Sharing the secrets of the illustrious Lake Mývatn
Lake Mývatn is one of the absolute highlights of any visit to Iceland, but due to its fragile ecosystem, access to the lake is somewhat limited. The family-run Dimmuborgir Guesthouse has however, built up their business on the age-old traditions of fishing and farming by the lake shore, giving its visitors unparalleled access to the lake—with breath–taking sunsets in the spring and Northern Lights in the winter.
The owners of Dimmuborgir Guesthouse have taken special care to integrate Mývatn’s history and nature into their operations. “We realise that people come here because of the unique nature, so we’ve placed special emphasis on accommodating those demands,” says Helgi Héðinsson, manager of Dimmuborgir. “We want to provide our guests with a comfortable and relaxed home base which reflects the landscapes and culture they’re in. Our cottages are therefore placed with optimal views in mind, privacy, tranquillity and giving visitors free access to the lake’s beaches,” Helgi says. Being a family business, visitors are given a unique perspective to the area, as the family knows all there is to know and are extremely willing to share this information. Safeguarding Mývatn´s history, the family at Dimmuborgir Guesthouse still operate an over 50 year–old smokehouse where fishermen would ‘cook’ their catch from the lake and guests are thus treated to locally smoked trout at the breakfast buffet.
Birdwatcher’s Haven
Mývatn is famous for its extremely diverse birdlife and rare birds in Iceland such as the Horned Grebe, Gyrfalcon, the Great Northern Diver and the Barrow’s Goldeneye can all be found in close proximity to the guesthouse. “We’ve seen nests only a few metres from the house and the Barrow’s Goldeneye and Horned Grebe are seen almost every day during the spring and summer, right in front of the breakfast hall. This summer during a guided walk we came within five metres of a curious falcon, which is an extremely rare occurrence although the falcons are frequently found close by. Furthermore, we’ve recently constructed a platform which overlooks the lake, making it one of the best bird watching spots available,” says Helgi.
Open in Every Season
Northern Iceland’s prime attractions are all within easy reach
from Lake Mývatn—be it nature baths, volcanoes, waterfalls, fishing towns and of course the volcanic rock formations which the guesthouse is named after.Lake Mývatn is no less enjoyable during the winter than in the summer. “In fact all the attractions and activities people associate with summer are just as enjoyable during winter, but with a different character. In fact, due to the area’s low rainfall and northern latitude it is one of the best and most beautiful locations for enjoying the northern lights. There’s really no need to chase after them, you can just enjoy them within the comforts of our windowed lounge area,” Helgi concludes.
Dimmuborgir Guesthouse
Geiteyjarströnd 1 • 660 Mývatn
+ 354 464 4210
[email protected]
www.dimmuborgir.is
