The Westfjords Water Trail

Starting from: Reykjavik or Isafjordur

Season: 16th Apr-31st Oct

Duration: 5+ days

Driving distance: 1600-1800 kms

Highlights: Strandir, Krossneslaug, Heydalur, Isafjordur, Dynjandi, Reykjarfjordur, Pollurinn, Latrabjarg, Raudasandur, Hellulaug

Available as a self-drive or private guided tour

Icelanders have a long tradition of bathing in naturally heated geothermal pools. Many of these are located in the spectacular Westfjords, less frequented by tourist crowds and in the midst of mostly untouched natural beauty.

The Westfjords Water Trail is the perfect balance of sightseeing in the Westfjords and spoiling yourself with some relaxed hot pool time along the way.

A road trip is a personal experience and our goal is to design an itinerary that matches your dream trip.
Below is a 5 day / 4 night sample itinerary to give you a general idea of our Westfjords Water Trail starting from Keflavik or Reykjavik:

Day 1 - Folklore & Hot springs 

Drive to Borgarfjordur where you can take a dip in one of the oldest hot springs in Iceland, believed to have been used since the 12th century. Visit the pretty waterfalls of Barnafossar & Hraunfossar.
Visit the Witchcraft Museum in Hólmavík. Spend the night in the Drangsnes area where you can relax in the natural hot pool with a view over the ocean and fjords.

Day 2 - The edge of the world

Discover the untouched beauty of northern Strandir, one of Iceland’s most remote regions characterised by sharp mountains, ghost fjords & driftwood beaches.
Bathe in the Krossneslaug natural hot pool at the edge of the world & take a beach walk amongst some spectacular rock formations.
Cross the Steingrímsfjarðarheiði mountain pass and drive towards Ísafjarðardjúp, where you will spend the night. After dinner you can relax in the natural thermal spring in the midst of nature.

Day 3 - The wild Westfjords

Drive through the winding fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp bay on your way to Ísafjörður. Stop briefly at the Litli-Bær traditional turf-roofed house, Hvítanes seal cape, and the Arctic Fox Center in Súðavík.
After a fantastic fish lunch in Isafjordur’s famous restaurant Tjoruhusid, continue to Patreksfjörður.
Stop at a natural hot pool and a hot spring by Reykjarfjordur where you can enjoy the mountain & fjord views, and the bird life.
Visit the picturesque Dynjandi waterfall, where you can take the short hike to the top for the spectacular views.
Stop at the Sea Monster Museum before you head to one of the local favourite pools in Iceland. Perched on a hill overlooking the fjord, it is the perfect place to end your day, enjoy the sunset and a drink or two.

Day 4 - Bird Cliffs & Colourful beaches

Drive to the majestic Látrabjarg bird cliffs through mesmerisingly beautiful beaches including Rauðasandur, Breiðavík, Örlygshöfn & Barðaströnd; & some memorable detours to offbeat places only known to the locals.
Later in the afternoon relax in a geothermal hot pol just off the beach where you can enjoy views of the ocean and the fjords. During high tide the tides come right upto the hot pot.

Day 5 - The Bay of Uncountable islands

Stop briefly at the Seaweed Baths where you can relax in a man made hot tub, filled with algae from the sea. Drive to Reykjavík on the winding fjord roads by Breiðafjörður bay and the Dalir valleys.
Enroute stop at a quaint viking aged pool known to be used by a woman from the Saga stories.

Notes:
The locations specified above are indicative. Since your exact itinerary is customised for your arrival and departure times, activities and tours you choose, and the pace of your trip; these might change.
We can of course also accommodate any preferences you have.

Here are some of the ways in which we can customise this trip:
- Add extra days to slow down the pace or enrich your itinerary with more time for activities or de-tours; there is enough to do for 10 days
- If you want to explore more sights off the beaten path then we have a ton of great ideas!

Price for self-drive: 112,000 ISK per person on a twin-sharing basis in summer

Inclusions:
- 5-day station car rental (including CDW insurance, GPS, airport pick up and drop off, unlimited kilometres and emergency service)
- Digital map for each day
- 4-night two-star hotel accommodation (double or twin room with private bath and breakfast)
- Detailed day wise sightseeing itinerary
- Contact person in Iceland

Price for private guided tour: Contact us with details of group size, language and requirements.

Notes:
For self-drive, the car rental is as per your preference and the season; in the off-season, we only provide a 4X4.
For private tours, we offer a variety of comfortable vehicles for different group sizes with a local guide.

We offer a wide variety of handpicked quality accommodations from star category hotels to guesthouses and apartments, all well rated and located so as to balance your daily driving time.

Our detailed itinerary is completely tailored to your specific interests. It will include comprehensive information on the must-see attractions and offbeat sights you will visit, a day-wise outline and directions on Google maps.

We can also include tours and activities of your choice, self-guided walks and hikes, and restaurant recommendations. Typically this requires adding extra time to the trip.

And of course, we are always available for questions or assistance during your trip.

Additional information for your Iceland trip will be sent to you after the booking. This will include details about weather and clothing, currencies and payments, electricity system, food and water, safety, contact info, and other useful tips.

Self-drive:
The minimum driver age for is 20 years for smaller cars and 25 years for jeeps. Drivers must bring an international driving licence or a local driving licence written in a Roman script. Winter driving experience is strongly recommended.