Family Fun on ATVs: A Day of Adventure in the Westman Islands

Iceland’s unique landscapes and endless possibilities both outdoors and inside make the country a stellar choice for a family vacation. But it’s easy to get over-ambitious and end up with a long list of sights to tick off. Instead, mixing in plenty of activities ensures that you’ll spend your time here making memories which you’ll reminisce over long after you all get home. The Westman Islands, a short ferry crossing from the mainland, makes the ideal pitstop if you are road tripping along the south coast. Here you’ll find plenty of fun things to do, including the chance to ride through dramatic terrain on ATVs. Let’s take a look at how that adventure might shape up.

 Let’s start by taking a look at our group tours, which follow a variety of themes. 

The Volcano Tour

If you’re the kind of family that likes to mix things up a bit, then an ATV adventure might fill part of your day. This one hour tour is a fun introduction to riding if you haven’t tried it before and aren’t sure how you’ll find it. We fit a lot in to a short period of time. You’ll ride up to the beach at Prestvik which locals will tell you was where a fishing boat called Pelagus ran aground. Another incident at sea provides us with our next story, which is so compelling it was actually made into a movie recounting what happened to Guðlaugur Friðþórsson who survived the sinking. There’s even more drama to come, this time focused on what happened during the eruption of 1973 when the volcanic cone Eldfell was created.

Puffins and Pirates

If you’re interested in history of a different kind, then why not team tales of pirate incursions with a spell watching the puffins at Stórhöfði. This is a summer tour, as the cute and comical seabirds are only found on land from April to August. Our ATV tour rides up to a puffin hide which overlooks their burrows on the grassy cliff. Kids and adults alike will soon be engrossed in their antics, though the promise of more thrills on the ATVs will entice you away. It’s time to find out more about those 17th century pirates and how they took the residents of Heimaey by surprise. This route involves no off-roading which makes it especially family friendly.

Volcanic Vistas & Puffin Paradise

Sometimes it’s as much about the view as it is the activity which is why this tour ticks all the boxes. If you asked a local what a tourist should see while in the Westman Islands, it’s highly likely that they’ll mention volcanoes and puffins, and with good reason. Riding your ATV gets the adrenaline going, but you’ll be keen to park up to admire landmarks such as Elephant Rock and take in the views from Eldfell and Prestvik beach. In summer, the highlight of this tour is going to be seeing puffins close up. So many of them come to nest and rear their chicks each year, you’re almost certain to have an encounter.

While you might be happy to join a group tour, it’s even better to customise your ATV adventure and personalise it to suit your family’s interests, taking one of these themes or combining several. Our tours can be tailormade to visit the places that you’re going to get the most out of, whether that’s a chance to immerse yourself in the island’s nature and wildlife, learn more about its history or position yourselves to admire Heimaey’s most breathtaking views. Why not get in touch and start planning your itinerary with our help?