Official Vigur Island Tour (with return boat transfer from Ísafjörður)
Tour departs from
Duration
Pick up / meeting point
Languages
Overview
Take a boat to Vigur Island to experience the wild nature of the Arctic Westfjords alongside authentic Icelandic hospiltality and heritage in one of the country's most beloved locations for birdlife, particularly PUFFIN!
What's included?
Return boat transfer between Ísafjörður and Vigur.
Commentary on the boat and expert guide on the island. (Commentary and tours are offered in English and also in Icelandic on request. If you require a tour in Icelandic please let us know when prompted during the booking process - thank you!)
Non-commercial photography permission (Please contact us in advance of your visit if you intend to take photographs or footage for professional or commercial use).
Coffee and cake.
Special sticks or flags to carry above the head for deterring Arctic Terns are provided to guests when required (generally only needed in July).
Tips/gratuities are not expected but greatly appreciated. They can be made directly to any member of the Vigur team, the boat Captain and crew or left in the labelled box in the Post Office shop.
We are also very grateful for any donations to the Vigur Island Foundation which funds conservation and research on Vigur. Donations can be made in person to any member of the Vigur team, via the link on the website or using the card machine in the Post Office shop.
Your visit and any purchases made on the island support the future conservation of nature and heritage on Vigur.
Thank you!
What to expect?
Welcome to the only tour to Vigur Island from Ísafjörður operated by the owners and guardians of the island. Your support of this tour directly contributes to the work of the Vigur Island Foundation for conservation and research of Vigur's natural and cultural heritage. Thank you!
Your tour begins at the 'Nordic Star', the ex-ferry boat that will bring you to Vigur Island. The boat is easy to find in the tiny harbour of Ísafjörður. If you are arriving by cruise ship, the Vigur boat is a 6-minute walk, if you are arriving by tender from a ship at anchor, the Vigur boat can be found at the pier immediately next door - a 1-minute walk at most. Our team will be ready to welcome you on board and provide any assistance needed.
There is room for everyone to have inside seating on the scenic 30-minute boat ride across the majestic fjord of ĺsafjarðardjúp. Along the way, commentary provides interesting insight of life in the fjord both today and in the past. Information will also be given about any wildlife spotted including whales and - as we draw nearer to Vigur Island - the numerous seabird species we will see.
Guests are welcomed to Vigur on arrival by one of the island’s resident family or naturalist guides who will explain something of the eventful history of Vigur stretching back to the original settlement of Iceland in the 9th Century, introduce some of the historic structures that can be explored (which includes Iceland's only remaining windmill and oldest seaworthy boat) and the uniquely Icelandic tradition of harvesting eiderdown which still thrives on the island today. Then it is time to explore the island on a walk to the best locations for getting close to the abundant birdlife on Vigur including the stunning Lundaleiðin (Puffin Path).
Please note that some 100,000 puffins are resident on Vigur from mid-April to early August but from mid-August, sightings of puffin become increasingly uncommon.
There are more than 60 bird species on Vigur – which is internationally recognised as an IBA (Important Bird Area) - including large colonies of puffin, eider, black guillemot and Arctic tern. Exactly what you see depends on the time of year of your visit and the weather on the day. All the birdlife on Vigur is wild so we ask for your understanding that we have no control over the movement or behaviour of the birds - but we can guarantee a wonderful experience of the authentic Westfjords at the edge of the wildness of the Arctic. There is always something memorable to see.
If your visit coincides with low tide, you can visit our seal observation point to view the seal colony hauled out on the rocks and there are good opportunities to observe whales from the shore.
The tour ends at the post office (the smallest Post Office in Europe!) coffee room and shop where you can send a postcard or enjoy complimentary home-baked ‘Happy Marriage Cake’ and coffee before free time to enjoy the various wildlife viewing points or the historical exhibitions.
The same boat will return you to the same pier in Ísafjörður harbour where you met the boat. The pier for tenders returning to ships that are at anchor is immediately next door (less than 1-minute walk) and it is a 6-minute walk to return to a ship that is alongside at the cruise port.
Please know that we are acutely aware of the importance of a timely return. All our tours are planned to fit within the time that cruise guests have on shore in Ísafjörður. We will not allow a tour to depart unless we are completely confident of its timely return. The majority of our guests have arrived to Ísafjörður by cruise ship (and we are regular cruise travellers ourselves) so we understand the anxiety and make it our guiding principle that no guest to Vigur should be worried about missing a ship.
Kindly note that this is the only tour operated by the owners and caretakers of this precious nature reserve and wildlife area. Therefore, you can be reassured that not only is the tour conducted responsibly, safeguarding wildlife and the environment, but your visit is also directly contributing to future research and conservation through the work of the Vigur Island Foundation. We greatly appreciate and value your support. Please do not support tours by operators that disturb birdlife while it is feeding or at rest on the waters close to Vigur - either by boat or by kayak. We thank you for your help.
Check availability
What to bring
Many guests opt to bring cameras and binoculars.
You may wish to bring a walking pole or two if you have difficulty with moderate inclines on grass.
There is good cell phone signal across the island, so you may wish to bring your smart phone, particularly if you enjoy contributing to nature apps such as eBird, Happy Whale and others.
The Post Office shop accepts all major currencies and all forms of digital payment (including Applepay). The only form of payment we are unable to accept with regret, is American Express.
Please do NOT bring drones or pets with you. Vigur is a strictly no-smoking island. Thank you for your understanding.
Requirements
Many guests opt to bring cameras and binoculars.
You may wish to bring a walking pole or two if you have difficulty with moderate inclines on grass.
There is good cell phone signal across the island, so you may wish to bring your smart phone, particularly if you enjoy contributing to nature apps such as eBird, Happy Whale and others.
The Post Office shop accepts all major currencies and all forms of digital payment (including Applepay). The only form of payment we are unable to accept with regret, is American Express.
Please do NOT bring drones or pets with you. Vigur is a strictly no-smoking island. Thank you for your understanding.
Travel notice
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.
How will I find the boat that will take me to Vigur?
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.
When should I arrive at the meeting point / board the boat to Vigur?
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.
What if my ship is late docking in Ísafjörður or there are changes to the ship's departure time?
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).
What happens if my tour is cancelled due to weather or sea conditions?
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.
What is the accessibility of the island and the boat?
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.
Are there toilets on the island and on the boat?
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.
What emergency provisions are there on Vigur?
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.
Can I smoke, fly a drone or bring a pet with me to Vigur?
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.
What is the cancellation policy?
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.