3-Day Wild and Wonderful Tour of Westfjords – Small Group Tour

The Westfjords reward patient explorers. This three-day small-group trip from Reykjavík takes you far beyond Iceland’s busiest routes, with ocean views, steep fjords, bird cliffs, waterfalls, Viking sites, and quiet fishing villages along the way. I like the mix of natural sights and local stories, especially the visit to Eiríksstaðir Viking Longhouse and the Arctic Fox Centre.

I also like the practical setup: two nights in a private en-suite room, breakfast each morning, WiFi, and pickup from central Reykjavík locations. The main drawback is the pace. You cover a large area in only three days, and long stretches in the vehicle are part of the deal. Lunch and dinner are not included, and rough weather can alter the plans.

Five details that make this Westfjords trip different

• Látrabjarg cliffs reach more than 440 meters above the surf, with Iceland’s westernmost point and Bjargtangar Lighthouse nearby.
• Dynjandi spreads down the mountain like a wedding cake, with water dropping more than 100 meters in a series of broad steps.
• Eiríksstaðir connects the trip to Viking exploration, including Eirik the Red and his son Leif the Lucky.
• The group is limited to 18 people, small enough for a more personal ride and easier stops.
• Bolafjall has a skywalk platform at 628 meters, giving you a high view over the Westfjords.
• The route includes wildlife stops, with seals at Hvítanes, bird colonies at Látrabjarg, and the Arctic Fox Centre.

Why the Westfjords deserve three days

Iceland’s famous Golden Circle and South Coast are easier to reach from Reykjavík, but the Westfjords feel more remote and less polished. Roads wind around long arms of water, climb high mountain passes, and pass through communities where fishing still shapes daily life.

This tour gives you a useful way to see the region without arranging several hotels, renting a vehicle, or handling every gravel road yourself. The driver-guide manages the route while adding stories about Icelandic people, history, and local places. That matters here, because the best parts of the Westfjords are often connected to a small sign, an old boat, a turf building, or a viewpoint that is easy to miss when you are driving alone.

The cost is $1,079 per person. That is not a bargain-priced bus ride, but it includes transportation from Reykjavík, two nights of private en-suite lodging, two breakfasts, WiFi, the Eiríksstaðir entry fee, and admission to the Arctic Fox Centre. You still pay for lunch, dinner, snacks, and optional swimming, so budget for those separately.

For me, the value depends on your travel style. If you want a quick, organized introduction to a remote part of Iceland, the price is easier to justify. If you prefer to stop whenever you wish or spend several nights in one fjord, a rental car and longer independent stay may suit you better.

Day one: Viking stories and the road west

Pickup begins at 9:00 a.m. from central Reykjavík hotels, Skarfabakki harbor, or the nearest designated bus stop. Reykjavík limits where tour vehicles can stop in the city centre, so your exact pickup point arrives by email within 24 hours of booking. Check it carefully, since the vehicle may not pull up directly outside your accommodation.

The first stop is Borgarnes, a town on Borgarfjörður. The visit is brief, about 15 minutes, but it breaks up the drive and gives you an early look at the route toward the Westfjords.

At Eiríksstaðir, you get a full hour and an included admission. The turf-roofed house connects the place to Eirik the Red and his son Leif the Lucky, who sailed to America long before Columbus. This is one of the tour’s most useful history stops because it gives context to Icelandic settlement and exploration without taking over the whole trip.

I would pay attention to the building itself. Turf roofs are not just a postcard detail. They reflect how people adapted homes to Iceland’s climate and available materials. The stop also helps you understand why the Westfjords feel tied to old sagas and family stories rather than only to dramatic scenery.

The coastal cliffs mark the gateway toward the Westfjords. You have about 20 minutes to look across a small bay filled with rocky islands at the edge of Breiðafjörður. The stop is short, so keep your camera ready and wear a jacket that handles wind.

At Vatnsfjörður, the tour pauses for about an hour near Þingmanná Waterfalls and a striking canyon. This is a good place to slow down after the earlier driving. The waterfall is not treated as a rushed roadside photo. You have time to take in the water, rock, and open space around the fjord.

The road then crosses Kleifaheiði, a high mountain range on the way toward the Patreksfjörður area. At the top, look for Kleifabúi, a five-meter stone statue built by engineers who worked on the mountain road. It is an odd, memorable piece of road history, and a good reminder that Iceland’s remote routes were shaped by determined people as much as by weather.

The day’s big finish is Látrabjarg. Gravel roads cut along steep mountain slopes before reaching the cliffs and Bjargtangar Lighthouse, close to Iceland’s westernmost point. The cliffs rise more than 440 meters above the sea and are known for large bird colonies.

You get about 50 minutes here. That is enough for a strong look, but not an extended hike along the cliffs. Stay well back from the edge and follow the guide’s instructions. Wind, uneven ground, and loose surfaces matter in a place this exposed.

The bird life is seasonal, and sightings can vary. Still, Látrabjarg earns its place on the route even if birds are not close to the path. The height, surf, islands, and sense of open Atlantic space make this one of the most memorable stops.

Day two: Colored sand, quiet fjords, and Dynjandi

Day two begins with Gardhur and a stranded fishing boat said to be as old as the Titanic. The stop lasts about 15 minutes. It is a small piece of local maritime life, but that is exactly why it fits the Westfjords. The region’s identity is closely tied to fishing, old boats, and difficult coastal work.

Rauðisandur follows, with an hour at a beach stretching for about 10 kilometers. Its sand has red, gold, and other shifting tones rather than the standard dark volcanic look found in much of Iceland. The beach’s colors can change with light and weather, so this is a stop where the view may look different from one moment to the next.

You should bring a warm outer layer even if the forecast looks mild. Beaches in the Westfjords are open to wind, and the time outside can feel cooler than the vehicle ride.

Fossfjörður offers a short 15-minute pause beside a waterfall dropping from the cliffs. It is not the longest stop, but it adds variety to a day already built around water. The route then reaches an A-House viewpoint, a simple and recognizable photo stop with broad views over the Westfjords.

The main event is Dynjandi. The waterfall drops more than 100 meters in a broad, stepped shape often compared to a wedding cake. You have about an hour here, giving you time to walk, take photographs, and see the waterfall from changing angles.

Dynjandi is more than a single vertical plunge. Its water spreads across a series of ledges, which makes the sound and shape change as you move around. Wear shoes suitable for uneven paths, and do not assume you can see everything from the parking area.

The route continues to Önundarfjörður Pier, where you get about 20 minutes surrounded by black sand, dunes, and fjord views. The pier gives you a different angle on the coast. Instead of looking down from a cliff or toward a waterfall, you are close to the water and the working edge of the fjord.

This is also a day when the guide can add real value. The strongest praise for the trip focuses on the guide’s patience, humor, storytelling, and careful driving. One especially useful detail is the attention to small local stories and food stops, including lamb soup and fresh fish. Since lunch and dinner are not included, scheduled meal breaks are important. The included breakfasts cover only the morning, so you should use these stops to buy food for the day.

Day three: High views, fishing culture, and wildlife

The final day begins at Bolafjall, a 628-meter mountain reached by road. A skywalk platform provides a high viewpoint over the fjords. The stop lasts around 20 minutes, so this is mainly a quick look rather than a long mountain walk.

Weather can shape this stop dramatically. Low cloud or poor visibility may hide much of the view, and the tour requires good weather overall. If the conditions are clear, Bolafjall offers one of the trip’s most striking elevated viewpoints. If clouds settle in, keep expectations flexible.

At the Ósvör Maritime Museum, you spend about 20 minutes among turf-roofed buildings once used by local fishermen. Admission is included. This stop works well after the high mountain view because it brings you back to the practical side of life in the fjords.

The buildings show how fishing communities stored equipment and worked before modern facilities changed the coast. The visit is short, but it adds substance to the many ocean views. You are not just looking at fishing villages from the bus window. You are seeing the structures that supported them.

Óshólar Lighthouse comes next for about 15 minutes. It is one of Iceland’s best-known lighthouse views, with the sea and surrounding coast spread out around it. The stop is brief, so treat it as a scenic pause rather than a full lighthouse visit.

From Ísafjörður, the road traces seven fjords. This is one of the longest scenic portions of the trip, around two hours. The road rises and falls around the water, with views changing as each fjord opens and closes.

This stretch explains why the Westfjords take time. On a map, the distance can look manageable. On the ground, every fjord adds another curve, climb, and viewpoint. I like that the tour does not try to hide this fact. The driving is part of the experience, but you need to be comfortable sitting in a vehicle for long periods.

The Arctic Fox Centre provides the trip’s main wildlife focus. You have about 45 minutes, and admission is included. Arctic foxes are Iceland’s only native land mammal, and the centre supports their protection.

You may not see a wild fox on the road, so the centre offers a useful alternative. It also gives the wildlife story more weight than a simple roadside sighting. You can learn about the animal and support conservation at the same time.

At Hvítanes, you spend about 40 minutes looking for seals. This is one of the more accessible places in the Westfjords to spot them. Wildlife is never guaranteed, so bring patience and use the time to watch the shoreline rather than expecting an instant photo.

The final stop is Grábrók Crater on the return to Reykjavík, with an estimated arrival around 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. Stairs lead to several viewing platforms, making this a useful leg stretch after the long drive south.

Grábrók changes the geological mood of the tour. After days of fjords, cliffs, and sea, you finish beside volcanic craters. It is a smart final stop because you can move your legs while getting one last broad view before returning to the capital.

Lodging, meals, and group size

Two nights in a private room with an en-suite bathroom are included. That is a meaningful part of the price, especially because you do not need to arrange separate accommodation in the Westfjords.

Breakfast is included on both mornings. Lunch and dinner are not, but the schedule includes stops where you can buy meals or snacks. I would not treat the food plan as an afterthought. With long driving days and outdoor stops, carry extra snacks and water so you are not relying only on the next scheduled break.

The vehicle has air conditioning and WiFi. The maximum group size is 18 people. That is small enough to feel more personal than a large coach, while still allowing the tour to operate at a lower cost than a private trip.

A small group also helps at photo stops. You can usually get out, hear the guide’s explanation, and return without managing a crowd. Still, 18 people is not an intimate private tour, and the fixed schedule limits how long you can linger.

Optional swimming may be available at pools along the route. Bring swimwear and a towel if you want that option. At Krosslaug, a donation to the Westfjords Youth Society is requested, and it can be paid in cash in any currency.

The guide makes the long roads worthwhile

The guide is central to this experience. Strong guiding matters in a region where much of the day passes through the vehicle and where weather can change the views.

The guide on this trip has been praised for being patient, friendly, humorous, and a careful driver. The best detail is the willingness to add small stories about Icelandic history and local people instead of simply naming each stop. That approach turns a long transfer into part of the tour.

Food also received specific praise, particularly lamb soup and fresh fish. Since meals are purchased during scheduled stops, the guide’s choices and timing can shape how practical the day feels. I would ask about the next food break if you need a proper meal rather than a snack.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this trip if you want the Westfjords without driving yourself, prefer a structured route, and enjoy a balance of history, wildlife, waterfalls, and scenery. It is especially useful for a first visit when you want an overview before deciding where to return for a longer stay.

You should think twice if you dislike long vehicle days, need lots of free time, or want to plan every meal and stop yourself. The route is full, and three days cannot provide extended time at every fjord.

The tour suits people who can manage gravel paths, stairs, outdoor viewpoints, and changing weather. Most people can participate, but the cliffs, mountain roads, and walking surfaces require sensible footwear and care.

Should you book the Westfjords tour?

Book it if the $1,079 price fits your budget and you value convenience, included lodging, and a guide who brings local stories to a demanding route. The combination of Látrabjarg, Dynjandi, Rauðisandur, Bolafjall, Viking history, seals, and the Arctic Fox Centre gives you a strong three-day introduction.

I would not book it expecting a slow retreat. You will cover a great deal of ground, spend many hours on winding roads, and pay separately for most meals. For the right person, that tradeoff is worthwhile: the Westfjords are difficult to reach, and this tour handles the hard logistics while leaving you free to watch the cliffs, fjords, and sea.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. That flexibility is useful in Iceland, where conditions can shape the entire day.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup begins at 9:00 a.m. in Reykjavík. Pickup is available from Reykjavík hotels, Skarfabakki harbor, or the nearest designated bus stop.

How will I know my exact pickup location?

Because some Reykjavík city-centre streets restrict bus traffic, the exact pickup location is sent by email within 24 hours after booking.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 18 people.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. The price includes two nights in a private room with an en-suite bathroom.

Are breakfasts included?

Yes. Two breakfasts are included.

Are lunch and dinner included?

No. The tour makes scheduled stops where you can buy lunch, dinner, snacks, or other food.

What admissions are included?

Admission to Eiríksstaðir Viking Longhouse and the Arctic Fox Centre is included. Other listed stops are free of charge.

Should I bring swimwear and a towel?

Yes, if you want to use an optional swimming pool during the trip. A donation to the Westfjords Youth Society is requested when using Krosslaug, and cash in any currency is accepted.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.