Iceland Tour – Part 1 – West

Iceland Tour – Part 1 – West

The tour departs from Keflavik (BIKF) and proceeds north then west clockwise staying mostly near the coast.  We will visit the capital city of Reykjavik, Akranes, and Borganes, before heading west for a tour of the Snaefells Peninsuala. 

The Snaefells Peninsula is traversed by a mountain range composed of both active and dormant volcanoes, terminating at the notable Snaefellsjokull glacier. Positioned atop a stratovolcano, this glacier's last eruption occurred approximately 1,900 years ago, significantly influencing the region's topography. The coastline features a distinctive combination of white and black sand beaches, complemented by imposing cliffs and unique rock formations that serve as nesting sites for a variety of seabirds. The area's rugged terrain, shaped by volcanic events and refined through centuries of erosion and weathering, imparts a singular character to the landscape.

Leaving the Snaefells Peninsuala at Stykkisholmur (BIST) we proceed northeast towards the Westfjords.

The Westfjords is a sparsely populated peninsula in northwestern Iceland, located on the Denmark Strait across from Greenland. Known for its rugged mountains and deeply indented coastline with many fjords, the region's steep terrain makes land travel challenging and roads indirect.  

 Our first landing is at  Reykhólar (BIRE).  From there we flly 35nm to Bíldudalur (BIBD), a pretty village on the shores of Arnarfjörður with a dark and scary secret. The history of sea monster sightings in Icelandic history, folk culture and literature is revealed in the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum.   

Our route climbs over highland area between the fjords of Dýrafjörður and Arnarfjörður to Thingeyri (BITE).   Thingeyri s one of the oldest settlements in the Westfjords.  It is believed to derive its name from a medieval assembly (þing) and has ruins of a medieval booth believed to have been used by visitors to the assembly.   

We cross the fjord then follow the road to our next stop Holt (BIHT).  Departing, we cross the  fjord to overfly Flateyri.  Flateyri has been a trading post since 1792 and saw its heyday in the 19th century when it was home to a fleet of decked vessels and the base for shark-hunting and whaling operations. The fishing industry has always been vital for the villages in the Westfjords, and in Flateyri the tradition of fishing has successfully been linked to tourism as the village has become a very popular destination for foreign sea anglers.

Next is Ingjaldssanður (BIID), a huge, lush valley facing the sea between Önundarfjörður and Dýrafjörður. Once home to dozens of farming folk, people used to get there by plane or boat.   These days the mountain-hemmed and beach-ended valley only has one working farm left. And lots of sheep. And a small church with an unusual Celtic cross on top.

Flying past the Sauðanes Lighthouse we make our way to Suðureyri (BIIA).  Suðureyri is a small Icelandic fishing village perched on the tip of the 13 km-long Súgandafjörður in the Westfjords. The community was isolated for years by the huge mountains and rough road that led over them. Now it is connected to Ísafjörður by a 5 km tunnel.  The popular clothing brand 66°North was originally founded in this small village by Hans Kristjánsson in 1924, making clothes for fishermen in his little workshop.

From here the route heads to Isafjordur (BIIS). 

Ísafjörður is by far the largest town in the Westfjords, hemmed in on all sides by towering peaks and the calm waters of Skutulsfjörður.  Up until the early 20th century, Ísafjörður was Iceland's third-largest settlement, and timber houses from the merchant era define the central part of town; unlike Akureyri and Reykjavík, the old town never suffered major fires that wiped out densely populated homes such as the charming Street Tangagata.  Today, however, some 70 percent of harbor revenue in Ísafjörður comes from tourism, and it is Iceland's third busiest port of call for cruise ships. Furthermore, the University Centre of the Westfjords attracts many international students seeking a Master's degree in coastal and marine management. 

We will conclude part one of the tour and the narrative here.  A second part will continue the route to the east and north eventually reaching Akureyri.

The appearance of the Icelandic landscapes benefit from cloudy weather and subdued lighting.  I have included Custom Jeff Scattered 2  weather theme with the flightplan.

FlightPlan)  Here

 Some of the airstrips are relatively short so chose your preferred aircraft with that consideration.  I will fly the default Caravan in the Scientific research livery.

Optional Freeware Downloads

•       BIRK - Reykjavik Airport
•        Definitive Iceland Lighthouse Megapack (103 unique models!)
•        BIST Stykkisholmur Iceland Scenery
•        BIID - Ingjaldssandur Airport
•        BIHT - Holt Airport
•        BIIA - Sudureyri Airstrip
•        BIRS - Reykjanes

Optional Payware Airports

•        BIKF Keflavik & BIRK Reykjavik Airports v2 MSFS by MK Studios | Contrail Shop

Recommend Departure time of 5:00 PM

Particulars:

•        Date and time: Saturday Aug 16, 19:00 UTC    
•        RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel
•        MFS Multiplayer: US Eastcoast Server

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!