The Far West – 8 days

This itinerary includes the most rugged and isolated area of the country.


Day 1  Arrival 

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A car can be picked up in Keflavík airport terminal and agenda organised this day according to arrival time, interest and circumstances. An option is exploring Reykjanes peninsula, enjoy the Blue lagoon, or mix of nature and the city. Another option is using a convenient transfer to Reykjavik and pick-up the car there the next morning. Overnight in the city of Reykjavík.

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Day 2 Golden Circle – Borgarnes

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First stops of the day are the highlights of the Golden Circle: Þingvellir National Park – locationn of the first parliament of the world and of the most impressive tectonic fissures – the geothermal area of Geysir – after which this natural phenomenon was named – and the photogenic Gullfoss – the queen of the Icelandic waterfalls with its double drop. Going south coast, you encounter the suggestive Kerið crater before one of the symbols of Icelandic clean energy, a major hydroelectric plant. Overnight in Borgarnes.

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Day 3 Reykholt – Snæfellsnes 

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The day starts in the surroundings of Borgarnes, where you visit to the workshop of a botanist who colours wool according to the old colouring tradition, before heading inland to Reykholt. Here you find beautiful Hraunfossar but mainly you can visit one of the many greenhouse where fruit and vegetables are grown using renewable clean energy. It is time then to enter Snæfellsnes peninsula, starting from the south coast. The suggestive black church of Búðakirkja faces Búðavík beach and the short trail (2,5km) connecting Arnarstapi and Hellnar is unmissable. Overnight in Arnarstapi or nearby.

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Day 4 Snæfellsnes 

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The most extreme part of Snæfellsnes is the most beautiful. Clockwise around the majestic Snæfellsjökull, always visible, you find the captivating endless beach of Djúpalónssandur, the dramatic lighthouse of Öndverðarnes and the nearby golden beach of Skarðsvík, and, finally, you reach the northern coast where twin villages Hellisandur and Rif are extremely gloomy. Keeping eastwards, just behind Grundarfjörður, iconic Kirkjufell stands and, not far, you can visit a hákarl farm and the Shark Museum, where to taste the fermented delicacy. Overnight in Stykkishólmur.

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Day 5 Stykkishólmur – Breiðafjörður – Látrabjarg

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The morning is dedicated to splendid Stykkishólmur. In town, the Volcano Museum, wanted and curated by volcanologist Haraldur Sigurðsson, and the Library of Water, with glass columns containing melted ice from the main Icelandic glaciers, are both worth a visit. The harbour area and the futuristic church offer interesting panoramas. Behind town, you can ascend Helgafell and, they say, doing so you will make a wish of yours come true. In the afternoon you embark with your car on ferry Baldur that gets you across Breiðafjörður to the Westfjords. After landing, you head westwards. Overnight in Látrabjarg or nearby.

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Day 6 Dynjandi – Þingeyri – Ísafjörður

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First stop of the day is at dramatic Látrabjarg cliffs, the westernmost point in Europe, known for big puffin colonies. A great option for a short detour is Rauðisandur beach, which reveals red reflections, reachable on a spectacular road that steeply goes down to the sea. Other highlights of the day are impressive Dynjandi waterfall, the Sea Monster Museum in Bíldudalur and the cute little green café in Þingeyri. In late afternoon you get to Ísafjörður, spectacularly situated at the bottom of a deep fjord that carries the same name. Overnight in Ísafjörður.

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Day 7 Hólmavík – Búðardalur 

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First thing in the morning it is recommended to reach the top of the pass behind Ísafjörður, from where to enjoy an extraordinary view over the fjord and the town. Next fjord to the east is where the village of Súðavík is located and where worth a visit is the interesting Arctic Fox Centre which hosts a research centre and a small museum on the biggest, even if actually very small, carnivores which are endemic to Iceland. The road then winds up and down all along the fjords until Hólmavík, where you can visit the macabre yet intriguing Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft. Overnight in Búðardalur or nearby.

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Day 8  Borgarfjörður – Reykjavík/Keflavík 

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Leave the area of the westfjords and head towards Reykjavík area. With option of exploring Borgarfjörður area, and learning a bit about history of Iceland in the Settlement Centre, located in Borgarnes. From here, you can choose to drive on the main road to the city or possible to go bit out of the beaten track with a detour around Hvalfjorður. Overnight in Reykjavík / or this day might possibly end in Keflavík, depending on the plan of departure from Iceland. 

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