Discover one of the Westfjords’ most charming and wildlife-rich destinations on this unforgettable boat trip to Vigur Island. Departing from the harbor in Ísafjörður, this tour takes you across the scenic fjord of Ísafjarðardjúp on a comfortable boat with commentary along the way. Keep your eyes on the water, as whales and seals are sometimes spotted during the short crossing.
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by one of the island’s resident family members or knowledgeable guides. They will introduce you to the fascinating history of the island, which dates back to the original settlement of Iceland in the 9th century. You will also learn about traditional eiderdown harvesting, a uniquely Icelandic practice that is still carried out on the island today.
The highlight for many visitors is the incredible birdlife. Vigur is recognized internationally as an Important Bird Area and is home to more than 60 bird species. Walk along the famous Lundaleiðin, often called the Puffin Path, where you can observe colonies of Atlantic puffins alongside eider ducks, black guillemots, and Arctic terns in their natural habitat. The exact wildlife sightings vary depending on the season and weather, but the island always offers remarkable opportunities for birdwatching and photography.
During your visit, you can also explore several historic structures, including Iceland’s only remaining windmill and the country’s oldest seaworthy rowing boat. The tour concludes at the island’s charming café and post office, known as the smallest post office in Europe. Here you can send a postcard home or enjoy complimentary homemade “Happy Marriage Cake” with coffee before boarding the boat back to Ísafjörður.
With around two hours on the island and scenic boat transfers each way, this tour offers a perfect combination of wildlife, culture, and Westfjords charm.
The puffin colony of around 100,000 birds arrive on Vigur in mid-April. They begin to depart for the winter in early August. By mid-August onwards sightings are few. Vigur is a reserve for wild birds so we are unable to guarantee sightings of any specific wildlife but the birdlife is generally dense from May to September. There are opportunities for great whale and seal watching year round.
If you are arriving on a ship that has docked in the port of Ísafjörður, simply exit the cruise port and turn right to walk towards Ísafjörður harbour which is right next door. As you walk along the colour marked harbourside, you will see a number of piers on your right. The first will be the pier used by tenders. At the next pier look for the boat with VIGUR on it in big letters. The Vigur team will be on hand to help you.
Distance from ships docked alongside in the cruise port to the Vigur boat is usually less than 100m. (In a minority of cases ships dock in a different area of the harbour but we are aware of which ships this applies to and have adjusted the schedule accordingly).
Distance from tenders to the Vigur boat is less than 50m.
We advise planning to arrive at least 10 minutes before your departure time. In most cases you should be able to board the boat immediately. The Vigur team will be on hand to help you. If you are booked on an early departure for Vigur and your ship is at anchor off Ísafjörður, we advise catching the earliest possible tender ashore available. There is plenty of interest to see and do around the harbour to fill any extra time if you are early.
We continually monitor the official booking schedule for ships in the port of Ísafjörður. We will make every effort to reschedule tours to ensure everyone gets to Vigur successfully but if we are unable to find an alternative we offer a full refund of the tour fee. (You are also free to opt for a full refund of the tour fee if you prefer this to the proposed alternative).
We do not cancel departures without good cause and we kindly ask for your understanding that the Vigur boat Captain’s decision on all matters related to safety is final. We will make every effort to reschedule any departures that are regrettably cancelled but if this is not possible we offer a full refund of the tour fee with our apologies.
Access onto the boat requires using steps with handrails. Regrettably, there is no ramp or lift access onto the boat. There can be some motion if there is swell but assistance is always on hand.
The island is 2km long, 500m wide and mostly grass covered. Tours on the island involve walking on mowed grass paths or wild grass trails that can be uneven. Every tour offers flexibility for guests with a range of mobility. There are alternative routes and easy access observation points available. Ramp access is provided to buildings but there are stairs to access the windmill observation point and the puffin path.
If you require use of a walking aid (such as a mobility frame or walker) or wheelchair, please get in touch with us so that we can make sure we have suitable accessibility for you. We will do whatever we can to enable everyone to visit Vigur but please call us in advance to discuss the best plan.
The boat has one restroom for emergencies but we highly recommend making use of the toilet facilities in Ísafjörður harbour or on Vigur in preference.
All visitor toilet/restroom facilities on Vigur are in the building that now houses the Post Office, shop and coffee room. There is a male, female and non-gendered restroom with disability aids and baby-changing facilities.
First Aid and Emergency kits are situated in several buildings. An automatic defibrillator is situated next to the toilet facilities. The jetty is equipped with two life rings.
Please be aware that Vigur is a strictly no-smoking island. We also ask that no drones or pets are brought onto the island – thank you.
All bookings are final and cannot be cancelled once confirmed and paid for. However, in the rare event the tour is cancelled (for example due to bad weather), full refunds of the tour fee are automatically processed with our apologies. Safety is our priority and if the Vigur boat Captain makes the decision that a tour cannot be operated due to weather or sea conditions, we kindly ask for your understanding that their decision is final.
If you are travelling to Ísafjörður by ship and your ship does not dock in time for you to join your booked tour (for any reason), we will offer an alternative tour time if possible or a full refund of the tour fee. Guests are not obliged to accept rescheduled tours and can opt for a refund if they prefer.
Changes can be made to confirmed bookings but are dependent on availability.
Please note that full refunds of the tour fee may not include any standard third-party transaction fees charged at the time of booking (such as banking or foreign exchange fees, platform booking fees or payment platform fees) which are non-refundable.
Sail from Ísafjörður to Vigur Island for a guided wildlife and heritage experience, featuring puffins, seabirds, historic buildings, and traditional Icelandic hospitality
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