Is the Westman Islands The Best Kept Secret in Iceland? Explore this Hidden Gem
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- čas přidán 21. 06. 2024
- Could it be that the Westman Islands in south Iceland is one of the country's best-kept secrets? While some travelers go there each year, this group of islands doesn't get anywhere near the amount of attention that other attractions along the south coast get. I absolutely love taking the 45-50 minute ferry over to Heimaey, the main island because of the views and lovely ride.
Using the AA Campervan from KuKu Campers made it easy and affordable for me to spend a couple of days in the Westman Islands because it's my transportation and accommodation all in one. If you plan to travel around Iceland and want to save some coins, I recommend checking out Kuku Campers - www.kukucampers.is/
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Time Stamps for the video:
00:00 - The Westman Islands!
00:16 - Intro
00:48 - AA Campervan Tour
01:15 - Ferry to the Westman Islands
02:52 - On Heimaey (home island)
03:20 - Eldfell volcano hike
04:17 - Eldheimar Museum
06:33 - Tanginn restaurant vegan option
06:44 - Westman Islands campsite
07:45 - Viking Tours
08:36 - Puffins Observation House
09:09 - Icelandic Fisherman Boats
09:22 - Elephant Rock
09:56 - Gaujalundur elf garden
10:53 - Einsi Kaldi dinner
11:08 - Skansinn Area
13:01 - The All Black Church (Stave)
14:08 - The Rainbow Stairs
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That was such a beautiful view while you were on the ferry. And the island itself is breathtakingly beautiful. I like anything about architecture and home remodeling. I've just gotta say how impressed I am of Icelanders for their ingenuity. The fact that they have built these sturdy structures to live in. And have had to rebuild after a volcano eruption is so amazing. I also loved seeing the flowers blooming, the landscapes, the waves on the ocean and I definitely saw the elephant and his trunk. Oh, and those lambs were loving the fact that they had some bread to snack on. Thank you Jewells for sharing this with us.❤
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed all the different aspects about the Westman Islands too. It was my pleasure to share. Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤗
@@AllThingsIceland you're welcome. I always enjoy your content. And Iceland is just stunningly beautiful to see. So much so that it's relaxing. 😊
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As an Icelander I knew of the existence of these islands and growing up had an interest in visiting, but the visit never happened and with time I lost interest. However the interest returned, I finally went for a visit in 2018, and felt like I was in a painting. I of course had seen pictures and videos many times but I didn´t realise just how beautiful it was until I saw it with my own eyes, and not through an intermediary like television.
My boyfriend and I decided to randomly book a ferry to the island last year when we were putting together an overnight road trip down to Reynisfjara from our cabin. The locals do seem to have a different energy! We took an open boat tour to see the caves and the other islands. Our tour guide was hilarious when he was explaining each stop we made and it was so much fun. I wish we had decided to at least make it an overnight trip so we could've seen more! We'll plan that better next time we visit Iceland 😂
The Westman Islands were already on my must see list. This video has definitely confirmed this choice. It's absolutely beautiful with so much to see.
Yay!! It’s so worth it. I already want to go back. 😊
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It was our favorite place when we visited in 2019. We were lucky enough to stay the night and go on an amazing high speed boat tour around the entire island thanks to unbelievably beautiful weather.
Nice!! That sounds amazing. I would love to go back and do that.
Summer 2019 had great weather. One of the best summers ever to visit Iceland.
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What a great video Jewells! I was there last July and it really blew my mind. The landscape is spectacular. On top of the volcano, you can still feel the heat, even after almost 50 years. Crazy, right!? I loved the volcano museum as well. It's somehow scary how this volcano changed the island so much and how the village was partly covered by lava and ashes. I can't imagine myself living there to be honest. Tanginn is indeed a very good restaurant and quite cheap for Icelandic standards. Their buffet is amazing! Also, if you go a bit further away from the puffin hut, you can walk on top of Stórhöfði, which is absolutely stunning. You'll get a great view of the main island, as well as the newer islands such as Suðurey.
Thank you! Oh, nice that you were here last year. Yes, it’s wild that you can still feel the heat. Ok, thanks for the tip. 😊
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i'm hoping to get there one of these days -- in the meantime, if you haven't already read it, definitely read John McPhee's essay titled "Cooling the Lava" about the efforts to prevent the 1973 eruption from destroying Heimaey's harbor -- beautifully written, and so inspiring. It's in his book titled _The Control of Nature_ (published in 1989).
I hope you make it there too. Ok, will do. I did hear about using seas water to stop the lava from closing the harbor when I was there. It’s amazing that it worked!
Those views are spectacular! I love the history of the island and especially the church.
So glad to hear that. 😊
I feel like I need to visit and claim this island!
I've never been. But it's one of those places Icelanders constantly talk about. Obviously, it has the most epic volcano story. I was 1 when it happened & so it was legend by the time my brain had formed enough to have memories.
I hope you do get to visit. Such a fascinating place
@@AllThingsIceland I almost went in 2021 but we ended up going to see family up north instead. One of these days I'll go.
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Everything about this island is amazing and simply breathtaking. I love learning new stuff about Iceland. What made it more authentic and excited for me to want to visit this place even more when I come to Iceland, is seeing how excited and happy you are throughout the entire thing. When you explain what you saw and explain your experience, the joy in your voice definitely made it special. I think when people see that the person who’s making the video having fun with it, it makes the people watching it happy too.
Aww, thank you! 🤗
I'm glad that I was able to get some time to be able to see our lovely Jewells, you and the scenery are truly the best parts of these Icelandic vids (it'd also be great to learn more language lessons from you as well)! 😘
Awww, thank you! 🤗
Absolutely gorgeous! I hope to be able to travel there one day 😍
Yay!! I hope you do too. 😊
Amazing history and landscapes well preserved - The scenery is just something else . . .
Agreed!! Such a lovely place.
I just came back from two weeks in Iceland. Missed this hidden gem. Next time. Thanks for this video
Hope you had a great time. My pleasure 😊
I'm guessing this is not the best place to travel, if you are visiting mid-August-September. It is beautiful.,
oh jewells...........the beauty is over whelming . over time , the after math of a volcanic eruption is beautiful . talk about baptism by fire ............great share , thank you ,for sharing 💕😘💕😘.........
Please help!
I'm trying hard to find Gaujalundur on the map and can't manage.
I've been in Heimaey and it was one of the greatest experiences while in Iceland.
I'm going to go again this August and I'd really like to check the elf garden. ;)
This is an awesome video with so much information. Thank you so much.
Absolutely worth the visit
Beautiful scenery
Always great to see Iceland through your eyes! I wanted to go there before I found your channel, now I sort of have to go. It's like you have a weird sort of mind control limited only to travel. And vegan food? No, no, you're not that powerful.
beautiful scenery
Nice sharing
Thank you!
I live in Vestmannaeyjar and it’s all the time crazy to see videos how beautiful it is. Thanks for this nice video.
Great video Jewels!
Thank you! 🤗
Wow, I did not think about visiting other islands. Very nice to see and that church experience 😬. Hope the services weren’t long😁
I truly missed your travel videos a lot - this one was absolutely amazing!👏Thank you for sharing such a beautiful gem with us 🙏 It really felt as if I was walking around there with you and seeing so many magical sites on this small island ❤ Take care and I'll see you in the next one 😉
Aww, thank you so much. 🤗❤️
It looks a lovely place to visit, thanks for a very informative video.
My pleasure 😊
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Great scenery. Such a wonderful place! There is a slight increase, currently 4.458 people living there. (Registers Iceland)
Thanks! Ok, I appreciate you sharing that. 😊
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Such a beautiful little island! How do you see the elephant rock from the golf course? And do you have to pay to go on to it?
Wow 😯 breath taken views 😃😃😃. Can’t wait to enjoy such places . Coming there sooner ✌️✌️✌️
Awesome! When is your trip?
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@@AllThingsIceland hopefully next month ✌️✌️✌️
The elephant rock is so cool!
Agreed! I remember thinking that it was photoshopped until I saw it in person. 😂
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Now I have to go!
🥳🥳🥳
I was there in 2016 for the day. I almost think that the soccer tournament that you refer to on the podcast was going on at the time.
The weather was horrible. We never got to see the top of Eldfell 😭
We went to the puffin shack too - I love puffins!
😂😂 Yea, that tournament happens every year. Sorry you didn’t have good weather. 😢 Yay for puffins!!
Beautiful!!! Can you give us an update on how you are doing with your learning Icelandic language? We want to hear you speak a little of it please.
Sure 😊
I have pictures of the eruption of eldfell taken by my grandpa wich he was about to throw away
So I haven’t seen a camper van available for rent in Iceland - can you give more info on that or campervans available in other parts of Scandinavia? Beautiful video - thank you!
I heard that many camper van companies are booked up in the summer because of the demand. I think it is a matter of booking far enough in advance. Is that what you are asking?
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I just returned from a cruise of Iceland and Greenland but I didn’t get to go to Westman islands. I am already planning to return but to do a road trip instead and definitely spend 3-4 days here. Do you think that would be enough time? Did you see puffins at all? I would be terribly disappointed if I didn’t see them.
Hey Jewells I will be in Iceland July 30 Reykjavik my question is where is the best place to buy an Icelandic sweater?
Hi! You can go to the Handknitting Association or get one at a thrift shop 😊
I will be visiting in about 2 weeks. Can we do a day trip here? We’ve already booked accommodations in Reykjavik.
Yes, you can do a day trip. The ferry runs pretty often during this time of year.
@@AllThingsIceland Thank you!
i live there
I live i westmaneijar
It’s an amazing place
I’ve been thinking about moving to Iceland and been watching and reading a lot about the country, but I got a question. How is it to get a job for an immigrant? I don’t know if it’s relevant but I live in Sweden does that help?
I think it depends on what type of Jon you’re looking for. Yes, it makes a big difference that you are from Sweden because you can easily get a kennitala (social security number) and start working once you get a job. It’s not as easy for someone outside of the EU, EEA it EFTA countries.
@@AllThingsIceland I see, thank you loads for the reply! Your videos have been a daily watch and they’ve been giving me exactly the information I need so thank you again!
How many live there fulltime?
About 4,500.
Sometimes I see buildings or structures that seem a bit, uh, glass-heavy (like on the docks at the ferry landing). But also homes. I can't imagine Iceland contractors build 'delicate' structures but I am curious - do winter storms damage structures? How frequently? And to what extent - "roofs blown off" or "windows blown in"? Idly curious... that's all.
I mention this because a structure like the Eldheimar Museum is also bunker like - slab concrete corners, steel beam posts. (And along with berms - all of which I'd expect to be on the windward side of any North Atlantic island construction.)
Icelanders in general build pretty solid structures. They have to. The winds can get pretty nuts. In the 10 years I lived in Iceland, I don't remember ever seeing what I've seen in America in much lesser storms. No roofs being blown off. No major damage to homes due to storms. Nothing like that.
@@GeekFurious Does anyone have a monolithic dome home in Iceland or?
@@syolyte There are domes in Iceland. But probably not what you're thinking of.
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I can’t believe the US government was considering storing nuclear weaponry and potentially nuclear waste at this beautiful location in the 1950’s and not tell the Icelandic government ! So glad it didn’t happen bc they were scared Iceland would get mad and leave NATO
I have seen actual natives that pronounce thjódhátíd worse
My phone doesn't support icelandic
P.S. I totally envy the fact that you're not "burning" right now, Iceland has the kinda weather that would be sooo ideal for me year round, please enjoy it for us non-sun worshipers! 🧊🧊🧊
Sorry you have to suffer in the heat.
@@AllThingsIceland Thanks luvs, at least there's Amazon prime deals today (fingers crossed for an A/C)! 😂
Love this!
I will be there next week and have our ferry tickets booked!