Discover the Vestmann Islands, a volcanic jewel off Iceland's southern coast, with this excursion departing from Reykjavik!
You'll start your day with a transfer from your accommodation in Reykjavik, followed by a drive to the port of Landeyjahöfn. You'll embark on an approximately 30-minute ferry crossing to Heimaey, the main island of the Vestmann archipelago.
On arrival, you'll be driven to Halldórsskora to admire the impressive rock formation known as "Elephant Rock", a basalt cliff carved by nature in the shape of an elephant's head dipping its trunk into the ocean.
You'll head for Cape Stórhöfði, renowned as one of the best puffin-watching sites. These adorable seabirds nest in large numbers on the island's cliffs during the summer months.
You'll then visit the Eldheimar open-air museum, this village destroyed because of the 1973 volcanic eruption has profoundly marked the island's history. Nicknamed the "Pompeii of the North", this visit won't leave you unmoved.
After a free lunch break in downtown Heimaey, you'll explore the site of Skansinn, home to a Viking-style wooden church and an ancient fortress, witnesses to the island's rich historical past.
The highlight of the day will be the ascent of the Eldfell volcano, which last erupted in 1973. At the top, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the island, lava fields and surrounding ocean.
Late afternoon, you'll have free time to stroll the picturesque streets of Heimaey before taking the ferry back to the mainland and returning to Reykjavik in the evening.
