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SMALL GROUP TOUR, max. 16 people!

This unique escorted tour is a truly special exploration of Iceland's western most boundaries. This western wilderness is Iceland at its most remote, even by Icelandic standards. Many Icelanders haven't been there, and most members of the traveling public don't get there either. But now they can. This tour is ideal for visitors who have traveled Iceland's more well known roads and yearn to get a bit off the beaten path and experience another Iceland.

Icelands Westfjords region has been dubbed the most famous unknown place in Iceland. Add the prestigious European Destination of Excellence Award and Lonely Planet listing it as one of the 10 regions in the world to visit in 2011, you will see why the Westfjords are becoming increasingly famous or perhaps less unknown. Lonely Planet says that the oddly shaped peninsula is as isolated as it is spectacular.Luckily, isolated does not mean inaccessible. With only 7400 inhabitants in the region, each person has nearly a square mile of personal space, so there is ample room for visitors as well. While local culture is interesting, it is nature in the West Fjords that attracts visitors. It is untouched and almost uninhabited, and painted by the midnight sun during the summer. Life moves here on natures timetable. The cliffs and valleys are packed with birds, the uninhabited fjords offer silence and tranquility, and the Arctic fox proudly roams the mountains and inlets. The fjords are deep; the waterfalls are high and the streams pure. And there are places where there are no roads at all. Experiencing the West fjords is a different Iceland altogether. It is slow travel at its most exquisite. If you yearn to travel to places where most other people do not go, Another Iceland might be your kind of tour.

The tour is conducted in the opposite direction on July 1 and August 12.

This tour is conducted in English and French.

Itinerary

ARRIVAL IN ICELAND

Arrival at Keflavik International Airport and transfer to hotel in the capital area. Overnight at Guesthouse Borgartun or Hotel Cabin. We'll provide ideas to explore Reykjavik on your own.

ON THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE VIKINGS

Depart Reykjavik for Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site that was home to the world's first democratic parliament during the Viking age. Then well take the interior mountain track "Kaldidalur" north along the shield volcano "Skjaldbreidur" and past the long glacier "Langjïkull". Theres a stop at the lava waterfall Hraunfossar and Europe's largest hot spring Deildartunguhver. Well visit the historical site of Reykholt, the home of Snorri Sturluson, historian, poet and the writer who recorded Icelands sagas in the 13th century. Continue onto West Iceland - Dalir the stepping-stone to the New World. Here well visit the reconstructed turf longhouse at the farm of Erik the Red, the birthplace of his son Leifur the Lucky, who sailed to North America around 1000 AD - five hundred years before Columbus. Crossing the long bridge across Gilsfjïur fjord takes us into the West Fjords. Overnight and dinner is at Hotel Malarhorn in Drangsnes, with a view of the island Grïmsey, known for its many birds. You may also spot some whales in the fjord!

COASTAL WILDERNESS

Today we will explore the coastal wilderness of "Strandir", the wildest and remotest coast of Western Europe. The road ends in the middle of nowhere, on the shore at the natural geothermal hot pool in Krossanes, one of the most dramatically sited swimming pools in Iceland. You can soak in its hot water with amazing views towards the sea ïs a uniquely lovely experience. Overnight and dinner is at Hotel Malarhorn in Drangsnes. Optional trip to Grïmsey Puffin Island for bird watching.

ABANDONED FARMS AND THE WEST FJORD ICE CAP

Crossing the wilderness of the Steingrïmsfjarïarheii moorland will take us to the long deep fjord ïsafjardardjup. Driving along Kaldalïn offers unique view approaching Drangajokull, the only glacier in the West Fjords. The entire length of the northern shoreline of the ïsafjardardjup bay is deserted, and all the farms here have been abandoned. One of Iceland's most beloved composers Sigvaldi Kaldalïns lived in Kaldalïn for a time. He was a doctor, but took the name Kaldalïn, because the natural beauty of the place enchanted him so. Overnight and dinner is at the Farm-Guesthouse Heydalur, in a spectacular countryside setting with a river, waterfall, shrub covered hillsides, mountains, fjords and a shore full of wildlife and flora. We are far from the rest of the world, in relaxing, eternal nature, where you find also a natural hot pool. There's time to ponder the beauty surrounding us, and there are kayak- and horse rental available if you're up for some active fun.

THE CAPITAL OF THE WEST FJORDS AND VISIT TO A BIRD ISLAND

The road along the scenic shoreline takes us around countless fjords to Isafjordur, the capital town of the West Fjords. We will have some free time to wander the small streets of this little town, do a bit of shopping and visit local museums. In the afternoon we get a different perspective, as we see the shore and wildlife from the sea on a boat trip to Vigur Island. Nearly everything about this island is small it is about 2 km long, and 400 meters wide, it has the smallest post office in Iceland, and a population of about 5. It contains some beautifully renovated old homes and the only windmill in Iceland. It is known for its bird life, too, with abundant puffins, guillemots and arctic terns as well as and an eider duck farm whose down are an important source of income for the islanders. After sailing back to Isafjordur, we will head further south for overnight and dinner at Hotel Sandafell in Thingeyri.

TRUCK EXPEDITION FROM THINGEYRI

Thingeyri is the oldest trading post of the Westfjords with a warehouse dating back to the 18th century. Fishing and fish processing are still the main livelihoods here. The town is in a spectacular setting with, Kaldbakur, the West Fjords highest peak, and many other beautiful mountains surrounding it. Today you enjoy an UNIQUE Adventure expedition by truck, along a rugged track around the Slettanes peninsula between Arnarfjodur and Dyrafjordur fjord. You stop at Keldudalur valley to visit the old church part of the historical house collection of Icelands National Museum. The mountains are among the most magnificent ones in Iceland, the beaches are breathtaking and there are numerous cliffs with dramatic lava intrusions. This exceptional adventure will show you sights that are impressive even in a land full of impressive sights. Overnight and dinner is at Hotel Sandafell in Thingeyri. Options: Fishing on the fjord and/or horse back riding.

DYNJANDI WATERFALL

You cross the highest mountains of the West to reach the majestic fjord "Arnarfjordur". You stop at Hrafnseyri, birthplace of Jon Sigurdsson, leader of the 19th century independence movement. You also get to admire the Dynjandi, with its seven levels of plunging water, declared the country's most beautiful waterfall by the people of Iceland. You travel the shore of many scenic fjords with their beautiful beaches, and pass through small fishing villages. The day ends in Breidavik, an endless bay of golden sand, often decorated with an explosion of colorful sunsets. Overnight and dinner is at Hotel Latrabjarg or Hotel Breidavïk.

BIRD CLIFFS AND ORANGE SANDS

Today is a highlight! It will be a memorable walk in the wilderness to the top of the highest bird cliffs in Iceland, known in the world for its density of northern birds - puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, cormorants and kittiwakes and other cliff birds either in tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or in the millions. Latrabjarg is known as the place where you can get very close to the seabirds and even if your not into bird watching, the comic antics of the puffins and the sheer scale of the mob are mesmerizing. In addition to being the most remote bird cliff in Western Europe "Latrabjarg" is the ultimate fortress against the high waves of the North Atlantic. Greenland is 300 km further west and even further is Canada, areas that are important in the sagas with Eric the Red and the discovery of America. You visit "Raudisandur", endless beaches of red and orange sands - simply awesome! Overnight and dinner is at Hotel Latrabjarg or Hotel Breidavïk.

FLIGHT TO REYKJAVIK AND TIME IN THE CAPITAL

Youll travel from Latrabjarg to Bïldudalur airport and board a flight on Eagle Air, back to Reykjavïk where you have the rest of the day to explore Iceland's capital or for an optional whale watching tour. Overnight at Guesthouse Borgartun or Hotel Cabin. But be warned after the West Fjords, the pace of life in Reykjavik will seem like a whirl wind!

Several shuttles are available to transfer from your hotel in ReykjavIk to Keflavik airport for your flight home.

Notes