East Fjords Nature and Culture Tour from Seyðisfjörður

Egilsstaðir is the largest town in East Iceland, with about 2,600 people, and young by Icelandic standards: it grew up around a farm where the roads from the East Fjords, the north and the Ring Road meet, and became a town in 1947. It sits on the lake-like river Lagarfljót, with fuel, supermarkets, a hospital and a small domestic airport, and works well as a base for exploring East Iceland. The regional hub for East Iceland, used here as a waypoint on the route south.

A stop at farms left empty over the past century as the population of rural East Iceland declined. Your guide tells the stories of the people who once lived here, which is part of the story of the region.

Flögufoss drops about 60 metres down a rock face in the Flöguá river, at the mouth of the Flöguskarð pass in the Breiðdalur valley, and is the tallest waterfall in the valley. It sees far fewer visitors than the well-known falls further west. The walk is about 1 kilometre each way, 15 to 20 minutes, steeper towards the end. One of two waterfalls on this route, reached by the super jeep.

The super jeep crosses a river to reach Beljandi waterfall, which is part of what makes a 4x4 vehicle useful on this route, and something a regular coach could not manage.

A quiet stop at a small countryside church, typical of the parishes scattered through the East Fjords. Entry to a local church is included in the tour.

The lighthouse stands above the ruins of an old fishing settlement, with views over the fjord. The remains of the former fishing village sit close by.

A visit to one local museum of your choice, with entry included. The options can include Petra's Stone Collection, the French Museum, a geology centre, a wartime museum or an aurora exhibition, depending on availability.