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.

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! 

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!

 

 

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 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.