Accommodation
Accommodation in single and double unit cottages plus one quad-unit cottage. Three cottages with two rooms with shared bathroom and double beds, one of them has an upper bunk for one child. Several cottages with private entrances to each room, double or family rooms with private bath. Ideal for families or groups. Complimentary wireless Internet access in common areas of the main building; lobby and restaurant.
Board
Breakfast for guests is served in the restaurant which is located in the main building, close to the cottages. It is open in the evening from the 1st of May through October. During winter it is advised to book a table in advance. From the 1st of June through August the restaurant is also open from 13-16 in the daytime. Delicious meals are served in a cosy dining room set in beautiful surroundings. The speciality of the house is our own delicious grilled free range lamb among other dishes emphasizing locally sourced ingredients. Our soups and cakes/desserts are all homemade.
Service and recreation
The area has many interesting hiking trails and opportunities for birdwatching. During summer, guided coach tours run daily from Kirkjubæjarklaustur to many of the best known and most interesting sites in the region. Some of these spectacular attractions include the Lakagígar craters, Eldgjá canyon, Skaftafell (a former national park in its own right, now part of Vatnajökull National Park) and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Golfers will enjoy the nine-hole golf course in Efri-Vík (10 km/6 mi). The closest village with a geothermal swimming pool, supermarket and other services is Kirkjubæjarklaustur (7 km/4 mi). Hunkubakkar runs a sheep farm alongside its tourism services.
Hiking trails around a beautiful and diverse region
Hunkubakkar sits on the banks of Skaftár river, 1 km/0.62 mi from route no 1 (the ‘Ring Road’) in an area renowned for its natural beauty. Opposite the farm, on the southern banks of the river, is the eastern edge of the western section of the Skaftáreldahraun lava flow, which flowed from the infamous Skaftáreldar eruption in 1783. On the northern bank of the river are grassy slopes making way to heathlands and wilderness. There are countless fascinating hiking trails in the region, so everyone will be able to find something suitable for their level of experience. Close by is the trail along the "East edges" of the lava to the village of Krirkjubæjarklaustur and Landbrotshólar just south of the highway. Also worth mentioning are the wonderful hiking places which are a little further away such as Landmannalaugar, Sveinstindur and Langisjór (approx. 90 km/56 mi inland) and further to the east is Skaftafell (78 km/48,5 mi) which offers great and varied hiking trails. Just 1 km/0.62 mi in from the farm is the road to the Lakagígar craters (4x4 vehicles only), and a short stretch east of the junction is the spectacular Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, a must-see for anyone visiting the area.
Lakagígar and Eldgjá
The best known natural attraction in the highlands above the farm is Lakagígar, a series of craters located 53 km / 33 mi from Hunkubakkar via the mountain road that you turn into 1 km / 0.62 mi in from the farm (4x4 vehicles only). Skaftáreldar volcano erupted in 1783, forming Europe’s largest lava flow from a single eruption in recorded history. The lava flow, known as Skaftáreldahraun, extends from Lakagígar along a 25 km / 15.5 mi long volcanic fissure. This enormous eruption started on June 8th, with the western stream of the lava flow stopping on the other side of Skaftár river, a little east of Hunkubakkar, on July 20th that summer. A short distance north of Lakagígar is another protected natural treasure, Eldgjá, a 70 km / 43 mi long volcanic fissure that last erupted in the year 934. Lakagígar and Eldgjá are both part of the vast Vatnajökull National Park. The national park staff in Kirkjubæjarklaustur can provide information about tours, driving considerations, access, and precautions to take when visiting this delicate environment. Guided coach tours run daily from Kirkjubæjarklaustur (drive by the farmyard at Hunkubakkar).
Vík í Mýrdal, Reynisfjara, Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón
Hunkubakkar is ideally situated for day-tours to several of the most interesting places in the south and southeastern parts of the country. Travelling westwards, it’s about 70 km/43 mi through the black sands of Mýrdalssandur to the village of Vík í Mýrdal, and from there it’s around 10 km/6 mi to the unique and spectacular basalt columns at Reynisfjara beach. Travelling east will take you by the Síða farmlands, through the eastern section of the Skaftáreldahraun lava flow. From there onwards via Skeiðarársandur, the outwash plain of the Skeiðarárjökull glacier to Skaftafell (78 km/48 mi), which is part of the Vatnajökull National Park and one of the country’s most popular natural attractions. From Skaftafell it’s just 60 km/37 mi to the famous Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at Breiðamerkursandur.
Hosts: Pálmi Harðarson og Jakobina Flosadóttir