As you enter the town of Mývatn, the first things you’ll notice on the side of the road are bubbly craters emerging from the water. These aren’t your average craters, with a magma conduit connecting them to the earth’s surface…these are the Pseudo Craters of Skútustaðagígar. Their formation is a […]
Monthly Archives: November 2018
30 posts
Iceland began as a Pagan country, where Vikings worshiped Norse gods. At the turn of the century in year 999 the Speaker of Icelandic Parliament, or the Althing, had a decision to make with increasing pressure for the conversion of his country to Christianity. Thorgeir Thorkelsson himself was a pagan […]
Iceland’s second largest city is nicknamed the Capital of the North, Akureyri is located beside a picturesque fjord, surrounded by mountains. This terrain helps protect the city from strong winds and creates a relatively warm climate. It is a great place to explore and stay between traveling from the Westfjords […]
Dark and mysterious, Icelandic culture is heavily bound with magical elements, from elves to trolls, and darker constituents with deadly human consequences. The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft, also known as Strandagaldur, covers the historical witch trials from the 1600s and describes the casting of bizarre spells to control […]
Picture this: A trinity of oceanfront hot tubs built right into the seawall of a sleepy Westfjord village. Driving through the eastern stretches of the region just around the bend of a mountain are the Drangsnes Hot Pots, set a few feet below the road smack in the middle of the tiny […]
We didn’t have anything major planned on the itinerary for the long drive between Ísafjörður and Drangsnes, other than enjoying the Westfjords scenery – so stopping off to search for seals was a perfect opportunity to stretch our legs. The farmers in the infinitesimal town of Hvitanes have set up […]
After a few days of driving through the Westfjords, characterized by quaint fishing villages and serene picturesque countryside, I’d gotten used to the quiet. Entering Ísafjörður felt like diving into a cosmopolitan city, despite its petite population! It is indeed the largest town in the region, with plenty of excellent […]
Only 2% of visitors to Iceland reach the remote Westfjords, of those few who make the labored journey on the desolate mountain roads mustn’t miss the epic seven-tiered Dynjandi Waterfall. It is the biggest waterfall in the region and one of the most spectacular in the entire country. Dynjandi translates to […]
The drive through the Westfjords is utterly enchanting with its seaside vistas and roadside waterfalls, but at times the journey up and down the gravel mountain track can take its toll on the driver of a little 2WD Toyota Yaris. Located right smack on Road 63 the main road in […]
Known casually as the Puddle, a small and popular patchwork of geothermal pools sits on the edge of Tálknafjörður, a tiny town in the Westfjords. Road 617 will turn into gravel for just a few minutes until the sign points you towards Pollurinn Hot Springs, a quick stint uphill and […]
The westernmost point in Iceland. Europe’s biggest bird cliffs. The most visited tourist attraction in the Westfjords. Regardless of its remote and difficult to reach location, laden with accolades Latrabjarg Cliffs is clearly worth the journey. Located at the end of Road 612, a 22 mile gravel road that is […]
To get to the western most tip of Europe you’ll have to take a narrow unpaved mountain road. It’s a wild ride that many who travel the Westfjords take to see the famous bird cliffs. Though totally manageable in a 2WD it can be a harrowing drive, albeit beautiful. Break […]
After nearly seventy years of service around Nordic waters, Garðar BA 64 sits on the shores of Skápadalur Valley in the Westfjords. Originally known as Globe the 4th, the ship was built as a whaling vessel in a Norwegian shipyard in 1912, the same year the Titanic sank. Equipped with […]
In the remote Westfjords region lays a steamy seaside oasis known as Hellulaug, practically turquoise in color. Located right along road 60, the precarious and partially gravel route which takes you through the fjords. The pool isn’t visible from the road, it is near the town Flókalundur so keep a […]
Down what feels like a secret alleyway leads you into an atmospheric beer garden playing the Grateful Dead. Adorned in beer taps and license plates, equipped with heating lamps and good service. The Bridge View Tavern is located a stones throw away from the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse offering delicious and […]