West Iceland

Colorful lava tubes, imposing gorges, secluded seal watching, and sleepy historic towns

Come for:

• A truly unforgettable adventure exploring the Vidgelmir lava tube, a 700m deep cave of lava formations in a kaleidoscope of colors
• The beauty of Snæfellsnes National Park, including its active volcano (Snæfellsjökull), moss covered lava fields, captivating black sand beaches and natural basalt sculptures
• Iceland’s second highest waterfall (Glymur), 196m of rushing falls cascading down into the deep gorges of the Botnsdalur valley
• Seal Watching along the near-deserted sands of Ytri Tunga Beach
• The magnificent Kirkjufell Mountain, an almost perfectly cylindrical peak jutting straight out of the sea
• Shopping for traditional Icelandic sweaters (Lopapeysa) at Ullarselið (The Wool Centre)
• The sleepy historic town of Stykkisholmur, a place that feels like its from a different time, with rich history and a selection of interesting museums

Do not expect:

• As many landmark sites as found in the Golden Circle or South Iceland – West Iceland is far less popular, despite its close proximity to Reykjavik
• Cheaper prices – the country is generally quite expensive and that doesn’t change much as you push out into more remote areas