Visit Þingeyri - Full Village Tour in the Wild West Fjords of Iceland

[@bethanyabrahamson3902]

The Westfjords are hands down my favorite part of Iceland. I’ve driven through them on two separate trips, and I can’t wait to drive them again. Thank you for this beautiful video featuring this magical piece of heaven on earth!

[@JustIcelandic]

Good choice! The roads are better now, but we still have some of the fun roads :) and always welcome to Iceland :)

[@richardkavesh8299]

Do you need a four wheel drive to drive there or is a normal car with manual transmission OK?

[@thelmacahill921]

Iceland is such a very natural beautiful country. Thank you for allowing us to see it . I love your witty commentry and your wonderful insight into life in Iceland. Someday I will get to visit this beautiful place but until then I 'll keep watching your clips. I would love to know more about the ledgends and folklore of the Island as I'm sure it has a rich heritage of story telling. Many thanks

[@JustIcelandic]

Thank you! 😃 As for the history, I have thought about it but I need to do it with interviews as time moves on, there are plenty people who know way more than me in that departement :)

[@MarciaDoerr]

I’ve heard the bulldozer was nicknamed “The Teaspoon”. A magnificent road for all who have traveled it!

[@JustIcelandic]

Welcome

[@lynnekopac7003]

Thank you, Gylfi, for a FABULOUS video. We always watch your videos and love your commentary. We were fortunate enough to visit the Westfjords (our favorite part of Iceland) in 2005 and again last year (our 4th time in Iceland and 2nd time in the Westfjords) with our Icelandic friends. It is very special. We stayed in Pingeyri both times (first time in 2005, in the only guest house available and the 2nd time last year, in the only hotel across from the harbor). Of course, we hiked up Sandafell both times, and we have been on "that road" (Svalvogur) both times. Dynjandi is beyond special for us - in 2005, we hiked to the ledge at the base of the falls, and my husband dislocated his 8-month-old left hip when bending to take a photo of red rocks. We had a dramatic rescue off the mountain thanks to 4 wonderful Pingeyri Rescue Squad folks + a policewoman and doctor from Isafjordur. The hospital in Isafjordur put the hip back in place (thank goodness -- just missed an artery in the dislocation), and we spent an overnight and rejoined our hiking group the next day (of course, hubby had limitations for the 2nd week). Happily, in 2021, we were back in Pingeyri and got to not only meet one of the 2005 rescue squad people but also his 80+ year-old father who had dispatched the group (and he still remembered it!). We hiked Dynjandi Falls again (to the "scene of the crime") - no mishaps this time. Great memories and new experiences: Isafjordur, Pingeyri, Skalavik, Sudavik (loved the Arctic Fox Museum), Bolungarvik, Jon Sigurdsson Museum in Hrafnseyri, Patreksjordur, Raudasandur Beach, Latrabjarg Cliffs, Egill Olafsson Museum........ The Westfjords is truly special. We are looking forward to our 5th time in Iceland this summer and hiking in another great place, Landmannalaugar. And maybe now we are becoming partly Icelandic, as we have been hooked on the dried fish as a snack since 2005 (we didn't know about it our first time in 1991) and always stuff as much as we can into our suitcases before returning home ;-) Please continue with your wonderful and informative videos from your beautiful Iceland.

[@JustIcelandic]

WOW...You sure got the whole package :) the "wild west fjord" slogan must come from you :) and yes it's really easy go get hooked on the dry-fish, but I always need to vacuum clean my car after it :) Landmannalaugar is a fantastic place, you will like it, like the west fjords, it's a world of its own and I hope you have a fantastic trip :) and I'm only just starting with my channel, it's faster to record than editing and the gigabytes will pile up this summer, getting a faster computer soon, but it's the plan to cover all town in Iceland by time, but it's gonna take a while, especially when the volcano news eat up most of my time, but will do my best and greetings from Iceland :)

[@lynnekopac7003]

@@JustIcelandic Love it! Digital is great, I agree, but editing, sorting, organizing is sometimes more painful that the "old days" of slides and film because we all take more footage and photos since it's digital ;-) We were fortunate to hike in Landmannalaugar for half a day in 2005 and have been wanting to return. Happily, we will get 2 days this summer. Landmannalaugar and the Westfjords are what brought us back to Iceland in 2005 for our second hiking trip. Your June 10 northern Iceland sunset was stunning! What was the location?

[@loladavinci1243]

Mother-in-law! You're so funny! 🤣😂😆

[@JustIcelandic]

Welcome and greetings from Iceland 🤙

[@suehayes2001]

It seems to me that there is definitely potential for The West Fjords to be a tourist haven in summer and winter. I guess it is up to the townsfolk to get organized with the infrastructure and open restaurants early for the customers!

[@JustIcelandic]

Totally agree, closed doors are...well closed :)

[@thebadterrorists5323]

Proud to say we drove to Þingeyri on our last road trip in Iceland. Unforgettable experience. Thanks for the re-visit Gylfi.

[@JustIcelandic]

Glad you enjoyed it 😀

[@christopherklassen4422]

Spent time in the West Fjords two years ago. A beautiful, underappreciated part of Iceland.

[@JustIcelandic]

Exactly my point and thank you :)

[@paulbenson3441]

There are so few videos about the Westfjords. It is a part of Iceland that I have never had the opportunity to visit to my loss for I feel it is the most beautiful. I'm getting on in years now and I don't think I will ever be able to return to Iceland, so I hope you will make many more videos of the Westfjords. I suppose, for me it is a very personal feeling but the Westfjords feel like the Iceland I always imagined it would be. So much has changed over the 40 years since my last visit and I see the Westfjords as the last vestige of the Iceland I saw those many years ago. If someone reading this calls me a dreamer, then yes that is what I am because I have dreams and memories that I will always cherish. I miss Iceland very much.

[@JustIcelandic]

Thank you so much for sharing your dreams here, I truly hope you can find the chance to visit us again, but at least I can promise you that this is just the first video of many about the west fjord. I really don't like to chase the usual tourist subjects, and the West-fjords are hard to describe for many reasons, might be the history, what we don't know, but the nature never lets me down. I will go there later this summer to get 2-3 towns covered at least, in summer colours, but it's a big task to do them all and I hope to shoot more there in autumn colours and try to show the region in all season :) and thanks for watching :)

[@daveeggleston8218]

Iceland is beautiful in Winter. The Westfjords need to get that Northern Lights marketing rolling!

[@JustIcelandic]

Yes they do, very little light pollution around here and that's a huge deal...

[@theastro-philosophersappre2786]

The small villages are beautiful 💫

[@JustIcelandic]

Yes they are, it's gonna be fun to cover the rest of them :)

[@annwatchman6885]

Hi Gylfi, impressed with Elis Kjaran, his efforts to build that road, local hero, he helped his community. West Fjords is a fascinating place, still quite isolated. Not many places like this in the world. You always manage to show us the best of Iceland. Thanks so much. ☺☺☺

[@JustIcelandic]

Thank you so much :) and always welcome :)

[@fannyandersson3330]

A really beautiful area in Iceland!

[@JustIcelandic]

It really is and thank you

[@luciansatmarean75]

I first got to the Westfjords in September 2019, I was stunned by the calm, vastness, quiet of the landscape; all slopes were amazingly painted by autumn, and I even got to see the green lady dancing in the skies at night. Also, the lack of crowds helped, I admit :) It really is an amazing part of Iceland and I definitely plan to return, maybe to see another hidden gem, Hornstrandir. Thanks for the lovely stories and the aerial footage, they are awesome.

[@JustIcelandic]

Thanks a lot and be very welcome to Iceland again :)

[@luciansatmarean75]

@@JustIcelandic next time a volcano goes off, I'm on the next plane (if any still fly) :)

[@colincloete6135]

We have been following your channel for a while, sitting on our sofa tonight in Durban , South Africa and watching your new video of Dingeyri, it`s relaxing specially with your voice, it took our sours away and melted in the ice around you...Greetings from SA, lots of love to you and your country.

[@JustIcelandic]

Thanks you much and enjoy :) I'm just starting and greetings to South Africa from North Iceland 😃

[@BonsaiBlacksmith]

First time I went to Iceland as a tourist, I went to the Westfjords, just keep an eye out and you will be safe on those roads

[@JustIcelandic]

Correct, just adjust the speed to the road quality, simple as that :)

[@BonsaiBlacksmith]

@@JustIcelandic I would like to send you an email asking a few questions. Which link on your channel is best to do this?

[@markdpricemusic1574]

I totally agree with you Sir - if the roads were improved to resemble German autobahns, then some of the charm and beauty of the area would be lost. Driving over your cinder roads last summer was an adventure in itself. Wonderful area, wonderful people! Let cities be cities, let wild nature be as wild as possible, and let villages live as villages! Rural jobs are HUGELY important but big wide roads usually lead to big wide factories, extracting money for distant investors who don't care about local land or culture.

[@JustIcelandic]

Thank you very much for sharing and greetings from Iceland :)

[@evmollet5418]

I’ve been there 10 years ago. Loved the West Fjords…

[@JustIcelandic]

Welcome back :)

[@protestagain]

I just found your channel and appreciate what I've seen so far. I'm a "wanna-be" landscape photographer, who wants to experience all seasons in Iceland, especially when there are fewer tourists and you have more weather, so to speak. These are the types of pictures I want, because I myself am from northern Norway. But something like this costs a lot, a 4x4 motorhome, ferry tickets and flights, etc. I hope one day I will be able to finance such a stay, and maybe I will find her again, Borghildur from Rekjanesbraut.

[@JustIcelandic]

Thanks a lot, one of the best ways to come over is with the Smyril line ferry from Denmark, bring your own motorhome, or rent it abroad, and get rid of flight and accommodation expenses. Or buy a motorhome, and sell it when you get back :) Prices here are crazy high now, but it there is will, there is a way...and good luck and welcome to Iceland :)

[@protestagain]

@@JustIcelandic I know crazy prices, I live in Northern-Norway, but I also know that your prices are even more crazy. That ferry trip from Denmark with a six-meter 4x4 motorhome will cost € 5000 both ways. Not cheap. I'm not sure how long it's possible to stay with that motorhome in Iceland, 6 or 12 months. Maybe it's possible to park it in a custom area when you ain't in Iceland. My project may last a year and half, or, who knows, maybe I will find a hidden fjord and settle down there. Norwegians are known for doing that. I have my own sword and axe.

[@JapanlyManly]

Very informative. Really enjoying this channel, as I'm studying Icelandic. Keep up the great work!

[@JustIcelandic]

Awesome, thank you!

[@lindabattles9094]

I found your channel because of the recent volcano, but have remained because of your beautiful photography, your sense of humor, and just an interest in “exploring” new places. I live in Northern California and my grandparents were from Sweden. The Northern Lights are something I have longed to see. When you mentioned watching them as a backdrop for that waterfall…..yes, I think tourists with a sense of adventure would love that. Thanks for what you do.

[@JustIcelandic]

Thanks a lot, appreciated :) and always welcome :)

[@darlenemckay265]

Love watching and listening as you narrate Iceland!

[@JustIcelandic]

Thank you very much and greetings from Iceland 🤙

[@AndyGabrielPowell]

Fascinating (as all your videos are.) I have hopes to visit Iceland. My passion is always to see the real country away from the tourist destinations. The Westfjords, may therefore be my goal when I finally get there.

[@JustIcelandic]

Yes and the northeast corner as well :) still plenty of "tourist free" spots :)

[@KJensenStudio]

So beautiful, even if it Is full of Mother-in-laws! 😀 Really, artist residencies might be an idea as well, if the government would throw some money into this as a cultural heritage avenue. If they go for it, I want in! 🤠

[@JustIcelandic]

So true! it's inspiration to be found there :)

[@normaparfitt2614]

Thank you for your continuing revelations of Iceland. I love watching them.

[@JustIcelandic]

More to come!

[@palyba1]

Oh my goodness! Just beautiful! And you know I love that waterfall! Looks to be so peaceful there also! I don't like the hustle and bustle of big cities. This is more my kind of place! Thank you for sharing!

[@JustIcelandic]

Glad you enjoyed it and always welcome 😁

[@Rennrogue]

What a beautiful area! Thank you for sharing it!

[@JustIcelandic]

My pleasure!

[@Bguha1]

We camped at þingeyri this summer on our way around Westfjords. Been all around Iceland, hands down the best camping spot on earth. Overlooking the fjord ….

[@PhilGregory101]

Brilliant introduction, a much better format. A lovely welcome hello, followed by a descriptive title and a brief 10-12 second overview. Absolutely perfect, most KZbinrs don't actually do this and employ a suck-it-and-see approach, which is not very good for their viewers, especially those with attention deficit disorder. So glad you don't start with the rather odd welcome employed by those trying be cool ( but failing badly ) when their intro just contains the words 'Hey Whats Going On Everybody' which is so dumb and nonsensical in this context. So, 'Just-Iceland' gets 10/10 and wins the weekly best KZbin intro award :-)

[@JustIcelandic]

Yes this 'Hey Whats Going On Everybody' is so overused :) and thanks a lot :) and greetings from Iceland :)

[@susanjacquier5358]

" Move to Tenirife "....you always crack me up lol. Amazing footage as always !

[@JustIcelandic]

Thanks! 😃

[@gabi1342ful]

Thanks for this awesome video. To be honest, I had to close my eyes when Elís and his little bulldozer appeared... 😅

[@bobv7753]

Outstanding overview of the West Fjords! My daughter & I were there at about the same time as you. Iceland is truly a global treasure & the West Fjords a prized gem for sure! It was/is a favorite place during our trip! The challenge of the roads was a highlight of the journey! We would have gladly purchased a shirt that we survived the roads of the West Fjords!!! It is this remote beauty that is so attractive. I can't wait to spend more time there! Opportunities for sure!!!! Excellent content! Thanks & keep it coming!!! Best Always.....Bob V

[@JustIcelandic]

Thanks a lot Bob, glad you appreciated the Westfjords, and my overview, and always welcome :)

[@phila3884]

I made the Wesfjords trip this last September. I'm a northern lights phototourist, and like you would love to return to the region in winter for all the reasons you mentioned. But as an American, I see the problem with winter services, and it is simply the Westfjords has to compete with the rest of Iceland for tourists. If you are on your first or even second or third trip to Iceland, you are probably still trying to see as much of the Ring Road as possible in a limited amount of time. Even on the first trip to the Westfjords, it seems like everyone is trying to do the whole loop with minimum overnight stays, and in summer of course. Some of us are past that type of tourism, but we'll just wait and see what happens.

[@JustIcelandic]

"wait and see what happens" I like that attitude :) the only way to be a proper northern light photo tourist, and photography overall. Hope you got some good shots there...and thanks for stopping by on my channel :)

[@robyngrieve9665]

Looking forward to more videos of this area.

[@JustIcelandic]

More to come :)

[@lilyvanillitravels]

Wow what beautiful weather you had! 🥰

[@JustIcelandic]

Yes I got lucky this time :)

[@andreyromanenko1364]

Great Job, as usual, + 1 Subscriber here!

[@JustIcelandic]

Welcome aboard :)

[@mltbeekeeper9519]

We stay in the one night in the hotel in pingeyri, its a lovely town in 2022 and hope to visit it again on a future trip.

[@JustIcelandic]

Thanks and welcome back :)

[@duncantaylor9584]

Thankyou ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤

[@JustIcelandic]

Thanks and welcome

[@aiidina67]

I loved Þingeyri. We visited last year, almost totally alone at camping. The pool was very nice. However the "pizza" at Hotel Sandafell was terrible, we still laugh... it was kielbasa for pepperoni 😂 I can't wait to visit there again, so beautiful and everyone in town was very nice, and great waffles at Simbahöllin.

[@JustIcelandic]

...kielbasa for pepperoni...say what😂 and thanks for visiting :)

[@4H4PH]

Oh man, love your video. Last part of Iceland I did not have chance to visit yet.

[@JustIcelandic]

You should! Amazing place to play with a drone :)

[@littlebear7018]

'got a taste of it during my last visit in 2019; August can not come soon enough

[@laynelair2233]

😁🤣 Mother-in-law trip! 👍

[@JustIcelandic]

👍 you can't find a better place 😁

[@DailyPassenger]

I have really enjoyed your tour of Iceland I never get tired of enjoying the great atmosphere of this area. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from Blore!

[@JustIcelandic]

Many thanks!

[@hinkelstein69]

I took a bus-trip from Holmavik to Isafjördur back in summer 1994 - quite a route with all the small fjords inbetween! Then continuing next morning from Isafjördur down south to Patreksfjördur and on to Breidavik to watch puffins. On that way I must have passed Thingeyri. I was fascinated by the remoteness and wild, barren country. Not easy traveling without a car (just by public bus). Not something for mass tourism, for sure... I was fascinated to travel to remote, quiet places, "at the end of the world".

[@JustIcelandic]

"at the end of the world" sound great for marketing :) and greetings from Iceland :)

[@bondisteve3617]

Wow. I want to hook it up and tow it down to the Great Southern Land!

[@JustIcelandic]

Only if you return it....

[@illzaoosthuizen9141]

Very isolated and looks very cold. Had a good laugh about the mother in law story.

[@JustIcelandic]

Thanks and welcome :)

[@dorothythorpe6183]

Beautiful and exciting! Thank you, Gylfi!

[@JustIcelandic]

Thank you so much!

[@ChristophersMum]

Thank you Gylfi...We will be quite familiar with Iceland by the time you have drone filmed all your excursions...you also have some good writers in Iceland...I have read most of the Sagas...all the Orkneyinga Sagas...and a few others beside (quite a looong time ago)...however only one mentioned any volcanic activity...unless of course I am misremembering...I also like Yrsa Sigurdardotter and Arnaldur Indridason...there was also a writer called Hannah Kent who wrote about Agnes Magnusdotter in her book Burial rites, a beautiful writer who had you from page one. Love from Scotland💌😁✨

[@JustIcelandic]

Yes we have some pretty good storytellers around here but I admit that I'm not much into the ancient sagas but will have to as I move on :) But Arnaldur has been very successful, and Yrsa too, but the Agnes story is really something, will for sure find a way to cover it from the gravesite where I was filming last fall, and love from Iceland :)

[@hilaryh972]

The 1991 Icelandic film, Börn náttúrunnar, was filmed somewhere in Westfjords,was it not? Would love to know where. A stunning location for a trip

[@JustIcelandic]

Yes here is the location map for that film :) and welcome. kvikmyndir.is/islenskar/tokustadir/?id=934

[@DisVietVetUSA]

I see winter potential in Coss country ski adventures and camping (Thingery) beautiful town

[@JustIcelandic]

I agree, helicopter ski service is getting popular up north, high end market but I know of no such things in the west.

[@itsmesnakey]

very nice and informative clip. Found it by chance while we propably may visit Dynjandi this year and the bus will stop at this village

[@Infarlock]

Going to this big waterfall in August. I guess the main problem for people is the drive time to the attractions, like from the main route this waterfall alone is a 3h drive away and there aren't attractions on the way (except 1 geo pool). Needs more attractions

[@JustIcelandic]

I agree, I could not get a cup of coffee from Þingeyri to Búðardalur, 2 hotels on the way, both closed...it's a gap there...

[@LauraAWatt]

it sounds like you missed the fabulous fish & chips served up at the N1 station -- all year round! and hooray now that the delicious Simbahöllin is open again for summer.

[@JustIcelandic]

I did actually check the hod dogs there but skipped the fish this time, but Simbahöllin seem to be very popular, but still closed when I was there :)

[@T1M6]

Stunning area, thank you for sharing.xx

[@JustIcelandic]

My pleasure 😊

[@rickc4317]

Another fascinating video...thank you!

[@JustIcelandic]

Glad you enjoyed it and welcome :)

[@milescowton]

I have travelled around the West Fjords in the summer on two occasions. It is a beautiful area. If there was a locally based photographic group tour for the winter, you could count me in. Might have to have an open return ticket though!

[@JustIcelandic]

Lets start planning :)

[@alistairholroyd4071]

You live in such a wonderful country thanks for the video

[@JustIcelandic]

My pleasure 😊

[@diannbarbacci1031]

Happy New Year 🎉I am going back and catching up on all your videos. Love to see Dynjandi fös. Next trip ❤

[@JustIcelandic]

Happy new year!!

[@aleksandarmahdik377]

I've just watched an episode of Apple TV+ series 'Home' that featured the architect Palmar Kristmundsson and his home built in an abandoned concrete factory in Thingeyri. Strongly recommended.

[@JustIcelandic]

Thanks a lot for sharing!

[@aleksandarmahdik377]

Thank you for all the videos!

[@salilsahani2721]

Tak fyrir :)

[@JustIcelandic]

Velkomin :)

[@craignelson-swiftyenzed7578]

I wonder if the west fjords are a bit like all of Iceland was say 20 years ago before tourism took off. I think going somewhere that takes a little effort and is off the beaten track would certainly have its own rewards. Especially if the crowds are fewer.

[@lynnekopac7003]

Our first time was in 1991 - we then were in Iceland in 2005, 2006/2007 (for New Year's Eve), and 2021. We will be back this summer. Yes, absolutely, there are HUGE differences between our 1991 and 2021 visits, and we noticed it even between 1991 and 2005. But the Westfjords is just beyond special and unique, we think. Do get there if you ever have the chance. It will be worth it.

[@JustIcelandic]

They are still decades behind when it comes to tourism, even though the summers are better, but the winters remain almost totally free of tourists :)

[@jonathanclarke6944]

👍👍

[@JustIcelandic]

Welcome :)

[@freysigurnbjornson6036]

❤️

[@JustIcelandic]

😃always welcome

[@jlys5037]

Nice pines trees - are they imports? Are there any native conifer trees?

[@JustIcelandic]

No they are not native, and rare :)

[@luismoran7176]

Is Westfjords accessible in late April, taking a trip next year and would love to visit westfjords .

[@Tigerlover234]

I wonder, in which years make Elís Kjaran this road?

[@JustIcelandic]

I don't know exactly but it was in the 70's

[@DeltadronesBr]

Is there an intersection inside the tunnel?

[@JustIcelandic]

Yes it's a 3way tunnel. 9km

[@chrisgriffiths2533]

Iceland Don't Build too many Small Towns. Some Small Towns is Great Too Many is Huge Problem. We Australians made the Mistake of Building Too Many Small Towns. Thanks for Video.

[@JustIcelandic]

👍 welcome

[@kaybee2300]

How long is the tunnel?

[@JustIcelandic]

It has a length of 9,113 m (29,898 ft)

[@gailhasler8435]

Fishing tour packages 😍?

[@JustIcelandic]

You can check it here :) veidiheimar.is/en/veidisvaedi/hvita-brennan/

[@bigbenlorax]

Hahahha "send your mother in law" 😂😂😂

[@JustIcelandic]

Yes I hope it's a useful tip for many of you out there 😁

[@minimaker5600]

In this video I couldn't believe that someone would paint their house such a hideous shade of green . . . yuk! I noticed that in the big city there are a lot of colorful painted houses, none of them were so objectional. I'd hate to live nearby and have to look at that each day.

[@schoolingdiana9086]

One person’s hideous is another person’s beautiful. Today, I drove past a 1970s split level-hideous enough already-and someone had painted it bright lemon yellow. Everything all one color: body, trim, doors, etc. I was horribly confused. Did they think “How can I make my ugly house stand out from the other ugly ones?” (It was an entire block of nothing but that design.) That kind is my housing nightmare. If the worst comes to be, I’ll be doing everything to make it fade as far from view as possible. 😖

[@JustIcelandic]

Well, the green house tones with the bus :)

[@PenDragonsPig-Jam_on_Top]

Fish farming totally put me off salmon. Maybe that’s why the bug is called salmonella. Fish farm, time to move on.

[@schoolingdiana9086]

These are different fish farms. You’re thinking of the ones that are like swimming pools. These are nets out in their own habitat, and heavily regulated on how many fish per square meter of water. The nets keep their natural predators from getting at them or contaminating them; they don’t just keep them to one giant area of the ocean.

[@JustIcelandic]

Yes those off shore farms are not a good idea...

[@duncantaylor9584]

Forgive me ,hsve to go through mobile, telly not act same!!!!