Witchcraft and Icelandic Magic: A Journey into the Mystical Westfjords
Trace the runic traditions, ancient sorcery, and forbidden manuscripts that shaped Iceland's magical identity
This full-day tour invites travelers to explore the world of Icelandic witchcraft and magic, venturing from the volcanic interior to the remote coastlines of the Westfjords where sorcery, Norse shamanism, and runic traditions were once practiced in earnest. The journey covers landscapes deeply embedded in Saga literature, where the boundary between folklore and recorded history remains intentionally thin. Participants leave not only with knowledge but with a physical copy of the Galdrabók, a genuine Icelandic grimoire.
Iceland's relationship with magic is not simply the stuff of legend. Written records, surviving manuscripts, and the accounts of witch trials document a society that took sorcery seriously, executing its last convicted witch as late as the nineteenth century. The traditions explored on this tour span from pre-Christian seiðr practices to early modern spell books, reflecting centuries of belief that shaped daily life across the island.
The route passes through the land of the Sagas, a region where oral storytelling traditions were first committed to vellum and where völva, or female shamans, were documented as real social figures. Stopping at a sixteenth-century turf house and a seventeenth-century church in Reykjavik, the tour grounds abstract history in tangible, still-standing architecture. Each site adds a layer to a narrative that is as much about Icelandic cultural identity as it is about the supernatural.
The Westfjords segment of the tour centers on Strandir, one of Iceland's most isolated coastlines, where the Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft and the Sorcerer's Cottages preserve the physical remnants of a magical tradition that survived centuries of suppression. The remoteness of the setting is itself part of the experience, communicating why this region became synonymous with practitioners who operated outside the reach of ecclesiastical authority.
Tour Highlights
Handle and study centuries-old Icelandic manuscripts, including the legendary Galdrabók spell book, in an intimate private session held inside a historic Reykjavik building.
Hike the Grábrók Volcano, a site of mythological significance where ancient Icelandic beliefs attributed natural forces to spirits and sorcery.
Visit the Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft at Strandir in the Westfjords, home to immersive exhibits on runic magic, galdrastafir staves, and Iceland's occult history.
Explore the Sorcerer's Cottages at Kotbýli Kuklarans, where the story of Iceland's last witch burning in the late nineteenth century is preserved in its original remote setting.
Receive a complimentary copy of the new Galdrabók edition per booking, featuring Kari Palsson's English translation, the original Icelandic text, and the previously unpublished Jardskinna manuscript.
Travel through the Saga lands of western Iceland, tracing the geographical and cultural origins of the literary tradition that documented Norse shamanism and seiðr practice.
Learn how Icelandic occult symbols, once forbidden under ecclesiastical law, have migrated into contemporary culture including tattoo art, video games, and commercial branding.
Itinerary
The tour begins with a hike up Grábrók, an ancient volcanic crater embedded in Icelandic folkloric tradition. The site was historically regarded as a place where the raw energy of the earth could be channeled for divination and sorcery. The hike is rated easy and provides panoramic views of the surrounding lava field landscape.
Located in the Westfjords coastal village of Holmavik, the Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft presents an in-depth look at Iceland's magical traditions through original artifacts, reconstructed ritual objects, and scholarly exhibits on runic magic. The collection includes galdrastafir staves, accounts of witch trials, and documentation of the seiðr shamanic practice.
A short distance from the museum, the Sorcerer's Cottages offer a physical connection to Iceland's documented history of witchcraft prosecution. The site preserves the setting associated with the last witch burning in Iceland and provides context for understanding how magical practice intersected with community life and legal authority in remote Westfjords settlements.
Back in Reykjavik, a two-hour private session takes place inside a sixteenth-century turf house or a seventeenth-century church, where participants engage directly with centuries-old manuscripts. The session covers Saga literature, runic texts, and magical grimoires, providing scholarly context for the sites visited earlier in the day.
Each booking includes a copy of the newly published Galdrabók edition, which pairs Kari Palsson's English translation with the original Icelandic text and the previously unpublished Jardskinna manuscript. A guided discussion explores how the spells, runic symbols, and magical staves contained in the text were applied for healing, cursing, and divination across different historical periods.
What is Included
Included
- Full-day guided tour of the Westfjords and Reykjavik historic sites
- Admission to the Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft at Strandir
- Visit to the Sorcerer's Cottages at Kotbýli Kuklarans
- Grábrók Volcano hike with guide
- Two-hour private session with Old Icelandic manuscripts
- Complimentary copy of the new Galdrabók edition per booking
- Expert guide throughout the full itinerary
Not Included
- Personal travel insurance
- Meals and beverages during the tour
- Gratuities for guide and staff
- Hotel pickup and drop-off unless specified at booking
- Any items of a personal nature
Important Information
Reserve Your Place on This Tour
Secure your spot on one of Iceland's most distinctive cultural day tours, combining volcanic landscapes, remote coastal history, and rare manuscript access in a single itinerary. Each booking includes a complimentary copy of the Galdrabók.
Book Now
