Westman Islands, Volcano & Puffins

Your day begins with pickup from your hotel or accommodation.

We drive along Iceland’s scenic South Coast toward the ferry terminal at Landeyjahöfn, enjoying views of farmland, volcanoes and distant glaciers.

We board the ferry for a 40-minute crossing to Heimaey Island, the largest island in the Westman Islands archipelago.

During the crossing you may see seabirds and volcanic islands rising dramatically from the Atlantic Ocean.

Our first stop is the Eldheimar Volcano Museum, one of Iceland’s most fascinating museums.

The museum is built around a house buried by lava during the 1973 eruption, telling the powerful story of how the entire island was evacuated overnight.

Entrance ticket is not included.

We visit Eldfell Volcano, formed during the 1973 eruption.

Guests who wish can take a short hike to the summit, where spectacular panoramic views open over the island, the harbor and the surrounding ocean.

Next we visit the Beluga Whale Sanctuary, where rescued beluga whales live in a protected ocean bay.

The center also features educational exhibitions about marine life and ocean conservation.

Entrance ticket is not included.

We stop in the harbor town of Vestmannaeyjar, where you will have time to enjoy lunch at one of the island’s restaurants or cafés.

We continue to the scenic Herjólfsdalur Valley, surrounded by steep green cliffs.

Here you can see a traditional Icelandic turf house, built using grass and earth — a reminder of how Icelanders once lived in harmony with nature.

We visit the beautiful Stafkirkjan wooden church, a Norwegian-style stave church gifted to Iceland to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of Christianity in Iceland.

One of the island’s most famous natural formations — a volcanic cliff that looks remarkably like the head of an elephant with its trunk reaching into the ocean.

The Westman Islands are home to one of the largest puffin colonies in the world.

During the summer months thousands of puffins nest along the cliffs, making this one of the best places in Iceland to observe these charming seabirds.

From this viewpoint we can see the distant island of Surtsey, one of the youngest islands on Earth.

Formed during a volcanic eruption in 1963, the island is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We continue to Stórhöfði, the southernmost point of the island.

This dramatic headland offers incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding islands and is known as one of the windiest places in Europe.

After exploring the island we return to the harbor and take the ferry back to mainland Iceland.