West Fjords

 

Reykjavik	Borgartún Guesthouse	1 night
Drangsnes	Hotel Malarhorn	2 nights
West Fjord	Haydalur Farm-Guesthouse	1 night
Þingeyri	Hotel Sandafell	2 nights
Breiðavík	Hotel Látrabjarg	2 nights
Reykjavik	Borgartún Guesthouse	1 night

10 days £1840

excluding international flights

This unique escorted tour is truly special because it is dedicated to the exploration of Iceland's westernmost boundaries. In this western wilderness you can see Iceland at its most mysterious and remote – the real Iceland. Many Icelanders haven’t been there, and most members of the travelling public don’t get there either. This tour is ideal for visitors that have travelled Iceland's ring road before and yearn to get a bit off the beaten path.

Iceland’s West Fjords region has been dubbed “the most famous unknown place in Iceland.”  It is untouched and almost uninhabited, and painted by the the midnight sun during the summer. The cliffs and valleys are packed with birds, the uninhabited fjords offer silence and tranquility, and the Arctic fox proudly roams the mountains and inlets. The waterfalls are high and the streams pure. Visiting West Fjords is truly a different experience. It is a different Iceland altogether. 

 

 

DAY 1 - Arrive Keflavik. Drive to Reykjavík.

On arrival at Keflavik Airport take the FLYBUS (included) to the Reykjavík Bus terminal where you will be met and taken to your hotel. Recommended flight from London:Icelandair from London Heathrow (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

 

DAY 2 - In the Footsteps of the Vikings.

Your Iceland holiday begins with a drive to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site that was home to the world's first democratic parliament during the Viking age. Then you’ll take the interior mountain track north along the shield volcano Skjaldbreidur and past the Langjökull Glacier.  You’ll stop at the Hraunfossar lava waterfall and at Deildartunguhver, Europe's largest hot spring.  You’ll visit the historical site of Reykholt, the home of Snorri Sturluson, a historian, poet and the writer who recorded Iceland’s sagas in the 13th century.  Continue onto West Iceland - "the stepping-stone to the New World".  Here you’ll visit the reconstructed turf longhouse at the farm of Eric the Red, the birthplace of his son Leifur the Lucky, who discovered America around 1000 AD - five hundred years before Columbus. Crossing the long bridge across Gilsfjörður fjord takes you into the West Fjords region and heading towards the villages of Hólmavík and Drangsnes.  Overnight in Drangsnes.  You may be lucky enough to spot some whales in the fjord!
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 3 - Coastal wilderness.

Today you’ll discover 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.  Here you can soak in the hot water, with amazing views towards the sea – a uniquely lovely experience.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner. 

DAY 4 - Abandoned farms and the West Fjords Icecap.

Crossing the Steingrímsfjarðarheiði moorland will take you to the deep Ísafjarðardjúp Fjord.  You will continue to Drangajökull (left), the sole ice cap in the West Fjords. The entire length of the northern shoreline of the Ísafjarðardjúp Bay is deserted, all the farms having been abandoned.  This spectacularly beautiful place is a region of rivers, waterfalls, shrub covered hillsides, mountains, fjords and seashore, and boasts a wide variety of wildlife and flora.  Your overnight stay is in a farm-guesthouse.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 5 -  Ísafjörður and Vigur Island.

Travel along the scenic shoreline of countless fjords to the town of Ísafjörður, the capital of West Fjords, and then to the picturesque village of Bolungarvík (left) to pay a visit to the open-air Ósvör Maritime Museum.  In the afternoon you’ll see the shore and wildlife from the sea as you take a boat trip to Vigur Island which has the smallest post office in Iceland, some beautifully renovated old homes and the only windmill in Iceland. Vigur is known for its birdlife, too, with abundant puffins, guillemots and arctic terns as well as an eider duck farm. Once back on dry land you’ll travel further south for your stay in the town of Þingeyri.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner. 

DAY 6 - Þingeyri.  Truck adventure around West Fjords.

Þingeyri (left) is the oldest trading post of the West Fjord region, 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 beneath Kaldbakur, the West Fjord’s highest peak. Today you’ll enjoy an unique adventure excursion by truck, along a rugged tracks around the peninsula between Arnarfjörður and Dýrafjörður fjords.  The mountains here are among the most magnificent in Iceland, the beaches are breathtaking and there are numerous cliffs with dramatic lava intrusions. This exceptional adventure will show you sights that are impressive even in a land full of impressive sights.  Optional activities are available, such as fishing on the fjord or horse riding.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner. 

DAY 7 - Dynjandi Falls.

Cross the highest mountains of the West to reach the majestic Arnarfjörður Fjord. You’ll stop at Hrafnseyri, birthplace of Jon Sigurðsson, leader of the 19th century independence movement.  You’ll also get to admire the Dynjandi Falls, considered by many to be Iceland's most beautiful waterfall, and travel along the shores of many scenic fjords with their beautiful beaches, passing through small fishing villages, to end the day at the sweeping bay of Breiðavík.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 8 - Látrabjarg Bird Cliffs.

A memorable walk this morning to the top of the highest bird cliffs in Iceland, known 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 millions!  Látrabjarg is known as the place where you can get closest 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.  This is the remotest bird cliff in Western Europe and the ultimate fortress against the high waves of the North Atlantic.  You’ll also visit the impressive red-sand beaches of Raudisandur.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 9 - Fly back to Reykjavik.

Drive from Látrabjarg to Bíldudalur airport and board a flight on Eagle Air back to Reykjavík, where you’ll have the rest of the day to explore Iceland's capital or for an optional whale watching tour.
Meals included: Breakfast.

DAY 10 - Depart for UK.

The day is free until your return by FLYBUS to Keflavik Airport for your homeward flight.
Meals included: Breakfast.

Hotels

All the hotels on this tour have rooms with private facilities.  They are simple and clean but not luxurious. The hotels mentioned are subject to possible change.

International Flights.

We recommend the services of Icelandair from London Heathrow. Flights are non-stop and have a choice of classes. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Keflavik. Depart at 13.00; arrive Keflavik at 15:00
Keflavik/Heathrow. Depart at 16.10; arrive Heathrow at 20.10
Icelandair also operates direct flights between Glasgow and Keflavik. 'No Frills' airline Iceland Express also operate flights from London Gatwick.

Iceland Holidays: West Fjords (Tour Reference: WDIC004)
2012 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Departures on Mondays	Price
25 Jun	£1840
2 Jul (9 days - see below)	£1700

2 Jul departure.  This departure operates in the reverse direction, with a flight to Bíldudalur on day 2.  One night less is spent in Breiðavík, but all the visits shown above are included.  Please ask for a detailed itinerary.

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Domestic flight by Eagle Air from Bíldudalur to Reykjavík.
• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
• 9 breakfasts and 7 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
• Transfers in Reykjavik on arrival and departure by FLYBUS.
  
• All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as ‘optional’), including entrance fees.
• The services of an English-speaking guide for the included sightseeing.
  

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter.

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Iceland holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.