Akureyri, the ‘jewel of the north’ or ‘town of the midnight sun’ is situated at the head of Eyjafjordur, Iceland’s longest fjord. The town sightseeing tour visits Nonni House (a museum commemorating the famous children’s author Jon Svensson), Akureyri Museum or the Museum of Natural History, Akureyri Church with its particularly interesting stained-glass windows and the most northerly botanical garden in the world.
For the more adventurous, day trips can be arranged to see whales in their natural habitat. Some eighteen different species have been spotted around Iceland and twelve are common visitors including the minke, humpback, killer and harbour porpoise.
Two full day tours visit the scenic natural surroundings. The first heads off down the east coast of Eyjafjordur, offering panoramic views of Akureyri, crosses the Vikurskaro Pass before proceeding through glacier-carved valleys to the spectacular Godafoss waterfall, then on to the beautiful Lake Myvatn. Lunch may be taken at Skutustadir, known for its unusually regular pseudocraters. The return trip takes in the Dimmuborgir (Dark Castles), a spectacular maze of weird lava structures; the warm water caves of the Grjotagja fissure; the boiling sulphur mudpits at Namaskaro and finally, Krafla volcano.
The second full day tour to Holar and Olafsfjordur proceeds via Horgardalur valley and Oxnadalur, site of a huge ice age landslide, to Vidimyri, to visit one of the last remaining Icelandic turf churches dating from 1834. The best preserved turf farmhouse at Glaubaer provides a glimpse of Icelandic ‘baostofu’ (culture) in the folk museum. After Saudarkrokur the tour reaches Holar; bishop’s seat, school centre and the real capital of the north for seven centuries. Beautiful Holar cathedral, hidden in a narrow rocky valley, is Iceland’s oldest, having been consecrated in 1763. After a midday break at the old port of Hofsos, with its old log warehouse and unusual basalt column, the return to Akureyri is made via Stifla, the Lagheide pass (offering superb alpine views) and finally Olafsfjordur, a fishing town surrounded by imposing mountains. Formerly isolated in winter, it is now joined to Eyjafjordur by a 3.4km tunnel opened in 1990.
Official Iceland Tourism Web Site
Avid Cruiser Posts, Photographs and Videos Featuring Akureyri.
