Half-day Private Puffin and Elves Tour in Borgarfjordur Eystri

by East Highlanders · Puffins · East Iceland

from €1,537.39 per vehicle

No published departures in the coming months — ask us

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Half-day Private Puffin and Elves Tour in Borgarfjordur Eystri — East Highlanders
Half-day Private Puffin and Elves Tour in Borgarfjordur Eystri, photo 2
Half-day Private Puffin and Elves Tour in Borgarfjordur Eystri, photo 3
Half-day Private Puffin and Elves Tour in Borgarfjordur Eystri, photo 4
Half-day Private Puffin and Elves Tour in Borgarfjordur Eystri, photo 5
Half-day Private Puffin and Elves Tour in Borgarfjordur Eystri, photo 6
Half-day Private Puffin and Elves Tour in Borgarfjordur Eystri, photo 7

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  • Duration

    5 hours

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    May – Sep

  • Starts in

    Egilsstaðir

  • Pickup

    Hotel pickup included

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00 …

  • Cancellation

    Free until 2 days before

About this experience

Travel into one of East Iceland’s most magical and charming areas on this private half-day tour to Borgarfjörður Eystri – a region known for close-up puffin encounters, dramatic coastal landscapes, and a rich world of folklore where elves still reign in local legend.

From your pickup point in Egilsstaðir or Seyðisfjörður, we drive through rugged mountain roads with several scenic stops along the way. Your guide will share stories about the land, the people, and the hidden creatures that are said to inhabit these valleys and cliffs.

Our main destination is Hafnarhólmi, a small harbor where you can get incredibly close to puffins and seabirds in their natural environment (May–August). This is one of the best birdwatching spots in Iceland, with wooden walkways that let you enjoy the birds without disturbing their nesting areas.

We also take time to explore the village of Borgarfjörður Eystri, home to around 100 residents – and possibly the queen of the Icelandic elves, said to reside at Álfaborg (The Elves’ Castle) in the heart of the village.

Before heading back, we recommend a short break at a local café – a chance to enjoy homemade food (like fish soup.) and soak in the peaceful atmosphere of this remote and welcoming community.

This tour offers an intimate glimpse into Icelandic nature and folklore – a light, relaxed half-day adventure for those who want to see puffins, hear stories, and visit somewhere truly unique.

Operated as a private tour for 1–7 passengers

Description from the operator, East Highlanders. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Pickup in Seyðisfjörður or Egilsstaðir
  2. Scenic drive to Borgarfjörður Eystri
  3. Arrival at Borgarfjörður Eystri village
  4. Puffin watching at Hafnarhólmi
  5. Optional café stop in the village
  6. Return drive with optional scenic stops
  7. Drop-off in Seyðisfjörður or Egilsstaðir

Included

  • Private guided tour (for 1–7 passengers)
    A personalized experience led by a local guide who shares the stories, folklore, and wildlife of East Iceland.
  • Pickup and drop-off in Seyðisfjörður or Egilsstaðir
    Comfortable transport in a private vehicle, tailored to your group’s pace and preferences.
  • Local storytelling and cultural insights
    Learn about the area’s history, daily life, and the legendary elves said to live in the region.
  • Visit to Hafnarhólmi puffin colony
    Experience one of Iceland’s best birdwatching spots with close-up views of puffins (May–August) and other seabirds.
  • Exploration of Borgarfjörður Eystri village
    Walk through this remote, friendly town and see Álfaborg – the hill said to be home to Iceland’s elf queen.
  • Optional scenic stops on the return journey
    If time and weather permit, we’ll stop at beautiful viewpoints on the way back.
  • Free water bottle for each guest
    Stay refreshed during your tour with a complimentary reusable water bottle provided at the start.Bottled water

Not included

  • Meals, coffee or refreshments
    Food and drinks at the local café in Borgarfjörður Eystri are not included in the tour price. Guests are welcome to purchase something during the stop if the café is open.
  • Clothing or personal gear
    Guests are responsible for bringing weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear suitable for walking in variable terrain.
  • Guaranteed restroom access
    Restroom facilities may be limited along the route, especially in remote areas. Please plan accordingly.
  • Mobile reception or Wi-Fi
    There might be limited or no mobile service in parts of the fjord. Disconnect and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
  • Entrance fees (not applicable)
    All locations visited on this tour are open-access and free of charge.

Good to know

  • Clothing suitable for Icelandic weather
    Dress in layers and bring a waterproof and windproof outer layer. Even summer days can feel cold near the ocean.
  • Good walking shoes or boots
    Closed-toe footwear with a sturdy sole is essential, especially for walking near Hafnarhólmi or around Álfaborg.
  • Hat and gloves
    Especially useful on cooler or windy days — even in June and July.
  • Reusable water bottle
    A complimentary water bottle is provided for each guest, but you’re welcome to bring your own too.
  • Snacks or small bites
    Food is not included in the tour. We may stop at a café, but it’s always good to have something on hand.
  • Your phone or camera
    Capture the puffins, the scenery, and maybe even a hidden elf or two. And don’t forget to tag us:
    #easthighlanders #creatememories
  • Your good mood 😄
    This is a light, joyful tour – full of nature, stories, and charm.
  • Puffins are seasonal
    Puffins nest at Hafnarhólmi from May to mid-August. Outside of this period, birdwatching is limited.
  • The drive includes gravel mountain roads
    The road to Borgarfjörður Eystri includes narrow, winding sections with gravel surfaces. All driving is handled by your experienced local guide.
  • Tour duration includes travel time
    The tour lasts approximately 4.5–5 hours, including the 1.5-hour drive each way.
  • Restroom access is limited
    Facilities may be basic or unavailable between major stops. A restroom is usually available in the village and at Hafnarhólmi.
  • Mobile service is limited
    Expect low or no signal in parts of the fjord – a great excuse to unplug and enjoy the moment.
  • Meeting your guide
    Your guide will meet you outside your accommodation, with a marked vehicle and a sign with your booking name. Look for the East Highlanders logo on the guide's clothing.

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 2 days before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is sea state — the skipper decides an hour or two before departure. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1East Highlanders decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 2 days before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Who this is not for

  • Priced per vehicle, so it is poor value for one or two people and good value for four or more sharing.
  • Not available in winter; the operator runs it roughly May to September.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

East Highlanders is one of 207 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Puffins — questions people ask

When can you see puffins in Iceland?

Mid-April to mid-August. Puffins arrive at the nesting cliffs in April, hatch chicks in June and leave for the open sea by late August. July is the safest month for numbers and for chicks being fed. Outside this window there are none on land, and a tour sold as a puffin tour in October is a boat ride. Reykjavík puffin boats usually run May to August; check the tour page for the exact dates each year.

Can you see puffins from Reykjavík?

Yes. Two small islands in Faxaflói, Akurey and Lundey, hold puffin colonies ten to fifteen minutes by boat from the Old Harbour. One-hour trips like Elding's classic puffin watching (/experience/1299/) circle the islands slowly; you do not land. Bring binoculars, because the boats keep a respectful distance and puffins are small. It is the easiest puffin option in Iceland and a good fit for children or a spare hour before dinner.

Where is the best place to see puffins up close?

On land, at a cliff, not from a boat. Látrabjarg in the Westfjords, Borgarfjörður eystri in the east and Dyrhólaey on the South Coast let you sit a few metres from birds that ignore you. Vestmannaeyjar has the largest colonies. Reykjavík boat trips are convenient but distant. If you are travelling the Ring Road in June or July, the puffin tour from Seyðisfjörður (/experience/973294/) gets you to the eastern cliffs with a guide.

Are puffin boat tours good for kids?

Yes, mostly. They are short, an hour or so, and stay in the sheltered bay, so seasickness is rarer than on a three-hour whale trip. Children usually enjoy the boat as much as the birds. The downside is distance: puffins look like specks without binoculars, so ask if the boat has some to borrow. Combined whale-and-puffin trips (/experience/1569/) run six hours, which is long for under-eights.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Egilsstaðir, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in East Iceland →

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Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

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