Picture a distant panorama of historical mountains, the strata layers of volcanic creation seen to the bare eye. These mountains unfold out like fingers of a hand, surrounded by water and sparsely dotted with red-roofed farmhouses. The rugged lands of Iceland’s Westfjords are far sufficient away from the touristed Ring Road to supply an genuine and transformative expertise for guests, but shut sufficient to suit it in with simply 5 days in Iceland.
While you discover every part right here that makes Iceland so magical — glaciers, cliffs, puffins, waterfalls, and scorching springs — the Westfjords are far sufficient off the well-trod vacationer path to make it a super vacation spot for individuals returning to Iceland for his or her second or third journey. If it sounds intriguing however you don’t know the place to start out planning, comply with this Iceland Westfjords itinerary to prepare your journey.
If you take an extended Iceland highway journey across the total Ring Road, you might solely need to spend sooner or later within the Westfjords. You can nonetheless slot in among the highlights that I’ll level out under, however I’d encourage you to remain a number of days.
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I not too long ago spent 4 days within the Westfjords on my third journey to Iceland on a women’ journey. On this journey, as a substitute of heading south or to the Golden Circle, like most first-time guests, we headed west. We first spent a full day on the Snaefellsnes peninsula, earlier than heading as much as the Westfjords.
On this journey, as a substitute of self-driving and exploring on our personal, we paired up with Hidden Iceland to expertise a non-public model of their four-day Westfjords tour. Hidden Iceland volunteered to indicate us round in order that we may expertise and evaluate their tour, however we coated our personal lodging and meals.
We completely beloved our time with Ryan from Hidden Iceland and I’d extremely advocate becoming a member of one in all their excursions when visiting the Westfjords — for causes that I’ll element later. If you need to e book one in all their scheduled group excursions, you’ll be able to obtain 10% off utilizing my referral code of WE3TRAVEL.
Getting to the Westfjords
Your drive from Reykjavik to the sparsely populated Westfjords of Iceland will take about 4 to 5 hours, relying on the place you begin your exploration of the Fjords. Another possibility could be to spend an evening in West Iceland or in Stykkisholmur on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
From Stykkisholmur, you may also take a automotive ferry to the Westfjords. However, it takes about the identical size of time as driving so in the event you undergo from movement illness, you might simply need to drive it.
Since we stayed in Stykkisholmur, we drove from there to our first cease in Heydalur within the northern fjords on our first day on Route 54 and 60.
Here is a map of the route I’d advocate for this Westfjords itinerary.
Map supply: Google My Maps
Where to remain within the Westfjords
While there are fewer resorts within the Westfjords, in addition they aren’t as crowded or costly, making a visit to the Westfjords ideally suited for somebody desirous to expertise Iceland on a tighter finances. We beloved our lodging on the following locations:
Iceland Westfjords Itinerary
Here is the day-by-day breakdown of our Iceland Westfjords itinerary so that you can comply with:
Westfjords Day 1
Erpsstadir
On our solution to the Westfjords from Stykissholmur, our first cease of the day was at Erpsstadir, a dairy farm providing do-it-yourself ice cream, Skyr, cheeses, and different merchandise. This family-run enterprise is a good pit cease alongside your drive, providing entry to a playground and livestock (for a payment), loos, and scrumptious dairy merchandise.
If you get an opportunity to take a farm tour — do it! The dairy is fascinating and the child cows — simply too cute. Double examine on their open hours and if you’re visiting outdoors of the summer season, be sure you name forward to make an appointment.
Eiriksstadir
Just a bit additional down the highway, you’ll be able to go to a recreation of a Viking longhouse and find out about Iceland’s Viking roots at Eiriksstadir. This homestead of Erik the Red and Leif the Lucky provides excursions by guides in conventional Viking clothes.
It pays to hitch an organized tour to study the fascinating historical past — and perhaps even meet a real Viking descendent. While a lot of a go to to Iceland is in regards to the panorama, don’t miss out on this opportunity to study a bit in regards to the historical past and tradition too.
Budardalur
After leaving Eiriksstadir, we stopped for lunch within the small city of Budardalur. Remember, in these elements of Iceland cities are few and much between. You want to make use of the chance to make use of the washroom, seize some meals, and replenish on fuel when you’ve gotten it.
We had a tasty lunch in Veidistadurinn, a restaurant proper off the primary highway. They focus on fish and the fish and chips had been fairly tasty!
Hotel Heydalur
As you make your means north on Route 61, you’ll start to note the altering panorama. The mountains will get taller and extra rugged. You are getting into the oldest a part of Iceland, as these mountains are 15 million years outdated.
You will start to wind your means alongside the fingers of the Fjords and be tempted to cease at each unmarked waterfall and charming farmhouse to take footage. Just bear in mind that you’ve got numerous driving forward!
We spent the night time on the Country Hotel Heydalur, which provides inexpensive single, double, and even triple rooms. This charming guesthouse is quintessential Icelandic — easy Scandinavian decor, charming hosts, and home-cooked meals in a country setting.
There is a pure scorching spring throughout the river, an indoor swimming pool and greenhouse and on-site self-catering cabins to hire. This conventional Icelandic horse farm additionally provides horseback driving, mountaineering, fishing, and sea kayaking excursions. It was a beautiful keep and the comfort of the on-site eating and included breakfast made it a super cease on our journey.
Westfjords Day 2
Arctic Fox Centre
Our first cease on our second day within the Westfjords was on the Arctic Fox Centre in Sudavík. This is a rescue and academic heart for rehabilitating wild arctic foxes. There are 6,000-8,000 wild arctic foxes in Iceland, which is the fifth largest inhabitants on this planet behind Siberia and Canada.
The arctic fox is the one place of birth mammal to Iceland, every part else has been introduced over by the Celts, Vikings, or later settlers. The info inside is pretty fascinating, however the true deal with is getting to satisfy the rescue foxes outdoors.
Since rescues are usually launched again into the wild, you by no means know what can be there throughout a go to. We acquired fortunate to see a child fox, which was simply in regards to the cutest factor ever. Our tour information even gave me an opportunity to feed it some small dried fish pellets.
Ísafjordur
Our subsequent cease was within the city of Ísafjordur, the unofficial capital of the Westfjords. You may definitely make this your house base for a few days of exploring as there are many lodging and restaurant choices.
We had the perfect meal of the journey (and that’s saying so much!) at Tjöruhúsid in Ísafjordur. This inconspicuous restaurant within the fishing village provides the freshest and tastiest fish dishes — on par with something you’ll find in a serious metropolis — with a barn-like, cozy however rustic inside. The meals are served buffet fashion, however with a steady movement of various pans of sautéed and baked fish recent off the range.
Vigur
After lunch, we hopped aboard a ship with West Tours for a visit out to Vigur, often known as Paradise Island or Puffin Island, a distant island within the fjord that’s house to over 80,000 puffins in the summertime. Unfortunately throughout our go to the final week of August that they had already departed for the season.
Only two individuals dwell on this island year-round they usually make a residing harvesting the down from Eider geese. Don’t fear, they don’t damage the geese, they pluck the feathers out of the nests. This laborious process explains the excessive price ticket related to eiderdown duvets.
After a strolling tour across the island, we popped into the cafe for espresso, tea, and a number of do-it-yourself desserts — which had been scrumptious! Just don’t overdo it as a result of the boat journey could be a bit uneven.
Kirkjuból
After a fast cease in Flateyri, as a result of how may we resist trying out the oldest retailer in Iceland, which simply occurs to be a e book retailer, with continued on to our lodging for the night time at Kirkjuból Guest House.
We had an uncommon family-style dinner at Kaffi Sol close by, though you can simply keep and have dinner in Isafjordur. And although there are resorts in Isafjordur, we discovered the Kirkjuból Guest House fairly charming and inexpensive, with lovely views of the encircling mountains.
Westfjords Day 3
If you solely have sooner or later within the Westfjords, that is in all probability the place you need to spend it as these are the sights with the largest wow issue and probably the most well-known of the locations to go within the Westfjords.
Dynjandi Waterfall
We actually lucked out on our third day within the Westfjords with sunny skies. This was a giant day and if we may have spent 5 days within the Westfjords, I’d have cut up this into two separate days to cut back the quantity of driving.
Our first cease was on the 100-meter-tall Dynjandi waterfall, one in all Iceland’s tallest waterfalls. You really want to provide yourselves a minimum of an hour right here to climb to the highest and take pictures of the bridal veil falls and decrease falls from a number of angles.
Just don’t overlook to show round and take within the view of the fjord under. The reflections off the water might be fairly gorgeous and through our journey in late August, the autumn colours had been already draped throughout the fields.
Patreksfjordur
After visiting Dynjandi, and making numerous picture stops, we made our solution to Patreksfjordur, which is the place we had been planning to remain the night time on the beautiful and trendy Hotel West. We had views overlooking the fjord that had been fairly lovely.
Stúkuhúsid in Patreksfjordur made an amazing cease for lunch with scrumptious salads, sandwiches, and dessert. While Patreksfjordur was beautiful, we had extra to see that day earlier than returning for a scrumptious dinner on the Fosshotel West Fjords.
Látrabjarg Cliffs
After lunch, we launched into the lengthy drive over primarily gravel roads to a different one of many Westfjords’ most well-known sights, the Látrabjarg Cliffs, the westernmost level in Iceland. Our first cease was the Gardar BA 64 shipwreck, an outdated whaling ship that was beached in 1981 and at present is a well-liked picture opp.
We thought-about stopping at Raudisandur, a red-sand seashore alongside the coast, however all of the driving was attending to us and we determined to skip it. Just the glimpses of the seashores alongside this southern fjord had been fairly spectacular although, with extensive, flat sand stretching out to the ocean. If we had cut up today into two, I’d have loved a pleasant, lengthy stroll on a kind of seashores — whether or not it was purple or yellow sand.
I’m glad that we didn’t lower our time quick on the Látrabjarg Cliffs as a result of we may have walked endlessly alongside these towering cliffs. These cliffs are house to hundreds of puffins in the summertime, however they left for his or her winter within the Atlantic Ocean once we arrived on the final day of August.
Like the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, however taller, these cliffs tower as much as 400 meters with a sheer drop to the ocean under. As with most pure sights in Iceland, you gained’t discover any guardrails alongside the delicate cliff edge so persist with the trail and take care, particularly when it’s windy. It definitely seems like a robust gust would blow you proper off.
It actually turned out to be an ideal climate day as a result of not solely did the solar shine on us for a lot of the day, however the situations for the aurora borealis had been prime. That night we stored an eye fixed on the aurora forecast and headed out with our cameras and tripods to see if we may spot the Northern Lights. We definitely acquired fortunate with an attractive show — actually a bucket checklist expertise!
West Fjords Day 4
Grábrók
Our last day within the West Fjords was actually all in regards to the drive again to Reykjavik. If you had been persevering with on to Northern Iceland or spending a while in West Iceland, you can definitely add in additional stops within the Westfjords. However, simply the drive up and over the mountains and alongside the fjord was simply gorgeous and the proper capstone to our time in Iceland.
Once we reconnected with the Ring Road, we stopped on the Grábrók Crater. You can climb alongside the edges of three volcanic craters and check out the remnant of Viking settlements.
Glanni Waterfall
The last cease on our journey was on the Glanni Waterfall, simply previous Grabrok close to the city of Bifrost. Seriously, who wouldn’t need to cease at a spot referred to as Bifrost?! It makes me need to attend the University there.
Glanni is ready within the Nordura River, which is a salmon fishing river. You park close to a golf course after which it’s a quick stroll to the overlook of the falls.
From Glanni, it’s one other 1.5 hour drive again to Reykjavik (see my submit on the place to remain in Reykjavik.)
Tips for Visiting the Westfjords
I LOVED my time within the Westfjords and I’m so glad I acquired to expertise this distant a part of the nation. However, there are undoubtedly a number of issues that you just want to concentrate on earlier than you e book a visit.
- Due to the character of the geography, there’s a LOT of driving concerned in a go to to the Westfjords that it’s essential be ready for.
- Many of the roads within the Westfjords are gravel, with various levels of upkeep and highway situations. Some of those roads cling to the cliff’s edge.
- We visited the Westfjords in early September and this Iceland Westfjords itinerary is greatest for a summer season go to from May-early October. Many of those roads are closed fully for stretches of time within the winter. I’d NOT advocate making an attempt to go to the Westfjords within the winter. Plan to go to between June-August for the perfect situations.
- Give your self a minimum of 4 days to benefit from the Westfjords. Don’t attempt to squeeze it in throughout a 7 or 10-day Ring Road journey. Either make a separate journey for the Westfjords, mix it with West Iceland, or plan to spend 2-3 weeks exploring the whole nation.
- I like to recommend reserving a tour versus self-driving if this makes you in any respect uncomfortable. It was so pleasing to let another person take management of the driving! Remember, you will get 10% off a gaggle, scheduled tour with Hidden Iceland with promo code WE3TRAVEL.
- Bring Dramamine or ginger sweet/drinks/tablets in the event you get movement sick because the winding roads are certain to set off it.
- Get fuel, use the bathroom, and get meals when you’ve gotten an opportunity — you by no means know when the subsequent alternative could come up.
- Keep in thoughts that lodging are extra inexpensive within the Westfjords than in different elements of the nation, however they’re additionally restricted so reservations are extremely really useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
100%! The Iceland Westfjords is one in all my favourite areas. First, as a result of it’s extra distant and never as well-known or serviced by massive tour firms, the Westfjords shouldn’t be crowded in any respect. It is simple to benefit from the pure wonders of this area with hardly anybody else round. Second, as a result of there isn’t the identical demand, resorts and guesthouses within the Westfjords are way more moderately priced. And lastly, this space is simply gorgeous. It is the oldest area in Iceland and its rugged magnificence is not like what you see in different elements of the nation.
I’d extremely advocate renting a 4WD car with a excessive clearance in your journey to the Westfjords. We traveled in a station wagon, however most of the roads are gravel and a few are fairly pitted with massive potholes. An SUV or 4×4 would make for a neater drive.
Absolutely, however I’d advocate having a GPS and never relying fully on cell service and Google Maps. You need to be sure you additionally convey alongside a paper map or have clear instructions to every of your locations. However, I beloved taking a non-public tour of the Westfjords with Hidden Iceland and letting them deal with the driving and navigation.
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