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The West Fjords complete

A comprehensive tour of Iceland's West Fjords peninsula, the most picturesque and least visited corner of the country. The journey will display the wonders of Iceland's geology whilst offering a wide range of local activities and landscapes of austere beauty. Everything there is extreme and majestic. Nature, pristine and intact rules unchallenged, in a setting of high mountains, deep fjords and wide glacial valleys sculpted by ice million years ago. The stunning landscape is a real paradise for a multitude of birds (puffins, sea eagles, arctic terns and so many others …) A rare place in Iceland where it is possible to watch the birds at a very close distance in their natural nesting area … under the magical light of the summer midnight sun …

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ANNIE GUIDE IN ICELAND

Annie is your guide in Iceland. She is multilingual and loves communicating her passion for Iceland and the cultural heritage of the remote West Fjords.

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Contact Annie to take part to the next tour or to prepare a tour «à la carte» in Iceland.

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The West Fjords complete
a destination advised as a MUST by Lonely Planet

A comprehensive tour of Iceland's West Fjords

The West fjords represent the most picturesque and least visited corner of the country. Everything there is extreme and majestic. Nature, pristine and intact rules unchallenged, in a setting of high mountains, deep fjords and wide valleys sculpted by ice millions of years ago. The stunning landscape is a real paradise for a multitude of birds (puffins, sea eagles, arctic terns and so many others…). A rare place in Iceland where it is possible to watch the birds at a very close distance in their natural nesting area… under the magical light of the summer midnight sun…

PROGRAMME OF THE TOUR :
Guided tour from 6 to 17 July 2022 : 12 days –11 nights in the Westfjords- DAY 1: international flight and arrival at Keflavik international airportArrival at Keflavik international airport. Your guide welcomes you  there !
Transfer to Reykjavik and panaramic tour of the capital ( 2 heures): Hallgrimskirkja, Laugavegur, Harpa….Free dinner and overnight at Hotel Cabin.

- DAY 2: Reykjavik – Snaefellsnes peninsulaDepart from the capital to Thingvellir, historical site of the first parliament in the world held by the Viking settlers since 930 AD. The road through Nesjavellir skirts the serene Thingvallavatn lake and provides a unique opportunity to view the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (tectonic plates tearing apart) and the geothermy it generates.
The mountain track Kaldidalur follows the Langjökull glacial ridge in direction of Borgarnes and the Snaefellsnes peninsula dominated by Jules Verne's volcano/glacier Snaefell («Travel to the centre of the earth»). Enjoy long strolls at the foot of the strato-volcano, on Budir pink sandy beach, and along the Arnarstapi hamlet cliffs packed with nesting kittiwakes … aeder ducks, phalaropes … seagulls and artic sterns by thousands …Dinner and overnight at Hotel Arnarstapi, at a stone-throw from the cliffs

- DAY 3: from Snaefellsnes to the StrandirDrive around the peninsula and to the snow edge on the Snaefell volcano. Drive along the scenic coastline to the gentle hills of the Dalir (home estate of Erik the Red, discoverer of Greenland). Drive to Drangsnes area and to the remotest and mysterious part of the West Fjords, the Strandir.Drangsnes is a picturesque active fishing harbour full of busy birds ... and seals … whales are daily visitors in the fjord !Dinner and overnight at Malarhorn Guesthouse, at the very edge of the fjord, with a magnificent view on Grimsey, the famous bird island

- DAY 4: The secrets of the StandirDrive along the spectacular coastal mountain ridges to the very end of the track along the shores of the remote area called the Strandir. Possibility of bathing in the natural hot water pool at the edge of the Glacial Arctic Ocean … (Krossnes pool)Dinner and overnight at Malarhorn Guesthouse

The day is spent observing the incredible wild life around the fjord (birds, whales, seals …) The migrating wings flock by millions to settle and pose on the last cliffs of Europe … and the nesting birds join voices in an endlessly renewed symphony …
A paradise for birdwatchers and ornithologists.In the morning you will join a sailing tour (3 hours) to Grimsey island in front of Drangsnes harbour. On board a modified fishing boat, you will sail around Grimsey and you will come ashore for a walk to the light house and enjoy exceptional birdwatching .. a lot of birds nest on land and cliffs … the famous puffin amongst so many others !
In the afternoon, you will join a whale watching safari (2 hours) from Holmavik harbour. These quiet coasts of Iceland are ideal to attract many whales species including the majestic blue whale.Dinner and overnight at Malarhorn Guesthouse

- **DAY 6: Kaldalon glacial lagoon and Drangajökull
**The day is spent discovering coastal beauties around Kaldalon and Drangajökull, the only immaculate glacier of the West Fjords. Walk to the glacier (approx. 3 hours easy walk in spectacular landscape). Drive to the very end of the track to enjoy watching a rare colony of arlequin ducks fooling around in the fresh water of a little glacial river. A rare view!Dinner and overnight at the cosy and picturesque farm/guesthouse Heydalur, an exceptional setting at the bottom of a deep fjord. Possible options: horse-riding, kayacking, geothermal pools … The elusive little arctic fox is a surprise encounter ...Dinner and overnight at Heydalur guesthouse

- DAY 7 : Heydalur – Isafjördur – Bolungarvik - Dyrafjördur

Drive to and around Isafjördur, the capital of the West Fjords. From Bolungarvik harbour, drive up to the top of Bollafjall mountain to get a circular view on the typical table mountains. The last snow-covered fjords on the Arctic Ocean are a stunning spectacle. Should the track to Bollafjall be closed, a visit to Skalavik hamlet would provide a long and nice walk to the beach to get a glimse on sheep, nesting birds and perhaps seals ...En route to Thingeyri, our destination on Dyrafjördur, we stop at Flateyri and all the remote villages nestled along the shores of the southern fjords ... Thingeyri offers a lot of possible activities on option … horseback-riding (Simbahollinn Café) … Viking festivities (check dates)Dinner and overnight at Hotel Sandafell in Thingeyri Viking village

The whole day is spent exploring the stunning rugged cliffs along the so-called Kjaransbraut, the wild track created by the farmer Elis Kjaran around the tip of the « nes » from Thingeyri to Hrafnseyri. Many stops along the 60 km track (4X4 jeep or mini-bus) for the travelers to experience being far away from it all ! Pick-nick boxes are provided by the hotel.
Fantastic birdwatching along the track (eiderducks nature farm)! Back to Thingeyri and drive up to Sandafell hill to admire Dyrafjördur from the summit.Dinner and overnight at Hotel Sandafell

- DAY 9 : Thingeyri – Dynjandi – BreidavikFrom Thingeyri, we cross the « Scandinavian Alps » (Mount Kaldbakur, 1900 m) and drive along the shores of Arnarfjördur (Eagle Fjord) to reach the roaring waterfall Dynjandi, declared by the icelanders to be the most beautiful cascade of the country.Stop at Bildudalur busy fishing harbour before continuing to Breidavik endless golden beach. Travelers will enjoy walking on the golden sands settled by an enormous colony of nesting arctic terns … a memorable experience !Dinner and overnight at Breidavik guesthouse.

- DAY 10 : Latrabjarg cliffs and the red sand beaches (Raudasandur)Watching the millions of birds nesting on Latrabjarg, Europe's ultimate cliffs (14 km long and 400 m high) is an unforgettable experience ! The high cliffs are packed with thousands of nesting birds and the star of them all is the funny little puffin … It is the only place in Iceland where birdwatchers can walk quietly along the birds and take pictures in a leisurely fashion!Raudasandur, the huge red sand beaches strech at the foot of Latrabjarg cliffs in amazing contrast to the turquoise glittering of the Glacial Arctic Ocean … The rare phalarope cannot be missed there, whirling around on the shallow ponds ...Dinner and overnight at Hotel Flokalundur close to the place where, according to the sagas, Hrafnafloki came ashore for the first time, guided by Odinn's ravens

- DAY 11: Drive back to ReykjavikDrive back to Reykjavik following Breidafjördur scenic coastal road.Possibility to visit Eirik the Red's farm in Haukadalur in the Dalir (from outside only)Free time at the end of the afternoon for the travelers to enjoy the capital city at leisureDinner free and overnight at Hotel Cabin.

- **DAY 12  : Transfer from hotel to Keflavik international airport
**Transfer is included for the flights departing in the morning.

The migrating wings flock by millions to settle and pose on the last cliffs of Europe… and the nesting birds join voices in an endlessly renewed symphony…
A paradise for birdwatchers and ornithologists.

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Annie Alexandersdottir Duchene

I first visited Iceland as a tourist in 1999 - a mesmerizing experience - and I loved the country so much that I decided to become a guide in Iceland after my retirement. With the help of a few Icelandic friends and the support of the Icelandic embassy in Brussels I managed to achieve my aim. I graduated as a licensed guide with Ferdamalaskoli (Reykjavik guiding school) in Reykjavik in 2008. I am fully bilingual Englis/French and I can manage in Icelandic.

Since 2006, I have been guiding international groups of tourists for many Icelandic and international agencies and I have acquired an extensive knowledge of many aspects of Iceland: geology, history, wild life (birds), litterature (the sagas, Snorri Sturluson, the Vikings expansion in Europe and the North Atlantic ...). I can take you to the very places where popular films ans series have been shot… Game of Thrones, Vikings, Prometheus, James Bond, Black Mirror…I have created my own complete tour of the West Fjords which I consider to be the most genuine and beautiful part of Iceland. Join me for sharing a complet discovery of my enchanting West Fjords (Vestfirdir).

What voyagers said about the tour...

- Your love for Iceland is very apparent! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful country with us. We are very fortunate to have had you as our guide!Barbara- Thank you for the informative tour! We very much appreciated ALL that you put into the tour for us! Bonne chance!Patricia

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Contact Annie to take part to the next tour or to prepare a tour « à la carte » in Iceland.