Autotour été de 8 jours | Fjords de l'Ouest & péninsule de Snaefellsnes

Partez en voyage en Islande et découvrez les fjords de l'Ouest et la péninsule de Snaefellsnes durant cet autotour de 8 jours / 7 nuits en toute tranquillité.

Ce voyage est parfait pour les amateurs de plein air offrant la découverte d'une vie ornithologique riche et ses nombreux sites naturels. Nous savons que vous avez choisi l'Islande pour ses paysages : c'est l'une des régions volcaniques les plus actives du monde et 11% de l'île est recouverte de glaciers.

Pour rendre vos vacances en Islande uniques, nous vous communiquons dans vos documents de voyages des sites hors sentiers battus sélectionnés par notre équipe. Vous découvrirez ces sites lors de la réception de votre itinéraire juste avant votre voyage.

Lors de la réservation de votre voyage, vous avez l'option d'ajouter des excursions complémentaires comme une balade à cheval, une sortie pour observer les baleines, la visite de la grotte de lave de Viðgelmir ou l'intérieur d'un glacier.

Réservez-vite ce voyage d'une semaine dans l'Ouest à la découverte de l'Islande authentique !

• Disponible: Mai. - Aoû.
• Durée: 8 jours
• Activités: Visite de sites naturels, Observation d'oiseaux, Voyage autotour
• Difficulté: Facile
• Temps forts:

  The Westfjords are the westernmost part of Iceland and the whole of Europe. The Westfjords are home to some off the most beautiful natural gems and off the beaten track attractions in Iceland.

  The Westfjords are a wide area stretching as a peninsula to the northwest of the mainland. The peninsula is all mountainous with numerous fjords of varying length.

  The town Isafjordur in the fjord Skutulsfjordur serves as the capital of the region, with around 3000 inhabitants. There are many fishing villages in the fjords, as good fishing banks are found around the Wesfjords.

  The agriculture is very scant, due to the steepness of the mountains and the lowland is limited. Below are some of the best natural attractions you can find in the Westfjords.

  Hornstrandir nature reserve

  Many places in the Westfjords are now deserted, such as the northernmost part of the peninsula: Hornstrandir. Hornstrandir is a holy place for travelers who seek solitude, wildlife, breathtaking scenery and great hiking trails. Don´t miss it if you´re looking for peacefulness.

  Dynjandi waterfall

  Dynjandi ('Thunderous') is one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. This is really a series of waterfalls, seven altogether, with a cumulative hight of 100 meters. The trapezoidal shape of its main uppermost tier is particularly notable (40 m wide at the top, 60 m at the bottom.  

  Latrabjarg Birdcliff

  Europe’s westernmost part is in The Westfjords, the massive vertical seacliff Latrabjarg, over 400 meters high with millions of seabirds nesting there. In 1947 a British trawler stranded there. Local farmers managed to safe most of the fishermen by heaving them by rope 190 meters up into the air. This heroic deed has been filmed.

  Raudisandur Beach & Sjounda

  The beach by the cliff is called Raudisandur, rare for its pale red, almost pink sand. Along with many seabirds, the beach also features hundreds of seals.

  Innermost of Raudisandur are the remnants of the farm Sjounda. At the beginning of the 19th century it was a site for one of Iceland’s most famous murder cases. 

  Two farmers lived there with there wives but the one farmer fell in love with the other's wife and she with him and they were later sentenced to death for murdering their spouses. This dramatic event later served as an inspiration for Icelandic author Gunnar Gunnarsson's masterful novel Svartfugl (The Black Cliffs).

  Fjords de l'Ouest,

  Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and the northernmost capital of a sovereign state in the world.

  Despite a small population (120.000 and more than 200.000 in the Greater Reykjavik area), it is a vibrant city that draws an ever increasing number of visitors. It is the financial, cultural and governmental centre of Iceland. It also has a reputation of being one of the cleanest and safest cities in the world.

  Geography

  The city of Reykjavik is located in southwest Iceland by the creek of the same name. Throughout the ages, the landscape has been shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and the area is geothermal.  Much of the current city area area was subglacial during the Ice Age, with the glacier reaching as far as the Álftanes peninsula, while other areas lay under the sea.  After the end of the ice age the land rose as the glaciers drifted away, and it began to take on its present form.

  The coastline of Reykjavik is set with peninsulas, coves, straights and islands, most notably the island of Videy, and seabirds and whales frequent the shores. The mountain ring as seen from the shore is particularly beautiful. Mount Esja is the highest mountain in the vicinity of Reykjavik and lends its distinct feature to the whole area. This majestic mountain is also highly popular for climbing. Other notable mountains that can be seen from the seaside are Akrafjall and Skardsheidi and on clear days one may even see as far to the legendary Snaefellsjokull glacier, at the end of the Snafellsnes peninsula.

  The largest river to run through the city is Ellidaa in Ellidaardalur valley, which is also one of Iceland‘s best rivers for salmon fishing.

  Transportation

  There are no trains or trams in Iceland, but most people travel by car. The city also operates a bus system. There are two major harbours in town, the old harbour in the centre and Sundahofn in the east. The domestic Reykjavik Airport is located at Vatnsmyrin, not far from the city centre and close to Oskjuhlid and Perlan. The international  Keflavik Airport at Midnesheidi heath then lies around 50 km from the city. Cars, jeeps and bicycles can be readily rented in the city and many organized tours are also being offered.

  What to See & Do in Reykjavik

  The local arts scene is strong in Iceland, with both annual events and single ones, many of whom have hit the international stage. For the annual ones please check our articles Best Annual Events in Iceland and the Top Ten Festivals in Iceland. Major events taking place in Reykjavik include the Iceland Airwaves, Gay Pride, RIFF (The Reykjavik International Film Festival), The Reykjavik Literature Festival, Cultural Night, the Reykjavik Arts Festival, Food & Fun, the Reykjavik Fashion Festival and the Sónar music festival.

  Among famous people from Reykjavik are artists Bjork Gudmundsdottir, Sigur Ros, writers Halldor Laxness (born in Laugavegur) and Arnaldur Indridason and mayor Jon Gnarr. For more well-known and fairly-well known Icelanders, check our article on the subject.

  You might also want to check our article on some of the many things to see and do in Reykjavik, such as visiting the city‘s many museums, exhibitions and galleries, checking out live music, visiting the Harpa music hall or the theatres, visiting the lighthouse at Grotta, the main shopping street of Laugavegur, visiting the old harbour and the flea market, going on a bird- and whale watching tour or visiting Videy island. We also have a top ten list of things to do.

  Make sure to visit the public square of Austurvollur, one of the city‘s most popular gathering places, where you‘ll also find the national parliament, Althingi, the state church a statue of independence hero Jon Sigurdson, as well as cafés, bars and restaurants. Austurvollur was central in the 2008 protests, along with Laekjargata, home to the House of Government. You are also not likely to miss the great church of Hallgrimskirkja that towers over the city from the hill of Skolavorduholt, wherefrom you‘ll get a great view of the city.

  Try a walk by the city pond, greet the many birds that frequent the area and visit the city hall, stationed by its banks. The Hljomaskalagardur is a beautiful park that lies by the pond, it ideal for a nice walk and sometimes concerts get held there. Further off is the campus of the university of Iceland, the Nordic house and the Vatnsmyri wetland, a particularly pleasant place, but be mindful of not disturbing the wildlife there and keep to the pathways.

   For a nice swim on a warm day, we particularly recommend Nautholsvik beach.

  Visit the Laugardalur valley, home to one of the city‘s best swimming pools, as well as the Asmundarsafn gallery, a beautiful botanical garden and a domestic zoo. A walk by the Aegissida beach, with it‘s old fishing sheds, in the west part of Reykjavik also holds a particular charm. The aforementioned Elllidaardalur valley is also a popular resort.  

  Another place that offers one of the city‘s best (and free) views is Perlan, up in Oskjuhlid hill. The hill itself is a popular resort, with over 176.000 trees and great opportunities for walking and cycling.

  Travel to Alftanes to see the president‘s house at Bessastadir, which is also a historical site in it‘s own right, having been the educational centre of Iceland for centuries. Nearby is a beautiful lava field, Galgahraun, well worth a visit, though there is currently an environmental struggle going on as to it‘s future state.

  The city is furthermore a short drive from many of Iceland‘s major attractions, most famously the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon. In close vicinity you‘ll also find the Heidmork preservation area, a favourite pastime resort of the people of Reykjavik, as well as the Blue Mountains, one of Iceland‘s most beloved skiing venues.

  Check our Best of Reykjavik guide further for tips on the best cheap things to do in Reykjavik, some of the best restaurants in the city, happy hours, the top ten value places to eat and our two articles on the famous Reykjavik nightlife; Nightlife in Reykjavik and Nightlife and mating.

  Finally, we‘d like to stress that these are only some suggestions of the many things you might check out in Reykjavik. Whatever you choose to do, we hope you‘ll be able to make the most of your visit and we wish you a pleasant stay in our capital.

  Reykjavík,

   

  Latrabjarg, in the Westfjords, marks the western-most part of Iceland, and in fact, Europe. Hosting millions of birds, it is Europe’s largest bird cliff at 14 km length and a height of 441 meters.

  In 1947 Latrabjarg was the site of a famous rescue mission, when Icelandic farmers rescued the 12 surviving members of the British trawler Dhoon that had stranded under the seacliff. This was an astounding deed, and only possible since the local farmers practised egg gathering from the cliff by hanging from a string and used this same string method for heaving the fishermen up 190 meters to safety. A documentary by Oskar Gislason was made about this rescue a year later. During shoots the trawler Sargon stranded and that rescue mission was documented in the film. The film can be seen in Reykjavik.

  Látrabjarg,

   

  Dynjandi (meaning ‘thunderous’), at the end of Arnarfjordur, is the most powerful waterfall in the Westfjords and breathtaking in its beauty.

  Dynjandi is actually a series of waterfalls (seven in all), with a cumulative height of 100 meters. The main uppermost tier is particularly notable with its trapezoidal shape (30 m wide at the top, 60 m wide at the bottom).

  Dynjandi,

  Hraunfossar in Borgarfjordur district is a series of beautiful waterfalls  formed by rivulets streaming from a short distance out of the Hallmundarhraun lava field.

  The lava field flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the glacier Langjokull. The waterfalls pour into the Hvita river from ledges of less porous rock in the lava. These are some of the most magnificent falls found in Iceland and not to be missed.

  Hraunfossar,

  Deildartunguhver, by Reykholt, in Borgarfjordur district, has the highest flow rate for a hot spring in Europe.

  The flow rate of Deildartunguhver is 180 liters/second and water emerges at 97 °C. The place is also unique for being the only place in the country where the hard fern grows.

  Deildartunguhver,

   

  The town Isafjordur in the fjord Skutulsfjordur is the capital of the Westfjords, with a population of about 2600 people. 

  Fishing is the main industry of Isafjordur, along with tourism. The University Center of the Westfjords is located here, and the town also has a cultural museum. The local folk museum is housed in the oldest home in Iceland, built in 1786.

  Isafjordur hosts many popular events, its most famous being the highly popular yearly music festival, Aldrei For Eg Sudur ('I Never Went South'), near Easter time.

  Ísafjörður,

  Borgarnes is a town of less than 2000 people, located on a peninsula at the shore of Borgarfjörður.  It's a commerce centre for a large part of western Iceland.

  Borgarnes' main industry is service and commerce. It is near to many natural attractions and the view over the fjord and its mountains is highly scenic. The river Hvítá runs through this valley but should not be confused with its namesake, which is the home of Gullfoss and one of Iceland's major rafting rivers. Among major cultural attractions of Borgarnes are the Settlement Centre and the Centre for Puppet Arts. 

  For those with children, or wanting to bring out their inner child, we recommend the Bjössaróló environmental playground which Björn Hjörtur Guðmundsson spent years developing, using salvaged materials for all the play equipment. Here you'll find slides built into the surrounding hillocks, many slings, a jungle gym, spinning top and several lookout points. There's also a castle, an old boat, seesaws and a climbing dome. Courting couples have also been attracted to the place. In short, it's renowned as the best playground in the country, a wonderland of endless fun activities. It further gives an excellent view of the sea, so guests can take in the breathtaking scenery.

  Borgarnes,

  The small town Holmavik is the largest settlement of Strandir region in the Westfjords. It has a population of about 375 people (as of 2011) and serves as a center of commerce for the region. 

  Fisheries and tourist services are the mainstay of the economy of Holmavik, as well as farming in the countryside surrounding the town.

  n the past, the Strandir region was famous/notorious for witchcraft and the town features the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft, well worth a visit. You might also want to check out the town's oldest house, built in the 19th century and now home to the excellent coffeehouse/bar Café Riis.

  About 12 km from Holmavik is a Sheep Farming Museum where travelers can learn about the history of Icelandic sheep farming and enjoy a nice cup of coffee and local bread cakes at the caféteria.

  The surrounding area is charming and ideal for hiking. The peaks of Kalfanesborgir in particular give a good view of the area. Well-known people born in Holmavik include poet Stefan fra Hvitadal and musician Gunnar Thordarson (Hljomar, Trubrot).

  Hólmavík,

  

  Grundarfjörður is a small town found on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the west of Iceland.

  The town has an approximate population of 872 people and has been twinned with the French town Paimpol since 2004. The town’s main industries lie in fishing and fish processing. Grundarfjörður also bears host to substantial ship traffic, a consequence of’ the settlement’s natural harbour.

  Grundarfjörður boasts a public library, a historical centre, a resident’s café and a photography exhibition, Bæringsstofa, a collection of pictures by the late Icelandic photographer and honorary citizen of Grundarfjörður, Bærings Cecilsson. Asides from accommodation and amenities, Grundarfjörður offers the opportunity to partake in numerous outdoor activities, ranging from horseback riding and camping to ice-climbing. One can also find a nine-hole golf course beside the town.

  Kirkjufell Mountain

  Visitors to Grundarfjörður will likely visit the town’s main landmark, the photogenic Kirkjufell (“Church Mountain”). Clearly distinguishable from its dramatic slopes, steeple-like peak and surrounding shorelines, Kirkjufell is both one of the most beautiful and photographed mountains found in Iceland. Besides the mountain itself, one can find Kirkjufellsfoss (“Church Mountain Falls”), a beautiful three-pronged waterfall.

  Folklore & History 

  Nearby, one can find the town and municipality of Stykkishólmur (population: 1195), a centre of commerce and services for the region. The road from Grundarfjörður to Stykkishólmur crosses a wide lava field known as Berserkjahraun. The name of this lava field is derived from the Eyrbyggja saga, in which it said two berserkers (Viking Warriors) were slaughtered by their master because one of them fell madly in love with own daughter.

  Grundarfjörður is an important historical town in Iceland, having been a centre of trade for the Snæfellsnes Peninsula since at least the 15th century. The town was certified official as one the country’s six designated marketplaces in the year 1786. There are a number of antiquity sites around the town, however, that point to the region being well-inhabited as far back as the Viking era.

  ---

  Header Photo: Wikimedia. Creative Commons. Chensiyuan 

  Grundarfjörður,
  Rauðasandur

• 7 nuits en hébergement (catégorie à choisir dans les options - petit déjeuner inclus en catégorie confort et sélection)

• Location d'une voiture de location en Islande type VW Polo ou similaire durant 8 jours (surclassements disponibles)

• Assurance CDW, SCDW et protection gravier inclus avec la voiture de location

• GPS

• Ferry Baldur pour une voiture et ses passagers

• Entrée standard au Blue Lagoon (surclassements disponibles)

• Itinéraire de voyage

• Assistance d'un agent de voyage veillant à la préparation de votre itinéraire de voyage

• Taxes incluses

• Essence

• Déjeuner et dîner

• Vols internationaux

• Permis de conduire

• Maillot de bain

• Appareil photo

Ci-dessous, découvrez nos catégories d'hébergement et des exemples d'hébergement par jour et par localité. Si vous réservez pour 1 personne, vous aurez une chambre individuelle, si vous réservez pour plus d'une personne vous aurez une chambre double/twin ou une chambre triple. Guide to Iceland vous sélectionnera les meilleurs hôtels et guesthouses disponibles au moment la réservation de votre voyage. Merci de garder en tête que la catégorie sélection en Islande est très limitée géographiquement et la disponibilité est très limitée. Nous faisons toujours notre possible pour répondre à vos requêtes spéciales qui peuvent induire un coût additionnel. Choisissez une date pour voir la disponibilité du voyage.

Ci-dessous découvrez les options de voitures de location pour votre autotour. Tous nos véhicules sont récents, de 2 ans d'ancienneté maximum, et équipés d'un GPS et des assurances CDW, SCDW et la protection gravier (GP). Surclassement gratuit en véhicule avec boîte automatique.

Cette assurance garantie l'annulation et le remboursement de l'ensemble de votre voyage sauf le prix de la souscription à l'assurance annulation voyage : 5 000 ISK/participant. L'annulation peut être demandée jusqu'à 48h avant le début de votre voyage. Pour annuler votre voyage et demander un remboursement, merci d'envoyer un email à info@guidetoiceland.is jusqu'à 48h avant votre voyage et en expliquant votre situation. Merci de noter que l'assurance couvre l'annulation complète de votre voyage. Elle ne couvre pas l'annulation de prestations de voyage individuelles ou une partie de votre voyage. Le montant de l'assurance n'est ni remboursable ni transférable.