Snæfellsnes and the West Fjords

The West Fjords are without doubt one of the most

beautiful areas of Iceland and relatively undiscovered by

tourists due to their location off the Ring Road; only six

miles of land joins the peninsula to the rest of Iceland. 

 

The landscape is majestic with fjord after fjord towering above shore and sea. The region occupies less than 10% of Icelands land mass but represents half of the countrys coastline - that's more than half the fjords in the whole country.

 Isafjördur, the capital of the West Fjords with a population of only 4,500 is beautifully positioned in the middle of the Skutulsfjördur and surrounded by tall, steep mountains. This is a perfect base for excursions, e.g. boat trips to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and the paradise island of Vigur with its abundant bird life; sea kayaking on the fjord, horse riding, short drives to the nearby villages of Sudureyri, Flateyri and Bolungarvik with its Natural History Museum and Osvör Fishing Museum; Latrabjarg, Northern Europe´s largest and most magnificent bird cliffs over 400 m high and 14 kms in length, this is also the westernmost point in Iceland and Europe and where it´s sometimes possible to see the glare from the glaciers in Greenland.

Laugarholl, near Holmavik, in the eastern part of Strandir (coast) region offers beautiful coastline, fjords and anvil-shaped mountains. From this region the following are possible: boat trips to see one of the largest puffin colonies in the world at Grimsey and where whales are often seen; trout and char fishing in the nearby lakes; the wonderful drive along the coastline to Djupavik, a former herring village or to Drangsnes with its three hot pots and the excellent Icelandic Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft in Holmavik (open 1 Jun - 15 Sept from 1000 - 1800).

Includes 8 days 4x4 car hire.

Please view our standard Terms & Conditions for this holiday

Day 1

Arrive Keflavik Airport. Collect hire car and drive via Reykjavik and the Hvalfjördur subsea tunnel to Stykkisholmur on the northern shore of the Snaefellsnes peninsula (138 miles).

2 nights STYKKISHOLMUR - Hotel Stykkisholmur (HB)

Day 3

Take the Baldur ferry crossing from Stykkisholmur to Brjanslaekur in the West Fjords via Flatey Island (3 hours) then northwards to Isafjördur via the impressive Dynjandi falls (72 miles).

3 nights ISAFJÖRDUR - Hotel Isafjördur (HB)

Day 6

Heading south-eastwards along the shores of six fjords and across the Steingrimsfjardarheidi moors with its many lakes and brooks to Laugarholl, near Holmavik, in the Strandir region (145 miles).

2 nights LAUGARHOLL - Hotel Laugarholl (HB)

Day 8

Southwards on the coast road via several fjords to join the Ring Road at Bru, then through moorland via Borgarnes to Reykjavik and drop off hire car (186 miles).

1 night REYKJAVIK - Hotel Leifur Eiriksson (BB)

Day 9

Airport bus from hotel to Keflavik Airport (31 miles).

Departure Day:  Daily from London Heathrow Airport
Departure Dates:  1 May - 30 September 2012
Duration:  8 nights

NB. Departures also possible from Manchester and Glasgow at no supplement

Please view our Terms & Conditions for this holiday.