Westfjords
3
Day Itinerary •
Iceland
Three days in the Westfjords take you to the most extraordinary and remote peninsula in Iceland, a region of ancient fjords, the largest bird cliffs in Europe and the most dramatic waterfall staircase in the country. The Westfjords are the oldest part of Iceland and the most unlike anywhere else in the country, their extraordinary tortured coastline and the extraordinary near-total absence of other tourists giving the finest wilderness experience accessible by car in Iceland. This route covers the essential Westfjords. Isafjordur, the extraordinary capital of the Westfjords with its remarkable old town timber houses, the extraordinary Dynjandi waterfall staircase dropping 100 metres in seven separate falls, the Latrabjarg bird cliffs, the largest seabird colony in the Northern Hemisphere, and the extraordinary Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, the most pristine wilderness in Iceland.
Best Time To Visit
June to August. Some roads impassable outside summer.
Getting There
Fly Reykjavik to Isafjordur (40 min) or drive 6 hours via Route 1.
Getting Around
4WD car essential. Many Westfjords roads are gravel and narrow.
Budget Per Day
Approx 20,000 to 40,000 ISK per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate. Latrabjarg cliff walk is exposed.
DAY 1
ISAFJORDUR AND DYNJANDI
MORNING
ISAFJORDUR OLD TOWN AND THE WESTFJORDS CAPITAL
Isafjordur is the most extraordinary small town in Iceland, its extraordinary collection of 18th and 19th-century timber houses on a narrow spit of land deep in the Skutulsfjordur fjord giving the finest historic townscape in the Westfjords. The Westfjords Heritage Museum in the extraordinary Turnhus building, the oldest extant building in Iceland built in 1744, tells the complete story of the Westfjords fishing and trade heritage with remarkable objects. Museum entry approx 1,500 ISK. Travel: 1.5 hour drive to Dynjandi
MIDDAY
DYNJANDI, THE JEWEL OF THE WESTFJORDS
Dynjandi is the most extraordinary waterfall in the Westfjords and one of the finest in Iceland, its extraordinary seven-tiered staircase descending 100 metres in total with each successive tier wider than the one above, the top tier 30 metres wide and the base 60 metres wide. The remarkable walk up beside the waterfall past all seven tiers takes approximately 30 minutes. The extraordinary view from the top looking over the Arnarfjordur fjord is outstanding. Entirely free. Travel: 1.5 hour drive back to Isafjordur
AFTERNOON
THE ARNARFJORDUR AND BJARNAFOSS
The drive along the Arnarfjordur fjord arm from Dynjandi gives the most extraordinary fjord scenery in the Westfjords, the extraordinary vertical cliff walls above the still water and the remarkable Bjarnafoss waterfall dropping directly onto the road a few kilometres north of Dynjandi. The extraordinary Fljotsbotn farm at the head of the fjord with the waterfalls behind gives the finest farmland and waterfall combination in Iceland. The fjord drive is entirely free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Bolafjall mountain above Isafjordur gives the most extraordinary free panorama in the Westfjords, the extraordinary road to the NATO radar station at 638 metres giving views over the entire Isafjordur bay and the surrounding fjords. The road is open June to September. Entirely free. The finest mountain drive in the Westfjords.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Isafjordur Coffee and Icelandic provisions before the Dynjandi drive. | Lunch: Picnic at Dynjandi Pack provisions. The waterfall picnic is the finest in the Westfjords. | Dinner: Tjoruhusid, Isafjordur Outstanding fish restaurant in the extraordinary old harbour building. Daily fish buffet.
DAY 2
LATRABJARG BIRD CLIFFS
MORNING
DRIVE TO THE LATRABJARG PENINSULA
The drive from Isafjordur to the Latrabjarg bird cliffs at the western tip of the Westfjords peninsula is one of the most extraordinary road journeys in Iceland, the extraordinary gravel road crossing five separate fjord arms over 180km giving continuous views of the most remote landscape in the country. The extraordinary Raudasandur red sand beach on the southern coast, entirely unique in Iceland, is the finest detour. Check road.is before departing. Travel: 1 hour walk
MIDDAY
LATRABJARG, EUROPE'S LARGEST SEABIRD CLIFFS
Latrabjarg is the westernmost point of Europe and the most extraordinary seabird colony in the Northern Hemisphere, its extraordinary 14km of cliffs rising 440 metres above the Atlantic hosting puffins, razorbills, guillemots and fulmars in their millions. The extraordinary puffins are entirely fearless, allowing approach to within 1 to 2 metres. The cliff edge walk gives the most extraordinary wildlife encounter accessible by car in Iceland. Bring binoculars. Entirely free. Travel: 30 min drive to Breidavik
AFTERNOON
RAUDASANDUR RED SAND BEACH
Raudasandur is the most extraordinary beach in Iceland, its remarkable red and pink sand entirely unique in the country, the extraordinary colour derived from crushed shells of particular local sea molluscs. The beach stretches 10km along the Westfjords southern coast with the extraordinary red mountains behind. The remarkable seal colony that rests on the beach is outstanding. The extraordinary abandoned farm at the eastern end gives the finest ruined building in the Westfjords.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Raudasandur red sand beach is the most extraordinary hidden beach in Iceland, its remarkable pink and red crushed-shell sand unique in the country and reachable only by a steep gravel road. The extraordinary colour is most vivid in low evening light. The remarkable seal colony resting on the beach makes it the finest hidden wildlife beach in Iceland.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Guesthouse breakfast in Isafjordur Early departure breakfast. The Latrabjarg drive takes 2.5 to 3 hours. | Lunch: Picnic at Latrabjarg Pack provisions. No facilities at the bird cliffs. Eat above the puffins. | Dinner: Breidavik Guesthouse Outstanding remote guesthouse dinner. Local fish and lamb at the western tip of Europe.
DAY 3
HORNSTRANDIR NATURE RESERVE
MORNING
FERRY TO HORNSTRANDIR NATURE RESERVE
Hornstrandir is the most extraordinary wilderness nature reserve in Iceland, the northernmost inhabited peninsula abandoned by its last farmers in the 1950s and now accessible only by ferry from Isafjordur. The extraordinary arctic fox population, now the densest in Iceland following protection from hunting, is entirely habituated to humans. The ferry from Isafjordur to Adferdargil or Hesteyri runs June to August. The extraordinary cliffs, waterfalls and abandoned farmhouses are outstanding. Ferry approx 8,000 ISK return. Travel: 3 hour ferry return
MIDDAY
HORNSTRANDIR WALK AND ARCTIC FOX ENCOUNTER
The walk from the Hornstrandir ferry landing gives the most extraordinary wildlife encounter in Iceland, the extraordinary arctic foxes approaching within metres in their summer brown coats, entirely fearless of humans. The remarkable abandoned Hesteyri village with its extraordinary doctor's house from the 1930s and the remarkable whale processing station ruins give the finest abandoned settlement in Iceland. The extraordinary cliff scenery behind the village is outstanding. Travel: 20 min walk from ferry
AFTERNOON
HORNSTRANDIR CLIFFS AND RETURN TO ISAFJORDUR
The return ferry from Hornstrandir to Isafjordur gives the finest views of the extraordinary Hornstrandir peninsula from the water, the dramatic cliffs and the abandoned farmhouses visible from the boat. The extraordinary Isafjardardjup fjord on the return crossing gives the finest single fjord panorama in the Westfjords. The return to Isafjordur gives a final evening in the extraordinary old town.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Hesteyri doctor's house in Hornstrandir is the most extraordinary abandoned building in Iceland, the fully furnished wooden house of the last Hornstrandir doctor abandoned in 1952 now used as a seasonal cafe serving coffee and waffles to hikers. Open July and August only. The extraordinary atmosphere of the abandoned village around it is outstanding.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Tjoruhusid or hotel in Isafjordur Early breakfast before the Hornstrandir ferry departure. | Lunch: Pack lunch for Hornstrandir Pack all food. No facilities in the nature reserve. Eat beside the arctic foxes. | Dinner: Restaurant in Isafjordur Outstanding farewell Westfjords dinner. Local lamb and Icelandic fish.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Isafjordur, Nights 1 to 2 Hotel Isafjordur or Gamla Gistihusid. Old town location. Approx 18,000 to 32,000 ISK. Breidavik, Night 3 Breidavik Guesthouse near Latrabjarg. The finest guesthouse in the Westfjords. Approx 15,000 ISK.
Top Tips
1. Check road.is every morning. Westfjords roads close without warning due to weather, mud or snow.
2. Latrabjarg puffins are most accessible in July and August. The birds are remarkably fearless and approachable.
3. Book the Hornstrandir ferry in advance. Departures are limited and fill quickly in summer.
4. Pack all food from Reykjavik. The Westfjords have very few shops and restaurants outside Isafjordur.
5. The drive around each Westfjords fjord arm is far longer than it looks on a map. Allow triple the time.
6. The Westfjords are the finest destination in Iceland for travellers wanting genuine wilderness and solitude.
Total Budget
20,000 to 40,000 ISK/day