This is an UNIQUE opportunity to discover Iceland ultimate western boundaries, the remotest and most mysterious parts of the country, unfamiliar even to many Icelanders.
Day 1, MON – WELCOME TO ICELAND! (50 km/31 mls)
Arrival at Keflavik International Airport and transfer to hotel in the capital area. Overnight is at Guesthouse Borgartún or Hotel Cabin. We provide you with ideas how to explore Reykjavik on your own.
Day 2, TUE - ON THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE VIKINGS (340 km/211 mls)
Depart Reykjavik for Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site that was home to the world's first democratic parliament during the Viking age. Then we take the interior mountain track "Kaldidalur" north along the shield volcano "Skjaldbreidur" and past the long glacier "Langjökull". There’s a stop at the lava waterfall Hraunfossar and Europe's largest hot spring Deildartunguhver. We visit the historical site of Reykholt, the home of Snorri Sturluson, historian, poet and the writer who recorded Iceland’s sagas in the 13th century. Continue onto West Iceland - “Dalir” the stepping-stone to the New World. Here we visit the reconstructed turf longhouse at the farm of Erik the Red, the birthplace of his son Leifur the Lucky, who sailed to North America around 1000 AD - five hundred years before Columbus. Crossing the long bridge across Gilsfjörður fjord takes us into the West Fjords. Overnight and dinner is at Hotel Malarhorn in Drangsnes, with a view of the island Grímsey, known for its many birds. You may also spot some whales in the fjord!
Day 3, WED - COASTAL WILDERNESS (160 km/99 mls)
Today we explore the coastal wilderness of "Strandir", the wildest and remotest coast of Western Europe. The road ends in the middle of nowhere, on the shore at the natural geothermal hot pool in Krossanes, one of the most dramatically sited swimming pools in Iceland. You can soak in its hot water with amazing views towards the sea – it’s a uniquely lovely experience. Overnight and dinner is at Hotel Malarhorn in Drangsnes. Optional trip to Grímsey Puffin Island for bird watching.
Day 4, THU - ABANDONED FARMS AND THE WEST FJORD ICE CAP (210 km/130 mls)
Crossing the wilderness of the Steingrímsfjarðarheiði moorland will take us to the long deep fjord Ísafjarðardjúp. Driving along Kaldalón offers unique view approaching Drangajökull, the only glacier in the West Fjords. The entire length of the northern shoreline of the Ísafjarðardjúp bay is deserted, and all the farms here have been abandoned. One of Iceland's most beloved composers Sigvaldi Kaldalóns lived in Kaldalón for a time. He was a doctor, but took the name Kaldalón, because the natural beauty of the place enchanted him so. Overnight and dinner is at the Farm-Guesthouse Heydalur, in a spectacular countryside setting with a river, waterfall, shrub covered hillsides, mountains, fjords and a shore full of wildlife and flora. We are far from the rest of the world, in relaxing, eternal nature, where you find also a natural hot pool. There’s time to ponder the beauty surrounding us, and there are kayak- and horse rental available if you’re up for some active fun.
Day 5, FRI – ISAFJÖRÐUR, THE CAPITAL OF THE WEST FJORDS AND VISIT TO A BIRD ISLAND (180 km/112 mls)
The road along the scenic shoreline takes us around countless fjords to Ísafjörður, the capital town of the West Fjords. We have some free time to wander the small streets of this little town, do a bit of shopping and visit local museums. In the afternoon we get a different perspective, as we see the shore and wildlife from the sea – on a boat trip to Vigur Island. Nearly everything about this island is small – it is about 2 km long, and 400 meters wide, it has the smallest post office in Iceland, and a population of about 5. It contains some beautifully renovated old homes and the only windmill in Iceland. It is known for its bird life, too, with abundant puffins, guillemots and arctic terns as well as an eider duck farm whose down are an important source of income for the islanders. After sailing back to Ísafjörður, we head further south for overnight and dinner at Hotel Sandafell in Thingeyri.
Day 6, SAT - TRUCK EXPEDITION FROM THINGEYRI (70 km/44 mls)
Thingeyri is the oldest trading post of the West Fjords with a warehouse dating back to the 18th century. Fishing and fish processing are still the main livelihoods here. The town is in a spectacular setting with, Kaldbakur, the West Fjord’s highest peak, and many other beautiful mountains surrounding it. Today you enjoy an UNIQUE Adventure expedition by truck, along a rugged track around the Sléttanes peninsula between Arnarfjörður and Dýrafjörður fjord. You stop at Keldudalur valley to visit the old church part of the historical house collection of Iceland’s National Museum. The mountains are among the most magnificent ones in Iceland, the beaches are breathtaking and there are numerous cliffs with dramatic lava intrusions. This exceptional adventure shows you sights that are impressive even in a land full of impressive sights. We end the day with a drive to the summit of Sandafell Mountain where we can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the surrounding fjord and mountains. Overnight and dinner is at Hotel Sandafell in Thingeyri. Options: Fishing on the fjord and/or horse back riding.
Day 7, SUN - DYNJANDI WATERFALL (190 km/118 mls)
You cross the highest mountains of the West to reach the majestic fjord "Arnarfjörður". You stop at Hrafnseyri, birthplace of Jon Sigurðsson, leader of the 19th century independence movement. You also get to admire the Dynjandi, with its seven levels of plunging water, declared the country's most beautiful waterfall by the people of Iceland. You travel the shore of many scenic fjords with their beautiful beaches, and pass through small fishing villages. The day ends in Breiðavík, an endless bay of golden sand, often decorated with an explosion of colorful sunsets. Overnight and dinner is at Hotel Látrabjarg or Hotel Breiðavík.
Day 8, MON - BIRD CLIFFS AND ORANGE SANDS (120 km/75 mls)
Today is a highlight! We take a memorable walk in the wilderness to the top of the highest bird cliffs in Iceland, known in the world for its density of northern birds - puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, cormorants and kittiwakes and other cliff birds either in tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or in the millions. Látrabjarg is known as the place where you can get very close to the seabirds and even if you’re not into bird watching, the comic antics of the puffins and the sheer scale of the mob are mesmerizing. In addition to being the most remote bird cliff in Western Europe "Látrabjarg" is the ultimate fortress against the high waves of the North Atlantic. Greenland is 300 km further west and even further is Canada, areas that are important in the sagas with Eric the Red and the discovery of America. You visit "Raudisandur", endless beaches of red and orange sands - simply awesome! Overnight and dinner is at Hotel Látrabjarg or Hotel Breiðavík.
Day 9, TUE - FLIGHT TO REYKJAVÍK AND TIME IN THE CAPITAL (90 km/56 mls)
You travel from Látrabjarg to Bíldudalur airport and board a flight on Eagle Air, back to Reykjavík where you have the rest of the day to explore Iceland's capital or for an optional whale watching tour. Overnight at Guesthouse Borgartún or Hotel Cabin. But be warned – after the West Fjords, the pace of life in Reykjavik seems like a whirl wind!
Day 10, WED - DEPARTURE (50 km/31 mls)
Several shuttles are available to transfer from your hotel in Reykjavík to Keflavik airport for your flight home.
Note:
- Average of about 2 hours light walking each day, mainly several short walks from the bus to the different nature sights. This is not a walking/hiking tour.
- It is an easy tour in which nearly everyone can take part. This tour is based on a slow travel concept.
- Total mileage in 8 days is about 1.360 km (844 miles) for the tour, excluding airport transfers and domestic flight
- the tours starting on the 7th of July and on the 4th of August will do the itinerary in inverse sense, that's to say start with a flight from Reykjavik to Bíludalur and travel back to Reykjavik by bus.