West part of Iceland
the best places not to miss while visiting
West part of Iceland – Hvalfjordur and Borgarfjordur Fjords
Just a 40 km drive from Reykjavík you can find the beautiful Hvalfjordur Fjord.
Despite its name, literally Hvalfjordur stands for fjord of the whales, there are seldom whales spotted here. The name refers to the Icelandic whaling history as the whales which were caught were processed. The only operational whaling station in Iceland is still located here. In the fjord you can also find the War and Peace museum which is a reminder of the fact Hvalfjordur was one of the most important naval stations in the North Atlantic during World War II.
Since the opening in 1998 of a 6-kilometer tunnel that connects Reykjavik and Akranes Hvalfjordur is a less visited part of the country. The 168m deep tunnel cut the 62km long trip along the coastline of the fjord short to a 6km shortcut underneath it. Although your journey will be slightly longer taking the longer route along the fjord is worth it. You will discover the spectacular slopes, ravines and waterfalls surrounding the fjord including Glymur, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland.
West part of Iceland, it’s worth visiting:
Glymur Waterfall
Glymur is a waterfall located deep inside of the Hvalfjörður. With water falling from a height of 198-meter into a steep breathtaking canyon this is the second highest waterfall in Iceland. Until scientists discovered an even higher waterfall in the Vatnajökull National Park this has been the highest waterfall, and probably still is the highest accessible waterfall. Glymur Waterfall cannot be reached directly by car. From the parking the (moderate difficult) hike to Glymur takes at least two hours. The whole hiking trip will take 4-6 hours. Glymur is one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland and is one of the real hidden gems! Definitely worth to visit !
Deildartunguhver- hot springs.
In Borgarfjörður fjord, near the town of Reykholt, you can find one of the most powerful hot springs in Europe. Deildartunguhver manages to squeeze out hundreds of liters of boiling water.. every second! When the hot water meets the cooler air impressive clouds of tangled steam provide a source of pleasant warmth for visitors. The hot spring, which creates excellent conditions for the development of a rare species of fern known as the ribbed root is also used to heat nearby villages and greenhouses.
Geothermal bath – Krauma
Just 50 m from the Deildartunguhver hot springs the Krauma natural geothermal bath is located. Krauma was opened in 2017 and offers relaxation in one of the several heated geothermal pools, a sauna and a relaxation room with fireplace and bar. Krauma also has a restaurant that offers the possibility to enjoy one of the great local dishes.
The town Reykholt
Not far from the hot springs the town of Reykholt can be found. This is regarded one of the most important historical places in Iceland as one of the leading schools in the country was located here. In the Middle Ages this town was inhabited by one of the most famous Icelandic scientists, Snorri Sturluson. In the town you can visit the well preserved farm that belonged to Snorri. In addition to this in 1998 the research center for Sturluson’s works was opened to the public.
Reykholt also has one of the oldest geothermal heated pools: Snorralaug. Near the pool you can also visit the cultural center and a beautiful old Icelandic church.
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls
One of the biggest attractions of the Borgarfjörður fjord is a collection of unexpected waterfalls: Hraunfossar. It is located not far from the historic town of Reykholt. The name of the waterfall translates as “lava waterfalls” as it is not just one waterfall but a large grouping of smaller cascades which together give a waterfall with a total length of about 900m. Nearby you can enjoy the second waterfall called Barnafoss, “waterfall of children”. The name comes from an old saga about two children who had fallen from the natural bridge over a waterfall and drowned. Their mother, devastated with sorrow, destroyed the bridge. The current manmade bridge over the Barnafoss provides a perfect view of both waterfalls.
The Cave – the longest lava tunnel in Iceland
Being in the area you can go on a guided tour in the huge lava cave in Víðgelmir. The breathtaking underground Víðgelmir cave sparkles with amazing colors. Visitors have the opportunity to admire the original rock formations and ice. The cave has been equipped with an easy accessible walking path for sightseeing and modern lighting. But remember to bring warm clothes because even in summertime the temperature in the cave is still below zero.
Into The Glacier – visiting the glacier from the inside
“Into The Glacier” is the world’s first hand-made icecave hollowed in the glacier’s cap. After four years of preparation this human-created phenomenon was opened in 2014. It is located high in the ice cap of the Langjokull glacier and includes a vast winding tunnel with a length of 500m. Along the tunnel various chambers have been excavated including an ice chapel where you can get married or attend mass. The impressively lit corridors squeezed out of blue ice stretch 200m into the center and 30m into the glacier. Tours to the glacier depart from Husafell in special modified military vehicle that resemble vehicles to be used on mars.
