Home / Multi-Day Tours / Reykjavík / Wonderful Westfjords: 9 Day self-drive Tour
Capture the amazing beauty of the rugged Westfjords of Iceland in this 9-day self-drive tour. Along the way, you will experience towering mountains, cascading waterfalls and deep fjords that will amaze you. There are many unique activities available on the way, such as deep sea fishing, hiking, boat cruises along the beautiful coast and some of the best spots for bird watching in Iceland and around the world. The Westfjords also boasts the highest number of natural hot pools found in Iceland in one region, most of which have the perfect temperature for bathing. The Westfjords of Iceland are as spectacular as they come and this Westfjords self-drive tour is ideal for a revisiting traveler that want’s to focus on a specific area of Iceland.
If you are interested in receiving more information about this tour, please click on the “Request a quote” widget on the left side of the page. A quick form will open up where you will provide us with more information about your travel expectations. You will then be connected with your specialized travel agent who will assist you throughout the planning a provide a fully detailed quote.
Please note that this itinerary can be adjusted and customized to meet your travel needs and preferences. The package can also be offered as a privately guided tour if a self-drive option is not what you had in mind for your Iceland experience.
SD-09
May - Sept
Self-Drive
9 days / 8 nights
West Iceland and the Westfjords
Welcome to Iceland! After you have gathered your luggage and cleared customs, you will be transferred to your accommodation in downtown Reykjavik. If you arrive during office hours, and after you have received your travel documents, you are welcome to stop by our office for a complimentary information meeting about the days ahead. Enjoy the rest of the day in the vibrant city of Reykjavik by going on a sightseeing tour or visit one of many outdoor geothermal swimming pools that are to be found all over the city. In the evening we recommend that you visit one of many gourmet restaurants in the heart of the city. Overnight in a downtown hotel/guesthouse.
Today your self-drive tour of the Westfjords of Iceland starts. You will be picked up by our car rental partner and transferred to their HQ where you will receive your rental vehicle. Drive out of the city and head for Borgarnes. Continue driving into Borgarfjörður fjord before taking road #60 towards the Dalabyggð region. Drive to the village of Búðardalur where close by, you can visit the Eiríksstaðir Museum – a replica of Eirikur Rauði’s (Eric the Red, father of Leif the lucky) farm. Approx. 20 kilometers/12,5 miles north of Búðardalur, you’ll find Guðrúnarlaug a small but beautiful geothermal pool which is open for visitors all year and free of entry. The changing facilities are Viking style so don’t be shy. The Fellsströnd area offers a good opportunity for bird watching and there are puffin colonies in the area during summer. Continue to Vogur, where you’ll spend the night.
Reykjavik
Vogur
~207 km / 129 miles
After a good breakfast in Vogar, continue to the Strandir region via the village of Hólmavík. Strandir was for many centuries one of the most remote areas in Iceland and was well known for the inhabitants’ knowledge of black magic and as a safe haven for criminals. Now it has a population of roughly 800 good, honest and friendly people of which most reside in the villages of Hólmavík and Drangsnes. They mostly make their living of sheep farming and fisheries and related service. Drangsnes is a paradise for bird watchers, especially in spring and early summer. Hot pools can be found on the beach outside the village. Drive further north and you’ll find Djúpavík – a remote place untouched by modern developments and where silence reigns over an abandoned herring processing factory. Here, you can literally drive to the end of the road before returning to Hólmavík where you will spend the next night. Don’t forget to check out the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft, located in the village.
Vogur
Hólmavík
~240 km / 150 miles
Today you will need to put down some miles as you will travel from Hólmavík via the winding road to the town of Ísafjörður. First up is the Steingrímsfjarðarheiði mt.road that rises approx. 440 meters above sea level at it’s highest point. The fjords on the way are surrounded by towering mountains and offer fantastic views as you enter them. Continue through the village of Súðavík where you can enjoy a sea kayaking trip before continuing to Ísafjörður – the largest municipality in the Westfjords of Iceland where you will stay for one night. We recommend a walk through the beautiful old town of Ísafjörður where you’ll find friendly locals, restaurants, sculptures and museums that honour the towns’ rich cultural heritage. There are many opportunities for hiking in the area and during your hike, you can discover seals, a plethora of birds and an occasional Arctic Fox (completely harmless).
Hólmavík
Ísafjörður
~222 km / 138 miles
Spend a full free day in the beautiful town of Ísafjörður. We highly recommend that you take a boat cruise from the port of Ísafjörður to the magnificent Hornbjarg bird cliff. Other optional activities include sea angling, riding tours, kayaking, ATV tours, hiking tours and more. You can also rent a bicycle and bike around this beautiful town. Spend another night at a hotel in Ísafjörður.
Ísafjörður
Ísafjörður
Optional
It’s time to continue your Westfjords self-drive tour. Today you will drive to the remote Breiðavík area where close by you’ll find the amazing Látrabjarg – the largest bird cliff in Iceland, measuring 14 kilometers in length and 441 meters in height. Some of the inhabitants of the cliff include puffins, razorbills and seagulls. On the way, make sure to stop and admire Dynjandi – one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfall. Not far from Látrabjarg you will find the westernmost point of Iceland – the Bjargtangar cliffs. Be on the lookout for the magnificent White Tailed Eagle that can sometimes be seen in this area. Return and spend the night in the Patreksfjörður area.
Ísafjörður
Patreksfjörður area
268 km / 166 miles
It’s time to leave the Westfjords and visit another peninsula called Snæfellsnes. If you leave early, you can visit the Rauðisandur red sand beach on the way to Brjánslækur where you can catch the ferry Baldur across the Breiðafjörður bay to Stykkishólmur. The trip across takes about three hours. Once back on dry land, continue your self-drive tour by heading to the mystical Snæfellsjökull glacier in the Snæfellsjökull National Park. On the way, you can visit places such as Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum, coastal villages of Grundarfjörður, Ólafsvík and Hellissandur and the not-to-be-missed Hellnar cove with its beautiful hexagonal basalt columns. You can drive all the way up to the edge of the Snæfellsjökull glacier but do not hike onto the glacier without proper equipment and a guide at your side. You will stay the night in the area.
Patreksfjörður area
Snæfellsnes
~224 km / 139 miles
~2 hours and 45 minutes
It’s time to close the circle and finish your Westfjords of Iceland self-drive tour. Head towards the village of Borgarnes. Once there, you have the option to explore Borgarfjörður fjord and visit Hraunfossar waterfalls and Deildartunguhver – the most voluminous hot spring in Europe. As you drive towards Reykjavik, you can either take the road tunnel on route #1 or take a 42-kilometer detour into Hvalfjörður fjord where you can embark on a short hike and discover Glymur – the tallest waterfall in Iceland with a 198 vertical drop into a deep canyon. Finish your self-drive tour by driving to Reykjavik and returning your rental car before checking into a hotel in the heart of Reykjavik. In the afternoon, it’s ideal to visit one of the many geothermal swimming pools that are located in the city. When evening falls the gourmet restaurants of Reykjavik awaits you. Stay at a downtown hotel for the night.
Snæfellsnes
Reykjavik
~300 km / 187 miles
Your last day in Iceland has come but you’re not done just yet. You will be transferred to Keflavik International Airport. If your flight is in the afternoon, we highly recommend that you visit the Blue Lagoon on your way to the airport. Soak in the milky blue water of the Blue Lagoon and enjoy an optional in-water massage which will leave you very relaxed and rejuvenated before your flight back home – a wonderful last memory of Iceland. Thank you for choosing Iceland Unlimited as your travel agency in Iceland. We wish you well and a safe journey home.
Budget accommodations include shared facilities in guest houses, country hotels, farmhouses, etc. In some cases, the rooms might be equipped with a TV and a washbasin. The in-room amenities are limited and basic but they all adhere to a high standard of cleanliness.
Breakfast is included.
Comfort accommodations offer access to private facilities (shower and toilet). This type of lodges belongs to the 3-star hotel category. Most of these properties have an in-house restaurant. This section offers an upgrade in comfort and service compared to the budget category. Breakfast is included.
Quality accommodations offer private rooms with en-suite shower/bath and toilet. These rooms are the best available accommodations in 4-star hotels or the highest quality lodges in each region. Luxury accommodations - the highest class of lodges, suites, and penthouses - are available upon request. Breakfast is included.
Luxury accommodations include Suites and high-end rooms in Quality Accommodations. These types of lodges and resorts provide an upscale look and personalized services.
Classy, elegant, and comfortable, luxury accommodations strive to offer a first-class experience and top-quality services to ensure a truly extraordinary and memorable stay.
Type: Intermediate Wagon
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Economy
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size Intermediate
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size Luxury
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: VAN
Passenger: 8
Luggage: 5
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Reykjavík is the capital and biggest city of Iceland with a population of approximately 124,000. It is the northernmost capital in the world. Despite its small size, you can find many attractions and museums, making Reykjavik a popular destination.
Hallgrímskirkja Church is most certainly Reykjavík´s best-known landmark. The white concrete Church whose image is printed in many postcards, dominates the city. As a matter of fact its tower can be seen from almost every corner of Reykjavík. Its distinctive and futuristic exterior made the Church one of the most visited spots in Reykjavík.
Harpa is the famous concert hall and conference center located in Reykjavik. The building features a distinctive and original colored glass facade inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland. Its unique architecture makes it one of Reykjavik most loved landmarks.
Reykjavik's largest swimming pool with many facilities such as a 50m outdoor pool, outdoor children’s pool and paddling pool, two waterslides, several hot tubs, steam bath, gym and mini golf course. It is located at Laugardalur valley.
Grábrók Crater is the larger of three craters in a volcanic fissure belonging to the volcanic system of Ljosufjoll. Grábrók is located in the fjord of Borgarfjörður in West Iceland.
Eiríksstaðir is the former homestead of Erik the Red (950-1003), a Norwegian Viking, in Dalasýsla - and a western region of Iceland.
Guðrúnarlaug, a historic thermal bath mentioned in the Icelandic sagas. Located in western Iceland, close to Búðardalur village. Today the thermal bath has been reconstructed and exists at the same place as described in Laxdæla, one of the sagas.
The settlement center in Borgarnes tells the account of Iceland‘s famed Viking poet Egill Skallagrímsson as well as the story of the settlement of Iceland. This comprehensive exhibit tells the record of how Iceland was discovered, how the settlers traversed the Atlantic from Norway and Northern Ireland to establish a new commonwealth up to the institution of the general assembly of Alþingi in the mid 10th century.
Krossneslaug is a great swimming pool located at Krossnes on Strandir in the Westfjords of Iceland. The surrounding area is beautiful with mountains on one side and the ocean on the other.
Djúpavík is a small village in the North-West of Iceland. It is located at Reykjarfjörður on the Strandir coast in the Westfjords region. The village dates back to 1917, when a herring factory was established in this small creek by the fjord Reykjarfjörður.
Drangsnes is a small fishing village in the Westfjords of Iceland, situated near Hólmavík. It is popular for the geothermal hot tubs.
Ísafjörður is the principal town of the Westfjords, in northwest of Iceland, with a population of approximately 3,000. It is an ancient church site and a trading post since at least the 16th century, although a real town did not start to form until after mid-19th century.
The arctic fox center focuses on the sole native terrestrial mammal in Iceland, the Arctic Fox. The exhibit explains the biology, current status, and history of these elusive predators.
Ísafjörður is the principal town of the Westfjords, in northwest of Iceland, with a population of approximately 3,000. It is an ancient church site and a trading post since at least the 16th century, although a real town did not start to form until after mid-19th century.
Hornstrandir is the most isolated area in Iceland, this nature reserve is popular amongst hikers and was established in 1975. Social upheaval caused the entire local population to abandon their farms during the second world war, there are however still houses in the reserve, both old and new in the area utilized as summer cottages. The features of this detached nature reserve include some of the most spectacular hikes, including mountain ranges, tundra, cliffs, and prairies.
Dynjandi, also known as Fjallfoss, is a series of waterfalls located in the Westfjords, Iceland. It is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland and is the biggest waterfall in the Westfjords with a total height of 100 metres.
Latrabjarg cliffs in the Westfjords of Iceland is the largest sea bird cliff in Europe. It is a big bird colony and puffins can be spotted here during the summer months.
Hrafnseyri, located in Arnarfjörður, is the birthplace of Jón Sigurðsson. Today Hrafnseyri is a museum dedicated to him and his memory.
Jón Sigurðsson was the leader of the 19th century Icelandic Independence movement.
Patreksfjörður is the biggest village in the southern part of the Westfjords, with a population of around 600. In the 20th century, Patreksfjörður was a pioneering force in Iceland's fishing industry.
The Monster Museum located in the coastal village of Bíldudalur. This colorful museum showcases the legends of monsters that have existed in Icelandic folklore since the age of the settlement. The eerie atmosphere makes this museum worth the visit and gives travelers an insight into the beliefs people held in olden times.
Rauðisandur is a red sand beach in the Látrabjarg area of the Westfjords, taking its name from the pulverized scallop shells that make up the beach, accumulated over the centuries.
Breiðafjörður is a large bay, about 50 km wide and 125 km long, in the west of Iceland, between the Westfjords and the Snaefellsnes peninsula. It is surrounded by mountains, including the glacier Snæfellsjökull.
Stykkishólmur is the largest town in Snæfellsnes Peninsula and also the gateway to the Westfjords via the ferry Baldur. It is a center of services and commerce for this region and it is based on tourism and on the fishing industry.
Snæfellsjökull Glacier is a 700,000-year-old glacier-capped stratovolcano in western Iceland. The glacier-volcano is active and it is believed to be one of the seven energy centres of the earth.
Bjarnarhöfn is the region leading producer of hákarl (fermented shark meat), a traditional Icelandic dish. The Shark Museum at Bjarnarhöfn farm, on the northern side of Snæfellsnes peninsula, is where visitors can get a down-home taste of it.
Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls coming from underneath Hallmundarhraun, a lava field formed by an eruption of the volcano situated under the glacier Langjökull. The waterfalls pour into the Hvítá river. Hraunfossar is located near Húsafell and Reykholt.
Glymur is a stunning waterfall located in Botnsdalur valley in Hvalfjörður. It is the second highest waterfall in Iceland, with the cascade of 198 m.
Reykjavík is the capital and biggest city of Iceland with a population of approximately 124,000. It is the northernmost capital in the world. Despite its small size, you can find many attractions and museums, making Reykjavik a popular destination.
Deildartunguhver Hot Spring is the largest hot spring in Europe. It provides all hot water for the neighbouring villages.
Barnafossar, also known as Bjarnafoss, is a series of rapids coming from out of the surrounding lava plains. The name means "Children´s falls".
The Blue Lagoon is a famous geothermal spa located in Reykjanes peninsula nearby the International Airport of Iceland. It was formed during an operation at the nearby geothermal power plant. Reservations in advance are necessary for those who are planning a visit.
The Reykjanes peninsula is located on a drift zone, between two continents, the North American and Eurasian plate. It is a unique area where you can see different elements of the drift zone; very active geothermal energy, lava fields and other natural phenomenon. The Blue Lagoon and Keflavik international airport are also located in the area.
Reykjavík is the capital and biggest city of Iceland with a population of approximately 124,000. It is the northernmost capital in the world. Despite its small size, you can find many attractions and museums, making Reykjavik a popular destination.
