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 Blue Lagoon Northern Lights Escape
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Iceland and Scandinavia Grand Discovery: Volcanoes, Fjords and Nordic Capitals
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South Iceland Super Jeeps and Snorkelling Adventure
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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.
Miðgarður by Center Hotels
Stylish Reykjavík hotel offering Icelandic hospitality, Nordic design and easy access to Iceland’s natural wonders.
Skáld Hotel Akureyri
Stylish boutique hotel in North Iceland offering Arctic adventures, geothermal wonders and elegant Nordic accommodation.
Seljalandsfoss Horizons
Luxury retreat in southern Iceland offering waterfall views, volcanic landscapes and unforgettable nature experiences.
Hótel Geysir
Luxury hotel beside Iceland’s famous Geysir area offering geothermal landscapes, Northern Lights experiences and stylish stays.
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.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.
We did! Everything was truly wonderful! I think the Holman Husky Lodge was our favourite place. Beautiful accommodations, but best of all, wonderful people! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating, excellent food, we really enjoyed our time there. We also greatly enjoyed Bergen! Opus XVI was beautiful and we loved being able to walk to restaurants and bars and take in the sights. All of our drivers were punctual and friendly. The itinerary was full but not overfull.
Thank you so much! It was an epic trip, we are taking home wonderful memories!
Shelly
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
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
What an amazing trip we are having. It is incredible. Many many thanks for arranging such an incredible trip.
Giles
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
My family and I traveled to Sweden to see The Northern Lights in March of 2023. From the planning process to every detail of the trip, I could not have been more pleased with our experience. Alex was exceptional to work with. His guidance on the time of year, where to stay, activities to do and how to get to and from everything was spot on. I have never used a tour company before but thought a trip of this kind would be easier with some help. I am so glad that I did. The entire week was seamless and completely stress-free, allowing us to truly enjoy Sweden and our time together as a family. I will be recommending Off The Map travel to friends and family and will certainly be using them myself again in the future.
Emily
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
Arctic Retreat was simply magical. Graham and his team were superb. Their entire focus was on ensuring we had an outstanding experience. The accommodation, setting and food were all excellent. The team, experienced professionals, each brought their own personal touch and local nuance. It was faultless. The dog sledging trip directly from Arctic Retreat was also superb. We would return to Arctic Retreat in a heartbeat.
George
Off the Map Travel was great! Alex helped us plan the most amazing 10 day honeymoon to Iceland. He gave us great recommendations and was so patient with us during the planning process!
Tori
Well-organized trip to Norway and Svalbard with great accommodations and activities. Gwen was communicative and responsive to requests. Highly recommend!
Russell Snook
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