The Westman Islands sit a short ferry crossing from the south Icelandic coast, and yet they feel like a world apart. A compact volcanic archipelago with a remarkable story, Heimaey - the only inhabited island - is a place where recent history has left a visible, dramatic mark on everything around it, and where the natural world asserts itself with extraordinary force.
The tour departs Reykjavík and heads south to Landeyjahöfn, where the Herjólfur ferry makes the short crossing to Heimaey. From the moment the island comes into view, the scale of its volcanic landscape is clear - the dark cone of Eldfell rising above the town, the harbour flanked by sea cliffs alive with seabirds.
On the island, Eldheimar is one of Iceland's most affecting museum experiences. Built around an actual house excavated from beneath the lava and ash of the 1973 eruption, it tells the story of the night the island changed forever - when the entire population was evacuated within hours, and roughly a third of the town was buried. Household objects, family photographs, and first-hand accounts bring the event to life in a way that stays long after you leave.
From the museum, the tour makes the short hike up Eldfell - the volcano that erupted without warning in January 1973. The summit rewards with sweeping panoramic views across Heimaey's coloured rooftops and harbour, over the smaller uninhabited islands of the archipelago, and out to the open Atlantic. The crater rim retains vivid colours, and the ground remains warm underfoot in places.
Throughout the island, the coastline offers some of Iceland's most remarkable wildlife viewing. The Westman Islands are home to one of the world's largest Atlantic puffin colonies, and the cliffs and sea stacks surrounding Heimaey are alive with birdlife throughout the summer season.
Please note: the Herjólfur ferry tickets (round trip) and the Eldheimar Museum entrance fee are not included in the initial price but can be added at the checkout page.
