The mountains are calling. Up on a bluff in the seaside town of Seyðisfjörður there is a sound sculpture called Tvísöngur, or duet which is a tribute to an Icelandic musical tradition.
To get there park at the Brimberg Fish Factory and hike up the hill on an old dirt road with gorgeous fjord views.
Walking uphill it will only take fifteen minutes or so, but there is still an element of adventure as you cross over a log.
After a good rain you may see a series of waterfalls tumbling down the cliffside.
If you need a break you can always sit and enjoy the surroundings of this quiet village.
On a plateau you will find the signing concrete domes by artist Lukas Kühne.
The sculpture is comprised of five interconnected domes ranging in size from 6 to 12 feet tall.
Enter through an archway to test out the resonance corresponding to Icelandic five-tone harmony.
Each dome amplifies the tone and alone on the mountaintop you don’t have to be shy to sing and see for yourself. If it is a windy day the gusts may create a sound all their own.You can continue to explore up the mountain or simply head back the way you came.
Now with a soundtrack in your mind, enjoy the view of the small fishing town.
In Iceland there are 80,000 horses to its 300,000 people. Some are bred for food, but it is the least eaten meat in the nation. Some are bred for sheep herding and exporting. Most are simply there for companionship and riding. Icelandic horses have five gaits, while the normal horse around the world only has three. The skeið is a flying pace when horses can reach up to 30mph. The tölt is only done by Icelandic horses, called the 5th gear it is in between a trot and a cantor so riders can cover long distances without the horse tiring.
Norse mythology states that Óðinn’s eight legged horse Sleipnir put one of its hoofs down and created Ásbyrgi, shaped like a huge horseshoe. Geoglogists state that a cataclysmic glacial flood of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum River ten million years ago formed the canyon. Who knows which idea is true, but it sure is a beautiful place to explore.
Make your first stop the visitors center is equipped with maps, restrooms, and a water fountain – open June-September. It has a neat little museum detailing wildlife, vegetation, and geology.
One segment speaks about the gryfalcon, the canyon is the most important habitat for these birds in the country. While we didn’t see this magnificent bird of prey in the park, we did spot a handful of them driving around in the country. You can however see their vomit here, if nothing else!
While hiking in the park one special bird we spotted, but couldn’t snap a picture of, was the a common snipe. Actually, I almost tripped over it before it flew away! The hike we took was the Skógarstígur trail a 3 miles roundtrip trail.
Segments of wooded surroundings are a refreshing sight in Iceland, largely unforested.
Here there are birch and willow along with foreign trees planted between 1947 and 1977, fir, larch and pine. Fall colors were exceptional and surprising!
Starting well away from the canyon and gradually drawing closer to its towering walls, this trail is perfect for all skill levels.
As you continue walking informational plaques giving the air of a botanical garden being sprouting up.
Now you are quite close to alluring Botnstjörn Pond, do take the turn off.
This is the site of what is left of a once waterfall which used to fall from the cliffs above.
In this peaceful place there is platform to contemplate the still pool with its rich green vegetation.
It is a good place to study birds and there are informational plaques to teach you about the native species.
If you have the time and are feeling daring, there is a cliff top walk complete with chains to tackle…or you can simply make your way to the deck for a slightly higher view.
Some have said that this place is the Capital City of the Elves and there is a story of a poor farmers son and the girl that he loves, but cannot marry which has its roots here. In a dream a fairy told them that a beast lived in the Ásbyrgi Pond and would only surface during the midnight sun. By confronting the beast and feeding it their most treasured possessions the lovebirds could marry. Ponder the story and enjoy the scenery as you walk back the way you came.
From the parking lot at the bottom of the hill find the trailhead detailing the trekking routes. The perfect loop to get a feel for the park includes the premiere sights Hljóðaklettar and Rauðhólar, over a three-mile hike.
The trails are well marked and constantly awe inspiring with a big plus, there were no other tourists to share them with.
It isn’t a long or difficult walk to get to the Hljóðaklettar, the echo rocks, if you are looking for a shorter experience you can simply head out and back to this point in a one mile jaunt.
However, you will be fascinated with these peculiar formations and crave more of them.
Hljóðaklettar is a part of a crater row that erupted 9,000 years ago in what one can imagine was an apocalyptic mayhem.
When in their original form many of the craters were similar to Rauðhólar, but during massive floods of the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum loose materials were swept away leaving only their contorted interiors.
You can see how the magma solidified, creating basalt columnar jointing that is rarely seen in the world.
You may even discover a honeycombed cave in the midst of your adventure, enter if you dare.
While tromping about the trail beside these rocks, be sure to test out their echoing qualities. Whether you choose to sing, whistle, or clap – your sound will reverberate across the land!
Eventually you will leave these strange wonders and head out towards Rauðhólar, which happens to be equally as intriguing. The shrubbery along the trail is lovely and from this point on the path is a bit more challenging, gaining some elevation.
A colorful crater awaits streaked in the brightest hue that gives its name, Red Hills.
Creating a lollipop loop means that you get to experience a whole different side to the gorgeous valley and Hljóðaklettar rocks.
Good to know:
+The gravel road is manageable in a 2WD rental car (we did it in a Toyota Yaris) under the right conditions, but definitely a difficult drive
Its impressive volume pours 96,500 gallons of water a second leaving a trail of mist that swirls for miles.
The waterfall is along the Jökulsá á Fjöllum glacial river flowing from Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull, protected in Iceland’s largest national park, Vatnajökull National Park.
After swallowing your astonishment, head upriver to visit the neighboring falls Selfoss. It is approximately half a mile of mild hiking to reach this second waterfall and well worth your time.
Along the way the view of the waterfall slowly comes into sight, it is a charming path beside stark cliffs.
If you parked on the west side for your hike, it is possible to stand right beside one of the little falls.
Stunning and unique, Selfoss is wider (330 feet) than it is tall (36 feet).
Seeing both falls you can create a two mile loop.
Restrooms are available. If you plan on visiting 
The diameter of the crater is almost 1,000 feet across and is basin is filled with the brightest blue water. You can hike around its rim in approximately one hour, but be cautious of the slippery gravel and steep sides, especially on a windy day. As you make your way around you will come to a geothermal area.
Right away the bubbly panorama will cue you in to the fact that this is a special place.
A plover hunted well camouflaged in the golden grass right beside the parking lot.
Just a short walk from the lot is the namesake Leirhnjúkur, which translates to Clay Hill.
It is a rhyolite formation which became very porous from exposure to high heat.
There is a nice boardwalk which leads up to an exciting area geothermal area, most other portions of the trail are on jagged lava.
Without a doubt the most eye catching attraction along the route is the aqua hot spring contrasting against the pink ground.
Also there are a number of bubbling mud pots oozing right beside it.
An additional hot spring is almost a geometrically perfect rectangle, like an inviting pool.
From here on out the landscape changes suddenly and most drastically.
The ominous lava field continues to steam, even though the last eruption was over thirty years ago.
Further past the most recent lava flow you can identify the 18th century incident because it is covered in moss.
Locals and tourists can enjoy these luxuries thanks to the country’s commitment to renewable energy sources. A great place to learn about the history, geology, and technology is right at its source, by visiting Krafla Power Plant.
A leader in the field, the country has over 99.98% of its electricity and heating from hydroelectric power and geothermal energy. Krafla is Iceland’s largest power station which creates 75% of the electricity in the country.
Construction on the plant began in 1974, but volcanic activity just over a mile away halted the work and threatened to terminate it all together. Fortunately the station was completed and today is home to the hottest geothermal well in the world.
Drills must be able to withstand extreme heat to create boreholes which reach magma. On top of the wellheads for their protection from the elements are geodesic domes, unique to Iceland on account of its harsh weather conditions.
Steam is led from the boreholes into turbines which drive generators and carry electricity from lines into the power grid.
Namaskard means mine crack, and aptly so because the area was mined for its rich source of sulphur deposits to produce gunpowder.
The first thing you’ll notice as you step out of your car is the smell, caused by the hydrogen sulfide. It is pungent, but the bizarre landscape is worth the mild discomfort.
The second thing you will notice is the distinct lack of vegetation. Due to the poisonous fumes and acidic soil, it is completely barren.
That does not mean the area is boring, not by a long shot – a rainbow of elements cover the land rising to the surface due to the steam.
Mud pot bubble fiercely displaying their mesmerizing pattern of scalding waters.
This trek is approximately 1.5 mile roundtrip loop and it is recommended to begin on the far side of the road, because this section of the path is comprised of loose gravel which is easier to hike up than down. Upon summiting you will walk into an ethereal scenario, much more intimate than the crowded space below…most visitors do not climb up.
From up here you can see the deep crack that gives this area its name.
You can also spy the tiny parking lot in the distance and across the road to the barrier where vegetation begins to grow again.
The path is well defined and leads back towards the 
Good to know:
+Do not touch any of the water, it is scalding
Two out of the three entrances to the rift are open, descending takes only a minute on the rocky path.
The sun shining into the crack of the fissure illuminates a crystal clear geothermal pool with steam rising off of the water.
Once a popular site for bathing, but a volcanic eruption has destabilized the temperature of the water so it is now forbidden. You can still sit on the edge and soak your feet, mesmerized by this majestic sight. Some might recognize the cave as a background for the infamous Game of Thrones scene between Jon Snow and Ygritte. Once you’re finished below, be sure to climb on top of the fissure and see what hostile environment created such beauty.