The Coastal Experience - Spring
Breiðdalsvík
Winters can be long in Iceland, so when spring rolls in, it breathes new life into the nature. It’s a lovely time to tour Austurland, to enjoy the slow transformation from winter wonderland to green summertime landscapes. You’ll no doubt experience weather conditions from all seasons, so it’s best to be prepared and to pay close attention to weather and road conditions.
This travel route takes you through scenic valleys and along fjord shores, and you can see the trees begin to bud and the wildflowers bloom as the weather warms up and the days lengthen. Widespread lupines begin to flower, giving a purple hue to many scenes. The lambing season begins in May, and the birdlife gets active!
After a winter hiatus, many of the route’s tourist attractions reopen for the season, together with seasonal restaurants.
You’ll no doubt want to explore the nature – but be aware that walking and hiking paths can be muddy thanks to snow melting, so be prepared. Look out for reindeer in the area, and watch the hillsides and lagoons throw off their winter coats and welcome migratory birds. Rainy days can be spent uncovering fascinating local stories of wartime, geology and fishing history.
In summer, The Coastal Experience is a circuit trail, but in winter and well into spring, both the mountain roads on the route (Rte 95 and 939) are generally closed. Never fear: the Ring Road (Hwy 1) remains open and serviced all year round, so the fjord communities are easily visited. Mountain roads open late in the season, and so it’s a good idea to check road.is when plotting your itinerary.
If the mountain roads are closed, from the route’s end at Breiðdalsvík or Djúpivogur you will need to retrace your steps on the Ring Road to return to Egilsstaðir, but you might like to explore other parts of Austurland along the way. The Fjord to Fjord travel route can take you to more scenic fjords, and to some of Iceland’s best ski areas (which offer skiing until April or even May, if conditions are favorable).
You may not have time to see everything we include on this travel route. We recommend you plan your trip using the 'Add to favorites' tool on our page. By bookmarking your favorite attractions and experiences in this way, you can tailor a route through Austurland that's perfect for you!
For great information on the areas visited in The Coastal Experience, check out the Visit Fjarðabyggð website (Fjarðabyggð is the name of the municipality covering this area).
