In a nutshell
- Puffin & Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from Seydisfjordur Port, 5 hours with a live English speaking guide, listed from US$229.[1]
- The Gufufoss car park walk is no more than 150 meters, completely flat and takes a minute or two.[2] The waterfall stands approximately 88 feet (27 meters) tall.[3]
- Puffins nest at Hafnarholmi in Borgarfjordur Eystri every year from the middle of April to the beginning of August.[4]
- In July the average daily temperature ranges from a high of 51°F (11°C) to a low of 43°F (6°C).[5]
- Reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Check availability to see start times.[1]
- Top choice Puffin & Gufufoss tour from US$229 Duration5 hours[1]Rating4.63 from 270 reviews[1]GuideLive guide: English[1]CancellationCancel up to 24 hours in advance[1]Good forPuffins, waterfalls, villages Check availability
- Vok Baths entry from US$61 Duration1.5 hours[6]Rating4.69 from 386 reviews[6]GuideEnglish, Icelandic[6]CancellationCancel up to 24 hours in advance[6]Good forWarm water and steam See this tour
- Stuðlagil & Reindeer Tour from US$228 Duration6 hours[7]Rating4.86 from 7 reviews[7]GuideLive guide: German, English[7]CancellationCancel up to 24 hours in advance[7]Good forFjord wildlife by boat See this tour
Fjarðarheiði is a mountain pass road in East Iceland connecting Egilsstaðir and Seyðisfjörður via Road 93 (Hringvegur 93).
Our verdict: a gentle, well paced port day
Worth knowing first
On the day
- July averages run from 51°F (11°C) to 43°F (6°C). Bring layers.[5]
- The Gufufoss car park walk is no more than 150 meters and flat.[2]
- Puffins nest at Hafnarholmi from the middle of April to the beginning of August.[4]
- Stay on the marked paths at the colony and keep a respectful distance from the birds.
Who this Seydisfjordur shore tour suits
The Puffin & Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from Seydisfjordur Port lasts 5 hours, has a live guide who speaks English, and is listed from US$229.[1] The route moves through the Northeastern Region, then Hafnarholmi, then Lindarbakki, then Gufu Waterfall, with the coach carrying you between those places.
That shape of day is the main thing to weigh up when you are deciding whether it suits your group. There is a lot of sitting, a bit of standing and several short bursts of walking. The waterfall stop involves very little walking: the trail from the car park is no more than 150 meters long, completely flat, and takes a minute or two.[2] Gufufoss itself stands approximately 88 feet (27 meters) tall.[3]
If someone in your group needs step free access the whole way round, or cannot manage stepping up into a coach several times, this tour is harder than it looks on paper. Vok Baths: East Iceland Geothermal Baths Entry is listed as wheelchair accessible and runs for 1.5 hours, which may suit a gentler day.[6]
The coach journey out of Seydisfjordur port
The day is listed at 5 hours from start to finish, and the stops come in a fixed order.[1] The coach covers the distance between them, which keeps the walking in short pieces. That is gentler on knees and ankles than a long hike, though it does mean climbing in and out of a vehicle several times.
Leaving town means a steady climb out of the fjord over a bare mountain pass before the land opens into the wide valley beyond. The views back over the water and the roofs of Seydisfjordur open up quickly, and the air at the top is usually colder and windier than in the sheltered harbour below. Keep a warm layer within reach rather than buried in a bag under the coach.
Booking terms are relaxed for a shore day. Check availability to see the starting time for your date, reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1] If your ship's schedule shifts, that flexibility is worth having.
Puffins gather on the rocky slopes at Hafnarholmi during the nesting season.
Hafnarholmi and the puffin colony stop
Puffins nest at Hafnarholmi in Borgarfjörður Eystri every year from the middle of April to the beginning of August.[4] Hafnarholmi is one of the coach stops on this tour, and the colony sits right beside the harbour.[1]
At the harbour the birds are close to the paths, often near enough for a phone camera, and the site is laid out with walkways and low barriers. The ground is mostly level with a few gentle slopes, which makes it one of the more comfortable wildlife stops on a cruise day. Keep back from nesting burrows and stay on the marked route.
Outside the nesting window the harbour still offers working boats, sea views and plenty of other seabirds, and the walk from the coach is short either way. Binoculars or a camera with some zoom do more for puffin photos than trying to creep closer, and a windproof jacket makes standing at the railings much pleasanter.
Lindarbakki and the Bakkagerdi village stop
Lindarbakki is a colorful turf house in the village of Bakkagerði, and it is one of the stops on this coach day.[1][8] Turf roofs and grass walls were the old way of holding warmth through long Icelandic winters, and the contrast between a bright painted front and a green roof is what most cameras end up pointing at.
This is an easy stop to manage on foot. You are on village lanes and level ground, with time to take a photo and stretch your legs before the coach moves on. The surface is a mix of paved road, gravel and grass, which is fine in trainers but less comfortable with a walking frame or a pushchair, especially after rain.
Children usually enjoy this one because it is a short wander rather than a long walk. Keep an eye on the road edges, remember that people live here all year, and treat gardens, gates and any animals as private property. If you want coffee or a snack, this is a sensible place to ask your guide about timing.
from US$229
The Puffin & Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from Seydisfjordur Port runs 5 hours with a live English speaking guide and free cancellation.[1]
Gufufoss: the short walk and the terrain
Gufufoss stands approximately 88 feet (27 meters) tall, which puts it in the tall, narrow and photogenic category.[3] In the listed order it comes after Lindarbakki, with the coach waiting nearby and carrying on afterwards.[1]
The approach is the easy part of the day. The trail from the car park is no more than 150 meters long, completely flat, and takes a minute or two.[2] That makes the stop realistic for grandparents, small children and anyone who likes the idea of seeing a waterfall without a long hike. You get a full view of the falls from level ground.
Expect spray and a cool breeze near the water, and a path that can stay damp after rain. Shoes with grip are a better idea than smooth soles, and a waterproof outer layer keeps the rest of the day comfortable. There is no long approach here, just a short look and time for photos before the coach heads back.
Comfort stops, coach time and packing
The tour is listed at 5 hours with a live English speaking guide, and the order of stops is fixed, so you always know roughly where you are in the day.[1] Between stops you are on the coach, which is the warm, dry, seated part of the outing and a good place to eat a snack or sort through your photos.
July is about as warm as this coast normally gets. Average daily temperatures in Seydisfjordur range from a high of 51°F (11°C) to a low of 43°F (6°C), which is cool rather than cold, though coastal wind makes it feel sharper.[5] A hat, thin gloves, a warm mid layer and a light waterproof cover almost every eventuality.
Ask your guide at the start of the day about toilets, coffee and rest stops, and carry a water bottle and something to eat so that you are not depending on what happens to be open. Eating properly before you leave the ship also makes the coach legs more comfortable, especially for children and anyone who is prone to travel sickness.
Limited mobility, children and family planning
For limited mobility, the waterfall stop is the straightforward one: the walk from the car park is no more than 150 meters, completely flat, and takes a minute or two.[2] The rest of the day is coach travel with short walks, so a folding stick, supportive shoes and a little patience at the coach steps usually cover it.
Children tend to remember the puffins most, and the colony is occupied from the middle of April to the beginning of August, when the birds are nesting at Hafnarholmi.[4] The turf house at Lindarbakki is a quick, colourful stop, and the waterfall is a short out and back, so nobody has to walk far or stand still for long.[8]
If your group needs step free access all day, compare the other listings before you book. Vok Baths is wheelchair accessible and lasts 1.5 hours,[6] and the private Gufufoss and Vök Baths tour is listed as wheelchair accessible too, over 4 hours.[9] Both leave room for a slower pace and a proper sit down.
How long the main Seydisfjordur port tours run
Durations from four GetYourGuide listings: the puffin and Gufufoss tour, Vök Baths entry, the Stuðlagil reindeer tour and the shore excursion.[1][6][7][10]
From prices for Seydisfjordur port tours
From prices in US dollars for these GetYourGuide listings, shown per person where the listing publishes no separate child rate.[1][6][7][10]
When to book and what the season looks like
Planning your port day
Check your schedule
The tour lasts 5 hours, so compare that with your ship's time in port before you commit.[1]
Reserve now, pay later
Book your place and pay later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1]
Dress for the coast
July averages run from a high of 51°F (11°C) to a low of 43°F (6°C). Layers, a windproof shell and shoes with grip help.[5]
Know the walking
The walk from the Gufufoss car park is no more than 150 meters and completely flat, taking a minute or two.[2]
Watch the puffins
Puffins nest at Hafnarholmi from the middle of April to the beginning of August. Stay on the paths and keep your distance.[4]
Ask about facilities
Ask your guide at the start of the day about toilets and rest stops along a 5 hour coach day.[1]
See the puffins and Gufufoss on your Seydisfjordur port day
from US$230Reserve now & pay later
