From Reykjavík: 3-Day Tour of the Wild Westfjords

Wild fjords, tight timing, big payoff. This 3-day Westfjords road trip from Reykjavík mixes dramatic cliffs, famous falls, and real wildlife watching into a packed but workable loop.

I especially love the contrast between Dynjandi’s seven-step waterfall and the bird fortress of Látrabjarg. One stop feels like a slow-motion spectacle, the next feels like nature running at full volume.

The one drawback to plan for is that the days are long and weather matters. You will be on the road a lot, and you will need warm, windproof, waterproof gear to enjoy it instead of just surviving it.

Key Things I’d Prioritize Before You Go

Seven Fjord Road views, built into the schedule so you are not guessing where to pull over.

Dynjandi’s waterfall ladder gives you a strong payoff on Day 2.

Látrabjarg bird spotting puts you at Iceland’s westernmost seabird territory.

Krosslaug geothermal pool (optional) adds a very local soak, if you bring swim stuff.

Arctic fox and seal chances with both wild viewing and an Arctic Fox Center option.

Wild Westfjords: The Big Idea and the Real Value

This tour is built around the Westfjords’ main strength: it is remote, rugged, and still feels untamed. You get guided driving plus planned stops that hit the famous sights without turning your days into a logistics puzzle.

The value is in how the essentials are handled for you. You get a professional English guide in a minibus, two nights in a private room with en-suite bathroom and breakfast, and key entry fees like the Viking heritage longhouse and the Arctic Fox Center.

The price tag, $1,142 per person, is not small. But when you add lodging for two nights, guided transport, and admission fees, it starts to look more like a bundled way to access a difficult region, not just a sightseeing ride.

Small group size matters here too. It’s limited to 18 participants, which usually means easier viewing at stops and less time watching a crowded bus shuffle.

Road Time vs. Sight Time: How the Route Works

You are on a road trip, but it is not random driving. The tour uses a clear logic: start with cultural grounding, then shift hard into nature, then end with coastline and wildlife.

The itinerary also uses variety on purpose. You will bounce between waterfalls, cliffs, beaches, fishing villages, and geothermal terrain, so each day feels different instead of repeating the same kind of photo spot.

On Day 3 you get a standout stretch: the Seven Fjord Road, a route that hugs the coastline and repeatedly puts fjords, mountains, and glaciers in your sightline. That kind of driving is why you do a guided road trip instead of trying to wing it solo.

Day 1: Viking Turf-Roof Life, Breiðafjörður Cliffs, and Kleifabúi

Day 1 starts with a pick-up in Reykjavík, typically between 08:30 and 09:00. Because bus driving in parts of the city is restricted, your exact meeting point is confirmed ahead of time, so plan to be ready from 8:30.

The first meaningful stop is Eiriksstaðir, where you can enter the Viking heritage longhouse. This is not just a quick museum stop, it’s tied to a real turf-roofed house connected to Eirik the Red and his son Leif the Lucky, which gives your Westfjords day a grounded start before the scenery goes full wild.

After that, you move toward the Breiðafjörður region. You’ll cruise along coastal cliffs on the way into the Westfjords, and those viewpoints work well for orientation, because they hint at how the coastline will keep unfolding for the next two days.

Next comes the Vatnsfjörður Natural Reserve. You get to see Þingmanná Waterfalls and a stunning canyon, which is one of those places where the terrain does the storytelling for you, even if you are not a geology nerd.

Later in the day you reach Birkimel Bay, known for its sandy beach. There’s an optional chance to visit Krosslaug, a natural geothermal swimming pool run by the local youth association. If you want to soak, bring swimwear and a towel, and keep in mind the donation is optional and voluntary when using the pool.

Before night, the tour crosses the Kleifaheiði mountain range and stops at the Kleifabúi stone statue. It’s a small moment compared to the waterfalls and cliffs, but it helps you appreciate how much effort goes into building roads through this kind of terrain.

Day 1 Evening Base in Borgarnes and Way Into Ísafjörður

Day 1 itself builds toward the Westfjords gateway feeling, with the emphasis on getting you out of Reykjavík and into the real geography. The pacing is deliberate, so you are not exhausted by the time you reach the next day’s big wildlife and waterfall targets.

The tour includes accommodation for two nights, so you are not dealing with nightly room hunting. Your room is private, with an en-suite bathroom, and breakfast is included, which is useful because you’ll likely want an early start after a day like this.

One practical tip: plan to keep your day pack easy to access. You’ll be hopping in and out for stops, and in wind and rain you will be grateful when jackets and gloves are right where you can reach them fast.

Day 2: Látrabjarg Bird Cliffs, Rauðasandur Sands, and Dynjandi

Day 2 is where the Westfjords lean into what most people hope for: dramatic cliffs and big natural set pieces.

You start with Látrabjarg, a top bird-spotting area with seabirds nesting along the cliffs. On the way, you can also look out for the Garðar shipwreck, which is one of those extra details that makes the drive feel more layered than just arriving at a viewpoint.

The tour notes that this is the westernmost point in Iceland, where thousands of seabirds including puffins make their summer rounds. Even if bird activity varies day to day, the cliff setting itself gives you that sense of scale, and you do get multiple chances to scan with the right angles.

Then comes the beach interlude: Rauðisandur or Rauðasandur, known for its colorful sandy shoreline. It’s a nice contrast after cliff watching, and it gives you a chance to reset your eyes before the water show later.

On this stretch you also get views connected to Fossfjörður waterfall and the A-House. These are the kind of Iceland landmarks where a quick stop can turn into a memorable photo if you catch the light and keep an eye out for incoming wind.

The day’s headline is Dynjandi. The name already feels like it should mean something grand, and it does. This is a wedding-cake shaped cascade with seven steps, often described as a waterfall ladder, and it rewards you with multiple angles as you look at how the water drops from level to level.

You’ll finish the day with a stop for a night in Ísafjörður, the capital of the Westfjords. Having an actual base town at the end of Day 2 helps, because it breaks the remote feeling with some human scale and dining options.

Day 3: Bolafjall Skywalk, Ósvör Fishing Village, and the Seven Fjords Finale

Day 3 begins with a climb to Bolafjall (638m) and a walk on the skywalk viewing platform built over steep cliffs. This is one of those places where the view is the whole point, and having a guided stop helps you time it so you do not miss the best light or the safest footing.

From there you go to the charming Ósvör Fishing Village, a set of turf-roofed buildings. The value here is tone setting: you see how people have lived along these coasts, not just how they arrived on a postcard.

You then visit Óshólaviti Lighthouse, which gives you another coastal landmark and another angle on how the coastline bends and breaks. It’s quiet, practical, and it fits the rest of the day, which is all about cliffs, edges, and sea-facing views.

Next is the real scenic payoff, the Seven Fjords Road drive. The road hugs the coastline and keeps your attention switching between fjords, mountains, and glaciers. It’s a long string of “look left, look right” moments, and it is why this tour feels like more than a list of stops.

This is also where wildlife enters the story again. Arctic foxes roam the area, so you’ll want to keep a close eye out, because in Westfjords country you do not always get a guarantee of sightings.

If luck is not on your side, there is an Arctic Fox Center stop where you can meet them and contribute to their protection. The included entry fee matters because it turns the fox viewing into a sure thing rather than a maybe.

Then you go to Hvitanes, one of the most accessible seal spotting areas in the Westfjords. The tour builds in this stop specifically, so you are not scrambling for where to stand or what to look for.

Finally, the day ends with Grabrok Volcanic Craters, colorful and visual. This is a good last stop because it gives you a different kind of scenery just before the return drive and the Reykjavík arrival around 20:30 depending on weather and road conditions.

Guides, Small Group Energy, and Why Names Matter

I like tours where the guide actually shapes the experience, not just recites a script. The small group size, max 18, helps a lot, because you can ask questions without shouting across a bus aisle.

Two names stood out in the guide experiences I’ve seen tied to this route. Guides like David are praised for a nature-loving approach, and Halldor is noted for being professional and making the information feel relevant instead of generic.

That is what you want in this region. The Westfjords are all about noticing details, reading weather cues, and understanding why a stop matters. A strong guide makes you look longer at ordinary-looking corners and catch the meaningful ones.

Where the Stops Land: What You’ll Actually Remember

It’s easy to think you’ll remember everything equally, then Day 3 arrives and only a few moments stick. This itinerary is designed so those stickier moments are spread out.

For me, the strongest set is a classic trio: Dynjandi, Látrabjarg, and the Seven Fjords Road. Dynjandi gives you motion and scale. Látrabjarg gives you wildlife density and cliff grandeur. The Seven Fjords Road gives you the “I can’t believe this coastline keeps unfolding” feeling.

You also get smaller hits that add up. The Viking longhouse at Eiriksstaðir gives context before the natural drama. The Kleifabúi statue adds a human engineering note. And the last-day Grabrok volcanic craters keep the photos from turning into just more water and cliffs.

Meals, Breaks, and the Practical Reality of Buying Lunch

Lunch and dinner are not included. The schedule includes stops where you can buy lunch or snacks, so you are responsible for your own meals on most days.

This setup is not a dealbreaker, but it does mean you should travel with a plan for food. If you have dietary restrictions, you’ll want to be ready to choose snacks or simple meals at stops rather than relying on a fixed restaurant schedule.

The upside is flexibility. Buying food on the way can be faster and easier in remote areas where options are limited, and it prevents dinner from becoming a forced timing event.

What’s Included, What’s Not, and What That Means for Your Budget

Included highlights are straightforward and useful:

• Professional English guide in a minibus
• Reykjavík pick-up and drop-off (to designated stops in restricted areas)
• 2 nights lodging in a private room with en-suite bathroom and breakfast
• Entry fee to Eiriksstaðir and the Arctic Fox Center
• Free Wi-Fi on the bus and USB chargers at every seat

Not included:

• Lunch and dinner
• Optional donation if you use Krosslaug
• Swimwear and a towel if you want to use the geothermal pool

That matters for budgeting. This tour is priced like something that handles the heavy lifting: transport, lodging, and the paid entries that you would otherwise have to time on your own. Your main extra costs are meals and the optional Krosslaug donation.

Weather, Clothing, and How to Be Comfortable in Wind

This route is operated in all weather conditions, so you should dress like you expect wind and rain. Bring warm, windproof, and waterproof clothes, and keep layers that you can take on and off at stops.

I also recommend bringing gloves even if you think you won’t need them. On cliff viewpoints and skywalk-style platforms, wind can make your hands feel colder than your face.

And since Krosslaug is optional, don’t bring swimwear out of habit. Bring it if you actually want a geothermal soak, because it’s a real Iceland moment, not just a checkbox.

Wildlife and Viewing Tips That Actually Help

Wildlife in the Westfjords is never controlled, but there are ways to increase your chances.

For arctic foxes, remember the tour explicitly says they roam the area and to keep a close eye out. That means you should stay alert, not locked into your phone camera. Quick scans at stops work better than one long stare when the lighting changes.

For seals at Hvitanes, the tour calls it one of the most accessible spots in the region. That suggests you’re viewing from a practical place rather than hiking to the best angle, which is good because conditions can be rough.

For birds at Látrabjarg, you’ll be scanning from cliff areas. Bring patience. Bird spotting is about reading movement on the horizon as much as it is about finding a single subject.

Price and Who This Tour Fits Best

At $1,142 per person for 3 days, this tour makes most sense if you want:

• Guided driving through the Westfjords without worrying about route planning
• Lodging for two nights included
• Entrance fees handled where they matter
• A small-group experience, max 18, in English

It may not fit if you want maximum freedom to skip stops. The itinerary is structured, with scheduled stops for viewpoints and sight time, and lunch and dinner are on your own.

If you are a single traveler, note that a single room supplement is mandatory. That is a budget factor, but it also means you get your own private space rather than sharing.

Should You Book This Westfjords Tour?

Book it if you want a strong, guided introduction to one of Iceland’s most remote regions. The combination of Viking culture at Eiriksstaðir, waterfall drama at Dynjandi, seabird cliffs at Látrabjarg, plus wildlife stops like Arctic foxes and seals is exactly the kind of mix that is hard to assemble by yourself without a lot of driving.

Skip it only if you dislike long days on the road or you know you will resent weather disruptions. This is an all-weather tour, and the route depends on conditions, including the possibility that a ferry could be canceled, with driving done instead and the ferry fee refunded.

If you like structure, scenic driving, and real nature time, this is the kind of tour that turns Iceland into a full-on Westfjords story, not a checklist.

FAQ

What is the duration of the Reykjavík to Westfjords tour?

The tour is 3 days and 2 nights.

Is pick-up and drop-off included?

Yes. Pick-up and drop-off within Reykjavík are included, but pick-up is at designated stops in parts of the city where bus driving is restricted. Your exact pick-up location is confirmed within 24 hours after booking.

What is included with the overnight stay?

You get accommodation for 2 nights in a private room with an en-suite bathroom, plus breakfast.

Are meals included during the tour?

Lunch and dinner are not included. The schedule includes stops so you can buy lunch or snacks.

How many people are in the group?

The group is small, limited to 18 participants.

What should I pack for the tour?

You should bring warm, wind, and waterproof clothes since the tour runs in all weather conditions. If you plan to use the optional Krosslaug geothermal pool, bring swimwear and a towel.