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11 days - Independent self drive | Látrabjarg cliffs | Dynjandi waterfalls
Take a journey into the Icelandic countryside, self-driving the sparsely populated Westfjords region. Isolated, rugged and wind-shorn: these are qualities that easily define the Westfjords in Iceland. But this lonely peninsula also harbours the unspoilt beauty of Iceland's more secluded landmarks. Explore the levels of the Dynjandi waterfalls, visit the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg and wait for the returning fishing boats in the harbours to unload the 'catch of the day'.
Get off the beaten track - the oldest and wildest part of Iceland is ready to welcome you.
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.
Transfers & self-drive car
On arrival, private transfer into Reykjavik. After settling in, start exploring this lovely capital. Be sure to check out the design stores and cool cafes in central Reykjavik.
Reykjavik is an easy city to explore on foot or bike. Feel the fresh air on your face with a visit the harbour and perhaps enjoy a food tour of this small capital. If you're interested in experiencing the city's thriving coffee culture, head to the main street, Laugavegur, to enjoy its various shops and cosy cafes.
In the evening you can enjoy a gourmet dinner at one of Reykjavik's many fine restaurants - taste the fresh Atlantic seafood or free-range lamb that Iceland is famous for.
Small group day tour to the Golden Circle region. Visit all three attractions of the famous Golden Circle with an added visit to the unique Secret Lagoon. You will be picked up by small minivan and explore Þingvellir National Park. The home of Iceland’s ancient Viking parliament and listed as a UNESCO’s World Heritage site will be our first stop. There you will take a walk to experience firsthand the geological phenomenon that is the Mid-Atlantic ridge before visitng Gulfoss the Golden Waterfall and Geysir spouting water sometimes up to 40m high.
While you are in Iceland, there is a “must do” to try all that authentic Iceland has to offer. You get the chance to bathe in one of Iceland’s natural hot pools before returning to Reykjavik in the late afternoon.
Pick up your car today and head west. We have included the entrance to one of Iceland’s hot springs, the new Hvammsvík geothermal sea baths. These are luxury geothermal sea baths located in Hvalfjörður (whale fjord) and there you get the most stunning view while relaxing both mind and body.
At your leisure, head towards your stay tonight in a small fishing town by the beautiful Breiðafjörður with its numerous islands. Everything is within walking distance from your hotel such as museums, restaurants, the swimming pool and the beautiful harbour; the gateway to Breidafjordur Bay.
Options today include exploring Snæfellsjökull glacier and it´s surrounding area. You can take an organised tour to reach the top of the glacier by either ski touring, ice-climbing or on a SnowCat.
From the top of the glacier it´s possible to go underground while exploring Vatnshellir Cave, an 8000 years old lava tube. It´s also possible to go horseback riding and birdwatching today.
Just thirty minutes away is the town Grundarfjörður where Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland, is located. Go for a boat ride touring Breidafjordur Bay with it´s innumerable islands, it´s various wildlife and try some local sushi.
This morning, board a ferry from Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur. On arrival, you can visit the natural hot springs at Hellalaug that look over the fjords, a short five minute drive from the ferry port. Afterwards head toward Europe’s most westerly town, Patreksfjörður and take a dip in the water front swimming pool. Keen birders can head out at dusk to the Látrabjarg cliffs. Be sure to check with the locals about the condition of the gravel road out to the cliffs before you leave.
Your hotel this evening is centrally located and family run. Situated close to the water, head down to the fishing harbor in the early afternoon when boats get back with their day catch, making the fish market active or first thing the next day as the boats head out to sea.
This morning, join a small group tour to visit Látrabjarg, Europe’s largest bird cliff and the western-most point of Iceland. Enjoy the amazing bird life (bird season is from mid-April until beginning of August), incredible nature and the stillness and pristine beauty of Rauðasandur, one of Iceland’s best kept secrets. Includes a visit to the Heritage Museum at Hnjótur.
There are lots of different driving route options for today but the route we suggest is driving via Bíldudalur and doing the sea cliff drive to the Samúel Jónson’s naive art museum in Selárdalur. This drive is very scenic - check out the google map directions before you go!!
If sea monsters is your thing, stop in Bíldudalur to visit the Sea Monster museum.
Next stop is the Dynjandi waterfall - one of Iceland’s most impressive & majestic waterfalls, and often considered the icon of The Westfjords. There are seven levels to explore.
Today is set aside for you for optional excursions. A golf course, hiking and biking trails, horse riding, bird watching, skiing and kayaking are all within an easy reach. Ferries to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve depart from Ísafjörður daily during the summer months.
A longer day of driving today gets you back to Route 1. If visiting hot tubs is on your bucket list, deviate slightly to visit the three cute square jacuzzi tubs on the side of the road overlooking the beach in Drangsnes, and there are even fancy change rooms across the road. Afterwards, you can have a coffee at the Hólmavík witchcraft museum and have another hot springs dip at Gvenarlaug next door, a beautiful rock-lined and very hot outdoor pool.
After breakfast, explore the surrounding area. Start with the Hraunfossar waterfalls; which cascade gloriously from underneath the edge of a lava field and spill into the glacial river Hvítá. A geothermal bath is also located on the grounds of your hotel. Drive up to the popular visiting point in Bolungarvík, the top of Bolafjall Mountain with a new viewing platform. The place offers a staggering view over Ísafjarðardjúp, Jökulfirðir and some people say all the way to Greenland.
'Into the Glacier' is included today - it is just down the road. Hiking, Ice Caving, Golfing and Flight-seeing can also be included.
Be sure to enjoy new Nordic Cuisine and great views at the hotel's restaurant.
After breakfast, at your leisure, make your way to the Blue Lagoon, the ultimate hot spring experience. Set in the heart of a stunning lava landscape, Silica Hotel is a just ten-minute walk from the Blue Lagoon. The hotel offers its own private bathing lagoon, which is available for hotel guests every day from 09:00 to 22:00.
After breakfast, return your car at the airport and fly to your next destination.
Price per person. Due to the current volatility of the Icelandic Króna (ISK) and car hire costs, this price is indicative. We are happy to individually quote this tour for you.
Activities in Iceland:
Along our self-drive routes of Iceland, there are many different options for things to do, with new activities becoming available virtually every second month. Along with a GPS, map and driving notes included on arrival in Iceland, we include suggested activity sheets with our documents for each of the main driving regions. If you are trying to decide which self-drive itinerary to do, based on activities available, let us know and we will give you more specific details.
If you are travelling during the peak period, we suggest asking us about what you might like to book beforehand. But, each traveller is different and a lot of the experience of Iceland is just to be there and take things as they come. We do suggest doing a little research yourself if you have a particular focus and then let us help you out.
Driving in Iceland:
In regards to gravel roads; technically you’re not recommended to take a hire car on gravel roads, but in Iceland you may not have a choice. Some guesthouses are located on gravel roads. Consider getting extra car insurance with gravel protection if it is something that might worry you. The Látrabjarg bird cliffs involve a gravel drive.
The hire car cannot be driven in the Highlands area.
When driving in Iceland, plan that all your destinations are going to take longer to reach than planned. Most of the time it is because you are going to make unanticipated stops to check out a waterfall, a viewpoint, a museum, or a shop. Sometimes it is also that traffic is just slow, animals may be crossing the road, or there is bad weather. If you build some extra time into your day, you won’t have to be rushing around at the end of the day.
For more Iceland driving rules and tips and to stay up to date on road conditions, check out the Road Conditions website and for all kinds of safety and travel information in Iceland check out the Safe Travel website. Bookmark both of these websites before you start your drive in Iceland.
Please note: Due to limited availability of accommodation in certain areas of Iceland this summer, we may need to adjust overnight locations and driving distances in some tours.
This new hot springs centre has eight natural hot springs that evolve into the ocean with temperatures ranging from ocean temperatures (around 10°C) to 42°C in the old original hot spring. It is included in many of our tours and has been awarded 'best thing to do in the world' by TIMEOUT magazine, 2023.
Scandinavian history is bold, colourful and even violent. What comes to mind when you think of bygone times of the Nordic region?
A listicle of the best hotels in Iceland for city breaks, hot springs and northern lights viewing. Discover what makes our hotel selections so special when you book one of our tailor-made Iceland tours.
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Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours with 50 Degrees North. The safety of our travellers, staff and operators is a major priority of 50 Degrees North. With an operational office in Norway, 50 Degrees North has access to an up-to-the-minute flow of information regarding the countries we work in. We are also in regular contact with the various operators we use. Their in-depth knowledge and understanding of their various areas is vital.
