In the Footsteps of Nonni
The author Jón Sveinsson – Nonni was born in the beautiful area of Eyjafjörður. He spent his early childhood days growing up at Möðruvellir, his birthplace, and later in Akureyri. At the age of 12, he was given the opportunity to study abroad in France and so his travel adventures in Europe began. You will visit the places where Nonni and his younger brother Manni used to play as young boys.
Highlights
- Akureyri, the capital of the north
- Akureyri church
- Guided walk of Akureyri
- Nonni House
- 19th-century architecture
- Möðruvellir
- Skipalón
- Gásir
- Panoramic views of Eyjafjörður
- Lake Mývatn volcanic area
- Goðafoss waterfall
Daily Itinerary
Day 1:
You arrive in Akureyri coming from Reykjavík. You have the choice of making this trip via an early departure schedule bus (6 hrs) or by flight (45 min., various daily flight times available). Transfer to your accommodation: hotel or guesthouse in Akureyri.
Day 2:
Akureyri City Morning Walk: Along with your guide, you will stroll along the old streets of Akureyri, with its charming wooden houses, with a history of their own. As you walk along Aðalstræti, the oldest street of Akureyri and pass by some historic buildings and you can take in the fantastic views surrounding Akureyri. There too is a large pond where you can enjoy the local bird wildlife; nesting swans, geese, ducks and other birds. Towards the southern end of the street, you finally reach the museum area which is home to an old tiny wooden church and the Nonni House Museum. Nonni’s Museum is the childhood home of the author Jón Sveinsson known better by his nickname Nonni. His books focus on his childhood adventures in Akureyri and the surrounding area. They have been translated into 40 languages and so have become popular even in countries as remote as China or Japan.
The museum also represents an excellent example of a traditional dwelling in Akureyri towards the end of the 19th century. Additionally, to learn more about the history and life in Akureyri, you have a chance to visit the municipal museum next door. The guided walking tour ends at the Nonni Museum. Here is a perfect opportunity to extend your walk by taking the so-called “Nonni Trail”: from the Nonni House you hike uphill to a large stone called Nonnasteinn (Nonni’s stone). They say that Nonni ran uphill to this stone to contemplate his future after he had learned that he was to travel abroad for studies.
Instead of walking back to the city from the museum you can also take the city bus which is free. There are two routes available from the bus stop near to the museum; one takes you straight back to the town center, or you can choose the longer loop route that takes you through the newer parts of Akureyri finishing back in the town center.
Day 3:
Today you join a short excursion along the Nonni childhood trail, driving the old road through the countryside and visiting Nonni’s birthplace Möðruvellir.
Optionally you could change the sightseeing by car into a Nonni Cycling Trail where you visit the same places that the guided minibus tour would include but allows you to determine your own pace.
Short description of the optional biking tour (surcharge): Car transfer will be arranged to the starting point of the cycling tour, about 7 km north of Akureyri, where you collect the rented bicycles. Armed with your detailed itinerary and map for the journey you are now ready to go! During the tour, there will be plenty of opportunities for photo stops as well as short breaks to have time to take in the magnificent views. All of the places that you pass on this cycling trail are mentioned in one of the books about the young Icelandic boy, Nonni. As you progress along the way, you are visiting Nonni’s playground and end up at his childhood home. Your cycling adventure ends at Möðruvellir, Nonni’s birthplace, the location of a beautiful rural Icelandic church and a remarkable historic site.
Light refreshments at the end of the tour in this scenic setting before being picked by your transfer vehicle and driven back to Akureyri.
Day 4:
Today you take on a guided full day coach tour to Goðafoss waterfall and Lake Mývatn, where you visit the major sights of its beautiful nature.
You drive along the eastern coastal road of Eyjafjörður, Iceland’s longest fjord, before crossing the Vikurskarð mountain pass. Descending to Fnjóskadalur valley, you soon reach Lake Ljósavatn set in between the mountains. The first stop of the day will be Goðafoss waterfall, the Waterfall of the Gods, which played a significant role at the time of Christianization and is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in North Iceland.
Continuing through the Reykjadalur Valley, you reach the area of Lake Mývatn known for its natural beauty, variety volcanic craters, lava fields, solfataras and fumaroles, all surrounded by ice-age table mountains and mountain ridges.
You will have a look at the unique pseudocraters at Skútustaðir, take s stroll through the lava maze of Dimmuborgir. You visit the solfatara field Hverir at Námaskarð with boiling mud pits and steam vents, characterized with a rather strong smell of sulfur.
Before leaving the area, you make a stop at the Nature Baths geothermal lagoon where you can soak in the pleasantly warm water of the lagoon and the steam baths.
After the stop at the Nature Baths, we return to Akureyri.
Day 5:
Lastly, you have a free day to enjoy the town of Akureyri. There are possibilities to add in an optional excursion or an additional bicycle tour; please ask for further details. Late afternoon or early evening transfer to Akureyri airport/bus terminal for your and departure to Reykjavik.
Dates & prices
Departures: June – September
Minimum. 2 participants
Price per person from:
In a hotel with private facilities, including breakfast: EUR 1.750
In guesthouse with shared facilities, including breakfast: EUR 1.370
In a studio apartment for 2 persons with hot tub, self-catering: EUR 1.550
Included in the price:
* Flight Reykjavík-Akureyri-Reykjavík, incl.airport taxes
* Airport transfers upon arrival/departure in Akureyri
* 4 nights accommodation in a double room
* Guided Walking Tour of Akureyri
* Entrance fee to Nonni House
* Nonni Trail guided tour
* Goðafoss /Lake Mývatn guided coach tour
