Off The Beaten Track Iceland

You may not know it but the Scandi-chic capital of Reykjavik is a wildlife paradise, and you'll be off to an exciting start with a whale and puffin-watching safari by RIB boats. Glide past the Sun Voyager sculpture and the emerald Harpa Concert Hall at the Old Harbour, round to where whales and dolphins are visible. You'll also pass by the small islands in the bay where nesting puffin colonies reside during the summer months.

Located right at the heart of Reykjavik downtown in a historic pharmacy building, the Apotek Hotel is a fun place to stay at, with must-try cocktails that pay homage to the hotel’s history; choose from a Painkiller, Stimulant, Tranquilliser or even a Placebo. 

Head up to the renowned Snaefellsnes Peninsual in pursuit of Iceland’s most popular resident bird: the puffin. Your included birding tour starts off in Stykkisholmur and takes you to the orange-billed bird’s main hangout: Breiðafjörður. Experience the beauty of the Icelandic countryside while seeing these quirky birds go about their daily business in the company of a knowledgeable captain. If you’re lucky, you’ll even spot some whales and seals. The peaceful harbour of Stykkisholmur dates back to the 16^th century, long before the Danish-Icelandic Trade Monopoly. It is still in use today and many visitors catch a ferry there to the remote western islands and islets, which are great places to visit if you want to disconnect from the world.

A home away from home, the boutique Hotel Egilsen is as cosy as it gets, with shelves stacked with books and nautical-themed rooms.

Two kilometres long, one kilometre wide and without a hill in sight, Flatey’s name translates as – you guessed it – ‘flat island’. It is one of the remote Westman islands and islets, thrumming with wildlife. It is a short ferry ride from Stykkisholmur and on your journey there, you’ll be treated to sights of jagged cliffs, caves and eye-catching rock formations. As no cars are allowed on the island, you can be sure of encountering sheep roaming around freely and Arctic puffins and terns soaring overhead and making their nests beside the shore. Pay a visit to the island's one and only church to witness beautiful artwork and ancient manuscripts. You’ll be staying at Hotel Flatey (the only one on the island which is open from June to late August only). Your luggage will be transported from the harbour to your room on wooden wheelbarrows (or you can push your own cart if you wish). 

In true Icelandic fire and ice spirit, the Snæfellsjökull is both a volcano and a glacier. Budir, a small hamlet in the Búðahraun lava fields is the perfect place to enjoy panoramic views of Snæfellsjökull. That’s not all, as vistors can also watch seals frolicking on the Búðir-estuary. With a dramatic rocky landscape and an endless stretch of grass, in close proximity to a lone black church, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into a Brontë novel when you arrive at Hotel Budir. Take in Iceland’s raw, natural beauty for a couple of nights before returning to Reykjavik for your flight home.