Puffin & Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from Seydisfjordur Port

The star of this East Iceland outing is Hafnarhólmi, where puffins nest on a small rocky islet and can be seen at close range during the summer. You also get a strong dose of the region itself: a long, scenic ride through fjords, a tiny fishing village, an old turf house, and Gufufoss waterfall.

I like the way the tour combines wildlife and local culture instead of making the puffins the only reason to go. I also like the careful driving and warm guiding reported from people who traveled with Anna, Kuba, Berglind, Eva, Petra, Denis, and others. The main caution is simple: reaching the puffins takes time, so expect a substantial bus ride and bring rain gear for the exposed stops.

Key points to know before booking

• Puffins at Hafnarhólmi: Spend about an hour near a dense summer nesting colony, with close views for photos and bird watching.
• A long but scenic ride: The route includes roughly an hour on the first leg and about 70 minutes on the return from Lindarbakki toward Gufufoss.
• Borgarfjörður Eystri: See a small fishing village set beside a dramatic fjord, with colorful houses and open views.
• Lindarbakki turf house: Get 40 minutes for photos, free time, and a look at a traditional Icelandic home.
• Folklore at Álfaborg: The Elf Rock area adds a local story to the scenery, with views over the surrounding country.
• Good shore-excursion fit: Pickup and drop-off are at the cruise terminal, and the five-hour length is designed around a port visit.

Why the puffins are worth the ride from Seyðisfjörður

Puffins are common symbols of Iceland, but seeing one on a souvenir mug is not the same as watching a real bird perch, shuffle, and launch itself from a cliff. Hafnarhólmi is the payoff here. The small islet supports thousands of nesting puffins in summer, along with kittiwakes and gulls.

The viewing area gives you a better chance of seeing the birds up close than a quick roadside stop would. You can spend about an hour watching the colony and taking photos, rather than being rushed through in a few minutes. That matters if puffins are high on your Iceland wish list.

The birds are still wild, of course. The tour promises access to a major nesting site, not a guaranteed performance on command. Conditions can change with weather and season. Still, the repeated praise for the puffin stop makes it clear that this is the experience’s central reward.

Bring a camera with enough battery and storage. You may find yourself taking more photos than expected, especially when birds are close to the path. Comfortable shoes help on the walk and viewing areas, and rain gear is a must in East Iceland.

The ride into Borgarfjörður Eystri

The road from the port is part of the experience, but it is also the part that requires the most patience. The first bus ride lasts about an hour, followed by a sightseeing portion in the northeastern part of Iceland and another 25-minute ride before Hafnarhólmi.

That is a lot of sitting for a five-hour tour. Several people found the drive long, while others felt the scenery made it pass quickly. I would set your expectations clearly: this is not a quick port shuttle with a few stops. You are going to a remote corner of East Iceland, and the distance is part of the price.

The payoff is a changing view from the bus. You pass fjord country, open mountain scenery, and roads that can feel steep or challenging in misty weather. Drivers such as Kuba and Torve earned strong praise for handling difficult sections smoothly. That is not a small detail on a route where road conditions and weather can affect your comfort.

Your guide fills much of the ride with stories, facts, jokes, music, and local folklore. Anna was singled out for her friendly manner, while Berglind was praised for being warm and funny. Other guides, including Eva, Petra, Denis, and Ritchie, were also noted for adding useful information along the way. The quality of the commentary may vary by departure, but the tour clearly depends on the guide to make the long road time feel worthwhile.

Borgarfjörður Eystri and its small fishing village

Borgarfjörður Eystri is the kind of place that rewards a slower look. It is a small Icelandic fishing village surrounded by stark natural scenery, with colorful homes providing a welcome splash of color against the gray and brown tones of the fjord country.

You get a sense of a working settlement rather than a major sightseeing center. That is part of its appeal. The village gives you a glimpse of life away from Iceland’s better-known routes, where the main attraction is not a crowded shopping street but the setting itself.

The schedule does not list a long separate walking tour through the village. Instead, the village is part of the broader route and sightseeing experience, with time later at Lindarbakki and Álfaborg. If you want extensive time to browse shops or eat locally, this is not that kind of excursion. There is no food or drink included, so bring anything you need for the five-hour outing.

Lindarbakki turf house and an older Icelandic way of living

Lindarbakki is one of the most memorable cultural stops because it shows how Icelandic homes once worked with the local climate. Turf-covered buildings are closely tied to Iceland’s past, when grass and earth helped insulate homes against wind and cold.

You get about 40 minutes here for photos, free time, and sightseeing. That is enough time to take in the house without turning the stop into a rushed photo break. The building also gives the guide a natural place to explain traditional Icelandic life in plain, useful terms.

The turf house is more than a decorative old building. It helps connect the scenery to the people who lived in it. After looking at fjords, cliffs, and birds, you see how residents adapted to a demanding environment with the materials available to them.

Keep your expectations practical. This is a photo and sightseeing stop, not a long museum visit. The value comes from seeing Lindarbakki in its setting and hearing the context from the guide. If historic buildings interest you, it adds welcome variety to a day otherwise focused on nature.

Álfaborg and East Icelandic folklore

The route also includes Álfaborg, known as Elf Rock. Local tradition says it is home to the elf queen. You do not have to treat the story as fact to enjoy it. Icelandic folklore is woven into the country’s scenery, and this stop shows how a rock formation can carry meaning beyond its physical shape.

Álfaborg also gives you broad views over the surrounding area. The story and the setting work well together: you get a little local imagination, a little cultural context, and another chance to look across the fjord country.

This is one of the tour’s quieter strengths. Many excursions rush from one grand view to another. Here, the guide can connect the place to Icelandic storytelling and help you see the area through more than a camera lens.

Gufufoss, a calm finish near Seyðisfjörður

On the way back, the bus stops at Gufufoss for about 20 minutes. The waterfall sends a fine mist into the air as water drops over the rock, creating a peaceful final stop before returning to port.

The name Gufufoss is linked to steam or vapor, and the mist is the feature you notice first. You can walk, take photos, and listen to the water before getting back on the bus. Several people rated the waterfall among the highlights, though the puffins remained the main prize.

The stop is short, so do not expect a long hike or a broad trail network. It works best as a final stretch of the legs and a chance to see one more piece of East Iceland before returning to Seyðisfjörður.

The route back includes about 70 minutes from Lindarbakki toward the waterfall area, followed by a short five-minute ride before arrival back at the port. If you are sensitive to long bus stretches, this timing is worth noting.

Guides, drivers, and the feel of the day

The strongest part of the human side of this tour is the guide and driver team. Anna was repeatedly praised for her friendly, personal approach. Berglind was described as warm, funny, and able to keep the ride lively. Eva was especially good at bringing Icelandic culture to life, while Petra, Denis, and Ritchie were also praised for useful commentary and a pleasant manner.

The driving matters just as much. East Iceland roads can be steep, narrow, or difficult in mist. Kuba and Torve were both praised for handling the route with care. A comfortable newer bus was also noted, along with onboard WiFi.

There was one practical complaint about a driver being asleep on the bus and slow to open the door during rain. Another person found the start chaotic, with several buses leaving for different excursions and no clear signs. These seem like departure-point issues rather than the main pattern of the day, but they are useful warnings. At the port, pay close attention to the bus instructions and confirm the destination before settling in.

Is $213 a fair price?

At $213 per person, this is not a cheap bus ride. You are paying for a five-hour shore excursion, port pickup and return, an English-speaking guide, WiFi, transport across a remote route, and access to several stops that would be difficult to arrange during a cruise call.

The value rests mainly on the puffins. If close wildlife viewing is a major goal, the cost can make sense, especially because Hafnarhólmi is not a quick walk from Seyðisfjörður. The tour also saves you from dealing with unfamiliar roads, weather, and the timing pressure of getting back to the ship.

If you mainly want a nearby waterfall or a short look around the port, the price will feel harder to justify. You spend a large share of the five hours on the road. The package works best when you want a full East Iceland outing and would rather let someone else handle the driving.

Food and drinks are not included. Plan ahead so you are not hungry during the longer ride. Comfortable shoes and rain gear are listed as essentials, and I would take that advice seriously even on a clear morning.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some flexibility around a cruise schedule. Children under two are not accepted.

Who should choose this Seyðisfjörður shore excursion?

I would recommend it to you if puffins are near the top of your Iceland list, you enjoy small villages and local folklore, and you are comfortable spending much of the day in a bus. It suits cruise passengers who want a guided outing with port pickup and a clear return to the ship.

It is also a good fit for photographers, bird watchers, and anyone who prefers a mix of wildlife, culture, and scenery. The hour at Hafnarhólmi gives you real time with the colony, while Lindarbakki and Álfaborg keep the day from becoming a single-purpose bird trip.

I would think twice if you dislike winding roads, need frequent facilities, or want lots of free time at each stop. One person noted that a bathroom stop had only one toilet, so facilities may be limited along this remote route. The long drive is the main tradeoff for reaching the puffins.

My take: book it for the puffins and the route

This tour earns its price when you see it as a journey into a remote part of East Iceland, not simply a waterfall excursion. Hafnarhólmi is the headline, but Borgarfjörður Eystri, Lindarbakki, Álfaborg, and Gufufoss give the day shape and meaning.

Book it if you want close puffin views and are happy to trade several hours of driving for a place that is not easy to reach on your own during a port call. Skip it if you want a short, relaxed outing close to Seyðisfjörður. For the right passenger, the birds, careful driving, and strong local guides make this one of the more memorable ways to spend five hours in East Iceland.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins and ends at Ferjuleira 5, with pickup and drop-off at the Seyðisfjörður cruise ship terminal.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts five hours, including bus travel, sightseeing stops, and the return to the port.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Will I see puffins?

The tour visits Hafnarhólmi, a rocky islet with a large summer nesting colony and thousands of puffins. Wildlife is not controlled, but the stop is designed for close puffin viewing and photography.

How much time is spent at Hafnarhólmi?

The itinerary allows about one hour for photos and wildlife viewing at Hafnarhólmi.

What other places does the tour visit?

The route includes Borgarfjörður Eystri, Lindarbakki turf house, Álfaborg or Elf Rock, and Gufufoss waterfall.

Is food included?

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

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and rain gear. Weather can change quickly, and several stops involve walking outdoors.

Can children join the tour?

Children under two years old are not accepted.