Vestmannaeyjar is a group of islands off the south coast of Iceland.
Only
one of the islands is permanently inhabited, and it was here that a
volcanic eruption struck in 1973 causing the evacuation of all 5000 of
the town’s inhabitants. The residents returned long ago to this bustling
fishing port, even though the volcanic cone still smoulders above the
town.
You will receive a warm welcome from these hard-working
but friendly people who will be delighted to show you their rugged
island and introduce you to their traditions.
The youngest island in the group celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2003; the oldest is a mere 40,000 years old.
Your
coach (not guided) takes you to the pier at Bakkafjara on the south
coast (about an hour’s drive) and from there the ferry (non-guided
transfer) takes another 30 minutes to reach the islands. Once there, you
will be greeted by a local guide who will take you on a coach tour
around Heimaey Island.
Visit the puffins on the headland, walk
up to the crater of the volcano that erupted only a few years ago, and
explore the new lava field where plant life is already taking hold.
After
lunch, take a cruise around the island and see colorful ocean caves and
vast colonies of seabirds. If you are lucky, you may spot a group of
whales basking just offshore. Then listen to local musicians play
traditional tunes in the reverberant natural acoustics inside a cavern
at the foot of the cliffs.
In the wintertime (from September
1) the boat tour is not available on our Saturday departures. Instead,
you will watch a one-hour volcano show during which soup will be served.
The ferry leaves Vestmannaeyjar at 20:00 and your scheduled
return to Reykjavík is at around 22:00. The return transfer (ferry and
bus) is non-guided.
Departure: 08:30 / 10:00
Pickup: From all major accommodation in Reykjavík at 08:00 / 09:30
Duration: 12 hours
Level of difficulty: Easy