Uncover North Iceland’s best-kept secrets on this 8-hour private driver-guided adventure.
From turf-roofed farmsteads and seaside villages to secret hot springs and dramatic cliff vistas, you’ll experience a side of the region few ever see, all with hotel pick-up and drop-off in Akureyri.
Highlights of Our Hidden Gems Day Trip
Private hotel pick-up and drop-off in Akureyri
Exploration of a 19th-century turf-roofed farmhouse
Insight into the Herring Era at Siglufjörður’s Museum
A soothing soak in the Hofsós infinity-edge sea baths
Panoramic views from the Rauðanes basalt cliffs
Flexible itinerary—add stops or linger as you wish
Our Hidden Gems Day Trip Itinerary
Below is our recommended route. If you’d like to adjust any timing, include a coastal lunch, or visit an extra site, just let us know!
Departure from Akureyri & Coastal Drive
Set off north from Akureyri, hugging the Eyjafjörður shoreline as fields of lupine give way to rocky ridges and hidden waterfalls.
Your guide will weave in tales of Viking settlers and point out the Tröllaskagi mountains rising in the distance.
Laufás Turf Farm Museum
Step back in time at Laufás, a perfectly preserved turf-roofed farm overlooking the fjord.
Wander smoke-blackened longhouses and cozy rooms while your guide recounts how families eked out an existence here through harsh winters. The interplay of timber, turf, and stone reveals centuries of Icelandic ingenuity—and you may even glimpse water lilies in the farm’s tranquil pond.
Siglufjörður & Herring Era Museum
Continue to Siglufjörður, once the “Herring Capital of the World.”
At the Herring Era Museum, you’ll walk among restored wooden vats and view archival photos that capture the frenzy of early-20th-century fishing.
Your guide will share stories of the boom—and the bust—that transformed this tiny fjord into a hub of global trade, and then led to its resilient rebirth.
Hofsós Geothermal Sea Baths
Venture west to Hofsós, where a sleek infinity-edge pool perches above a black-sand beach. Slip into warm, mineral-rich water and gaze across placid Skagafjörður toward snow-topped peaks.
Your guide will explain the harmony between the baths and the shoreline’s curves, and you’ll have time to savor a hot drink in the minimalist café framed by panoramic, sea-spray-kissed views.
Rauðanes Sea-Cliff Viewpoint
For a grand finale, drive to Rauðanes promontory. Here, basalt sea cliffs rise straight from the Atlantic in ochre and ruby hues, their surfaces alive with nesting seabirds.
Wander short trails to vantage points where waves crash dramatically below. Between geology lessons and local legends of sea spirits, you’ll capture unforgettable photos of this remote headland.
Return to Akureyri
After the cliffside spectacle, settle in for the drive back down the fjord.
Optional Extras to Customize Your Hidden Gems Adventure
Glaumbaer Turf Farm Museum: Explore another well-preserved turf farm showcasing traditional turf-and-wood architecture in a more secluded valley setting.
Varmahlíð Local Cheese Tasting: Visit a small-batch dairy to sample skyr and artisanal cheeses and hear about Icelandic dairy traditions from the producers themselves.
Siglunes Bird Cliff: Pause at this exposed headland to watch fulmars, kittiwakes, and auks nesting on sheer sea cliffs—bring binoculars for up-close birdwatching.
Selárdalur Folk Museum: Explore a hidden valley museum featuring rustic cottages, old tools, and local crafts that illustrate rural life in centuries past.
Secret Geothermal Hot Spring: Slip into a tucked-away hot pot fed by a natural hot spring, where few tourists venture, and you can soak surrounded by untouched wilderness.
Hólmavík Witchcraft & Sorcery Museum – Delve into Iceland’s mystical past with artifacts and stories of folklore, magic, and the sorrowful histories of accused witches.
Let us know which extras spark your interest, and we’ll weave them seamlessly into your private driver-guided itinerary!
