Westfjords Adventures — Attraction in Westfjords

The Westfjords are the oldest part of Iceland. The oldest rock here is around 17 million years old so in geological terms it's still very young. This part of Iceland is one of the least visited and in October tourism has reached its low before many hotels shut down for the winter. The Westfjords therefore have an atmosphere of remoteness with scattered farms and a few small villages. The scenery is all more or less coastal and we'll be photographing coastal features, rock stacks, beaches, old buildings, fjords, valleys and mountains rising steeply from sea level. We'll also be visiting the one major waterfall in the Westfjords, Dynjandi, and once we get to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula at the end of the trip we'll be photographing the iconic Mt. Kirkjufell along with stunning scenery in the Snæfellsjökull National Park, including that from the famous black church at Búðir.

The days are getting shorter in late September with sunrise at around 6.15 and sunset at 18.15, so the working hours for photography are more civilized than in summer, when the days are much longer. October also often offers more drama int the weather, and there could even be a dusting of snow on the mountains. This is also a good time of the year to see the Aurora Borealis.

The Westfjords is where Iceland’s dramatic landscapes come to a riveting climax and where mass tourism disappears – only about 10% of Iceland's visitors ever see the region. Jagged bird cliffs and broad multihued dream beaches flank the south. Rutted dirt roads snake north along jaw-dropping coastal fjords and over immense central mountains, revealing tiny fishing villages embracing traditional ways of life. In the far north, the Hornstrandir hiking reserve crowns the quiet region, and is home to cairn-marked walking paths revealing bird life, Arctic foxes and ocean vistas. The Strandir coast is less visited still, with an end-of-the-line, mystical feel, geothermal springs and minuscule oceanside hamlets.

Leave plenty of time: unpaved roads weave around fjords and over pothole-pitted mountain passes, but the scenery is never short of breathtaking. Once you get used to it, you may not want to leave.

Some photos courtesy of...

The agency itself was helpful and all agency workers we came in contact with were very friendly. HOWEVER, I feel the agency did not take its due diligence seriously. The weather on the scheduled day to see the Hornjbarg cliffs was deathly! A 2-hour boat ride turned into a 5-hour- ride where almost all 20 passengers were vomiting in the back of the boat. I cannot emphasize how terrible, long and painful these hours were. The return trip was not as long, but equally tumultuous. Of course, the weather is out of the agency's control. Their responsibility lies in keeping it's customers safe, and let me tell you, I DID NOT FEEL SAFE!! On top of that, there were 3 young men (late teens?) that made the boat ride in with us that were staying in the reserve for a few nights. They were wearing sneakers and jeans and carrying their sleeping mats. They were NOT prepared to be backpacking the reserve. I feel they should have been told that they were not properly equipped to face the elements on their own. Is this not the agency's responsibility? Side note: No amount of Gravol will help you with seasickness on this boat ride. Beware if this is something you...

This tour of the Westfjords ended up being one of my favorite parts of our trip to Iceland. We did an all day tour. Our guide, Pierre, was absolutely amazing - he gave us insight into Icelandic life, knew everything about the area, and shared his love of the area and country with us. I had the best lamb stew of the trip at a little place I never would have visited otherwise; we got an insight into the fascinating rescue of a British boat off the cliffs; and saw beautiful, seemingly untouched areas of Iceland. I felt I learned more about the people and saw more of the "real" Iceland on this tour than anything else we did on our trip. I would highly recommend...