Puffin & Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from Seydisfjordur Port

Puffins steal the show here. This five-hour shore excursion takes you from Seydisfjordur to remote Borgarfjordur-Eystri, where you can watch thousands of nesting puffins at Hafnarhólmi, visit a turf house, and stop at misty Gufufoss. I especially like the close puffin viewing and the chance to see a quieter fishing village far from Iceland’s busiest routes. The main drawback is the long bus ride, with about two hours and 40 minutes spent on the road.

The tour also benefits from strong guiding. Guides such as Anna, Berglind, Eva, Petra, Denis, and Ritchie have been praised for warm conversation, local stories, folklore, and useful facts along the drive. Challenging roads and changeable weather can make the day feel more demanding, but careful driving has been one of the tour’s most consistent strengths.

Key points at a glance

• Thousands of puffins at Hafnarhólmi: The rocky islet offers close views of nesting seabirds during the summer season.
• Borgarfjordur-Eystri village: Colorful houses, a small fishing community, and broad fjord views give the outing a local feel.
• Lindarbakki turf house: This traditional home is one of the most memorable cultural stops.
• Álfaborg and Icelandic folklore: The legendary Elf Rock adds a distinctly Icelandic story to the scenery.
• Gufufoss waterfall: A short walk leads to a serene cascade that sends fine mist into the air.
• A practical cruise excursion: Pickup and drop-off are at Seydisfjordur port, with an English-speaking guide and WiFi on the bus.

Why this East Iceland shore trip is worth considering

Seydisfjordur is a beautiful port, but its surroundings deserve more than a quick look from the ship. Borgarfjordur-Eystri takes you into a less visited corner of East Iceland, where steep roads, open views, small villages, and bird cliffs replace the usual line of major attractions.

I like the mix of nature and local culture. You are not simply driven to a waterfall, photographed, and sent back. The day includes an active wildlife stop, a historic turf house, a village visit, a folklore site, and a waterfall. Each stop has a different mood.

The tradeoff is distance. The puffin site is not close to Seydisfjordur, and you should expect long stretches on the bus. One passenger called the ride the only real downside, while another appreciated the scenery enough for the time to pass quickly. That is a fair description. If you want several major sights packed into a short drive, this is not the right excursion. If you enjoy watching Iceland unfold through the windows, the journey is part of the appeal.

The tour costs $213 per person. That is a serious price for five hours, especially since food and drinks are not included. Still, the price covers a guide, port pickup and drop-off, transportation over difficult roads, and WiFi. For a cruise passenger with only one day in the area, the convenience has real value. You do not need to arrange a rental car, navigate unfamiliar routes, or worry about getting back to the ship.

Leaving Seydisfjordur by coach

Pickup is at the cruise terminal on Ferjuleira 5. The first driving section takes about one hour, followed by a sightseeing period in northeastern Iceland and another 25-minute drive before reaching Hafnarhólmi.

The port can be busy when several buses are preparing to leave. A few passengers found the opening confusing because buses were not clearly marked, and one bus waited around 25 minutes for people to board. I would arrive early, confirm the destination with staff, and keep your booking details handy. This small bit of preparation can save an irritating start.

Once underway, the guide becomes important. The best guides on this tour do more than point out scenery. Anna was praised for her friendly manner, while Berglind was described as warm, funny, and good at keeping the long drive interesting. Eva brought Icelandic culture to life, and Ritchie used a group messaging channel to share information and destination details.

Guiding quality can vary from departure to departure, but the overall pattern is encouraging. The tour has benefited from guides who tell stories and explain local traditions instead of leaving you with a silent bus ride. Some guides have also used music and humor to keep the journey relaxed.

Hafnarhólmi and the puffins

Hafnarhólmi is the main event. You get about one hour for photography and wildlife viewing at a rocky islet known for a large nesting colony of puffins during summer.

This is a particularly good stop for anyone who wants to see puffins without taking a boat trip. The birds nest close to viewing areas, so you can watch their comical landings, bright bills, and quick movements from nearby. The site also supports kittiwakes and gulls, adding more life to the cliffs and water.

You should bring a camera, but do not spend the entire hour staring through a screen. Puffins are small, fast, and surprisingly expressive. Watch their flight patterns, listen for the colony, and take time to look beyond the birds toward the water and surrounding hills.

The walk is manageable for many people, but the ground and weather can make it less comfortable. Wear sturdy shoes and bring rain gear. Mist, wind, and wet surfaces are normal possibilities in East Iceland. One useful detail from the day is that visitors had enough time to climb to a higher point for better views, though you should allow time to return to the bus.

The puffins are seasonal, so timing matters. The supplied information describes the colony in summer, but it does not promise a specific number of birds on every departure. Wildlife is wildlife. Still, Hafnarhólmi is the strongest reason to choose this tour.

Borgarfjordur-Eystri and Lindarbakki

After Hafnarhólmi, the bus makes a short five-minute ride to Lindarbakki. You have about 40 minutes for photographs, free time, and sightseeing.

Lindarbakki is a turf house, an important reminder of how Icelanders once built homes using local materials and thick layers of turf. The house is visually striking, but its value goes beyond appearance. It helps you picture an older Iceland where shelter, warmth, and practical design mattered more than comfort or decoration.

The stop is brief enough to keep the day moving, yet long enough to look carefully and take photographs. Do not expect a large museum complex or a long indoor visit. This is a compact cultural stop, best enjoyed as a glimpse into traditional domestic life.

Borgarfjordur-Eystri itself adds a welcome change of pace. The village is small, colorful, and set against dramatic natural surroundings. You get a sense of a working fishing community rather than a purpose-built attraction. That matters because the village gives the excursion a human scale.

The area also connects with Icelandic folklore. Álfaborg, known as Elf Rock, is said to be home to the elf queen. The story may be presented with a smile, but it is part of the way Icelandic culture makes sense of unusual rock formations and remote places. The site also offers broad views, so the folklore and scenery work well together.

The road back and Gufufoss

The longest return section takes about 70 minutes before the stop at Gufufoss. This is another point where expectations matter. You are not moving from attraction to attraction every few minutes. The bus ride is long, but it gives you time to watch the fjords, roads, hills, and changing weather outside.

Drivers have received especially strong praise for handling steep and difficult roads. Cuba, Torve, and Lucas were each singled out for smooth or confident driving, even in misty conditions and rough terrain. That is not a minor detail here. A scenic road is far more enjoyable when you can relax instead of watching every turn.

Gufufoss is a calm final stop. You get about 20 minutes for a short walk, photographs, and sightseeing. Water drops over the rock face and creates a fine mist, giving the waterfall a quieter feel than Iceland’s more famous cascades.

The stop is not long enough for a major hike, and it should not be sold as one. Think of it as a refreshing pause before returning to Seydisfjordur. After several hours on the bus, the sound of falling water and a bit of fresh air are welcome.

From Gufufoss, the bus makes a final five-minute drive back to Ferjuleira 5. Pickup and return at the port make the excursion practical for cruise passengers, though you should always keep the ship’s departure time in mind and confirm the planned return with the guide.

What the five-hour schedule feels like

The stated duration is five hours, but much of that time is transportation. The schedule includes:

• One hour from the port
• Twenty minutes of sightseeing in northeastern Iceland
• Twenty-five minutes by bus
• One hour at Hafnarhólmi
• Five minutes to Lindarbakki
• Forty minutes at Lindarbakki
• Seventy minutes toward Gufufoss
• Twenty minutes at the waterfall
• Five minutes back to the port

That adds up to a full day with several long driving blocks. I would choose this tour for the quality of the destinations, not for a relaxed schedule with lots of free time.

The benefit is that the long roads connect places you would struggle to visit efficiently on a short port call. The cost is less time at each stop and a greater dependence on the guide to make the bus sections interesting.

Bring comfortable shoes and rain gear. Food and drinks are not included, so plan ahead according to your port-day arrangements. The tour provides free WiFi, which is useful for staying connected, though the main reason to join is access to the remote route and the guided experience.

Children under two cannot join. The tour is best for people who can manage bus travel, short walks, uneven outdoor conditions, and quick changes in weather.

The real value of the $213 price

At $213, this is not a bargain excursion. You are paying for a specialist route into a remote part of East Iceland, not for a simple waterfall transfer.

The price makes more sense if you value three things:

• Port convenience: Pickup and return are arranged at the cruise terminal.
• Local guiding: A good guide can turn long drives into useful context about culture, folklore, and places along the way.
• Access to Hafnarhólmi: The puffin colony is the tour’s special feature and would be difficult to combine with the other stops on your own during a short port visit.

The value is weaker if you dislike long bus rides or want a meal, shopping, or lots of independent time. Since no food or drinks are included, the tour does not offer many extras beyond transportation, guiding, WiFi, and the sights themselves.

Guide performance also affects value. The strongest departures have included friendly, informative people such as Anna, Eva, Berglind, Petra, Denis, and Ritchie. One passenger found the guide less engaging, so you should not assume every departure will feel identical. Even so, the general standard appears solid, and the drivers have been widely praised for safe handling of the roads.

Who should book this excursion?

I would choose this tour if puffins are high on your Iceland wish list. Hafnarhólmi gives you the best chance on this route for close views, and the stop is long enough to enjoy the colony rather than simply take a single photograph.

It also suits you if you want a broad taste of East Iceland in one organized outing. You get wildlife, a fishing village, traditional architecture, folklore, and a waterfall. That is a good range for a cruise stop.

I would hesitate if you need a short, easy day with minimal driving. The route is remote, the roads can be steep, and the weather can turn wet or misty. A person who wants to explore Seydisfjordur on foot may prefer to stay near port.

Final verdict: book it for puffins and remote scenery

Book this tour if the chance to see puffins up close is worth a long bus ride and a $213 price tag. The wildlife stop is the clear star, while Lindarbakki, Álfaborg, Borgarfjordur-Eystri, and Gufufoss give the day enough variety to feel worthwhile.

Skip it if you want a low-cost outing, a leisurely meal, or several hours of independent exploration. For the right person, though, this is a practical way to reach one of East Iceland’s most memorable bird sites before returning to the ship.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin and end?

The tour begins and ends at Ferjuleira 5, the cruise ship terminal in Seydisfjordur.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts five hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English.

What wildlife can I see?

At Hafnarhólmi, you can see puffins, along with kittiwakes and gulls. The site is known for a large nesting puffin colony during summer.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the tour.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and rain gear.

Can children under two join?

No. Children under two are not permitted to participate.