Viking Tours of the Westman Islands Experience the Haunting Music of Bird, Man and Whale
M
ountainous and mysterious, the Westman Islands are one of those places on virtually every tourist’s wish list. Formed during volcanic eruption centuries ago, Westman Islands also host one of the youngest volcano’s in the world, Eldfell, that formed in 1973 during a major volcanic eruption. Seen from the mainland, the jagged archipelago rises dramatically from the horizon, breaking the skyline of Iceland’s south coast with a sort of ‘come hither’ look that you cannot evade.
The Circle Tour
A fun and refreshing way to sight-see in the Westman Islands is with Viking Tours’ Circle Tour. This 90-minute tour takes you around
evening when the puffin parents return to their burrow to feed their young, after spending the day fishing in the sea”, says Sigurmundur, the captain and owner of Viking Tours.
From hot Soup to hot Lava the main island of Heimaey where you will peek into sea caves and observe towering cliffs teaming with a variety of birdlife. The tour concludes with the sensational live sounds of haunting instrumental music, filling the singing cave of Klettshellur which is renowned for its superb acoustics.
The Coach Tour
Another delightful way to explore the island is by taking the Viking Tours’ coach tour which departs from the harbour every day, year round. The guided tour takes you around the island where you will learn something of the history and culture. You will get the opportunity to visit a recopy of the first farm in Westman Islands, Herjólfsbær, as well as the possibility to observe puffins at Stórhöfði. In staggering numbers, these adorable birds flock to the archipelago year after year, the first arriving on schedule around the 12th–14th of April. “The best time of day to see them is in the late afternoon and early
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All Vikingur II tours begin and end at the cozy Café Kró down at the Vestmaneyar harbour where you can enjoy a bowl of hot soup with bread and coffee.
New Tours Available for Groups Only
Viking Tours is now offering exciting new group tours on its newly christened boat, the Vikingur,—a large 90-passenger boat which sails from the harbour at Landeyarhöfn. Options include a ‘quick look’ 90-minute boat tour of two small outer islands, a three hour ‘island hopping’ tour which takes you to six of the islands in the archipelago and a full-on six hour Bus+Boat combo tour for the ultimate Westman Island tour! See you this summer in the Westman Islands! -EMV
Viking Tours Tangagötu 7 • 900 Vestmannaeyjar
+354 488 4884 viking@vikingtours.is www.vikingtours.is
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