Scenery
Hornstrandir benefits from its absolute remoteness. Visitors come here to escape civilisation and witness the fantastic, untouched scenery of the Westfjords. Having been uninhabited since the 1950s, accessibility is only possible via organised tours or by boat; it is quite possible to walk for days here without seeing a single soul!
Hikers visit Hornstrandir for three main reasons, firstly to witness the abundant bird life surrounding the bay of Hornvík, secondly because there is no infrastructure, and thirdly because the area is a territory for the Arctic fox - your chances of spotting one are fairly high here. There is also a large nature reserve, which is home to around 260 species of flowering plants and ferns, housing both rare and common species of the region. The simplest way to approach the nature reserve is by boat.
Visitors should prepare for all weather types at Hornstrandir as it can be highly changeable. Snow can occur at any time of year and storms can break very suddenly without warning. Visitors are advised to bring a compass due to the very common thick fog that may occur. Food must also be brought with you should as it is not available for purchase.
Most tours, especially day tours, depart from Ísafjörður. Hikers wanting to go on their own can also take boats from Bolungarvík and Norðurfjörður.