Discover the hidden wonders of west Iceland and immerse yourself in its untamed beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture while upping your chances of seeing the mesmerising northern lights.
Our Secret Northern Lights of the Westfjords tour will take you on an extraordinary adventure, exploring the remote and lesser-known parts of Iceland. Discover remote villages, beautiful waterfalls, dancing lights, and colourful lava fields.
Get ready to be captivated by the magical sky and landscapes of the Westfjords, where each day promises exciting experiences and unforgettable moments.
Location
Iceland
Duration
4 Nights
Available dates
Sep - Apr
Price per person (excl. flights)
from £2,600
Overview
Highlights
- Get the best chance of seeing the captivating northern l ights
- Experience authentic culture in small villages and local museums
- Discover some of Iceland’s most iconic natural reserves and enchanting waterfalls
- Embark on gastronomic journeys to discover hidden culinary gems
- Hike up a volcanic crater in a picturesque lava field
- Behold the magnificent Dynjandi waterfall, the true crown jewel of the Westfjords.
- Visit one of the last standing traditional turf houses
- Visit Flateyri’s avalanche protection fences – learn about history and the might of nature
- Small groups, maximum 22 people
What’s included
- 6 nights accommodation, in rooms with shower/WC
- 5 days escorted tour with English-speaking guide/driver-guide
- Arrival & departure airport transfer by Flybus shuttle (no guide)
- 6 x breakfasts & 5 x lunches
- Hike Grábrók crater
- Dynjandi waterfall
- Tjöruhúsið
- Ósvör Maritime Museum
- Gamla bókabúðin or “The Old Bookstore”
- Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft
- Settlement Center
A note on flights
While flights are not included in the holiday price, our team will happily provide a quote and arrange them for you. Simply ask one of our Travel Experts for details of the available options.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1
Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik airport to your accommodation in Reykjavik. You may explore Iceland’s capital city on your own if time allows.
Day 2
Meet our tour guide early morning and travel west. The first stop of the day will be at Grábrók, a 3.400-year old volcanic crater, where a 360-degree view of the entire valley can be enjoyed. We then stop for lunch at the charming coastal town of Búðardalur before travelling along the fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp, where more incredible views can be enjoyed. If you are lucky, you might even spot a whale!
After a scenic drive we visit Litlibær, one of the very few turf houses still standing in Iceland, which has been turned into a charming café and museum. Enjoy delicious home-made waffles and coffee in this historical landmark overlooking the fjord and sea. In the afternoon, arrive to the largest town in the Westfjords, Ísafjörður, which will be our resting spot for the next three nights. Once darkness falls, get ready to hunt for the northern lights across the night sky! We will immerse ourselves in this magical phenomenon while listening to interesting facts from our guide and learning how to photograph them.
Day 3
Begin the day at Dynjandi waterfall, widely regarded as one of Iceland’s most impressive and beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Dynjandi features a tiered structure which creates an ethereal stream of small cascades that is truly breathtaking to behold. We will continue to travel by the coastline and fjords to the captivating pier of Önundarfjörður. Jutting out from a stunning golden beach well into the water, the pier is a perfect place for panoramic views of the imposing mountains.
After an energizing stroll in nature, we head to Tjöruhúsið, a quaint family-owned restaurant for a delicious fish buffet offering fresh and varied treats straight from the sea! Afterward, we take a stroll around the beautiful town of ísafjörður, filled with colorful houses and cobblestone streets. This town is not only full of history, but it is also a cultural hub with many festivals and celebrations taking place throughout the year. As the day comes to an end, we dress up and head outside for another chance at seeing the magical aurora.
Day 4
Start the day at the restored fishing hut at Ósvör Maritime Museum, to learn about the old days of rowboat fishing and the challenging life in isolated fishing villages in the 19th century. Afterwards we drive to the village of Suðureyri, where we will enjoy an informative walk around town and have the opportunity to savour delicious seafood sourced from a local producer, which promises to acquaint you with Iceland’s rich heritage and fishing traditions.
Next, we visit the village of Flateyri where we will stop at a hidden gem, Gamla bókabúðin or “The Old Bookstore”. In operation since 1914, this charming little store is a great place to browse for unique souvenirs and appreciate traditional Icelandic design at its finest. We will learn more about the history of Flateyri and the devastating avalanche in 1995, venturing out to the avalanche protection fences built to protect the locals from future tragedies. In the evening, we go for a stroll in search of the celestial wonders of the Arctic sky, the Aurora Borealis.
Day 5
Today takes us to the picturesque village of Hólmavík and its Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft. Learn about the history and folklore surrounding witchcraft and sorcery in Iceland, in a vast collection of artifacts such as ancient grimoires, ritual objects, and the remarkable Icelandic magical staves which were believed to possess protective and magical powers.
Next, we stop for lunch to taste the exquisite traditional Icelandic meat soup followed by irresistible rhubarb cake. After an exciting day of discoveries, we travel to the remote Vogur Country Lodge in West Iceland. This overnight location is a truly peaceful and pristine place perfect for northern lights hunting, so be sure not to go to bed too early!
Day 6
As a week of adventures in the stunning west slowly comes to an end, we head toward the town of Borgarnes, where we stop at the Settlement Center. Featuring an exhibition encompassing a warehouse, a merchant house, and reception hall, you’ll learn about the fascinating and challenging days of early human settlement in Iceland.
We continue south to the capital city of Reykjavík, learning about its history and stopping by its many landmarks such as the popular church of Hallgrímskirkja, The University campus and Reykjavík’s charming harbour to observe the colourful fishing vessels, the beautiful mountain backdrop, and the spectacular concert hall and conference centre of Harpa. We end the day at the Icelandic Bar, where we get to taste the famous fermented shark and toast to an unforgettable journey with a drink of Brennivín.
Day 7
Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavik to Keflavik airport.
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Reviews
See what our clients say
Cannot thank this company enough. Our break to Iceland was the second time we’ve let them organise everything for us and once again they didn’t disappoint. Everything ran seamlessly and the organised tours were wonderful. This company knows what they are doing. If you want to experience the geysers, the volcano, the northern lights and all the other exciting things that Iceland has to offer then this is the company to use.
Carol Wrack
1. Gourmet Cabins was excellent and Johan was a friendly and knowledgeable host. The food, cabins, hot tub and sauna were brilliant.
2. Dog sledge was a fantastic experience and we were given the opportunity to drive our own sledge
3. Snow Mobile – really got off the beaten track and into the spectacular mountains
4. Saw the Northern Lights twice in two days. There is no description that can really do them justice
Nigel Longton
Fantastic trip with great hosts & made even more special by seeing the Northern Lights twice!!
Wendy Naphine
We had a wonderful time! The food at the lodge was amazing and there were some great vegetarian dishes. I had the best beetroot I’ve ever had (beetroot tartare).
Everyone was really friendly and all the guides were good fun and very knowledgeable.
A special thanks to William and Petri who were really friendly and really added a personal touch to our trip. The activities were really well planned and we especially enjoyed the trip with the huskies. The area we were in is stunning and the lodge was very nice. We would definitely recommend this to friends and family.
Fiona Green
What a fantastic trip! I booked this for myself and my husband to celebrate my 40th birthday and it didn’t disappoint! Booking was simple and we were kept up to date with all the details from the office team in the UK.
From the moment we arrived at Kiruna airport all the staff we encountered were so friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. We opted for the upgraded room at the Abisko Mountain Lodge which I would highly recommend. The cold weather clothing which was supplied was fantastic and kept us really warm in the sub-zero temperatures. The dog sledging, snowmobiling and the Northern Lights photography were all superb and the staff leading the trips were really friendly and so knowledgeable. Even though we weren’t able to do the sky station trip because of the weather, there was a lovely alternative evening organised for us which included a traditional dinner and a walk to the lake where we were able to see the lights. The food at the lodge was also exceptional and showcased some lovely traditional dishes using Moose and Reindeer which were wonderful to try.
I would like to send a massive thank you to all the staff at The Abisko Mountain Lodge as well as the guides we used for our guided walks, dog sledging and snowmobiling. I’d highly recommend the trip, it was our first visit to Sweden and we would definitely return. Thanks again to everyone (including the huskies) who made it so memorable!
Carly Webster
We did the aurora nights break and had a great time overall. Everything related to flights, hire car, and hotels ran smoothly. There were a few issues largely relating to the weather and driving conditions (we travelled in mid March), but what we did manage to do was amazing.
The blue lagoon was easy to access from the airport and was a brilliant experience. We booked the standard package and it came with a free drink and face mask. Facilities were clean and organised with free toiletries in the shower rooms, which helps if you’ve gone there straight from the airport.
The drive to Hotel Ranga afterwards was long but fine (check out the road on google streetview to know what to expect). The hotel and staff were great. We were limited to one option as vegetarians on the bar and a la carte menus, but the food was lovely and if you are a meat eater you will see options of unusual dishes like puffin and reindeer.
Our northern lights super jeep trip was cancelled on both nights due to a poor forecast, but we were lucky enough to get an aurora wake up call from Hotel Ranga the first night. We couldn’t use the hottubs as there are only a few and they were always taken in the limited time we spent at the hotel, so don’t go expecting to get lots of time in one and you won’t be disappointed. View them as an add on if you can time it right. We were travelling with an 11 year old, so we didn’t stay up really late. If you are a couple you probably have a better chance of getting one later on.
The glacier/volcano super jeep trip was outstanding. Our driver, Íbí was excellent. She went above and beyond and gave us such an awesome experience. We were also super lucky with the weather the first two days and had great views across Iceland.
The ice cave tour was also incredible and the guides running it were excellent. The group size was much bigger than expected (especially after the more exclusive volcano super jeep tour), but it was broken down into smaller groups that were managed well, with plenty of time factored in for photographs. There were several unexplained delays getting to the cave during the tour that meant we weren’t able to ‘mini tour’ the rest of the South Coast afterwards, so if you plan to do the ice cave don’t overplan for the afternoon as you may not have much time. Not a huge disappointment for us as we got to experience the cave, but I imagine someone who planned a full itinerary afterwards might be frustrated by the estamiated timings not always being right and subject to change with the weather (which was wicked that day).
Driving around Reykjavik was a horrible experience as we arrived around rush hour and weren’t prepared for all the traffic, having only experienced quiet roads along the south coast. It was difficult finding a parking space, so be prepared to drive around a little when you arrive. If you haven’t driven on the right before and are not a confident driver this could leave you feeling stressed. Again, check out the roads into Reykjavik on Google maps to get a sense of what awaits if you aren’t used to self-driving.
We didn’t get to tour the golden circle because of road conditions/ice/road closures, so we spent the day in Reykjavik instead. This turned out okay for us as we did some of the attractions (Lava Centre and Fly Over Iceland – both hughly recommended), but it ended up being an extra expense and we missed out on the golden attractions. Again, not a big issue if you are aware this could happen. The weather is so changeable that having a plan B is a good approach.
Weekend a la Carte sent us a text warning us about the bad weather conditions, which we’d already seen on the Safe Iceland app, but we were grateful for anyway. It was good to know they were looking out for us!
All in all, a remarkable trip, with some unique experiences. If you book this in the knowledge that nature will have her own way, and you may not see everything you want (especially in winter), you will have a great time. Ranga is definitely the best place to maximise your chances of seeing the lights.
Sarah Brooks
This was a bucket list trip. The company are specialists and I’ve valued their advice. Everything from the when to go for the best opportunity to see the lights and equipment needed and provided.Our activities included, the Ice Hotel, night photo shoot, snowmobiling, guided walk and the sky station meal. All excellent and well run by knowledgeable experts and guides. The Abisko Lodge is warm comfortable and relaxing the food is excellent and the staff welcoming, friendly and very helpful. I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a different and exciting experience.
Jean Lavender
We enjoyed both the hotels that were arranged by weekend a la Carte Aurora nights. The Porsmork trip was very enjoyable, both guides were fantastic and informative.
The Northern Light hunt trip out of Reykjavik with Superjeep was an adventure and we got to see the lights, worth braving the cold at -6.
David Rogers