West Iceland is truly a remarkable destination to discover in Iceland if you really want to go off the beaten track. It is also a perfect spot bird and nature lovers!
Luxury Holidays in West Iceland
A word from our travel specialist
West Iceland is an area I always enjoy visiting. The drive around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is especially varied, with beaches, lava fields, sea cliffs and a beautiful glacier all in one day, it really does feel like a little version of the whole country.
The area around Húsafell is also lovely in a quieter way. It has peaceful scenery with small birch forests and lava fields, and the pool next to Hotel Husafell is my favourite one in Iceland, scenic, and relaxing.
One of the more unusual experiences nearby is the man-made ice tunnel inside Langjökull Glacier. It’s quite something to walk through the blue ice and learn more about the glacier from the inside.
It’s a great region to explore with plenty of interesting stops and a good mix of landscapes along the way.
Helga
Nordic Experience Specialist
Inspiration for Holidays in West Iceland
Iceland and Scandinavia Grand Discovery: Volcanoes, Fjords and Nordic Capitals
Discover Iceland and Scandinavia on a luxury journey featuring volcano tours, glacier hiking, Nordic cities, fjords and the Lofoten Islands.
South Iceland Super Jeeps and Snorkelling Adventure
A thrilling journey through South Iceland featuring the Golden Circle, ice caves, snorkelling, super jeep adventure, and unforgettable Northern Lights...
Panorama Glass Lodge in Iceland
Panorama Glass Lodge in Iceland allows you to get immersed in Iceland’s most dramatic landscape.
Icelandic Spa Retreat
Five-star hotels, private guided transfers, helicopter excursions, and some of the finest dining
Luxury Active Iceland
The perfect balance of activity and adventure, with luxury accommodation and your own private chef.
Icelandic Aurora Self Drive
Iceland in the Autumn months is one of the best times to visit Iceland, and see the midnight sun!
© Icelandic Explorer
West Iceland, Designed Around You
West Iceland is split into two key regions to discover. First, there is Snæfellsnes peninsula which is roughly a two-hour drive from Reykjavik, here you will discover Snæfellsjökull which is famous for inspiring Jules Verne and his book Journey to the Centre of the Earth. The glacier-capped volcano is a truly remarkable natural wonder to witness, further to that is Djúpalónssandur black sand beach, the opportunity to head out whale watching from Ólafsvík, and then there is Kirkjufell – the most photographed mountain in Iceland!
From the port of Stykkisholmur, you can get a ferry that goes to Brjánslækur via Flatey Island. This will now open up the second part of the West – the West Fjords. Here you will discover stunning bird cliffs, head out on trips to Hornstrandir Nature reserve to spot arctic fox, and stay in the town of Ísafjörður which offers some of the most dramatic views of northwest Iceland.
Where to Stay: Handpicked for You
From converted farmhouses to modern spa hotels with mountain views, our West Iceland choices offer peace, privacy, and authentic Icelandic hospitality.
Hótel Óðinsvé
Boutique hotel in central Reykjavik offering calm interiors, local dining and easy access to the city’s culture and historic streets.
Lake Hotel, Egilsstaðir
Tailor-made Icelandic romance in a windswept coastal church hotel – designed around you.
Hotel Jökulsárlón
A boutique hotel that go above and beyond in sustainability management
Hotel Reykjavík Saga
Alda Hotel Reykjavik
Boutique urban retreat with easy access to Reykjavik’s culture, cuisine and city life
Hótel Lóa
Hótel Lóa offers modern style, warm hospitality and the South Coast’s natural wonders just outside your door.The Guidebook
Getting There
With West Iceland split into two key areas it is important to be aware of the best ways how to get there.
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is the most accessible point with it being roughly a three-hour drive from the city but when it comes to exploring the West Fjords you will need to make sure you plan plenty of time. Despite one of the smallest parts of Iceland’s regions, it takes the longest to get around and the accommodation is limited in the areas – so lots of planning is required and that is what our Nordic Experience Curators are here for you.
There is an airport in Ísafjörður which is accessible from Reykjavik City Airport which will allow you to get access to the region a little easier but part of the fun is driving there and soaking in the incredible scenery.
It is important to note that the West Fjords are best planned from May through to October to avoid the winter months there!
Climate
Despite its name, Iceland is not necessarily that cold. Winter temperatures are an average of 3.6°C, and summer temperatures average around 15°C. In the summertime, you can enjoy long, extended hours of sunshine and in the wintertime, the nights can get dark enough for you to see the Northern Lights as long as you are away from light pollution!
Geography
Iceland is world-famous for its geology and geography. With huge mountain ranges and an active geothermal country with many geysers, hot springs and volcanic formations to be found – it is a breath-taking landscape for those after an adventure.
Iceland offers some of the best waterfalls in Europe, such as the Dettifoss regarded as the most powerful waterfall in the whole of Europe.
With a latitude of 64° north, Reykjavik offers a perfect base from which to embark on an Iceland Northern Lights adventure.
Amy was a great help with planning this trip. Our trip turned out amazing. I also was very grateful for Off the Map’s Front Desk service, which promptly handled an on the spot issue we had.
Karen
The best travel experience ever on every level you can think of during a Lapland expedition (food, activities, timings, accommodation, transport, service, equipment…). I highly recommend Off The Map Travel for their outstanding level of professionalism and detail oriented mindset!
Sophie & Guy
Exceptional service throughout the entire planning and booking process – travel agencies don’t get any better than this. A brilliant, seamless experience matched by the holiday experience itself. Would recommend ‘Off the Map Travel’ to anyone considering booking for a Nordic experience ‘par excellence’.
Chris
We originally hired Off the Map Travel in 2020 to set up a trip to see the Northern Lights. That didn’t happen, thanks to COVID. But, we persisted and in March of 2023, we took a 16-day trip that included both Iceland and Norway. IT WAS MAGICAL! Off the Map took care of everything! We were pampered at every stage of our trip. The people they hired and the activities they planned added up to a trip that will set the standard for any we’ll ever take in the future. Alex and his team were fabulous! We recommend them without restraint!
Jim & Kris
We have loved it so much here that we have extended our stay and will come back to Bjornfjell and stay in one of their cabins until Jan 3 then we are staying in the igloo hotel the night of the 3rd. 😊We added a few excursions this week – we did the whale trip on the RIB boat (wow!), toured the igloo hotel (which is why we decided to book the last night!) and did the reindeer sleigh at Sorrisniva. You were so right, the bonfire excursion was incredible!!It has been an absolutely amazing trip!
Kristen
Hello Lucy!! Kim and I had a fantastic time in Iceland! Probably one of my top 3 trips I’ve ever taken!
It was everything we asked for and you did a wonderful job coordinating it all so beautifully!!
Thank you very much and we will contact you again when we get ready to plan our trip to Norway and Lapland!
Doreen
Amy planned a fantastic trip! Everything was very well-thought out. All transfers went smoothly, accommodations were amazing, great restaurant recommendations and the tours were once-in-a-lifetime, can’t book it yourself off the internet experiences. The guides were all fantastic. Communications were prompt and everything worked exactly the way it was supposed to. What a pleasure! Already working on our next trip.
Anonymous
We really enjoyed our Norwegian adventure despite the -22 days! Unfortunately no real experience of viewing the Lights but we did capture a couple of images on our last night – too much cloud otherwise so lots of snow. We really enjoyed the husky lodge – not at all what we had tentatively imagined. Thanks for your assistance, maybe next time we will see the Lights in all their glory.
Andrew
Fantastic trip to Svalbard which delivered the true Arctic experience we were hoping for. The hotels were excellent and the activities – dog sledding and snowmobile expedition were lead by first class guides.
Top tip! The champagne tasting in the world’s most northerly wine cellar in the exceptional Funken Lodge is not to be missed!
Faith
The ease of everything stood out to me. All we had to do was be there at the right time. The dog sledding was the highlight for my daughter and sister. We had the best time! For me, Manshausen was the highlight. We were very lucky and the only guests there for the majority of our stay. The staff was amazing and the food was so delicious. We had moose steak and it was the best meal I’ve ever had.
The cabins were comfortable and we were so lucky to have 2 clear nights where we just sat and watched the northern lights. We were able to get some awesome pictures too.
I appreciate all your time and care with planning our trip! I won’t hesitate to use Off the Map travel for our next adventure.
Kelly
We – the whole family – loved the whole journey!!
The accommodations, the activities and especially the great people – thank you very much for this fantastic organisation !!!
Barbara
What an amazing trip we are having. It is incredible. Many many thanks for arranging such an incredible trip.
Giles