King and Queen of Cliffs - Hornstrandir Hike
by Sjóferðir ehf · Hiking & trekking · Westfjords
- Fine on your own
from €478.93 per person
No published departures in the coming months — ask us
1 / 14
Duration
11 hours
Difficulty
Moderate
Season
All year
Starts in
Horn
Pickup
Meet at the start point
Starts at
Ásgeirsgata, Ísafjörður
Guide
Guided in English, Icelandic
Departs
09:00
Minimum age
12
Cancellation
Cancelling costs 10% of the price within 365 days of departure, rising to 50% within 14 days.
About this experience
Hornvík is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in Iceland. It is surrounded by two of the three largest bird cliffs in Europe and has a mystic remoteness and magnificent landscape. To get to Hornvík you must sail for 2-2,5 hours straight and sometimes the ride can be a bit bumpy. Before stepping onto dry land we stop for a moment to view the cliffs of Hælavíkurbjarg; a cliff that reaches vertically at an altitude of 258 meters. Stepping ashore on the other side of the bay, you hike up to one of the mountains to enjoy the best view possible of the day. The arctic foxes are nearby and might appear without notice. The tour takes about 10-12 hours and the stay in Hornvík is around 6-7 hours, spent walking and enjoying all the magnificent things that catch your eye. This hike is for people in moderate shape. The hiking distance is about 6 km on rough and on steep and slippery ground.
Description from the operator, Sjóferðir ehf. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Included
Boat transfers and guidance.
Not included
Snacks and lunch package.
Water bottle
Gear.
Good to know
Participation in this tour requires warm and wind/waterproof clothes, solid hiking boots, gloves and cap, a lunch pack and something to drink. Don't forget to bring your camera.
Kindly note that we need a minimum of 4 persons total for the tour to go ahead. We offer 100% refund if the tour does not go ahead due to minimum persons not being reached.
The boat ride can be rough as we cross the open sea.
Challenging for people afraid of heights.
Cancellation for this tour
Cancelling costs 10% of the price within 365 days of departure, rising to 50% within 14 days. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.
If the weather cancels this tour
Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is wind above the treeline and river levels after rain — the guide decides on the day. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1Sjóferðir ehf decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
- 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
- 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.
What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until the cutoff shown above, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Who this is not for
- Not for families with children under 12 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.
- Not a good fit if you want a relaxed day: 11 hours is a long time on the road, most of it spent getting there and back.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
Sjóferðir ehf is one of 204 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →
What travellers say about Sjóferðir ehf
Read all 45 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.7/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · a month ago
Had a first rate whale watching experience with Sjóferdir today. Saw many whales. Judith, the guide, was excellent- enthusiastic and informative. Very competent captain as well. Comfortable boat. Small group. Gorgeous scenery. Highly recommend!!
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
This was such a magical, spectacular day and I’m so glad I booked with this company. Our tour guide was fantastic, keeping us at a pace that wasn’t too rushed where we had plenty of time to take in all of the beautiful sights. And she was so knowledgeable about the area and wildlife, and we were lucky enough to even spot a family of Arctic foxes. By far this was the highlight of my trip thanks to our amazing tour guide. Such a beautiful area.
★★★★★ · 9 months ago
One of the absolute highlights of my year was spending time at sea with these guys. A beautifully guided trip where the whale encounters were shared with care and integrity. We went out in late September and early October and saw SO many whales, it was absolutely mind blowing. Thank you so much for all that you do!
★★★★★ · a year ago
Today we went on our trip to see the whales and other wildlife. We weren't disappointed. Within 20 mins we were surrounded by groups of 4 and 5 whales. Absolutely awesome trip can't fault it. The Captain was exceptional and the young man who throughout the trip filled us with information was brilliant. We stayed out at sea for approx 2 hrs and my phone battery was empty after taking so many photos. The Captain turned the engines off and as we drifted we could here the whales calling each other..truly emotional. Cannot recommend this company and crew highly enough. There was one toilet on board which was easily accessible. But I must say the amount of narrow walkways and steps on board makes it non accessible for wheelchair confined persons. The weather was bright and a gentle breeze which made for a great trip. If I ever return I will be booking again. Thankyou again for a once in a lifetime experience.
Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
Hiking & trekking — questions people ask
When can you hike in Landmannalaugar?
Late June to September. The highland roads to Landmannalaugar are closed by snow the rest of the year, and the opening date shifts with the weather each summer. In season, day tours from Reykjavík (/experience/16823/) run about fourteen hours with a three- to five-hour guided hike and a soak in the hot river. If you have your own 4x4, the meet-on-location hike (/experience/254326/) skips the bus.
How hard is the Laugavegur trek?
Moderate to hard. It is 55 kilometres over four days from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, with river crossings, snow patches in July and weather that can turn to sleet in August. You do not need technical skills, but you need to carry a pack and walk five to eight hours a day. Guided treks (/experience/738812/) handle logistics and camping gear; the luggage transfer (/experience/1036525/) lets self-guided walkers carry a day pack only.
Can you hike to the volcano near Reykjavík?
Yes, when it is safe. The Reykjanes eruption sites at Fagradalsfjall and around Grindavík have drawn hikers since 2021, and guided tours (/experience/629086/, /experience/620679/) follow the routes the Civil Protection authority has open. If there is an active eruption, access changes daily and tours adapt or pause. The lava is usually cooled and crusted; you see fresh black rock and steam, not flowing lava. Wear boots; the ground is rough.
What should I pack for a day hike in Iceland?
Waterproof jacket and trousers, not a poncho; the wind will shred it. Hiking boots with ankle support, wool or synthetic layers, hat, gloves, sunglasses and a packed lunch with two litres of water. In the highlands add a warm mid-layer even in July. Guides carry first aid and route knowledge, not your rain gear. Cotton jeans and trainers are the most common reason people have a miserable day.
Hotels
Where to stay for this tour
From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Ísafjörður, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site. Ourhotels is our sister company — the same people, a different business — so we list it first and say so.
from 16.427 kr.Ourhotels · our sister company
Hotel · Ísafjörður
The Ísafjörður Inn
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
from 20.118 kr.Lowest price
Guesthouse · Ísafjörður
Mánagisting Gistihús
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
from 27.460 kr.Top end
Hotel · Flateyri
Holt Inn
16 km away · a night for two, indicative
One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
203 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it
Pairs well with
Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €16 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.
Borea Adventures
Hornvík Heights and Sights
Challenging · from age 16
2 days · from Ísafjörður
- Age 16+
- Challenging
- Book the night before
Borea Adventures
Hornstrandir Traverse
Demanding · from age 14
3 days · from Ísafjörður
- Age 14+
- Demanding
- Book the night before
Sjóferðir ehf
Ísafjörður - Hornvík
about the usual price for sightseeing day tours
meet at the start point
2 h · from Ísafjörður
Sjóferðir ehf
Hornvík - Ísafjörður
about the usual price for sightseeing day tours
meet at the start point
2 h · from Ísafjörður
Iceland Backcountry travel
Isafjordur Mountain View
60% below the €144 typical for sightseeing day tours
from age 12 · meet at the start point
2 h · from Ísafjörður
- Age 8+
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation until departure
VAREN Iceland
Reykjavik City Airport (RKV) to or from Hotel: Private Transfer by Sedan or Van
pickup included · works in rain
15 min · from Reykjavík
- Free cancellation 24 h
- Book same day
- Private