen in the area. The lighthouse is also a great place to watch the Northern Lights during the winter months. Visitors can take a short walk around the lighthouse and enjoy the scenic views of the ocean and nearby cliffs.
Djúpivogur
This little town, clinging to the peninsula separating Berufjörður from Hamarsfjörður, is sometimes tranquil, and at other times wild with a fierce wind whipping the salt of the sea into the air. Totally unique, Djúpivogur was established as a Danish trading port early in the 18th century by a former Danish slave.
Langabúð, built for commercial purposes in 1790, still stands today, operating as a café and Heritage Museum, and also displaying the work of local sculptor, Ríkarður Jónsson. At the western edge of the town, an outdoor sculpture awaits your discovery, Eggin of Gleðivík, ‘The Eggs of Merry Bay’, was created by Sigurður Guðmundsson.
Wander, relax, and feel the peace of the wild wind. I expect you are ready for lunch. Við Vogin offers indoor or outdoor seating in summer and a range of lunches, soups, cakes, and other refreshments. Hotel Framtið Restaurant and Bar is well-known for its good quality soups and fish dishes, and a really welcoming atmosphere.
Petra’s Stone Collection
Inspired by Petra’s remarkable story, this is one of the places I longed to see before I ever visited Iceland. From when she was a tiny child, and throughout her life, Petra collected stones from the land around her, and over time her home at glorious Stöðvarfjörður became filled with her finds. Her collection even extends out into her picturesque garden, which is resplendent with a statue of the lady herself. Her name, rather an unusual one in Iceland, appears to be prophetic, relating as it does to rocks and petrology.
A fee of 11.1 USD is charged for those who are fourteen years and older. Opening times and more information about the collection can be found on the exhibition’s website. A café offers cakes, drinks, soups, and refreshments.
To get to Stöðvarfjörður, you continue along Highway 1, through the sensational scenery of the East Fjords.
Vattarnes Sea Cliffs
The sea cliffs here and the rock formations just off the shore are amazing. The craggy cliffs bear dramatic marks of the extraordinary glacial and volcanic forces that created them. Astonishingly stark in places, amazingly shaped rock forms will greet you around every corner.
Road 955 will take you around the magnificently rugged peninsula of Vattarnes. I really enjoyed driving this stretch, but do take care and check the conditions before you go.
Icelandic Wartime Museum
This unique museum at Reyðarfjörður will take you back in time. The story of the English soldiers who were stationed here is told in parallel with that of this very remote community. See the way the local people, who could never have expected to play host to a British Army encampment, shared their little town with the soldiers. A couple of interesting movies are also shown.
Open daily, June to the end of August from 1 pm to 5 pm.
Hengifoss
Hengifoss, a 420 ft (128 m) high waterfall, is extraordinary. It cascades elegantly over a curved ‘cliff’ that embraces the flow, but it is the horizontal bands of red clay passing through it that make it unique. These bands, or paleosols, were formed by successions of volcanic activity. Words cannot do justice to the loveliness of this waterfall.
Hiking to Hengifoss, you will come to Litlanesfoss, and another waterfall whose name is so obscure I was unable to find it, both of them are beautiful. Litlanesfoss is also known as Stuðlabergsfoss, describing the hexagonal basalt column cliff it drops from. 
The 1.55 mi (2.5 km) hike to Hengifoss takes 40 to 60 minutes each way. The terrain is steep in places, but the views are mesmeric.
Walking up from the parking lot you will see Lagarfljót, a large and beautiful lake, and also the largest forest in Iceland, Hallormsstaðaskógur, covering 740 hectares. This forestry project was instigated by Christians Flensborg, with preservation status granted in 1901 and large-scale cultivation work commencing in 1905. Although mainly a birch forest, over 80 species of trees from around the world have been established.
Vallanes
Móðir Jörð (Mother Earth) Organic Farm is a fabulous place to learn about organic cultivation in Iceland. Farm visits and an organic café run from June to August. More info on their website.
Egilsstaðir
Egilsstaðir is the major town of the east, a great place to base yourself if you want to explore this region from a central point. Blessed with verdantly green vegetation, with high mountains rising behind it, Egilsstaðir is very attractive. Egilsstaðir is a small town located in the eastern part of Iceland. It is the largest settlement in the Eastfjords region and serves as a hub for transportation and services in the area. The town is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, with picturesque mountains, glaciers, and fjords nearby. Egilsstaðir is a great place to stop and explore while traveling through the Eastfjords region, offering a range of accommodations, dining options, and outdoor activities.
Fardagafoss
is an enchanting waterfall. The river Miðhúsaá drops down 66 ft (20 m) in two stages. Take Road 93, which is 2nd on the left after the Altantsolía gas station on Highway 1, and drive 2.39 mi (2.85 km), the parking lot is on the right. A short walk by the river will take you to the falls.
Stuðlagil Canyon
Stuðlagil, also known as the “Basalt Column Canyon,” is a hidden gem located in the eastern part of Iceland. The canyon is carved by the glacier-fed Jökulsá River, revealing striking basalt columns on either side. The name Stuðlagil literally means “column canyon” in Icelandic, and it’s not hard to see why. The basalt columns are the result of a volcanic eruption that occurred over 7 million years ago. The lava that flowed down the river valley cooled and solidified, forming the hexagonal columns that we see today. The canyon was not revealed until recently, as the Jökulsá River was redirected due to a nearby hydroelectric power plant.
Stuðlagil is an excellent location for hiking, and there are several trails that visitors can take to explore the canyon. The most popular trail is the one that leads down to the riverbed, where visitors can get a closer look at the basalt columns and the crystal-clear blue water of the river. The hike is relatively easy and takes about 45 minutes to complete.
Stuðlagil is a truly breathtaking location that showcases the unique geology of Iceland. It’s a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to the eastern part of the country, and it’s sure to leave a lasting impression on all who see it.
Some Egilsstaðir places to eat:
Hérað Restaurant, Hótel Hérað offers fine dining. Reindeer and wild game specialists, but also excellent quality lobster, seafood, fish of the day, steak, chicken, and vegetarian choices. Full three-course luxury meal or lighter options. Lunches and evening meals.
Eldhúsið Restaurant, Lake Hotel uses locally grown ingredients as much as possible, Icelandic food but also dishes with a flourish that is international. Elegant lunches, evening meals, three-course farm-to-table menu, cocktails, children’s menu, starters, mains, and desserts.
Salt Café and Bistro has an extensive menu. Pizza, burgers, salads, Indian, Tex Mex, fish, steaks, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices. Cakes, desserts, and drinks. Lunches, snacks, and evening meals.
Bókakakki Hlöðum is absolutely outstanding for cakes and desserts in my opinion! Breakfast and lunch are also served, as well as a huge range of coffee, cake, and tea.
Vök Baths Bistro and Tea Bar, offers splendid views over one of Iceland’s newest spa baths and the glorious nature. Soups, salads, cakes from mostly organic ingredients, and, of course, tea!
Written by Kay Tina Cook
