West Iceland Self-Drive Tour

Itinerary for West Iceland self-drive vacation package

Day 1 - Arrival in Iceland
If you have any early arrival we recommend stopping at the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing soak before going to your hotel in Reykjavik.  You can choose to take a taxi or a bus, or we can provide you with your very own private Super Jeep, that will take to the Blue Lagoon and along the back roads of the Reykjanes peninsula, where you'll explore the lunar-like landscape of vast lava fields and visit hot spring areas.  Learn more about the Lunar Landscape Adventure tour here.
Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavik downtown.

Day 2 - Isafjordur
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel you head to Reykjavik domestic airport for a morning flight to Isafjordur, the capital of the Westfjords.  There you drop off your luggage at the hotel and go for a walk in the town, to see the old fashioned houses and perhaps visit the local folk museum.  In the early afternoon, after enjoying lunch at one of the local restaurants, you head to the harbour for a 3-4 hour tour to Vigur island.  This is the second largest island in Isafjordur Bay, but only one family of 5 lives there as they have done for centuries.  The island is home to a thousands of birds, for example puffins, arctic terns and black guillemot.  There's also a large colony of eider ducks that make their nests at Vigur, and their precious down is collected for filling pillows and quilts.  The guide will take you on a walking tour of the peaceful island and you will enjoy refreshments before taking the boat tour back to Isafjordur. 
Optional: For photographing enthusiast it's possible to go on a 7-hour tour to Vigur, and have all day to catch that perfect photo.  You can join the walking tour with the other group in the afternoon, if you wish.
Accommodation: Hotel in Isafjordur

Day 3 - The Westfjords
You pick up your rental car at Isafjordur.  Before heading into the wild of the Westfjords we recommend taking a small detour to go to the town of Bolungarvik, where you'll find the majestic mountain Tradarhyrna.  Just a short drive from Bolungarvik is Bolafjall mountain.  The road leads to the top of this mountain and you can enjoy the amazing view of the fjords just below the arctic circle. Driving south, you go to Dynjandi, one of Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls which is about a 100 meters high.  Dynjandi is actually made up of six different waterfalls, and you can walk behind one of them.  You continue west through Patreksfjordur, the westernmost town in Iceland (and therefore Europe), and to Latrabjarg, a 14 km wide cliff by the Ocean which hosts millions of birds, such as the Razorbill and Atlantic Puffin. 
Optional: You can start the day with a 2,5 hour kayak tour in the Isafjordur fjord, where you enjoy the amazing view of the surrounding mountains and see the birdlife from a different angle.  This tour is suitable both for beginners and experienced kayakers.
Accommodation: Hotel by Breidavik.

Day 4 - The Snaefellsnes Peninsula 
In the morning you take a very scenic drive along the south coastline of the Westfjords, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and majestic mountains on the other.  From Brjanslaekur harbour you take a ferry to the town of Stykkisholmur.  On the ferry you can enjoy the view of Breidafjordur Bay which is known for it's diverse birdlife and a number of small islands.  You make a short stopover at Flatey, the largest island of Breidafjordur.  It's also possible to stay in Flatey for a few hours and take the next ferry to Stykkisholmur, at no extra charge.  Then you have time to walk around and explore the island and inhale the history, the peace and quiet of past times.
From Stykkisholmur you travel by the ocean on the north coast of Snaefellsnes peninsula, through the small fishing villages of Grundarfjordur, Olafsvik and Hellissandur.  At the westernmost part of Snaefellsnes is Snaefellsjokull glacier, which is considered by many to be the most beautiful glacier in Iceland as it's situated on a mountain on the edge of the peninsula.  The glacier is said to have mystic powers and is the setting of Nobel-winner Halldor Laxnes's Christianity Under the Glacier and the entrance to Earth's core in Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Accommodation: Hotel by Snaefellsjokull national park.

Day 5 - Borgarfjordur Bay
In the morning we recommend taking the hiking path from the town of Hellnar to Arnarstapi.   You'll enjoy the view of Snaefelljokull on one side and the black sand beach by the Atlantic Ocean on the other.  On the route you will find Gatklettur cliff and an abundance of birdlife in the summer.  There is a beautiful natural harbour in Arnarstapi and around the village are several cliffs that form an interesting shape to the ocean.
Driving east along the south coast of the Snaefellnes peninsula, you can stop at Olkelda mineral spring to taste the natural carbonized water coming out of the ground.  From the road you have a great view of the surrounding lowland and mountains that are more inland.  The road takes you to the town of Borgarnes in Borgarfjordur Bay.  There you visit the magnificent Hraunfossar, a waterfall that comes out of the lava.  Very close by is Barnafoss which flows through a small canyon.  Borgafjordur is also the home of the most powerful geothermal spring in Iceland, Deildatunguhver.  If you're interested in the history of Iceland and the Icelandic Sagas it's ideal to visit Snorrastofa, which was home to Snorri Sturluson, writer of the Prose-Edda.  There you can see one of the oldest outdoor geothermal pool in Iceland and learn about the vikings and the Sagas.
Optional: You can start the day with a snowmobile ride on Snaefellsjokull glacier, where you have an amazing view of the Ocean and the surrounding countryside.
Accommodation: Hotel in Borgarfjordur.

Day 6 - The Golden Circle
At the easternmost part of Borgarfjordur is Kaldidalur mountain track, which will take you into the highlands where you have a view of Langjokull glacier from the road and you get a good feeling for the barren wilderness of Iceland  This route takes you to Thingvellir National Park,  where the Icelandic Parliament was founded and you can see clearly how the Eurasia and North-America tectonic plates are drifting apart, having formed a canyon called Almannagja.  Thingvellir National Park is on UNESCO's world heritage list because of it's beautiful nature and rich history.  You walk along the area and visit Nikulasargja pool where travellers have thrown in coins which sparkle beautifully in the sunshine at the bottom of the mirror clear water.  Next you take the road further east to the Geysir area, where you can see many powerful hot springs and geysers, including Geysir, from which the English word geyser takes it's name.  There you can see the geyser Strokkur spout boiling water 25-30 meters in the air every five to ten minutes.  A short drive from the Geysir area is Gullfoss, the most photographed waterfall in Iceland.  It's magnificent to see the water cascade down the 32 meter canyon into Hvita glacial river.  On a sunny day there is usually a rainbow over the picturesque waterfall.  You get to Reykjavik in the afternoon where you drop off the rental car.
Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavik downtown.

Day 7 - Departure from Iceland
You can either take a taxi or the Flybus to the airport.  If you didn't have time on day 1 you can stop at the Blue Lagoon, either by taking the Lunar Landscape Super Jeep tour or go in a taxi or a bus.  It's also possible to extend the car rental and drive to the airport.

West Iceland Tour Highlights

The West Fjords
- Isafjordur & Bolungavik towns
- Vigur Island
- Dynjandi waterfall

Latrabjarg
- Thousands of birds in the summer

Breidafjordur Bay
- Countless islands

Snaefellsnes
- Stykkisholmur
- Snaefelljokull
- Budir
- Arnarstapi and Hellnar

The Golden Circle
- Gullfoss waterfall
- Thingvellir National Park
- Geysir hot spring area and Strokkur

Prices for the West Iceland self drive vacation

All rates are total for 2 people staying in a double room with private facilities.
For other room types or more rooms, please contact us.

Summer season prices (June through August):
Skoda Octavia 4wd or similar: ISK 350400
Toyota Rav4 4wd or similar: ISK 395600
Toyota Land Cruiser 4wd or similar: ISK 432500
Land Rover Defender 4wd or similar: ISK 452700

Not available from Sept-May due to snow conditions.

Included:
Rental car for 4 days with CDW insurance, GPS and unlimited milage
Accommodation for 6 nights in 2-3* hotels and guesthouses.
A detailed Road Atlas and driving directions
An Icelandic cell phone with all necessary numbers
Flight from Reykjavik to Isafjordur
Vigur Island boat tour
Ferry from Westfjords to Snaefellsnes

Excluded:
Optional activities
Meals other than breakfast
Fuel