Activities in Egilsstaðir area

Vök Baths is a geothermal destination on the beautiful Lake Urriðavatn in East Iceland. Located in only a 5-minute drive from Egilsstaðir, the largest settlement in the East, Vök Baths is an essential stop on any visit to this part of the country.

The Hús Handanna Shop is to find at the most trafficked crossroads in Eastern Iceland and in the heart of Egilsstadir town.The shop was established in 2010 and from the first day the main focus has been on representing Icelandic / East-Icelandic goods founded on our culture and our lifestyle.The Hús Handanna Shop is environmentally friendly and an artistic life-style-shop, offering a wide variety of Icelandic product design, art crafts, clothing design, art creative writing etc.Our special emphasis is on offering goods that benefit our environment and ourselves. We even have some gourmet specialities from the local community.At Hús Handanna Shop among other items, you will find shampoo in a travel kit, waxed napkins for the sandwiches, warm stockings - or even a good book. And of course your own personal souvenir from your travel.  You are always Welcome!  

 Swimming pool - opening hours Summer(June 1st – August 31st)Monday - Friday 6:30 – 21:30Saturday - Sunday 9:00 – 17:00 Winter(September 1st – May 31st)Monday - Friday 6:30 – 20:30Saturday - Sunday 9:00 – 17:00 Gym (Héraðsþrek) has the same opening hours as the swimming pool.

You can happily play golf on the course in Fljótsdalshérað. There is a cozy 9-hole course run by Fljótsdalshérað golf club. The course is called Ekkjufellsvöllur and is par 70 in addition to boasting a par-5 course, six par-4 courses, and two par-3 courses.

Finnsstaðir is a family-run business located about four minutes away from the town Egilsstaðir.  Finnsstaðir offers a few things, open all year round. Guesthouse to rent, horse rental, and the horse stable is always open between 10:00 – 17:00 for a short guided tour through the stable to see the horses, take pictures and meet the locals, but we recommend booking the tour with a bit of notice. From 15. may until 15. September, the petting zoo is open.  Finnsstaðir horse rental offers horses with great temperament and clean beated tölt. The tölt is a natural, fluid gait of the Icelandic horse. Its extraordinarily smooth four-beat gait, which allows the rider an almost bounce-free ride. In Finnsstaðir, you ride out in a small private group with a local guide. Most of the riding tours are about one hour, and the owner‘s goal is to keep everyone safe, give all the guests a good experience and memories to keep as long as you live. Longer trips with experienced riders could be available, but just contact Finnsstaðir and ask for availability. On the farm is a big house to rent with three bedrooms and beds for six people. There are two bathrooms and a hot tub on the platform with a great view. The house is spacious and equipped with all standard modern comfort. Washing machine and dryer, the wifi in the house is very strong, and there is a kitchen to cook in. Finnsstaðir petting zoo is open from 10:00-17:00 every day from 15. may until 15.September. All year round, there are chickens and ducks on the farm and, of course, horses, but during the summertime, it is possible to visit and get to know lambs, calves, pigs, ducklings, rabbits, and guinea pigs.  The animals at Finnsstaðir love people, especially children from all parts of the world.

The horse rental/The travel service at Stóra-Sandfell is located 17 km. south of Egilsstaðir, by highway 95. When driving over the road called Öxi (which is the shortest route) or Breiðdalsheiði, the roads lie between Höfn and Egilsstaðir. We offer horseriding, 1-2 hours tours, through Sandfell's forest and nearby. All of the horseriding tours are monitored by a guide. We always try to make sure we find a horse that suits each and every rider well. Before each trip we go over all safety rules and do some practice rounds inside a fence. There is no fixed time for the riding tours, so all tours are planned individually. The minimum number of riders is 2 for each trip and the maximum is 10 riders. The accommodation is open from May 15th – September 15th.The horse rental is open from June 1th – September 15th.The campsite is open from June 1th – August 31th.  For further information and reservations, please go to our website or contact us through phone or e-mail.

The travel service at Stóra-Sandfell is located 17 km. south of Egilsstaðir, by highway 95. When driving over the road called Öxi (which is the shortest route) or Breiðdalsheiði, the roads lie between Höfn and Egilsstaðir. At our facilities we offer many different types of accomodations, cottages, rooms or at our campsite. We also offer horseriding tours through Sandfell‘s forest and nearby. Many lovely hiking trails are in the area. Our accomodations are close to all of the major tourist-attractions in the Eastern Fjords. The travel service at Stóra-Sandfell has been run by the same family for 30 years and combines experience with eastern hospitality. We put emphasis on having a good and personal contact with our all guests and want to make sure they will be able to enjoy themselves in a beautiful and relaxing enviroment, surrounded by Icelandic nature. We do offer 10 cottages, of different types, but all are build for 2-4 persons. All of them do have a private kitchenette and access to a gas grill. Six of the cottages have private bathrooms but the other four share a bathhouse together. The 3 rooms each have a private enterence and a small private bathroom. All rooms share a kitchen and all have access to a gas grill. The campsite is surounded by the old birch forest and is ideal for families or induviduals with tents or campers. On the site there are dining benches, making it comfortable to eat outside in the nature. A small stream goes through the campsite and is perfect for the younger members of the family to make a splash in. In the restrooms we have toilets, showers and outdoor sinks with cold and hot water. All of the horseriding tours are monitored by a guide. We always try to make sure we find a horse that suits each and every rider well. Before each trip we go over all safety rules and do some practice rounds inside a fence. There is no fixed time for the riding tours, so all tours are planned individually. The minimum number of riders is 2 for each trip and the maximum is 10 riders. We are open as follows:The accommodation is open from May 15th – September 15th.The horse rental is open from June 1th – September 15th.The campsite is open from June 1th – August 31th. For further information and reservations, please go to our website or contact us through phone or e-mail.

East Highlanders is a family business and run by a team of experienced drivers and guides who will help you create new memories in East Iceland. We at East Highlanders call ourselves memory creators; we offer day trips around the East for small groups and welcome larger and smaller groups in the Hallormsstadur forest. Our operation is built on a solid foundation and has welcomed guests since 2010. Our goal is to provide a memorable stay in the East. We strive to be socially and environmentally responsible, meeting the needs of our guests and exceeding their expectations. Please check out our website, and let's create new memories together. Day tripsExperience the East in peace and privacy. Day trips are perfect for smaller groups. We offer private jeep tours with guides who will take you and your group around the area and explore the main attractions of East Iceland. you can book a trip to Studlagil, Mjoifjordur and Borgarfjordur Eystri. We can also create a tailor-made tour if you want to see something else. Hallormstadur forestIn the forest, we welcome groups and offer axe throwing. Axe throwing has deep roots and was popular in the Viking age. Today axe throwing has been modernized into a competitive sport, and the aim of the sport is to hit the bullseye on a target. If you are competitive and want to get the adrenaline going, then this is an activity for you. Get in touch with your inner Viking and step back in time while you throw axes in the forest. We offer 1 hour of axe throwing. This activity takes place outdoors, so please dress according to the weather. This activity is relatively easy and effortless. The difficulty lever is similar to bowling and throwing darts. Therefore suitable for everybody. . This activity takes place outdoors and is great for those who want to have fun. Let's make good memories together and see you in a good mood - the East Highlanders team. ​ 

Selskógur the small forest on the eastern outskirts of Egilsstaðir, mainly consists of birch but also numerous rowans. Inviting woodchip trails of various lengths lure the wanderer to stroll through the peaceful surroundings.  A football field and a playground are among other recreational options in the area.

The birchwood remnants at Hallormsstaður farm were protected in 1905, making it Iceland’s first national forest. Today, birch forest and woodland cover about 350 hectares within the original fenced area, and a variety of tree species have been planted on another 200 hectares. Large areas to the north and south have been annexed to the forest more recently and either planted with trees or allowed to naturally regenerate with birch. A total of 85 tree species from over 600 locations worldwide can be found in the forest, covering around 740 hectares.Lands managed by the Land and Forest Service are designated as National Forests. These areas are open to everyone year-round and are located throughout Iceland. Many, like Hallormsstaður Forest, are easily accessible and offer a variety of facilities for outdoor recreation. Others require a 4WD vehicle or hiking up steep hillsides to enjoy.Hallormsstaður Forest is ideal for hiking, strolling, or biking. There are well-marked trails, in different colors, throughout much of the surrounding woodland. These trails are shown on a clear map published by the Forestry Service, which you can find in boxes at the entrance of many trails and nearby services. The maps can also be downloaded here.There are two camping sites in the forest: one in Atlavík and the other in Höfðavík. Both sites have small and large flat areas among the trees and are close to Lake Lagarfljót. Foresters will collect the payment for camping. More information can be found on our Facebook page.Rest places and picnic areas are scattered throughout the forest. For example, in Stekkjarvík, there is a barbecue area and a playground. The arboretum in Hallormsstaður is unique in the Arctic region. 

The Hallormsstaður Arboretum is unique in Iceland, comprising a collection of around 80 tree species originating from various parts of the world. In addition to trees, there are also various species of shrubs. Begin your walk through the arboretum from the car park by the main road and follow the paths. Allow yourself plenty of time, about 2-3 hours, to explore the arboretum, enjoy the surroundings, and breathe in the fresh air. Walk down to Lake Lagarfljót, enjoy a picnic, and listen to the birds singing.Forestry in Hallormsstaður began in 1903 by fencing off 12 hectares for a tree nursery called Mörk. Half a hectare was prepared as nursery beds, marking the beginning of the nursery. In 1905, 50 Engelmann spruces were planted on the upper half of Mörk. Now, only five of these trees remain, and they are the oldest spruces in the forest, standing close to the parking lot.Over the years, single trees and groups of various species have been planted in Mörk. This arboretum is already the most impressive in the country, offering visitors a good opportunity to see both common and rare species. 

Húsey farm is renowned for its picturesque nature, abundant wildlife and hiking opportunities. A marked hiking route will take you towards river Jökulsá where seals and seal pups hang out in the river mouth and out to Héraðssandur black sand beach. Húsey is a bird watchers' paradise and with nesting grounds of red-throated divers, parasitic jaegers and great skuas, to name a few.  GPS : N65°38.775-W14°14.670   Powered by Wikiloc