Westfjords – the roads less traveled
If you‘ve got some extra days to spend in Iceland this Westfjords tour is something to consider! This 4 day (3 night) tour is designed to experience the wonders of Westfjords. The area is known for it‘s magnificent nature surroundings which residents have in many ways used to their advantage. Natural harbours in some of the fjords have made fishing the main industry in the area giving you the opportunity to taste the variation of locally sourced food which is a characteristic for the Westfjords. The coastline is made of dozens of fjords with big mountain hills, bird cliffs, valleys, vegetation and scenic view of the sea. The highlights of the Vestfjords are numerous such as Ísafjarðardjúp, Ísafjörður town,small fishing villages,and the most powerful waterfall in the Westfjords, Dynjandi.
On day 3 you will enjoy sea kayaking from Ísafjörður. Please note that this route requires a car upgrade to a 4WD car. This tour can both start in Reykjavik or be an extension to The Island Circle.
Rough itinerary
- Day 1: Drive to the Hólmavík area.
- Day 2: Cruise the Westfjords to Ísafjörður. Scenic view and historical places.
- Day 3: Sea kayaking between the mountains around Ísafjörður before continuing your road trip.
- Day 4: Take a cruise over the Breiðafjördur bay from Brjánslækurto the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
Detailed itinerary
DAY 1:
Your tour can either start in Reykjavik or be an extension to the Island Circle tour. If you decide to depart from Reykjavik you start by collecting your car and travel information at Reykjavik Backpackers. After leaving the city you head to the Westfjords stopping at some interesting places on the way. We recommend you drive the Hvalfjörður bay instead of taking the tunnel and hike up to the Glymur waterfall. Glymur is the highest waterfall in Iceland and a well kept secret as it lies hidden in a canyon. You can then snack up in Borgarnes before you continue over the Holtavörðuheiði heath. You can overnight in or around Hólmavík area.
DAY 2:
Now you continue to Ísafjörður town cruising through some of the numerous fjords in the area. You‘ll probably be there around noon so the rest of the day is spent exploring the town of Ísafjörður or driving to some of it‘s neighbor villages. One of them is Bolungarvík, just about 15 km from Ísafjörður. This small fishing village is one of Iceland‘s oldest outposts with interesting history. Take a dip in their indoor swimming pool or visit their museum of natural history. Flateyri is also a village about 20 km from Ísafjörður that has been serving as a trading center since around 1790. They also have a nice swimming pool, a doll museum and some interesting hiking routes nearby. The town of Ísafjörður has the largest population in the area and therefor a diverse and interesting culture. After exploring Ísafjörður and it‘s surroundings you spend the night in Ísafjörður.
DAY 3:
You start the day by taking a kayak tour with North Explorers from Ísafjörður. This town has earned its reputation as the sea kayaking center of Iceland. After the 2-3 hour tour you continue your journey to the southern part of the Westfjords stopping at the small villages on the way. You can make a stop at Hrafnseyri, an old farm site and the birth place of Jón Sigurðsson, a pioneer in Icelanders battle of independance. A must see on the way is Dynjandi waterfall which is a set of waterfalls in a beautiful surrounding. This is also a good area to stay overnight. If you have time we also recommend the Barðaströnd in the Breiðafjörður bay.
DAY 4:
On your last day you enjoy a boat tour from Brjánslækur to Stykkishólmur over the Breiðafjörður bay with the ferry Baldur. This shortens the route between south and west and gives you the oportunity to view the coastline from the sea. After your boat tour you continue to Borgarnes if time and interest allows you can take the Hvalfjörður road bypassing the tunnel. This scenic road has much to offer and the best reason for your detour is the hidden secret of Glymur, the highest waterfall in Iceland. Hiking up the slope beside the canyon in which the waterfall hides you‘ll catch some magnificent views of it. After the stop, keep on driving to the capital city, finishing the tour in Reykjavik around dinnertime.