Iceland’s dramatic scenery is written in fire and ice. From black sand beaches and steaming lava fields to glacier‑capped volcanoes, every valley and fjord tells a geological story millions of years in the making. Understanding this volcanic landscape not only deepens your appreciation of the country, it also helps you choose where to stay and what to explore as you travel through the west of Iceland.
Iceland sits astride the Mid‑Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates slowly pull apart. As they drift, magma rises to fill the gap, creating new crust and feeding the island’s many volcanoes. This restless movement is why Iceland experiences frequent earthquakes, eruptions, and the geothermal activity that powers hot springs, geysers, and natural baths.
In the west, you can see this geology up close without venturing far from comfortable bases like Ourhotels.is properties. The Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, close to Borgarnes, is perfectly placed in a region shaped by ancient lava flows and glacial rivers. Nearby, you’ll find the powerful Deildartunguhver hot spring, bubbling from deep within the earth, and the lava‑formed waterfalls Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, where clear water emerges straight from porous basalt. Staying at Hvítá Inn makes it easy to explore these features during the day and return to a warm, quiet room in the evening.
As you follow the coastline north and west, the volcanic story continues on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Here, the iconic Snæfellsjökull volcano rises above lava fields and rugged cliffs, a glacier‑topped giant that inspired Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” The Stykkishólmur Inn, part of Ourhotels.is, is an ideal base for discovering this area. From Stykkishólmur, you can join boat tours among basalt islands, walk over old lava flows, and visit beaches where layers of ash and lava reveal the history of past eruptions. The town itself sits on ancient volcanic rock, softened by colorful houses and a working harbor.
Further north, the Westfjords offer a wilder, more remote expression of Iceland’s volcanic origins. Deep fjords were carved by glaciers that once ground their way through layers of basalt, leaving behind steep mountains and dramatic coastlines. Ísafjörður, the region’s main town, is cradled by these towering formations. At Ísafjörður Inn, another welcoming Ourhotels.is property, you’re surrounded by evidence of Iceland’s fiery past: columnar basalt cliffs, old lava plateaus, and valleys shaped by the interplay of ice and volcanic rock. From here, you can hike, kayak, or simply wander the shoreline and see how the sea continues to sculpt the land.
Volcanic activity in Iceland is not just about dramatic eruptions. It also creates the hot springs and geothermal pools that many visitors come to enjoy. Across the west, you’ll find natural baths and spa facilities where you can soak in mineral‑rich water heated by the earth’s interior. Using Ourhotels.is as your base, you can plan a route that links these relaxing stops with key geological sites: start in Borgarfjörður at Hvítá Inn, continue to the Stykkishólmur Inn on Snæfellsnes, and finish at Ísafjörður Inn in the Westfjords for a complete journey through Iceland’s volcanic west.
Traveling through this landscape, it helps to remember that Iceland is still forming. New lava fields appear, geothermal areas shift, and the coastline slowly changes as the sea meets volcanic rock. By choosing locally rooted accommodations like Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, and Ísafjörður Inn with Ourhotels.is, you stay close to the very features you came to see, while enjoying comfort, local knowledge, and easy access to the natural wonders around you.
Whether you’re tracing the path of ancient lava flows, standing at the edge of a basalt cliff, or soaking in a hot spring under the midnight sun, understanding Iceland’s volcanic landscape turns every view into a story. In the west of Iceland, that story is always within reach—just outside the door of your inn.
