Ultimate Westman Islands Adventure Combo: ATV Tour + Boat Tour in One Day
Coming to the Westman Islands, even for just one day, doesn’t mean you have to choose between a boat tour and an ATV tour – you can do both. In this guide for travellers to Iceland aimed at cruise visitors and weekenders, we’ll show how to incorporate both into your itinerary. Let’s take a look at combo tours in the Westman Islands and show you how to put together your day trip adventure in Iceland.
Why combining the ATV and boat tours makes sense
You might be wondering what advantages booking two tours has over one. After all, both our ATV tours and the myriad selection of boat trip possibilities promise to show visitors a diverse range of landmarks and Westman Islands highlights. Yet by switching up your perspective from land to sea or vice versa, you get a unique view of this lovely archipelago.
For instance, take Heimaey’s volcanic landscapes: on an ATV tour you’ll have the opportunity to drive across a lava field and summit Eldfell, while from the sea you’ll see the island’s towering cliffs and the seabirds that occupy them. And while we’re on the subject of birds, watching puffins from the Stórhöfði hide is very different to seeing them fly over the ocean. Why choose when you can do both?
How to schedule the tours
During the summer, we run out Volcanic Vistas and Puffin Paradise Tour twice a day, once at 10am and then again at 1pm. This means you can fit us in around your other plans. Boat trips are similarly flexible so organising one to suit your preferred time is also straightforward. In summer, for instance RIB safaris depart up to four times a day.
However, as with any tour, if it’s good enough demand can sometimes outstrip supply. Availability for the best activities in Heimaey understandably doesn’t always match would-be bookers. If you’re planning a visit in peak season it pays to get your bookings made for popular boat trips and ATV tours as far ahead as you are able.
Can cruise ship passengers fit both tours in while they’re ashore?
Most often, yes. It’s worth noting that the hours in port vary considerably. Some cruise ships dock early in the morning but might leave by mid-afternoon; others arrive and/or depart later in the day. Check with your cruise itinerary to see how many hours you have to play with and give yourself a buffer at either end of the period just in case – you can always grab a coffee or take a sightseeing walk.
Whether you arrive in Heimaey by regular ferry or by cruise ship, boat trips leave conveniently from the harbourfront in the centre of town. Our location, too, is just a few minutes’ walk from the ferry dock. That’s the beauty of Heimaey – nothing’s very far away from anything else.
For the maximum flexibility, of course, you can arrange a bespoke experience and book a private ATV tour. This means you can customise not only the length and content of the tour but also discuss a mutually convenient departure time. If you’re trying to put together a packed itinerary within a single day, this is one upgrade that’s worth its weight in gold.
Combo tours in the Westman Islands are definitely the way to go if you’re keen to get a more comprehensive overview of what Heimaey and its surroundings are like. Our team are more than happy to help you work out a schedule that suits you so that you can see a lot without the whole experience feeling rushed and stressful. Let’s get started planning your day trip adventure to one of Iceland’s most exciting destinations.
