Off-the-beaten-path 10 Day Summer Self Drive Tour of Iceland's Westfjords, Snaefellsnes & Flatey

As this is a self-drive tour, you get to decide when you hit the road.

Once you are ready, you’ll bid farewell to the city and head out into the wild Icelandic nature. The next few days will be filled with green valleys, magnificent mountain ranges, remote villages, and off-the-beaten-path attractions.

Drive to the Borgarfjörður region in West Iceland. Nestled between the roaring waves of the Atlantic ocean in the west and mighty glaciers on the eastern horizon, Borgarfjörður fjord was an oasis for Vikings more than a thousand years ago. It remains an oasis today.

Make your way to the town of Borgarnes where you can learn about life before modern days at its two museums. The Settlement Centre focuses on both the age of settlement in Iceland and the Saga of Egill, a Viking-era poet and warrior. At the Borgarnes Museum, you can see a visual progression of the last 100 years through photographs of the children in this little Icelandic town.

You could make a quick detour before you reach Borgarnes, to the waterfalls Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. Hraunfossar is a series of trickling waterfalls that flow over cliffs of black lava while the nearby Barnafoss rush violently through a narrow, rocky chute.

Keep driving through verdant farmlands and valleys of western Iceland until you reach the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a stretch of land filled with cascading waterfalls, dramatic coastlines, black pebble beaches, majestic mountains, lava fields, and a mighty glacier.

Stop at the hidden gem of the Gerðuberg cliffs, a serene but striking feature made of hexagonal columns created by this volcanic land thousands of years ago. From there, move on to one of Iceland’s few white sand beaches, Ytri-Tunga, where you can watch seals laze on the shore.

Make sure you don’t miss the tiny hamlet of Búðir, located in the Búðahraun lava fields. Here, you can capture some hauntingly beautiful photographs of the hamlet’s jet-black church and surrounding graveyard. You can also stop at the charming village of Arnarstapi, for some extraordinary views of the surrounding cliff formations and mountains, before reaching your accommodation in the little Hellnar village.

Take in the view of the stunning coastline at Hellnar village before continuing your journey of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and its namesake national park. Today will be filled with otherworldly attractions, plucked straight out of a fantasy novel, while the great Snæfellsjökull glacier, the source of many legends and folklore, watches over you.

Drive a little way to the Lóndrangar basalt plugs, a pair of twin peaks that rise out of the Atlantic Ocean like a dark castle. The rocks are the remains of a crater which the sea has eroded over the ages. Avid hikers will find delight here as many trails and tracks provide different views of these majestic peaks.

Today, you can opt to travel into Iceland's underworld on a caving expedition. A short drive away from Lóndrangar is Vatnshellir lava tube, where you can walk the path the flowing magma created thousands of years ago.

From there, you'll move to the beautiful Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach. To get to the shore, you will have to follow a path through a beautiful natural labyrinth made of jagged lava rocks, undoubtedly giving you a feeling like you have stepped inside a fairytale. The beach itself is stunning but has an eerie feel and a dark history; scattered on the shore are remains of a trawler that wrecked there in 1948, taking the lives of five men.

You'll continue your journey through Snæfellsnes National Park, making your way to the peninsula's northern side which faces the great Breiðafjörður Bay. Breiðafjörður is known as the home of countless islands and islets and a wealth of marine and birdlife. Should you want to pay a visit to some of the gentle giants of the bay, you can stop in the village of Ólafsvík for a whale watching tour.

Head towards the town of Grundarfjörður, which is surrounded by spectacular mountains, one of which is the arrowhead-shaped Kirkjufell. Kirkjufell has been one of the peninsula's most popular features in recent years because a famous fantasy television series has used it as a backdrop, earning Kirkjufell the nickname "The Game of Thrones Mountain".

Make your way to the charming coastal town of Stykkishólmur, famed for its colorful houses and great seafood, where you'll find your accommodation for the night.

Today you'll head to the high seas, sailing across the beautiful Breiðafjörður Bay, which is ringed with mountains and dotted with countless islands that are only inhabited during summer. Your destination is one of those islands, the secluded Flatey.

You can choose to head straight to Flatey in the morning, or you can leave in the afternoon and spend the day exploring flora and fauna of the islands in Breiðafjörður Bay on a Viking Sushi Adventure that ends with a feast of fresh scallops and roe.

When it is time to leave Stykkishólmur for Flatey island, you will board the ferry Baldur and hand your car keys to the staff. They will then transport your vehicle to Brjánslækur on the other side of the Bay, as there is no need and, in fact, no room for your car on this remote, little island.

After sailing for a while, seeing the great Snæfellsjökull glacier fade away in the distance, you'll dock at Flatey. A gravel road from the pier takes you to the island's village, a place that seems to have been frozen in time; colorful houses line the street, most built over a century ago.

You'll be greeted by the island's only all-year residents: sheep, chickens, and a single dog, as you walk the short distance to your accommodation for the night, the island's only hotel situated on the Grýluvogur cove. When the tide is low, children play on the beach at Grýluvogur, searching for seashells, crabs, and jellyfish.

You can visit the Flatey's restaurant in the evening, located in a converted warehouse on the old market square. After dinner, you can make your way to the nearby bar found in the abandoned salt cellar of the warehouse, then use the rays of the midnight sun to walk around the island, savoring the unique ambiance of this enchanting place.

Make use of the morning and explore this beautiful island. Flatey is teeming with birds, and you will likely come across a few Arctic terns, but if you look out on the cliffs on the north side of the island, you might spot an Atlantic Puffin or two.

You can spend the morning hiking around the unspoiled nature, checking out the unique murals inside the Flatey church, and visiting Iceland's smallest library before boarding the ferry again, this time heading to the little-visited Westfjords.

After you dock at Brjánslækur port, pick up your car and make your way to the little-hidden gem of Birkimelur swimming pool and hot spring. It is a beautiful place, situated at the mouth of the river Móra, surrounded by nothing but distant mountains. From there, explore Rauðasandur, a beautiful red sand beach that stretches from the craggy mountains in the east to Látrabjarg, the westernmost part of Europe.

Látrabjarg is also Europe's largest bird cliff, home to millions of puffins, gannets, guillemots, and razorbills. Due to the Látrabjarg's remote location, the birds are particularly fearless, knowing no enemies save for Arctic foxes. This provides you with an excellent opportunity to get close to the puffins and razorbills and capture them on film.

At the end of an eventful day, make your way to the little coastal town of Patreksfjörður, where you will find your accommodation for the night.

You’ll wake up on day six in the remote Westfjords, where tranquillity and breathtaking landscapes dominate the region. Due to the isolation of these fjords, your travels will be mostly void of other people, allowing for true off-the-beaten-path adventures.

Today, you’ll venture deep into this region, where the impressive waterfall Dynjandi lies at the bottom of Arnarfjörður fjord. The road to Dynjandi leads up rugged hills and jagged mountains that will provide you with a fantastic bird’s eye view of the surrounding fjords and valleys.

Along the way, you can stop at geothermal pools and hot tubs where you can enjoy the warm waters while breathing in the pristine mountain air. The first of these pools, Pollurinn just outside the village of Tálknafjörður, provides a clear view of the beautiful mountains of Tálknafjörður fjord. The second one, Reykjafjarðarlaug, is located further east. Hidden in the tall grass near the pool is a little turf shed inside a grassy hill.

As you approach Dynjandi from the road, you will be greeted by the thundering noises of this mighty cascade as it falls down 328 ft (100 m), fanning out at the bottom and creating the unique pyramid shape for which it is famous.

Close to the waterfalls is the town of Hrafnseyri, where you can find the restored turf house of Jón Sigurðsson, the leader of the 19th-century Icelandic independence movement. You can also drive further north and visit the quirky Nonsense Museum in Flateyri village or Holtsfjara beach, a white, sandy beach, which is great for building sandcastles.

Your accommodation tonight will either be in the village of Flateyri or the nearby town of Ísafjörður.

Today, you will be based in Ísafjörður, a fascinating town and the largest settlement of the Westfjords. Not only does it have a bustling culture and incredible natural surroundings, but it is close to more authentic fishing villages where you can immerse yourself in the region's history.

Most notable amongst these are Bolungarvík, which boasts an excellent maritime museum; Suðureyri, renowned for its swimming pool; and Flateyri, a port with an interesting past. Driving to these locations either requires you to drive through mountain tunnels or the around the magnificent fjords.

Those seeking adventure today can find it in an optional kayaking adventure; you do not need to be experienced to embark on this breathtaking tour. Not only will it get your adrenaline pumping and expose you to some magnificent views, but it provides you with a chance to marvel over sea birds, seals, and maybe even whales.

Some travelers also use their opportunity of being in Ísafjörður to visit the magnificent nature reserve of Hornstrandir. It cannot be accessed from any other town.

You'll spend tonight in the Ísafjörður area.

Today you will drive the road that winds through the smaller inlets of the mighty Ísafjörður fjord. Before you leave, make sure to explore the Ísafjörður town first. It has some of the oldest houses in the country, dating back to the 18th century, and is also reported to have the best seafood restaurant in Iceland.

You can get a glimpse into the Icelandic past with a visit to the island Vigur, located a short boat ride from Ísafjörður town. There, you can see how the people utilized both the land and sea to survive in the harsh Icelandic climate without modern technology. The island is also teeming with birds, and you might spot a few seals lounging on the shore.

Before making your way south, you can take a quick detour to the village of Bolungarvík. There, you can find a Maritime Museum comprised of 19th-century fishing bases and huts with turf roofs, and the curator of the museum will greet you in a traditional Icelandic fisherman outfit. Avid hikers will love Bolafjall mountain, located just above the village. The view from atop is spectacular, and on a clear day, you might see all the way to Greenland.

When you are ready to hit the road, you will drive the winding fjords all the way to the village of Hólmavík, where you will spend the night.

Now it is time to bid farewell to the mythical Westfjords of Iceland. The drive back to Reykjavík city is long but scenic as you will travel past the verdant valleys of the west coast.

Before you reach the modernity of the city, you can stop and see what life was like a thousand years ago at the Eiríksstaðir. There, you will find an open-air museum with a reconstructed Saga-age turf house, and the ruins of an ancient farm believed to be the homestead of the Viking Erik the Red and the birthplace of his son, Leif the Lucky.

Further south lies Iceland's second-largest glacier, Langjökull. An intricate tunnel system has been carved into the ancient ice, and today, you can opt for a tour into these tunnels where you can explore the blue and white world inside the glacier.

If you'd rather explore a different underworld, you can take a tour from Reykjavík city, where you descend into the empty magma chamber of a dormant volcano. There you will see bizarre rock formations and vibrant colors of the volcano's walls, but it is the sheer scale of the magma chamber that will surely leave you in awe.

You will then spend your final night in Iceland at accommodations in Reykjavík. If you are not too tired after your journey, you can stop at one of the city's many restaurants or bars for a meal or a nightcap.

Today is the last day of your adventures in Iceland. If your flight leaves late, you can explore the vibrant city of Reykjavík a little. Just remember to be at the airport in good time to drop off your car and catch your departing flight.

For those who have a later flight and choose to visit the Blue Lagoon today, you will finish off your stay unwinding before you head to the airport. This is the perfect place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters as you look back on the incredible adventure you have just taken in the land of fire and ice. If your flight is later, there are plenty of things to do in Reykjavik. If you have an early flight back home, we wish you a pleasant journey.

If you haven’t been to Hallgrímskirkja church already, you should head over there in the morning. The architecture of the church was inspired by some of Iceland’s many basalt columns, like the ones you visited at Gerðuberg on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

Across the street from the church is the Einar Jónasson sculpture garden. Entry to the garden is free, and you can spend your last hours in Iceland, looking at the beautiful sculptures, which were mostly inspired by Icelandic mythology and folktales.

When it is time to hit the road, you will drive to the black lava desert on the Reykjanes Peninsula to Keflavík International Airport. Have a nice flight and come back soon.