Westfjords
Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
About Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
Hornstrandir is the northernmost and most remote nature reserve in Iceland — an uninhabited wilderness of dramatic cliffs, arctic fox colonies, wildflower meadows and pristine fjords accessible only by boat.
History & Background
Hornstrandir was permanently inhabited until the 1950s when the last farming families left, unable to sustain a living in the extreme isolation. The abandoned farmhouses and boat sheds still stand as ghostly remnants of the communities that once lived there. The area was declared a nature reserve in 1975 and is now one of the few places in Europe where the Arctic fox — Iceland's only native land mammal — lives entirely undisturbed and has no fear of humans.
Key Facts
Permanently inhabited until the 1950s — now completely uninhabited
Accessible only by ferry or private boat
Arctic foxes are completely unafraid of humans here
Nature reserve since 1975
Home to Iceland's largest concentration of seabirds
Tours & Activities near Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
Diamond Beach & Jökulsárlón Floating Glacier Guided Day Tour
From $2039.24
Book Now
Nearby Attractions in Westfjords
Explore Iceland by Region
🌌 See the Northern Lights
Track real-time aurora activity and plan your Northern Lights trip with AuroraVision.