The Whale Fjord: A Gem on Iceland’s Western Coastline

Fjords, as one of these reasons, are an amazing natural phenomenon, and while in Iceland, we’ve had the opportunity to discover the Whale Fjord, or Hvalfjörður. There’s an amazing cycling route all the way around it. Yes, all 61 km of its perimeter.

Luckily for us, and any cyclists interested in this adventure, there’s been a development in road communication structure (back in 1998), and the major traffic is now directed via a tunnel below the fjord. This means that as a cyclist, you’ll rarely encounter traffic on the old road around the fjord.

Instead, you’ll have all the time in the world (well, actually, only the time it takes you to cross a mildly hilly tarmac road of 61 km) to admire the views without any major distractions. Enjoy the pristine waters, the endless green-brown land. Feel the breeze whipping through any loose strands of hair that you might have, and the crisp air flowing through your lungs.

It’s the ultimate adventure with priceless views and an overwhelming feeling of freedom. You might even encounter some wild horses (they only have one special breed of their own in Iceland). Or, if you’re lucky, some of the whales that the fjord is named after. The first settlers watched an extraordinary amount of these biggest mammals, but nowadays, they’re much more scarce.

Whatever it is that you’ll be seeing, don’t forget to make sure you’re well-equipped to handle it. Iceland is well-known for its chilly nature---regardless of season---so don’t underestimate it.