Not many people get to travel very far beyond their home town, let alone far off lands, for this, I am grateful for the life I am building. Last week, I returned from a ten day trip to Iceland, full of stories to tell and photos to share. Over the course of ten days we experienced rain, snow, cold, sun, relaxation, avalanches, and the list continues.

The trip began as as Jason, Heather and I landed at Keflavik International Airport near the capital of Reykjavik, rented a car and then began a week long trip all the way around Iceland’s main road, route 1. Route 1 is approximately 832 miles (1,339 km) and sticks primarily to the coastal lowland areas of the country. Our trip kept us close to route 1 most of the time, but we did venture off the beaten path a few hundred miles to explore the Westfjords.

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The Westfjords

Up in the northwestern part of the country lies the magnificent and often missed Westfjords. I feel that most people past this beautiful area by because it is located off of the beaten path, and takes a bit of time to navigate. We did not let that stop us from making the six and a half hour trek from Reykjavik to Ísafjörður, Iceland’s most remote town. We arrived in Ísafjörður at around 22:00 Iceland time, and though it was overcast and snowing, there was still plenty of daylight to be had. After a few slices of pizza at Hamraborg in Ísafjörður, we headed out of town and set up camp. It seems that many of the N1 petrol stations have campgrounds adjacent to them.

Hightlights

    • Ísafjörður – This remote town offers a scenic view of beautiful mountains and fjords. Though it is a remote place, don’t let that scare you away, there is plenty to do for the adventurous, as well coffee shops and connectivity for the not so adventurous.
    • Whale Watching Near Patreksfjörður – This was an unexpected treat, so keep your eyes open as you drive along any of the Fjords in Iceland. Heather caught a glimpse of something large coming out of the water so we stopped to investigate, sure enough we had stumbled across a pod of Humpback Whales in their natural element. Even from a distance, these creatures are magnificent and a blast to observe.
    • Látrabjarg – This place was just breathtaking. Park near the small lighthouse, and follow the trail up the hill and along the cliff, but hang on tight, it can often be windy, and with a thousand foot or more drop into the frigid Strait of Denmark, you don’t want to get too close to the edge. I would consider this a life list location. It is also the furthest point west in Europe.