Description
Summary
Description
Discover one of Iceland's most birdlife-rich islands on this guided Grimsey wildlife tour from Drangsnes, a boat and walking excursion across Steingrimsfjordur Fjord in the remote Westfjords. This 2-hour tour suits travelers who want a genuine taste of island nature and birdlife without committing to a longer boat trip.
This tour includes a round-trip boat ride across the fjord, a guided walk on Grimsey Island, and a close-up look at one of Iceland's largest puffin colonies.
No prior boating experience is needed, and the guide's commentary throughout the crossing and the walk helps travelers get more out of every stop. It is a convenient way to add a genuine wildlife encounter to a Westfjords itinerary without losing a full day of travel.
The tour departs from Malarhorn Guesthouse on Grundargata in Drangsnes, a small fishing village tucked along the Strandir coast of the Westfjords. Drangsnes looks out over Steingrimsfjordur, a quiet fjord framed by steep mountainsides and scattered skerries.
Guests gather at the guesthouse before boarding the boat for the short sailing across the water. The crossing itself offers sweeping views back toward the village and the surrounding coastline.
On reaching Grimsey, a small uninhabited island, guests step ashore for a guided walk led by a local who knows the island well. This Grimsey should not be confused with the better-known island of the same name on the Arctic Circle in North Iceland. It is smaller and quieter, but no less rewarding for visitors hoping to see Iceland's birdlife up close.
Grimsey is home to an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 breeding pairs of Atlantic puffins each summer, along with numerous other seabirds nesting along its cliffs and grassy slopes. Guests have plenty of time to take photos, watch the birds coming and going from their burrows, and take in the coastal scenery of Steingrimsfjordur from the island's higher ground.
The pace of the walk is easy to moderate, with the guide sharing local stories about the island, its wildlife, and the history of the surrounding fjord. Boarding the boat and walking on the island's grassy, uneven ground calls for reasonable mobility, though the tour suits most fitness levels and ages.
As with any boat trip in the Westfjords, the schedule can shift slightly depending on wind and sea conditions, and the guide will keep everyone informed along the way.
After the walk, the boat carries guests back across Steingrimsfjordur Fjord to Drangsnes.
Spend two hours exploring an island alive with puffins and seabirds on this Grimsey wildlife tour from Drangsnes. Check availability now by choosing a date.
