How do I get to Isafjordur

Isafjordur is much closer than you'd think, and it's not even that expensive to get here!

Now there are three airlines with scheduled flights into Iceland. These are Icelandair, Iceland Express and SAS. As far as we can see there are direct flights to Iceland from the following 28 cities during the summer months:

Alicante, Amsterdam, Baltimore, Barcelona, Basel, Bergen, Berlin, Boston, Copenhagen, Eindhoven, Frankfurt, Friedrichshafen, Glasgow, Göteborg, Halifax, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Minneapolis/St. Paul, München, New York, Orlando, Oslo, Paris, Stockholm, Zürich.

There are a few websites that may help you search for cheap airfares into the country. Check the Travelsupermarket and the Icelandic search engine Dohop.

You arrive in Keflavik International Airport about 40 minutes away from the capital city of Reykjavik. From the domestic airport in Reykjavik there are 2-3 daily 40 minute flights to Isafjordur. You can take the Fly-Bus between the airports and most of the time you can continue same day. Check out Air Iceland for schedules and special offers.

You can also rent a car and drive to Isafjordur. The drive, over mountain passes and through fjords is an adventure in itself.  It´s about 440-500 km depending on which route you take. A new road via Arnkötludalur opened in 2009 which completes the asphalted pathway the whole way, and kills the old myth of bad roads in the Westfjords!  The drive will normally take you 5-6 hours.

For accommodation in Reykjavik there are many options of hotels and guesthouses. We suggest a nice guesthouse called BB44 or our friends at Reykjavík Backpackers. Travellers coming to our trips get a special discount.


We strongly recommend you to spend a few extra days visiting the West Fjords and other parts of Iceland. Our friends at West Tours travel agency can help you to plan your trip in more details.

Equipment

Important part of enjoying your trip in full, is to have the right equipment. Choosing the right gear comes with experience and the lists here below should include most of the hard -and softwear needed for your adventure with Borea Adventures.

Skiing trips

  • Skis, shoes, poles and skins. Make shure the glue on the skins is good. If wearing new boots, make shure you have tried them out few times to see if the fit properly. Blisters are never fun...
  • Avalanche gear (beacon, shovel and probe) for the backcountry trips. It´s a must to carry all three items. We have few beacons and shovels that you can borrow. Just ask us before leaving home
  • Thermal underwear, at least two sets of shirts. Wool or synthetic. No cotton!
  • Wool or fleece thermal mid layer, take  two thin layers instead of one thick one
  • Waterproof and breathable pants and jacket
  • Thermal jacket (down or fiber) optional
  • Wool/fleece hat
  • Two pairs of gloves and one pair of mittens
  • 3 to 4 pairs thick wool/synthetic socks and 2 to 3 pairs thinner socks
  • Casual clothes to wear in the evenings
  • Boat shoes or slippers for below decks
  • Soft hiking boots
  • Sleeping bag
  • Soft travel bag (no hard suitcases)
  • Dark sun glasses
  • Sunscreen / after sun cream
  • Swim suit and towel
  • Backpack. 30-40L is the right size. Make shure it has ski straps.
  • Personal medical kit to include personal medication and i.e. band aids, throat lozenges, lip salves, sea-sickness tablets etc. Don't forget regular medication you may need (e.g. Asthma, bring your inhaler, even if you do not always need it).
  • 1 litre water bottle. Small thermos is also nice to have
  • ...and don't forget your camera!
Few extra things for the Glacier Fjords Ski Camp trip:

  • Sleeping bag. Should be rated for -5°C. Down bags are lighter and compress better than synthetic.
  • Sleeping mattress. Thermarest type or thick foam mattress
  • Skiing equipment can be AT (randonnée), telemark, snowboard and snow shoes, or cross country skis with steel edges
  • Backpack (40-50L). We´ll be carrying our sleeping bags and some food for the last two day. Make sure that the pack is big enough. Other option is to have a small pack (ca 30L) for skiing during the day and a big pack for the last two days.

Summer trips with Aurora


  • Thermal underwear, at least two sets of shirts
  • Wool or fleece thermal mid layer
  • Hiking pants. We recommend no cottons as they take long to dry if wet.
  • Waterproof and breathable pants and jacket for hiking onshore. We also have heavy duty sailing pants and jackets that you are free to use at will
  • Wool/fleece hat
  • Two pairs of gloves
  • 3 to 4 pairs thick wool/synthetic socks
  • Casual clothes to wear ashore
  • Boat shoes or slippers for below decks
  • Hiking boots (Vibram sole). Need to be high up on the ancle for support
  • Sleeping bag. Summer rated
  • Soft travel bag (no hard suitcases)
  • Dark sun glasses
  • Sunscreen / after sun cream
  • Swim suit and towel
  • About 30L backpack for day walks
  • Binoculars is nice to have for watching wildlife
  • Personal medical kit to include personal medication and i.e. band aids, throat lozenges, lip salves, sea-sickness tablets etc. Don't forget regular medication you may need (e.g. Asthma, bring your inhaler, even if you do not always need it).
  • 1 litre water bottle
  • ...and don't forget your camera! 

Sea kayaking trips

Remember that less is more when it come to packing for kayaking trips. There is limited space in the kayaks and we also need to split the food and tents between the group. 
  • Thermal underwear, at least two sets of tops
  • Wool or fleece thermal mid layer
  • Hiking pants. We recommend no cottons as they take long to dry if wet.
  • Waterproof and breathable pants and jacket for hiking onshore. The lighter the better.
  • Wool/fleece hat
  • One pair of gloves
  • 3 to 4 pairs thick wool/synthetic socks
  • Hiking boots. Need to be high up on the ancle for support
  • Sleeping bag. Summer rated. Down is best since it packs better than synthetic. It should be rated to at least 0°C
  • Sleeping mattress. Thin inflatable one is the best as it fits easily inside the boat
  • Dark sun glasses
  • Sunscreen / after sun cream
  • Swim suit and towel
  • About 15-20L backpack for day walks. Keep it small so it fits inside the kayak. There are many brands that make super light daypacks. Similar to this one: http://www.rei.com/product/778466/rei-flash-18-pack
  • Binoculars is nice to have for watching wildlife
  • Personal medical kit to include personal medication and i.e. band aids, throat lozenges, lip salves, sea-sickness tablets etc. Don't forget regular medication you may need (e.g. Asthma, bring your inhaler, even if you do not always need it).
  • Small thermos. Preferably 0.5 liters
  • 1 litre water bottle
  • ...and don't forget your camera! 
Paddling gear. We supply all paddling clothing if needed. Feel free to bring your own if you have it available. With your personal gear, you´re guaranteed that it fits perfectly and is comfortable. We recommend good dry pants with ankle rubber cuffs or 3mm neoprene bibs. Top, preferable with hood and arm rubber cuffs. Full dry suit is for sure best but can be pretty warm and cumbersome on sunny days. Footwear should either be neoprene shoes high up on the ankle with thick soles, or neoprene boots. Neoprene gloves, mittens or poagies to keep the hands warm.
 

Greenland Expeditions


  • Thermal underwear, at least two sets of shirts
  • Wool or fleece thermal mid layer
  • Hiking pants. We recommend no cottons as they take long to dry if wet
  • Waterproof and breathable pants and jacket for hiking onshore. We also have heavy duty sailing pants and jackets that you are free to use at will
  • Non marking sailing boots or regular boots. Fine thread will grip the deck better when wet than deep thread. No need to buy something expensive here. You can find nice boots/wellingtons in gardening stores or boat chandleries that don´t cost too much. Just make shure you can wear thick socks
  • Two pairs of gloves and one pair of warm mittens
  • 3 to 4 pairs thick wool/synthetic socks
  • Down or synthetic jacket is nice to have for the afternoon chill
  • Casual clothes to wear ashore
  • Boat shoes or slippers for below decks
  • Hiking boots (Vibram sole). Need to be high up on the ancle for support
  • Sleeping bag. Summer rated
  • Soft travel bag (no hard suitcases)
  • Dark sun glasses
  • Sunscreen / after sun cream
  • About 30L backpack for day walks.
  • Personal medical kit to include personal medication and i.e. band aids, throat lozenges, lip salves, sea-sickness tablets etc. Don't forget regular medication you may need (e.g. Asthma, bring your inhaler, even if you do not always need it).
  • 1 litre water bottle
  • ...and again...don't forget your camera!

 

 



Wildlife

This page has a list of birds and mammals local to the West Fjords.

The following is a list of 54 bird species that breed in the West Fjords:

Enskt heiti

Latneskt heiti

Íslenskt heiti

English name

Scientific name

Icelandic name

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus

Álft

Greylag Goose

Anser anser

Grágæs

Eurasian Wigeon

Anas penelope

Rauðhöfðaönd

Eurasian Teal

Anas crecca

Urtönd

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Stokkönd

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula

Skúfönd

Greater Scaup

Aythya marila

Duggönd

Common Eider

Somateria mollissima

Æðarfugl

King Eider

Somateria spectabilis

Æðarkóngur

Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus histrionicus

Straumönd

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Hávella

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

Toppönd

Goosander

Mergus merganser

Gulönd

Ptarmigan

Lagopus muta

Rjúpa

Red-throated Diver

Gavia stellata

Lómur

Great Northern Diver

Gavia immer

Himbrimi

Northern Fulmar

Fulmarus glacialis

Fýll

Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Dílaskarfur

Shag

Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Toppskarfur

White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

Haförn

Merlin

Falco columbarius

Smyrill

Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

Fálki

Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

Tjaldur

Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Sandlóa

Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria

Heiðlóa

Red Knot

Calidris canutus

Rauðbrystingur

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritima

Sendlingur

Dunlin

Calidris alpina

Lóuþræll

Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinago

Hrossagaukur

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosa

Jaðrakan

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Spói

Common Redshank

Tringa totanus

Stelkur

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Óðinshani

Arctic Skua

Stercorarius parasiticus

Kjói

Black-headed Gull

Larus ridibundus

Hettumáfur

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

Sílamáfur

Glaucous Gull

Larus hyperboreus

Hvítmáfur

Great Black-backed Gull

Larus marinus

Svartbakur

Iceland Gull

Larus glaucoides

Bjartmáfur

Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Rita

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaea

Kría

Common Guillemot

Uria aalge

Langvía

Brünnich's Guillemot

Uria lomvia

Stuttnefja

Razorbill

Alca torda

Álka

Black Guillemot

Cepphus grylle

Teista

Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

Lundi

Meadow Pipit

Anthus pratensis

Þúfutittlingur

Pied Wagtail

Motacilla alba

Maríuerla

Wren

Troglodytes troglodytes

Músarrindill

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Steindepill

Redwing

Turdus iliacus

Skógarþröstur

Common Raven

Corvus corax

Hrafn

Redpoll

Carduelis flammea

Auðnutittlingur

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis

Snjótittlingur


And these species can occasionally be spotted in the area:

Velvet Scoter

Melanitta fusca

Korpönd

Northern Gannet

Morus bassanus

Súla

Sanderling

Calidris alba

Sanderla

Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Tildra

Snowy Owl

Buto scandiacus

Snæugla

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus

Brandugla

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Hvinönd

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Gráhegri

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Landsvala

Bohemian Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulus

Silkitoppa


These are land mammals local in the West Fjords. Of these, only the Arctic Fox is "original" to the area, others have been "imported" with people:

Wood mouse

Apodemus sylvaticus

Hagamús

House mouse

Mus musculus

Húsamús

Brown Rat

Rattus norvegicus

Brún rotta

Arctic Fox

Alopex lagopus

Heimskautarefur

Mink

Mustela vision

Minkur


Below are the two species of seals that can be found here:

Common Seal

Phoca vitulina

Landselur

Gray Seal

Halichoerus grypus

Útselur


Twelve species of whales are normally in the waters off North Iceland. On our regular trips we are still most likely to see only Minke Whale, Dolphins and Porpoises.

Northern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Andarnefja

Sperm Whale

Physeter catodon

Búrhvalur

Long-finned Pilot Whale

Globicephala melaena

Grindhvalur

Killer Whale

Orcinus orca

Háhyrningur

Harbour Porpoise

Phocoena phocoena

Hnísa

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Hnúfubakur

White-beaked Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus albirostris

Hnýðingur

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Hrefna

Atlantic White-sided Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus acutus

Leifturhníðir

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Langreyður

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Sandreyður

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Steypireiður


The following four additional species of whales are rare in Icelandic waters:

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Léttir

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Stökkull

Sowerby´s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

Norðsnjáldri

Bowhead Whale

Balaena mysticetus

Sléttbakur



Isafjordur

The Maritime Museum in Isafjordur, Iceland
The Maritime Museum in Isafjordur, Iceland
Isafjordur is the biggest town in the West Fjords with 3200 inhabitants and is the centre of commerce and public services for the whole region. The town has more than 1000 year history on its back and through the centuries it was a very important fish exporting town. The oldest buildings in Iceland , built by Danish merchants in the 17th century, are well preserved in the lowest part of town and and now host the Maritime Museum and a seafood restaurant.

"Lying hours from anywhere, over unpaved roads and mountain passes, Ísafjördur is like a tiny city, with almost everything you could need."
Alex Elliott, Atlantica Magazine.

The architecture of Isafjordur has been shaped with foreign influences through the decades and many restorerd houses can be found in all different shapes and sizes. A stroll through the old part is truly like walking through a museum.

"…charming, relaxed streets flanked be old three-story buildings with businesses on the first floor and apartments above…"
Paul.F. Nikolov, Grapevine Magazine.

Isafjordur has much to offer for the outdoor enthusiast. Good golf course, skiing area, hiking routes, kayak and bike rental, swimming pools, and various tours to different parts of the West Fjords.

It´s well worth to spend an extra day or two in Isafjordur and do some exploring on your own in this charming town in NW Iceland.

"Thank you for an unforgettable trip; great scoff, fantastic scenery and weather. We will miss you and the mother ship next time we´re paddling.  ..."
- Sonia, England
"

Amazing adventure with two fantastic explorers. Memories are so important and I will never forget this trip.

 

"

- Paolo, USA
"

We had a great trip. The company was outstanding, the food was excellent and each night we arrived to the comfort of the boat exhausted. Thanks so much for the fun and adventure.

"

- Rolf, USA...
Welcome to the website for Borea Adventures, Iceland, your number one stop for Arctic adventures in high latitudes. We provide great adventures and expeditions in Iceland, Greenland, East Greenland, Jan Mayen and Svalbard (Spitzbergen), mainly using our spacious yacht, the Aurora. Our philosophy is to make our trips as silent as possible where we minimize the use of motorized power and encourage physical activities, whether sea kayaking, climbing, sailing, walking and hiking, wildlife, ski touring and backcountry skiing for beginners, experts and people of all ages. The North Atlantic is our playground and we offer scheduled trips for individuals and groups as well as customized itineraries and charter for groups. We travel in harmony with the wildlife of the area: Arctic Foxes, Birds, Seals, Whales and Polar Bears. Aurora is a sturdy expedition yacht and was raced four times around the globe as part of the Clipper Round the World yacht race under the ownership of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. She gives us a great opportunity to provide Arctic adventures in areas that are hard to reach otherwise. We call her our floating basecamp. Our name is derived from Greek mythology where Boreas was the god of the north wind. Aurora on the other hand was the Roman rosy-fingered goddess of dawn. Aurora Borealis is a name for the Northern lights which are common in our area. As we humans have proven through the decades, names can be hard to remember. Especially if a bit of alcohol gets passed around the galley too many times! You might spell our name Boreal Adventures, Borial Adventures, Borea Adventrues and Borealis Adventures. Thank you for visiting Borea Adventures.