If you are starting your trip from the South, you will do the route clockwise. Whale Watching tours also leave from the harbor at Ísafjörður and twenty species of whale have been seen around the Iceland coastline at various times. Two reasons for this are the road conditions and the impassability of some areas if … When planning your trip to the Westfjords, you need to take into consideration the time of the year you will be going to Iceland. They also run a campsite in the summer months. This is also the time where you can visit Patreksjordur town before heading down. Even so, if you are driving through the Westfjords in the winter, spring or autumn then a four-wheel-drive vehicle is highly recommended, as they are best suited to tackle the unpredictable (and occasionally extreme) Icelandic weather and the uneven gravel roads. Driving Distance and Time, Blue Lagoon to Kirkjufell: … Simply put, you have two main options with regards to your route: clockwise or counterclockwise. Dynjandi waterfall is located in the same area. The waterfall is one of the main highlights of the region. For both the locals and the visitors, of course. Cycling Iceland’s Ring Road – Part 2 of 3. While some bird species roost at Látrabjarg year-round, puffins can only be seen there from May to August. Driving in Iceland is already challenging; driving in Westfjords can also be dangerous. One of the chief changes taking place is the building of a new tunnel, Dýrafjarðargöng. The great thing about this waterfall is that it can be experienced from several angles and each one presents a unique perspective. This is a big driving day, with it … Most sections of the way were not paved; most of them were gravel roads and without tar. There, a beautiful mountain of the very same name is towering over the town. Hundreds of tourists come to our small island to experience the wonders of its nature. For peace of mind, consider purchasing Gravel Protection Insurance if you’re planning to drive on gravel roads in Iceland. You might think that piece of lava rock will look great on your mantelpiece, but if every one of the two million tourists that visit Iceland every year took a rock home with them, we would run out of rocks fairly quickly. The road took its name after the well known Ring Road, as both have a similar task of encircling a specific area. As mentioned previously, the Westfjords do not belong to the most famous regions of Iceland. Add the. It is indeed one of the wildest areas in Iceland and possibly in Europe. Due to the scarce inhabitants of this region, the roads here were not in the best condition—that significantly limited travel opportunity in this region. This part of Iceland was never that commonly visited mainly due to its remote location from the capital and all the famous wonders of the South and North regions. In order to actually complete the Ring Road II, you will have to turn off Route 60 once you reach Flókalundur, onto Route 62. As a general rule, you should always bring a towel and swimming costume whenever you take a trip in Iceland because you’re likely to pass a hot spring wherever you go. In the past, certain parts of the Westfjords route have been a little tricky to drive on. The roads here don't have the best reputation; their condition left much to be desired. In addition, continuous improvements to Route 60 and Route 61 mean that you have much more paved road and less gravel road. The campsite is rather small and offers necessary facilities like toilets and showers. Admiring the views that you will encounter during your road trip is the best that this region has to offer. Camping in the Westfjords is popular, and Hotel Flókalundur, a small, family-owned business, also has a campground attached that is open from June to September and offers wonderful views of the fjords. Iceland's Ring Road, also called Route no 1, is almost always the first choice when planning a road trip around Iceland. After you have a dip in warm waters of the spring, you can visit the Museum of Icelandic Witchcraft and Sorcery. To travel around the Westfjords is a route of over 950km (590 miles), a journey of at least 14 hours if the weather is good. But looking at our itinerary, we covered quite alot in these 7 days. Heading up from Reykjavik and once in the fjords region, you will start your journey from the Nordurardalur valley. This is really reflected in nature. Main Highlights in this 7 days that we done: Blue Lagoon - We were soaking there for 2 hours (Day 1) Due to the scarce inhabitants of this region, the roads here were not in the best condition—that significantly limited travel opportunity in this region. That makes this beach unique compared to any other beach within Iceland. Látrabjarg is the highest bird cliff in Europe and is a nesting place for over five million birds in the summer. Of the many tourists that travel to Iceland, not many make it past the Golden Circle or the Blue Lagoon. […] Advanced Settings above via filter on get_the_excerpt -->