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Best of Southeast Iceland May 30 – June 6 459

13. mar 2023 20:00

 

Snowmobiling on Vatnajökull Ice Cap
Jöklasel mountain restaurant is located on Skálafellsjökull glacier and sits at an altitude of 840 meters (2756 feet) above sea level. The restaurant has a breath-taking panoramic view over the surrounding area and is well worth a visit, especially since it will be opening for the summer this Sunday, June 1st. Getting to the restaurant is an adventure in itself—one must navigate a steep mountain road to reach the destination high on top of Skálafellsjökull, one of Vatnajökull's outlet glaciers. Jöklasel also offers numerous excursions for adventurous travellers all year round, including snowmobile excursions and super-jeep glacial tours. Tours must be booked in advance. 

Iceland rocks, literally
Being a volcanic rock and all, it’s no wonder that a number of Icelanders are avid rock collectors. Huldusteinn Rock Museum at the village Höfn í Hornafirði is worth the visit, recommended by a Höfn local, Ásdís Erna Halldórsdóttir.
A married couple privately owns the museum, but they have been passionately collecting rocks for over three decades! The museum is located in what used to be Höfn’s swimming pool, but when the building was put up for sale in 2009, they seized the opportunity to turn it into a museum. The name of the museum, Huldusteinn, refers to a rock, or rocks, that are the homes of the hidden folk. Icelandic folktales tell the stories of hidden folk (or elves) living in rocks and some Icelanders have both seen and spoken to those magical creatures.

A memorial for drowned sailors
When visiting the town of Höfn í Hornafirði, the former headmaster and mayor of Höfn, Albert Eymundsson, recommends visiting Óslandshraun. “On Óslandshraun, a hillock on Ósland, you’ll find a memorial for drowned sailors by sculptor Helgi Gíslason. I, and many other locals, visit the spot daily. The view from Óslandshraun is magnificent, with Öræfajökull glacier in the West and Vesturhorn Mountain in the East. During nesting season the area is also bustling with birdlife.” A local wouldn’t lie. A map of walking-paths in the area can be found here.

 

This is the Southeast section of Best of Iceland This Week, the only Icelandic guide of its kind. New every week.

 

Snowmobiling on Vatnajökull Ice Cap
Jöklasel mountain restaurant is located on Skálafellsjökull glacier and sits at an altitude of 840 meters (2756 feet) above sea level. The restaurant has a breath-taking panoramic view over the surrounding area and is well worth a visit, especially since it will be opening for the summer this Sunday, June 1st. Getting to the restaurant is an adventure in itself—one must navigate a steep mountain road to reach the destination high on top of Skálafellsjökull, one of Vatnajökull's outlet glaciers. Jöklasel also offers numerous excursions for adventurous travellers all year round, including snowmobile excursions and super-jeep glacial tours. Tours must be booked in advance. 

Iceland rocks, literally
Being a volcanic rock and all, it’s no wonder that a number of Icelanders are avid rock collectors. Huldusteinn Rock Museum at the village Höfn í Hornafirði is worth the visit, recommended by a Höfn local, Ásdís Erna Halldórsdóttir.
A married couple privately owns the museum, but they have been passionately collecting rocks for over three decades! The museum is located in what used to be Höfn’s swimming pool, but when the building was put up for sale in 2009, they seized the opportunity to turn it into a museum. The name of the museum, Huldusteinn, refers to a rock, or rocks, that are the homes of the hidden folk. Icelandic folktales tell the stories of hidden folk (or elves) living in rocks and some Icelanders have both seen and spoken to those magical creatures.

A memorial for drowned sailors
When visiting the town of Höfn í Hornafirði, the former headmaster and mayor of Höfn, Albert Eymundsson, recommends visiting Óslandshraun. “On Óslandshraun, a hillock on Ósland, you’ll find a memorial for drowned sailors by sculptor Helgi Gíslason. I, and many other locals, visit the spot daily. The view from Óslandshraun is magnificent, with Öræfajökull glacier in the West and Vesturhorn Mountain in the East. During nesting season the area is also bustling with birdlife.” A local wouldn’t lie. A map of walking-paths in the area can be found here.