This tour is spot on. A perfect combination of rough lunar landscapes, mesmerizing waterfalls, bizarre rock formations, and Icelandic folklore.
Tour Operator: Holiday Tours
Highlights of the tour:
Berserkjarhraun – Lava Field that was created 4000 years ago after the eruption of 3 nearby volcanoes.
Kirkjufell mountain – As seen on Game of Thrones plus a picturesque waterfall in the area.
Saxhóll – The dormant volcanic crater on the Peninsula. 3000 years old and 100 meters high. Yes, you read that right. There is a staircase leading to the top, so the walk is relaxing. Note: Saxhóll is not available December-March.
Djúpalónssandur – a unique black sand beach
Arnarstapi – Small and beautiful fishing village
Búðakirkja “Black Church” – known for its unique beauty and stunning surroundings.
Ytri-Tunga – Beautiful golden-colored beach and a seal colony
TOUR DESCRIPTION
Your tour will start with pick-up directly from your accommodation in Reykjavík. Then we will head directly out of the city – making our west towards Snæfellsnes. Approximately 30 minutes out of the city we’ll reach Hvalfjarðargöng – a underwater tunnel built in 1998 to simplify the drive between Reykjavík and Akranes/Borgarnes. The tunnel is 5770 meters long and reaches a depth of 165 meters below sea level.
Once we’re in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, we’ll start our day with the Lava Field – Berserkjarhraun. Located between Stykkishólmur and Grundarfjörður it’s a 4000-year-old lava field. Truly a magnificent sight.
Next up is Kirkjufell mountain. If you have watched Game of Thrones, you might have seen it already, but nothing compares to viewing it withy our own eyes. Kirkjufell is actually claimed to be the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Maybe not a bad idea to catch a photo here? Don’t worry, we have time.
We’re continuing and our next stop is Saxhóll – the extinct volcanic crater. We’ll walk up there – it’s considered an easy route of approximately 10 minutes by foot. Note: Saxhóll is not available December-March.
Once we have checked out the volcanic crater, we’re back on the bus and making our way down to Djúpalónssandur, otherwise known as the Black Sand Beach. Talk about a picturesque moment. You will want your camera out here to catch the breathtaking lava rock formations. Fun fact, this area used to be the home up to dozens of fishing boats being one of the most prolific fishing villages on the Peninsula – but today it’s uninhabited. The fishermen used the four lifting stones that are there to test their strength.
Next up on our journey is Arnarstapi – the small and cute fishing village. Here we’ll walk around the cliff area and learn about the sculpture of Bárður Snæfellsás.
Búðakirkja – the Black Church – is our next stop. Known for its unique beauty, the church will provide insight into the Icelandic history and you’ll see historical artifacts dating back to the 19th century.
Getting closer to the end of our tour, we’ll head to our final stop of the day: Ytri-Tunga. It’s a golden sand beach on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula known for being a seal colony.
To spice things up a bit, we can add different extra activities to the tour for you. You can choose one during the checkout process here to the right:
- Kayak Tour: Get the best view possible of Kirkjufell, Europe’s most photographed mountain! On this 2-hour long guided tour, you will paddle along the beautiful Icelandic coastline and have the chance to view this magnificent mountain from all angles. Along the way, there are stops at various scenic locations where you can take photos, meet some curious seals, float in the sea or just enjoy the beautiful view. We guarantee your friends will be jealous of your photos. Note: Only available from May-September.
- Lava Cave: The area all around the glacier contains hundreds of lava tubes, which makes the area special for those interested in caves. The cave itself is an 8000-year-old lava tube created by a volcanic eruption from a nearby crater in the Purkhólar crater family. As the lava rushed down the hill in a lava river it began to cool on the surface, creating a crust on top of the lava river. As the eruption stopped, all the lava from underneath this crust continued to drain out. That eventually left behind and empty tube with a roof on top that gradually cooled down.
It’ll be a day to remember! Once we’ve concluded all our stops, we’ll head back south into Reykjavík for drop-off.
