Excitement out East

Melting pot

01 View of the village of Bakkagerdi in Borgarfjordur eystri during Braedslan. Photo by Adalsteinn Svan Hjelm.

02 On a seaside walk in Bakkagerdi. Photo by Holmfridur Dagny Fridjonsdottir.

03 At the main concert venue, the actual Braedslan. Photo by Holmfridur Dagny Fridjonsdottir.

04 Rockin’ at Braedslan. Photo by Mareike Timm.

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year, Emiliana returned with her friends, Belle and Se- Only 1,000 tickets are available to the main concert and bastian, for a triumphant show. “We were already talking sell out every year, but off-venue events are ticketed seabout the second festival on the first night, and after the parately. “This wasn’t founded to make money. The village second year it was clear this was something we were going to do”, says Heidar’s sister Aldis Fjola Borgfjord Asgeirsdottir. When I arrive in early May, it’s midlambing season and Aldis is working the “We were already talking about the second festival on the first night, and after the second year it was clear this was something we were going to do.” is at a capacity and we do not want to ruin the feeling the festival has in this moment.” Aside from the main concert, there is plenty going on. There are offvenue shows, a rival football match, breathtaking hikes, fishing, camping, night shift on the family farm. The following afternoon she bathing, bird and people watching, and more. Braedsltakes me on a tour down to Braedslan, a former fish meal an can be translated to “melting pot” which fits. “It’s very factory where the main concert is held. This year it falls on family friendly”, says Aldis. “We have a lot of different Saturday, 29 July, but activities begin the Tuesday prior. people here mixing together and enjoying themselves.”

Season to taste

TEXT: Edda Kentish If you’re visiting Iceland this summer, chances are you’re here for landscapes and activities (either cultural or out in nature). To give you some inspiration, we collected varied adventure ideas, because we know that adventure ranges from scaling a precipice or braving a five-day hike to sitting with a cuppa watching the sun not setting.

Use this guide to take any given situation and scale it up or down depending on your desired adventure level. We’ve even named stages of adventure to make the exercise easier!

Have tips or travel stories that are calm, curious or exhilarating? Tip us off at #mynorthadventure!

Calm

WATERSIDE WONDERS

Opt for whale watching or sea angling out of Reykjavik harbour or travel to North Iceland, to Husavik or Akureyri for example. Requires minimum amount of sea legs / experience. You can also go beach exploring and walk along the sandy banks of Grotta in Reykjavik (black beach), Raudisandur in the Westfjords (golden beach) or Gaseyri near Akureyri (lots of seashells). You can go kayaking from seaside village Stokkseyri in South Iceland or sea swimming at Nautholsvik beach in Reykjavik – if you feel like getting your feet wet. Add a splash or two in country swimming pools like the one in Hofsos and you can claim yourself to be well versed in local poolside pastimes. Try river rafting in Hvita in South Iceland, or in Jokulsa eystri in Skagafjordur, northwest Iceland. For an ever faster ride along the waterways, try the river jet that also operates the Hvita river. Hvita is on the Golden Circle, so it isn’t hard to miss. Look for a throng of like-minded explorers and you’re probably in the right place.

Curious Exhilarating

CULTURAL CURIOSITIES

How to become Icelandic in 60 minutes is an English-language (obviously) one-man show about – you guessed it – how to become Icelandic in 60 minutes. The only requirement to enjoy the show is to be prepared to laugh for an hour. You could also join a guided tour around downtown Reykjavik to learn all about the city’s paranormal activities. If you feel like venturing into the realm of the Icelandic language, the theatre group Leikhopurinn Lotta produces children’s matinees all throughout summer in various outdoor locations around Iceland (and no matter the weather), which is a curious experience for the senses in more ways than one. To fully appreciate the challenges of Iceland’s nature, sign up for the Runners’ Festival in the Westfjords on 14–16 July and conquer a half marathon, a 45-km (28-mi) wilderness run, open-water swimming, mountain biking, a three-day triathlon, or all of the above. The events take place all over the fjords. After the trials, you should carb-load on homemade waffles by the pool in Thingeyri on 15 July – made with all the love an Icelandic fishing village can muster.

LANDSCAPE LESSONS

One of the best things about Iceland is that you don’t have to leave civilisation behind to see natural wonders. If you’re in Reykjavik, make your way to Heidmork reserve and walk by mossy banks, birch trees and red sand to get your fill, or drive a little out of town, to Krysuvik for example, to see natural formations that aren’t your garden-variety woodlands. The town of Egilsstadir in the East is beautifully located if you’re after intermediate hikes. Try a guided tour to Storurd – an area that looks like it could be an elf church, complete with boulders and lakes for your perusal. The hike takes a few hours (depending on your walking speed and the tour you pick) and is worth every calorie spent. Mountain biking is the latest rage in Iceland and if you want to take your experience to the next level, look for tours to Landmannalaugar via Laugavegur (not the shopping street, but the Highland trail. They’re not the same).