Cruise Iceland

Iceland’s north-western peninsula is called the West Fjords and its humbling landscape makes even the rest of Iceland look gentle and flat.

With stark mountains climbing vertically up to the heavens, the West Fjords is a region of small fishing villages existing wherever they find land flat enough to survive. Agriculture is scarce and good harbours have always been the key to prosperity for the region’s 7000 people.

Patreksfjörður is the southernmost fjord in the region, and the largest settlement in the southern West Fjords area - 800 people call it home. Patreksfjörður belongs to the wider municipality of Vesturbyggð.

It is the perfect base for trips to the most westerly point in Europe, Bjargtangar. An exciting landmark of human geography, but also a spectacular location: the steep landscape, small population and fertile seas make the region a birdwatcher’s paradise.

The area is also excellent for fishing trips and licences for Lake Sauðlauksdalsvatn are very modestly priced.

The Vesturbyggð community is home to Iceland’s only dedicated aviation museum, and a folk museum chronicling the history of the southern West Fjords. Both attractions are on the same site at Hnjóti in Örlygshöfn – quite probably the only farm in Iceland with full-sized aircraft hangars and the world’s largest single-engine biplane!