West Ranga Lodge is one of Iceland’s most productive Atlantic Salmon fisheries, renowned for its consistency, volume and setting. Fed by natural springs and with thousands of fish landed each season, it combines prolific action with the dramatic beauty of southern Iceland.
The river offers thirty kilometres of private water, divided into ten beats rotated by eighteen rods. Pools are accessed by vehicle and waded easily across soft volcanic sand. Salmon to 20lb are common, with every stretch presenting fresh chances. The water suits both single- and double-handed rods, making it ideal for anglers of all styles and abilities.
Techniques shift with the season. Early sessions often call for sink tips and weighted flies, while summer warmth brings floating lines and the thrill of skating Sunray Shadows across the surface. From the gentle runs to the crashing falls of Árbæjarfoss, each pool has its own rhythm.
Fishing is arranged as two rods per guide, ensuring expert local knowledge is always close at hand. Rod sharing is available, and each day is split into two six-hour sessions, allowing time to rest and enjoy fine dining while overlooking the home pool.
After long hours on the water, the lodge provides a warm welcome. Facilities include a wader room, comfortable lounge, outdoor hot tub, well-stocked tackle shop and complimentary Wi-Fi. With excellent service and Icelandic hospitality, it balances a serious fishery with holiday comfort.
For anglers who like prolific Salmon fishing, varied water and the atmosphere of a classic Icelandic lodge, West Ranga delivers a holiday that sets the benchmark for Atlantic Salmon in the North Atlantic.
The season runs from 20th of June to 20th of October.
Season: 20th of June to 20th of October
Peak: July 15th to August 25th
Weight: 25lb
Average Weight: 9lb
Season: 20th of June to 20th of October
Peak: All July
Weight: 9lb
Average Weight: 2.5lb
Depart Any international airport - Arrive Keflavík
Depart Any international airport - Arrive Keflavík
Depart: TBA
Arrive: Keflavík International Airport
General Note
General Note
Please note that depending on what international airport you depart from, travel to this destination may involve an overnight flight and/or an overnight hotel. Once flights are available, your itinerary will be finalised.
Travel from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik
Travel from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik
Once you’ve landed in Keflavík and collected your bags, you’ll need to take a taxi (not included) to our designated pick-up point in Reykjavík. The journey takes approximately one hour, depending on traffic.
Travel from Reykjavik to Hella
Travel from Reykjavik to Hella
Once you arrive in Reykjavik you will be picked up by a representative from West Ranga and transferred to the lodge. The journey time is around two hours, depending on traffic. Check in time is from 2.00pm.
Once you arrive at the West Ranga, the lodge manager will show you to your room provide you with details of the fishing rotation and beat maps and introduce you to your guide for your first evenings fishing.
You will leave the lodge with your guide around 3.00pm by 4×4 vehicle and head to your beat for the evening.
Note: Lunch is not served on arrival, so we recommend having something to eat in Reykjavik before you catch the transfer.
Fishing
Fishing
Your first half-day of fishing on the West Ranga will start around 3.00pm, and you will fish through until around 9.00pm. The fishing is based on two rods per guide and four anglers per beat. In your first six-hour fishing session, you’ll get to fish all the pools in your beat.
Once the fishing day is done, you will head back to the lodge to take a shower and get ready for your evening meal.
West Ranga Lodge
Overnight Accommodation
West Ranga Lodge in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Fishing
Fishing
Over your next three full fishing days, you’ll get to experience the fantastic Atlantic Salmon fishing available on the West Ranga River.
The lodge has exclusive access to ten private beats, spread over approximately 30 kilometres of double bank fishing, and it’s widely considered the go-to destination for travelling anglers looking to catch some good numbers of Atlantic Salmon.
West Ranga Lodge
Overnight Accommodation
West Ranga Lodge in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Fishing
Fishing
Your last half-day of fishing on the West Ranga will start around 7.00am, and you will fish through until around 1.00pm.
Once the morning fishing session is done, you will head back to the lodge and enjoy some lunch before getting packed up and ready to check out.
Travel from Hella to Keflavik
Travel from Hella to Keflavik
After checking out of the lodge, a representative from our partners will transfer you back to the airport for your onward journey. The transfer takes approximately two hours, giving you time to reflect on the memories and experiences from your time on the water, before boarding your flight home.
Depart Keflavík - Arrive Any international airport
Depart Keflavík - Arrive Any international airport
Depart: Keflavík International Airport
Arrive: TBA
Prices are shown per person and are based on single rooms and two anglers per guide unless stated otherwise. All prices are accurate at the time of publication but may vary slightly depending on factors such as travel dates, booking time, airline pricing, or fuel surcharges set by the operators. Flights are always priced at the most competitive rates available at the time of enquiry to ensure you receive the best possible value when booking. Proudly an ATOL bonded company, our trips are complete packages, including all flights, transfers, accommodation, and fantastic fishing and shooting experiences.
Please note: The itinerary shown on our tour page is an example itinerary based on our standard five-day programme with four days of fishing. The dates listed below represent what’s currently available for this year. Depending on the departure selected, these trips may be shorter or longer than our standard packages.
| Travel Available Between These Dates | Days | Price | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/07/2026 | 19/07/2026 | 4 | £3,649 | Sold Out |
| 24/07/2026 | 26/07/2026 | 3 | £4,069 | Enquire |
| 26/07/2026 | 28/07/2026 | 3 | £4,069 | Enquire |
| 31/07/2026 | 01/08/2026 | 2 | £4,069 | Enquire |
| 23/08/2026 | 25/08/2026 | 3 | £3,599 | Sold Out |
| 27/08/2026 | 29/08/2026 | 3 | £3,451 | Sold Out |
If your preferred week or travel dates do not appear in the calendar above, please get in touch. Many lodges release availability in stages, and some dates depend on tides, seasons, guide schedules, or short-notice changes. By speaking with us directly, you will receive the most up to date availability and clear guidance on securing the strongest options before popular weeks fill. Enquire now and we will check live availability for the dates you are considering.
Our ATOL protection, means you have financial security on your booking.
All our destinations are thoroughly researched by our team of experts.
We have worked hard to be able to provide you with the best prices possible.
We offer complete holiday packages, making booking a holiday simple.
"We had a marvellous three days fishing, the fishing gods really took our side. The river conditions and numbers of fish was 100% made all the better to the attentive guides and lodge staff. If you like Salmon fishing and wish to catch some fish for a change we highly recommend it."
"We stayed overnight in Reykjavik before joining the lodge. Travelling from London to Reykjavik and then on to a half day of fishing until 9pm would have been very tiring.
We had our tackle disinfected at Reykjavik airport for a modest fee. Our guide told us that the lodge will now disinfect tackle without charge.
Wine at the lodge was expensive for what it was (but probably no more so than elsewhere in Iceland). We noticed that a number of anglers who were on return visits had brought their own bottles, which the lodge permits.
Our guide was excellent, all fish caught were very fresh-run, fat and hard fighting. A good proportion of anglers were sharing a rod, as were we. Given the length of the fishing day, there is plenty of fishing for both anglers. The lodge permits grilse to be killed and will freeze fish for anglers who wish to take them home, but insulation needs to be provided by the angler."
"Nice trip, nice lodge.
The guide in Iceland from Argentina, a nice guy and good fishermen, was just for two weeks on duty and clearly not sufficiently knowledgeable in comparison to his local colleagues.
It is the the lodges responsibility to provide the new guides a sufficient training before they get in touch with the customer."
"Had an amazing trip to West Ranga! The guide was fantastic, and a huge thanks to the Sportquest team for making everything run so smoothly.
"
"River was beautiful
Listen to the guides - they are excellent"
"Everything went without a hitch. My own flights on Play Airlines were perfect. Lodge pickup was timely.
Lodge is comfortable and their system is flawless.
Rooms could be a little bigger. Good is varied and. Plentiful
Guide was really good, worked hard and took very good care of us. Other guests were very pleasant and sociable.
Fishing was also excellent despite the cold, windy and Rainey weather.
Good trip start to finish!"
"From start to finish our fishing trip to the West Ranga Lodge was amazing. Sportquest organised everything and all we needed to do was turn up at the airport and fly to Iceland.
The West Ranga Lodge couldn’t be more accommodating with a friendly welcoming and atmosphere. The food is first class as was the wine.
Most importantly the fishing was epic with many fish caught and of course those that got away.
I’d highly recommend a salmon fishing trip to the West Ranga Lodge, that’s why myself and the team have now been three times."
"Fabulous location. Excellent accommodation. Food was incredible. Our guide was incredibly patient despite our lack of prior fly fishing. He was a highlight of the trip.
Unfortunately, the fishing was marred by the lack of fish across the entire river. The salmon remained at sea and had not entered the river in volume. Hence, many groups did not land any fish despite being there several days.
Despite this, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip and will hopefully return next year or the year after."
West Ranga Lodge is consists of two main buildings; first, there is the leading block which houses the main dining room, kitchens and lounge area. The lounge area is ideal for relaxing with a nice drink on the comfortable leather couches and chairs while unwinding and sharing the days fishing experiences. This central block has a commanding view over the river right at the bottom of the waterfalls and the home pool. The bar has beer on tap as well as many spirits to tempt you. Outside you will find a wader room and drying room to change your clothes at the end of each day. The lodge also has an outside hot tub to soak away all those aches and pains after a long day fly fishing. In total, the lodge has 22 rooms that all provide a private bathroom with shower.
During your stay at the lodge, you can enjoy a daily breakfast buffet, lunch and evening meal in the restaurant located close to the river. The food is prepared every day by the very experienced “top-notch” chefs and served by friendly staff. Mealtimes to work with the fishing are as follows: Breakfast: 06:00 – 10:00, Lunch: 13:00 – 15:00 and Dinner: 21:00
At West Ranga Fly Fishing Lodge there is a small shop where you can find all the fishing equipment you need to fish in Iceland. Staff are always on hand to help you find the right tackle. In the shop, you will find brands like Rio and Sage. So, if you need leaders, tippets, flies, hooks, rods, reels, clothing, and accessories, you will find everything you need in the shop. You can pay with almost any credit or debit cards.
For your convenience, the Lodge also offers free high-speed wireless access. So you can check e-mails or send bragging photos to your friends, family and fellow anglers back home.
The West Ranga Lodge is situated only a short drive from Reykjavík in the South of Iceland and is one of the most famous Salmon Lodges in the world and a name at the top of many bucket lists. The West Ranga River runs for over 70 kilometres; its headwaters start near the foothills of the spectacular mount Hekla before it flows towards the sea and joins with the Hólsá. The river is entirely spring-fed from its source, meaning both water temperature and flow are consistent. Iconic amongst the freshwater fly fishing community, it’s home to abundant populations of Atlantic Salmon to over 20lb in weight.
Famed for its beauty, top-quality pools and high volume fishing, the river has often been the most productive Atlantic Salmon river in Iceland, usually responsible for an annual catch of over 6,000 Salmon. In 2009, it boasted an unprecedented 10,000 Salmon landed in a single season, making it second only to the Ponoi River in Russia in terms of overall productivity.
With all rods fishing exclusively across 10 private beats, spread over approximately 30 kilometres of water, it’s no wonder that West Ranga Lodge has become the go-to destination for travelling freshwater fly fishing rods. Whether you are new to Atlantic Salmon or fully experienced, you will enjoy your time both staying at the lodge and fishing this delightful river system.
The West Ranga River is one of the most famous Atlantic Salmon fishing rivers globally and is famed for its abundant fish populations. Approximately just one hour drive from Reykjavík in the South of Iceland, it’s a popular destination for travelling rods and attracts hundreds of anglers each year.
The river has an average width of 50 metres, with varied topography; it features gentle flats and long guiding runs punctuated by impressive multi-tiered falls. The river is entirely spring-fed, which means both water temperature and flow are consistent throughout the year. As a result, it never has low water, and it is seldom if ever, coloured due to flooding and heavy rains. Often the only meteorological threat to anglers is the wind, but thanks to the double bank fishing, it’s never usually a problem.
Salmon populate most of the central river; however, the best fishing gets found from the Árbæjarfoss waterfalls, 15km downstream to the junction of the East Ranga.
Árbæjarfoss, also written as Arbajarfoss, is a waterfall near the small town of Hella. Named after a nearby farm and church, Árbær, it’s one of the most famous spots on the Ranga and in Iceland for Salmon fishing.
Approximately 35m wide and 7m to 10m tall, Salmon on the Ranga must pass this structure to reach their breeding grounds upstream. Anglers who fish in this famous area will probably notice the concrete on the sides of the waterfall, which is a Salmon ladder designed to help the fish on their journey.
One thing that is slightly unusual on the West Rangá is that there is minimal natural spawning habitat. Therefore, it relies heavily on a successful smolt-releasing programme. This programme, which began in 1989, combined with virtually perfect water conditions throughout the season, has made the West Ranga what it is today.
The Atlantic Salmon fishing at West Ranga Lodge gets spread over ten beats, which provides approximately 30 kilometres of double bank fishing.
On the majority of the pools, it’s possible to fish with single-handed rods; however, due to its size and prevailing winds, it’s often better to fish with double-handed rods. The longer rods will allow you to cover the larger pools more efficiently and offer better control on a long line through the drift.
As the river is entirely spring-fed, the water tends to be cooler than other Icelandic rivers. For this reason, sunken fly techniques, often in conjunction with sink tip lines (or sinking leaders), are frequently more productive. In addition, the fish will usually respond to smaller flies fishing on floating lines and hitched and stripped Sunray Shadows during warmer weather. If you’re travelling to West Ranga Lodge to sample the fishing, read our blog on Atlantic Salmon Tips On Depth & Speed.
The fishing on the Ranga is easy wading, and the bottom is predominantly made up of black volcanic sand. All the beats on the river get accessed by car, so there’s minimal walking involved. It’s all relatively safe and comfortable and suitable for anglers of all fishing and physical abilities.
All the fishing is based on two rods per guide. All the guides are incredibly experienced anglers who know the river very well. They are service-minded, speak perfect English and are good fun, ask them anything, and they will do their best to ensure you have the best time.
Having a guide with you for the duration of your trip can make a huge difference in your success. Not only will they help you catch the Salmon and put you in the right area, but they’re also a huge help when it comes to landing them. There’s nothing worse than losing a fish because of landing difficulties.
One of the unique things about fishing at West Ranga is how flexible the fishery can be; all trips can be tailored entirely to suit your needs. A maximum of 20 rods per day are allowed on the beats, but all get fished on a rotation schedule, provided on arrival; this ensures every rod gets to fish their fair share of waterfalls and selection of pools.
On the Ranga a popular feature is the ability to rod share, so two anglers can share one rod, but only one can fish at any one time. Rod sharing is an excellent way of reducing costs and making the trip even more cost-effective. If you do rod share, then in general, you also have to share a room, unless there’s space available for you to have your own. There’s a small supplement for this if there is, and it’s on a strictly first-come, first-serve basis.
The fishing days at the Lodge get set in even numbers, so it’s possible to have 2,4,6 or 8 days fishing. However, it’s worth mentioning that you’ll fish a half-day at the very start of your holiday and then a half-day on departure day. So, for example, if you book four days fishing, you’ll enjoy a half-day on arrival, two full days back to back, and then a half-day on the day you depart.
To find out more about West Ranga Lodge and Atlantic Salmon fishing in Iceland, visit our YouTube channel.
Fishing on the West Ranga river gets split into two daily six-hour sessions, from 7.00am to 1.00pm and then from 4.00pm to 10.00pm. The lengthy amount of fully guided fishing time you get is one of the main reasons why many anglers decide to rod share, that and the fact that rod sharing is very economical.
The number of fish anglers can expect to catch will vary significantly on angling ability, but a competent fly angler could land anything from 2-6 fish per day, with many more lost on the way. Of course, as with any form of fishing, river conditions and weather affect average catches, so these figures are only a guide.
There is a strict policy in Iceland that visiting anglers must have their fishing tackle sterilised before entering the country, which is something a veterinary surgeon can easily perform. They can then provide you with a certificate and a signed inventory of what has been sterilised, which will need presenting to the customs officers at Keflavik airport. The most critical items to be treated are rods, reel/line, waders and flies.
Another and more convenient alternative before entering the country is handing your fishing equipment over to customs officers at arrival. They will then be able to disinfect your tackle for you. This takes around 15-20 minutes and costs approximately €40 per person.
We had a marvellous three days fishing, the fishing gods really took our side. The river conditions and numbers of fish was 100% made all the better to the attentive guides and lodge staff. If you like Salmon fishing and wish to catch some fish for a change we highly recommend it.
Paul, thanks for all the information in setting things up as always you are a great help.
We stayed overnight in Reykjavik before joining the lodge. Travelling from London to Reykjavik and then on to a half day of fishing until 9pm would have been very tiring.
We had our tackle disinfected at Reykjavik airport for a modest fee. Our guide told us that the lodge will now disinfect tackle without charge.
Wine at the lodge was expensive for what it was (but probably no more so than elsewhere in Iceland). We noticed that a number of anglers who were on return visits had brought their own bottles, which the lodge permits.
Our guide was excellent, all fish caught were very fresh-run, fat and hard fighting. A good proportion of anglers were sharing a rod, as were we. Given the length of the fishing day, there is plenty of fishing for both anglers. The lodge permits grilse to be killed and will freeze fish for anglers who wish to take them home, but insulation needs to be provided by the angler.
Ron Thank you so much for your feedback it was a pleasure toi have you all on a trip. We look forward in having you return soon
Regards Peter
Nice trip, nice lodge.
The guide in Iceland from Argentina, a nice guy and good fishermen, was just for two weeks on duty and clearly not sufficiently knowledgeable in comparison to his local colleagues.
It is the the lodges responsibility to provide the new guides a sufficient training before they get in touch with the customer.
Thank you for your review! We truly appreciate all feedback, as it helps us improve our experiences.
I'm sorry to hear that your guide didn’t have the same level of knowledge as some of their colleagues. Everyone has to start somewhere, but we understand how important expertise is for our guests. So we will past this feedback onto the lodge.
If you ever choose to visit this destination again, I can assure you that Sportquest will be happy to arrange a different guide for you.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts!
Harrison
Had an amazing trip to West Ranga! The guide was fantastic, and a huge thanks to the Sportquest team for making everything run so smoothly.
Thank you for your review! We greatly value your feedback, as it helps us enhance our service.
Harrison
River was beautiful
Listen to the guides - they are excellent
Thank you for taking the time to share your review! We truly appreciate your feedback, as it plays a vital role in helping us refine and enhance the experiences we provide.
Everything went without a hitch. My own flights on Play Airlines were perfect. Lodge pickup was timely.
Lodge is comfortable and their system is flawless.
Rooms could be a little bigger. Good is varied and. Plentiful
Guide was really good, worked hard and took very good care of us. Other guests were very pleasant and sociable.
Fishing was also excellent despite the cold, windy and Rainey weather.
Good trip start to finish!
Thanks for your great review! We’re glad everything went smoothly and that you enjoyed the lodge, guiding, and fishing. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Harrison
From start to finish our fishing trip to the West Ranga Lodge was amazing. Sportquest organised everything and all we needed to do was turn up at the airport and fly to Iceland.
The West Ranga Lodge couldn’t be more accommodating with a friendly welcoming and atmosphere. The food is first class as was the wine.
Most importantly the fishing was epic with many fish caught and of course those that got away.
I’d highly recommend a salmon fishing trip to the West Ranga Lodge, that’s why myself and the team have now been three times.
So glad you had a great trip Zachary. I did see some of the pictures and they looked amazing!
Regards Peter
Fabulous location. Excellent accommodation. Food was incredible. Our guide was incredibly patient despite our lack of prior fly fishing. He was a highlight of the trip.
Unfortunately, the fishing was marred by the lack of fish across the entire river. The salmon remained at sea and had not entered the river in volume. Hence, many groups did not land any fish despite being there several days.
Despite this, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip and will hopefully return next year or the year after.
Our Wilderness Heli Fishing expedition offers travelling rods the chance to experience world-class fly fishing above the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden. This fully guided trip utilises four different helipads, flying anglers out to some of the most beautiful and remote spots in the country, wetting a fly for a for Brown Trout, Arctic Char, Grayling and Pike.
Olderø Lodge on the Lakselv is an authentic piece of fly fishing paradise in the land of the midnight sun. With a vast array of different beats, easy wading, two-handed fly fishing, world-class guides and first-class accommodation, it's no surprise that the destination is now at the very top of many freshwater fly fishing anglers wishlists.
The Belousiha River is one of the most famous Salmon rivers in Russia and one which is well known and regarded amongst adventurous travelling freshwater fly fishing anglers. Located in the extreme northwest of Russia on the Kola Peninsula, one of the largest Peninsula's in Europe, it's a relatively small but exquisite looking river set amidst spectacular and changing scenery.
Winsnes Lodge on the River Gaula is a great destination for any Salmon angler wishing to experience a well run Salmon river. The Gaula River appears in the top five rivers in Norway most years for its regular catch statistic’s and Winsnes Lodge is a very large contributor to these statistics.
A trip to the Laxá In Aðaldal in Iceland offers travelling anglers the chance to experience genuine double-handed fishing and fishing for some of the most significant Atlantic Salmon in the country. The trips are based around the peak weeks of the season and ones which have historically produced the biggest numbers and sizes of fish.
