The Ultimate Guide to Hiking Laugavegur Trail in Iceland
21 March 2025
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If you are an avid traveler like Ola and I, you definitely need to put the Stokksnes Peninsula and Vestrahorn Mountain in Iceland on your bucket list.
We visited the area in the beginning of June and guess what piqued our curiosity at first glance? The majestic, rugged mountains and the black-sand beach for all the right reasons. The photographers in us couldn’t stand how captivating the entire scene was. Mesmerizing and almost other-worldly.
Honestly speaking, we were surprised to witness so much beauty in just one place. We kid you not, Stokksnes and Vestrahorn are worth the hype they receive. In case you’re planning to explore these areas, here’s everything you need to know.
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How to Get to Stokksnes & Vestrahorn?
Stokksnes is a peninsula in the Southeastern Icelandic coast, near the charming fishing town of Hofn & Hornafjordur. It is home to Vestrahorn mountain – with its two distinctive craggy peaks reaching an elevation of 425 meters.
The peninsula is located an hour from the Glacier Lagoon. If you’re traveling from the nearby town of Hofn via the Ring Road (Route 1) in a counterclockwise direction, it will take you just a little over 20 minutes.
If you’re coming from Djúpivogur, Stokksnes is 90 minutes away. Again, you’ll have to take the Ring Road and drive counterclockwise. Either way, Stokksnes is 10 minutes away once you leave the Ring Road and take the road to the peninsula.
Here is the location on Google Maps
Stokksnes is not accessible by public transport. If you are looking for rentals, you need to make a booking beforehand to avoid any inconvenience. Also, the road is rocky and bumpy – just a heads up!
After you have reached the peninsula, you’ll be welcomed by an incredibly cozy cafe, aptly named the Viking Cafe. It’s here you’ll have to pay the entry fee of 1000 ISK ($7.11) per person. No matter if you have hitch-hiked or used your own car to get there, you will have to pay this fee.
This is because the end of the peninsula is private property, and the owner maintains it via the entrance fee that he collects from the tourists. Fortunately, there’s no entrance fee for children under 16.
Stokksnes is open for tourists 24/7. The cafe opens at 9:00am every day and closes at 8:00pm. However, on Sundays, it closes at 6:00pm. In case you come at a time when the cafe is closed, you’ll have to pay the fee via a machine installed outside the cafe. So don’t forget your credit card!
As for the parking, you’ll find plenty of places to park – you can either find a spot at the cafe or park at the side/dirt road, in case the parking lot is full.
Lodging Options Near Stokksnes
If you prefer comfort over anything, you can stay at the Viking Cafe Guesthouse. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, you can stay at Hofn Guesthouse, but remember that Hofn is a 20-25 minute drive from Stokksnes. Another nearby lodging option is Laekjarhus Farm Holidays.
Whereas if you want to camp, you can do so at Vestrahorn Campsite, which also includes admission to Stokksnes in your stay. The campsite fee is 2500 ISK ($17.75) per person, and like the cafe, it’s free for children under 16.
As for Ola and I, we had a one-night stay at the campsite, and we really had a good time there. Even though the campsite itself was relatively small, the nice vibe made up for it. We also got to experience morning yoga on a black-sand beach.
Also, the proximity to the Viking cafe means that you have hot beverages, food and sweet cakes a few feet away from where you sleep.
Here’s the reels from our visit to Vestrahorn:
When To Visit Stokksnes in Iceland?
The best time to visit Stokksnes Peninsula & Vestrahorn mountain is June. During summer, the days are so long until past 11 pm and you get to enjoy every inch of this beautiful landscape when there’s bright light in the sky all day (the weather’s still pretty cool though)!
You can visit during winter too but know that there might be a lot of snow-ice covered areas and you might not be able to go for hikes as easily as you would during the summer season. But in Iceland, the people are fond of saying, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait for five minutes” and we guess they are right. Sometimes, you get to experience all four seasons in just a day.
Still, check out the weather forecast on Vedur.is and for possible road closures on Road.is before you plan to visit these areas.
Photography in Stokksnes
Stokksnes offers a lot of opportunities for photography. The Viking Village is maybe the best start.
Viking Village
A short walk from the cafe, it isn’t an authentic village but actually a movie set that they never took down – cool, right? It was built in 2010 as a replica of a Viking village for an Icelandic movie that was never shot. It was, however, used in the filming of The Witcher, so it’s definitely worth exploring.
The set now sits quietly, with its wooden structures and grass-covered roofs giving perfect medieval vibes. Feel free to wander through, but be careful, as these buildings aren’t maintained by anyone.
H3 Radar Station
You can also snap the H3 Radar Station, just from the outside though. This radio station is, in fact, a Cold War relic that once monitored Soviet air traffic.
As of now, the station is still functional for general aviation monitoring.
Stokksnes Lighthouse
Stokksnes Lighthouse is located just next to the radar station stands. It is a sturdy little beacon flashing white, red, and green every 30 seconds. This lighthouse was built in 1922, and was once a military base. Not the most picturesque lighthouse in Iceland, but not too bad either!
Stokksnes Beach
The main attraction of Stokksnes is the rolling black sand dunes that lead to one of the most dramatic shorelines you’ll ever see in your lifetime.
Walking through the dunes felt surreal – black sand with green tufts of grass give you an almost otherworldly experience, especially if you’re alone. Unlike the powerful waves of Reynisfjara, Stokksnes beach is calm, but still, keep your distance. Iceland’s notorious “sneaker waves” can be a real danger for unsuspecting tourists.
Vestrahorn Mountain
Now, this is what we came for! The majestic Vestrahorn Mountain towering in the background of the black sand dunes, with its sharp, jagged peaks rising to as much as 454 meters (1,490 feet).
Just next to it, you can see Batman Mountain.
No, the Dark Knight was not filmed here; it’s just that the mountain looks just like the Batman symbol from a certain angle. Its actual name is Brunnhorn Mountain.
Hiking Trails on Vestrahorn Mountain
There are three trails in the area – red, yellow and blue. These were shorter than in Hvannagil, but we had fun hiking all three of them.
Red Trail
The Red trail is a beginner-friendly hike. The entire loop is about 5km (3 miles) long but can be extended by hiking the beginning and end of the peninsula.
By following this route, you’ll be able to witness the panoramic view of the Stokksnes Lighthouse.
Yellow Trail
The Yellow trail is one of the most popular hikes at Vestrahorn. It’s 6.6km (4 miles) in length, and can be extended as well. You can hop onto this trail from the Viking Village, walk through the Stokksnes beach and then back to the parking lot. The views are magical from here.
***Red and yellow trails are a must for someone who has a knack for photography. They have everything for a camera’s lens to capture: Vestrahorn mountain, the lighthouse, black-sand dunes of the Stokksnes beach, and a violet flower called lupin – you name it!***
Blue Trail
The Blue trail has some elevation, which makes it somewhat of an adventurous hike. It’s also the longest trail – with around 11 km (6.8 mile) of length – and circles the entire Vestrahorn Mountain, besides offering a visit to the Viking Village as well.
We genuinely enjoyed the blue path more than the other two. We didn’t meet anyone on that trail; imagine going on a hike and you get to have the entire trail to yourself only! Sounds amazing to me as I am someone who seeks tranquility away from the crowds.
On our way back, we spotted two wild reindeers and it surely set our excitement to another level. However, we would recommend skipping the steep part of the hike, there’s nothing interesting to see after climbing the mountain.
Just stick to the coast of the Stokksnes beach and go as far as you can.
Important Tips
Iceland is known for its unpredictable weather, and the same applies to the Stokksnes Peninsula and the Vestrahorn Mountain. Keep in mind that:
The weather changes in a split second so you need to come prepared for snowy weather, chilly temperatures, intense winds, and rain, even in the summertime.
- Regardless of whether the sun is out or not, anticipate the average temperature to be 10°C (50°F) during the summer (the wind often makes it feel a few degrees colder though).
- Make sure you are carrying the right hiking gear: robust footwear, rigid clothing and layers-on-layers for a safe experience.
- You should opt for a 4WD vehicle to drive through the snowy, bumpy roads during winters.
- Make use of pre-downloaded offline maps on your phone. Most of the paths are pretty straightforward and easy to navigate, but it’s good to be prepared.
- Explore the area on your own or book a tour guide if you are visiting for the first time. Tour guide isn’t necessary in this area but can add to you your experience.
- Make sure to not ruin the serenity of the place by throwing litter around or by disturbing wildlife. Travel and explore responsibly.
Interesting Facts
As we mentioned above, the Viking Village has been used in filming of The Witcher. Moreover, Vestrahorn Mountain has been featured in 2007 romantic fantasy Stardust, and 2015 Bollywood movie Dilwale. There’s a “Batman Mountain” as well, adjacent to the Vestrahorn Mountain. And that’s not all…
Enthralling History
The history of the peninsula stretches back to the 9th century. The area had multiple settlements, with Horn being one of the earliest. It also served as a military base for the British Army during World War II. Later on, there was a NATO radar station built in the south of Horn, called the Radar Dome. The area has seen everyone from Irish monks to British settlers to Viking invaders!
Fascinating Geology
Vestrahorn was formed many years ago by slowly cooling magma and is one of the few mountains in Iceland to be primarily made up of Gabro but also granophyre. This volcanic rock is rich in both iron and magnesium, giving the rock its trademark greenish-black color, a striking appearance and its rough, pointy shape. It also forms the lower layer of the ocean floor.
Lake Lagarfljot and Vestfiroir Nature Reserve are its known geological features. Volcanic black-sand dunes, the shallow coastline with waves crashing inland, the loose rocks and small cliffs collectively make for an eye-catching view.
Scenic Flora & Fauna
Not only is Vestrahorn a rewarding experience in terms of its beauty, but it’s also a must-visit place for animal lovers and avid birdwatchers. You can find birds like Gyrfalcon soaring high up in the sky (we also spotted wild Reindeer on one of our hikes).
In addition to this, we have heard that if you are lucky enough, you might spot an Arctic fox, wild Icelandic Horses, Muskox and even lazy Seals often seen lounging on the craggy coastline.
Despite the scarcity of plant life, you’ll find grass, mosses and a few wildflowers here and there – the little bit of greenery you can expect to find at an otherwise stark landscape!
Final Words
From captivating landscapes to stunning hiking paths to delicious cakes at the local coffee shop – Stokksnes and Vestrahorn in Iceland offer everything! Do include these in your bucket list… they’re absolutely worth exploring!
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FAQ
How far is Stokksnes from Reykjavík?
Stokksnes is 6 hours away from Reykjavík.
Is there any entrance fee for visiting Stokksnes in Iceland?
Yes, it’s 1000 ISK ($7.11) per person. There’s no entrance fee for children under 16.
What gear to take while visiting Vestrahorn in Iceland?
Carry hiking gear including robust footwear, rigid clothing and layers-on-layers. If you’re going in winter months, consider crampons or at least microspikes.
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