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Westman Islands Day Tour from Reykjavík: Volcanoes & Puffins

Name: Westman Islands Day Tour from Reykjavík: Volcanoes & Puffins
Brand: Iceland Travel Guide
SKU: 99923
Price: 32990 ISK
Availability: PreOrder
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

About 12 hoursGroup: Larger group, by coachEasyCoach from Reykjavík plus ferryAge 6+Summer (June–September)

5.0(1 review)

Lava coast and the town of Heimaey from the air

The black stave church at the harbour in Heimaey

The islands seen from the red slopes of Eldfell

A full day trip to the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) from Reykjavík. You cross by ferry, see puffins nesting at Stórhöfði in summer, visit the Eldheimar museum on the 1973 eruption, and walk up Eldfell volcano.

Landeyjahöfn harbourElephant RockStórhöfði puffin colonyEldheimar MuseumEldfell volcano

Ferry crossing to the Westman Islands with wildlife-spotting along the way
Puffins nesting at Stórhöfði, one of the best puffin spots in Iceland
The Eldheimar Museum, built around a house buried in the 1973 eruption
A walk up Eldfell, the volcano that erupted right beside the town
Free time in Vestmannaeyjar town for lunch

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Pick-upBoard the coach in the Reykjavík area or Selfoss, depending on your stop.

Road below the cliffs of Heimaey in the Westman Islands

Landeyjahöfn harbourBoard the ferry for the crossing to the Westman Islands.

Landeyjahöfn is the mainland ferry terminal for Vestmannaeyjar on the south coast. The crossing takes about 30 minutes, and there is a chance to look out for wildlife along the way. Your ferry ticket is included in the tour.

Crossing time · about 30 minutes

Read our Höfn í Hornafirði guide →

Elephant RockA basalt sea cliff shaped like an elephant dipping its trunk in the water.

Elephant Rock, Fíllinn in Icelandic, is a basalt sea cliff on the north-west coast of Heimaey, in the Westman Islands. The sea has worn the rock into deep, wrinkle-like grooves, with a rounded head, an eye-like hollow and a trunk that seems to rest in the water. The creased grey surface looks so much like elephant skin that people ask whether it was carved. It was not. The best view is from the water on a boat tour, as there is no path down to it.

Read our Elephant Rock guide →

Stórhöfði puffin colonyOne of Iceland's best places to see nesting puffins.

Thousands of puffins nest at Stórhöfði from May to August. Sightings vary with the time of day and the weather, because the birds often head out to sea to feed and are easiest to see in daylight near the colony. Your guide leads the stop.

Season · puffins present roughly May–August

Eldheimar MuseumA museum built around a house buried in the 1973 eruption.

Eldheimar tells the story of the Eldfell eruption and the overnight evacuation of the whole town in 1973. The museum is built around a house that was buried in the eruption. Admission is included in your tour.

Included · museum admission

Eldfell volcano walkA walk up the volcano that erupted beside the town in 1973.

An easy walk up the volcano that erupted right beside the town in 1973, with views over the town and the harbour. Your guide leads the walk.

7Free time in townTime to explore Vestmannaeyjar town and get lunch on your own.

Time to explore Vestmannaeyjar town and have lunch on your own, which is not included in the price. Check the meeting time with your guide before you wander off.

8ReturnFerry back to Landeyjahöfn and coach back to your pick-up point.

About the Westman Islands day tour

The Westman Islands sit just off Iceland's south coast, reached by a short ferry ride from Landeyjahöfn. This day tour covers the islands' two big draws: their puffin colonies and the dramatic story of the 1973 eruption that nearly buried the town.

After pick-up in the Reykjavík area (with stops also available in Selfoss), the coach continues to Landeyjahöfn for the roughly 30-minute ferry crossing, where you have a good chance of spotting seabirds and other wildlife on the way. On the island, you pass Elephant Rock, a basalt formation shaped like its name, before heading to Stórhöfði, where thousands of puffins nest between May and August, though sightings depend on the time of day and weather since the birds often head out to sea to feed.

You then visit the Eldheimar Museum, built around a house excavated from the ash of the 1973 Eldfell eruption, which tells the story of how the whole town was evacuated overnight. Afterwards there is time to walk up Eldfell itself, still warm in places from the eruption, before free time in the town for lunch (not included) and the return ferry and coach back to Reykjavík.

This is a long day at around 12.5 hours door to door, mostly because of the drive to and from the ferry terminal. The walking involved is easy and suits most fitness levels, but note the tour only runs in the summer season when the ferry schedule and puffin season line up.

Make it your own

Optional extras, at extra cost

Waterproof jacket and trousers rental
Hiking boot rental

Included

English-speaking guide
Ferry tickets
Eldheimar Museum admission
Guided walking tour

Not included

Lunch
Beluga Sanctuary and puffin rescue centre entry

What to bring

Waterproof jacket
Comfortable walking shoes
Camera or binoculars for puffins
Cash or card for lunch

Good to know

Runs only in the summer season, roughly June to September
Minimum age 6
Duration is about 12 hours in total, including pick-up, ferry and drive time
Puffins are best seen in daylight hours when they are near the colony, not out feeding at sea
Departures at 7:30 or 8:45 with pick-up; your confirmation shows the exact pick-up time and place

Questions people ask

Will we definitely see puffins?

Sightings depend on the time of day and weather. Puffins nest at Stórhöfði from roughly May to August but often head out to sea to feed.

How long is the ferry crossing?

About 30 minutes each way from Landeyjahöfn.

Is lunch included?

No, but you get free time in town to buy lunch.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, the minimum age is 6 and the walking involved is easy.

Does this tour run in winter?

No, it runs in the summer season only.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.

5.0Based on 1 review

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1 star0

Magnificent day in Westman Island

We had the most magnificent day visiting Westman Islands with an exceptional guide. The views from the boat were simply stunning and it was magical to get on the island and see this small island town with unique nature and atmosphere. This was not on our agenda, but was recommended by friends and we do definitely not regret doing the tour. Absolutely amazing.

Hannah · April 2026

From32,990 ISKPer person