Stuðlagil canyon is fast becoming the iconic symbol of the natural beauty of East Iceland. On this 5 hour shore excursion from Seyðisfjörður we venture inland to visit this wonder, traveling through idyllic countryside along the way. Seydisfjordur, a charming coastal village in east Iceland, has become a popular stop for cruise ships in recent years. Your enthusiastic local guide will be there to greet you upon disembarkation. And don´t worry about your return time, as the tour has been designed to fit perfectly with your cruise´s docking window.

Stuðlagil is a canyon through which the Jökulsá river flows. The canyon´s sheer walls are made up of enormous basalt columns that stand up to 30m (98ft) high, and overlook the dream-like turquoise waters of the flowing glacial river. Remarkably, it is only in the past 15 years that the full extent of Stuðlagil´s majesty can be truly appreciated. The river´s high watermark dropped by 8m due to the opening of the Kárahjnúkur dam in 2009, revealing the columns to be much taller than previously believed.

After departing from Stuðlagil, we head back east towards your port, but not before we make one more stop, this time at Gufufoss waterfall. Somewhat of a hidden gem, Gufufoss resembles the more heralded southern falls at Skógafoss. Smaller in scale, it still stands 27m (88ft) in height, so is impressive in its own right. Enjoy the peaceful surroundings and grab some photos of the falls from various perspectives.

After this stop, we return to charming Seyðisfjörður, where you will be be dropped back to your ship. Perhaps you will have time to explore the famous rainbow road before you embark once more. Either wat, we hope you carry great memories of the east onwards with you.

Stuðlagil Canyon

Shore Tour