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.
.thumbnail.jpg "From Grimsey")