Travel itinerary
Reykjavik - Akureyri - Sauðárkrókur - Hólmavík - Ísafjörður - Látrabjarg - Flatey Island - Arnarstapi - Reykjavik
Discover Iceland Highlands – a region off the beaten paths!
Cross Iceland’s highlands in exceptional landscapes and leave with a lifetime of memories. There’s nothing like a trip to the highlands of Iceland to enjoy an incredible diversity of landscapes.
Northwest Iceland is a beautiful and authentic region where you will enjoy the midnight sun and discover uncharted landscapes. Discover the huge fjords of the North West. This immense peninsula spanning some 8.880 km² is one of the least populated areas in Iceland and is also one of the most beautiful. Its wild character makes it unique. It is particularly known for Drangajokull, one of the largest glaciers in Iceland. With its many mountains, huge cliffs, vast desert plateaus and low population density, this relatively little known and untouched place is amongst the best Iceland regions for lovers of the great outdoors.
This part of Iceland is also recognised as one of the most well-preserved regions in Europe, so come and admire the unique jagged coastline that has been carved out over the years by the deep fjords. Start with a stopover in Isafjordur, the capital of this region of Iceland, and then continue your journey towards the North West fjords. This is the place where you can see the three biggest nesting cliffs in the North Atlantic.
Here you will also discover villages that are typical of the Icelandic fjords, as the region is dotted with fishing villages full of charm and sweet simplicity.
This region is also perfect for discovering the Iceland of glaciers and lava flows and is a place where you can recharge your batteries in the kind of coastal, oceanic environment that soothes your very soul. Discover Grimsey Island and its congregations of puffins, as well as the immense Isafjardardjup fjord, which will blow the cobwebs away through its sheer powers of invigoration, and finally, marvel at the cliffs of Latrabjarg, Iceland’s most westerly point.
This is also the place to come if you want to get a glimpse of arctic foxes. Set off on a trawler adventure and find out what it’s like to be an Icelandic fisherman, including going out to sea, visiting a processing factory, taking a cooking class, etc. Are you looking for something totally original? Then you mustn’t miss the great Viking summer festival in Pingeyri, which is your chance to climb aboard a genuine Viking drakkar or longship! Please look at our suggestions below for trips, stays, self-drive tours and treks around this region of Western Iceland’s fjords.
For a first trip to Iceland, people often forget about Northeast Iceland. Yet this region is the one in which one comes face to face with an Iceland close to its traditions – one of the most authentic of Iceland destinations! Akureyri, the capital of the north, is a city of 10 000 people with an infectious charm, nestled in a verdant setting (whose people are also said to be the most welcoming)!
And Northern Iceland is home to a wonderful selection of stunning natural sites: Myvatn and its breathtaking geothermal manifestations, the splendid Godafoss waterfall, Husavik and its world renowned whale watching…
It’s also the only place on the island to see the midnight sun. Evidently, even for a first trip to Iceland, the north is worth a detour ! Iceland has enjoyed a real boom in tourism in recent decades. However, much of this has been focused on famous Southern destinations, such as the Blue Lagoon or the capital Reykjavik. This has meant that the more rural Northeast Iceland has remained largely unspoilt by any kind of alterations to the spirit and rhythms of life which have continued on Iceland for generations.
It’s not only traditional industries like fishing which remain, but also that traditional Icelandic charm which is common to locals, as well as their favourite places to drink and dine here. Authenticity is an increasingly difficult commodity to find in a travel destination, but you won’t be disappointed by the North. We’ve handpicked tours and locations which let you explore with complete independence, getting that “lost in nature” feel while stood in some of the most gorgeous scenery you can hope to find anywhere in the world.
If you’re looking for real discovery and adventure, or that sense of magic which only the Arctic North can conjure, then untamed Northeast Iceland is definitely the place for outgoing holidaymakers or simply those who want to see something new.
Take a look at our travel inspirations in Northeast Iceland:
If you want to discover other Iceland destinations, go ahead and discover: East Iceland; Golden Circle Iceland; Visit Greenland; Northeast Iceland; Northwest Iceland; Visit Reykjavik; Snaefellsnes; South Coast Iceland; Westfjords.
