Private tour to Vestmannaeyjar – The Westman Islands

Westman islands or Vestmannaeyjar is a unique and famously loved for being Iceland’s natures jewel.

In this trip we will travel to this historic fishing village and explore the breathtaking landscapes, volcanoes, rich history and a thrilling adventure out at sea.

Westman island is the largest island in the island cluster here on the south coast of Iceland. Home to only around 4.300 people but the largest puffin colonies in the entire world. This island tells a story, one of resilience, vikings and folklore. The townspeople have survived through an Algiers pirate attack, unforgiving living conditions and an volcanic eruption that engulfed the entire island in 1973. Even still, the islanders remain stubborn in staying here on the island, the one they love as their home.

Our tour starts at our meeting point at Brú Base, road 249 (or we can pick you up at a nearby location) where we will drive towards the harbour and take the ferry towards the island.

Straight from getting off the ferry, we will start our adventure by jumping in a one-hour RIB safari speedboat tour. This is both a local and travelers favorite tour as we will speed along the waves and sail behind mountains, into sea caves and towards the nearby islands around. Seeing the island from the ocean reminds us as why we are so lucky to call this our home. During the boat ride we will make stops to see firsthand and hear about the history and nature of our island as well as sail into sea caves (some that can only be entered by a rib boat). During summer months it is very common to see rich ocean life such as seals, whales and hundreds of birds like the famous puffin colonies.

After the hour boat ride, we continue our adventure on land. We take a rest at a local restaurant (which have gotten titles as one of the best restaurants on the south coast) where we will eat a delicious lunch (not included in the tour price).

After our rest we will take a short hike up the Eldfell volcano and see the beautiful view up at the top. From there we continue our trip to the award winning Eldheimar Museum just below the volcano. A wondrous exhibition depiction the real scenes of the eruption that left the entire community to flee in the middle of the night in 1973. This interactive museum was built around one of the abandoned houses that was dug out after the eruption to show future generations the effects a volcano eruption has. There you will also be told the story of Surtsey, the youngest island in the entire world.

Surstey lies just past the islands out at sea and during clear days, you can even see it with your bare eyes from the island. You will hear how an underwater volcanic eruption created this island in 1963 and how even today, people are not allowed to walk on the island as the ecosystem there is incredibly young and fragile.

After these amazing experiences, we will continue to visit breathtaking sightseeing spots on the island before ending our tour and taking the ferry back after a fully packed day of mixed adventures.  Join us on a once-in a lifetime day in Westman Islands!

Included

• Rib safari tour ride
• Eldheimar museum visit
• Ferry ride back and forth
• Local english speaking guide
• Pick-up and drop-off at your nearby location

What to bring

• Warm outdoor clothing, waterproofed jacket and pants.
• Warm on your head, gloves and appropriate hiking boots/shoes
• Some snacks for the day

Other information:

• Minimum age is 6.
• Don’t hesitate to contact us further regarding the tour! We strive to fit our guests needs and wishes to the best of our abilities.
• This tour is only operated daily from 1. May to 1. October.