Snæfellsnes Peninsula

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is located northwest of the city of Reykjavik and is a place that any fan of Iceland should add a list of things to see. Known as "Iceland in miniature" it brings together all the attractions that you can find in other areas of the country. It's hard not to recommend a trip to this part of Iceland to anyone visiting the country, and fans of literature will recognize many places from the Jules Verne novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth” that was based here. Along with the film, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" starring Brendan Fraser in 2008, he actually used the actual Snæfellsjökull volcano in the film.

The tour covers some of the highlights of Snæfellsnes such as the majestic Mount Kirkjufell and the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall, the stunning Djúpalónssandur beach, the beautifully sculpted Lóndrangar pinnacles, the Arnarstapi harbor and the cliffs along with other surprises that our guides pull out of the sleeve.

Itinerary:
-Berskerkjahraun Lavafields
Our first stop is a viewing point overlooking the region well marked by a rough and wild lava field called Berserkjahraun. The lavafield dates back to a volcanic eruption that took place 4000 years ago and has a brutal story to tell, well preserved in one of the Icelandic Sagas.
-Mt. Kirkjufell
When getting close to charming fishing village of Grundarfjörður we spot it's landmark and prominent mountain called Kirkjufell (Church Mountain). It would be an understatement to say that Kirkjufell is one of the most popular mountains in Iceland, as the image of this tall mountain reflected in the nearby water has become an image almost synonymous with the country itself. It stands at a height of approximately 463 meters and also has had its 15 minutes of fame on the silver screen playing the part of the ‘Arrowhead Mountain’ in the hit show ‘Game of Thrones’.
-Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfalls
Our next stop is by the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfalls where we can admire the falls with Church Mountain in the background. The old bridge over the falls used to be part of the old main road before it was moved to where it is now. A well maintained path takes you around the area and allows for the perfect pictures.
-Snæfellsjökull National Park
The name of the Peninsula has it from the 1500 m high glacier capped volcano, the regions landmark at the far end of the peninsula. The volcano is one of the most famous sites in Iceland due to the Jules Verne's novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth. In the novel, protagonists find and opening to a passage on top of the volcano, leading the the centre of earth. The icy covered volcano is a true nature gem and very rich of legends. Many believe the volcano to be one of seven main energy centres of the earth and it's mystique and special energy is felt by many.
-Djúpilónssandur Beach
Following on from the mountain and getting around Snæfellsjökull subglacial volcano, we aim for the black sand beaches of Djúpalónssandur. This area was once home to anywhere up to 60 fishing boats and also housed one of the most profitable fishing villages in the area but all of that has now gone leaving behind a beautiful and serene bay. As a reminder of the history of the area, the bay is still home to four lifting stones that were once used by fishermen to test their strength. The minimum a man would have to lift was a 54 kg stone to hip height otherwise he would not be considered fit for service. There is also though a stone weighing 23 kg called Amlóði (Useless), 100 kg called Hálfsterkur (half strength) and 154 kg called Fullsterkur (full strength). Once everyone has lifted a stone and proven themselves worthy we will be able to move on to our next stop at Lóndrangar.
-Lóndrangar Pinnacles
Lóndrangar is a beautiful rock formation, rising some 75 and 61 meters above the surrounding landscape. They are volcanic plugs of basalt, a remnants from a bigger crater that has mostly been eroded away. A good hiking path allows for exploration in the area and take you to great viewing points where you can also observe seabirds that nest in the sea cliffs during the summer months.
-Arnarstapi Harbor and Sea-cliffs
Only a 10 minuets drive is to our next destination, Arnarstapi harbor. Arnarstapi is a tiny fishing village that sits on the southern edge of the peninsula that stands a monument to rich history Iceland has with the fishing industry as well as its rich history with stories and sagas.
When it comes to breathtaking nature though, Arnarstapi may just win the day as you look over the cliffs that this area has in abundance. Striking basalt columns and curiously cubic rock formations are interlaced with thin walkways caused by years of erosion as the land fights against a sea that wants to reclaim it. Bring some extra memory cards for your camera and thank us later.

From Arnarstapi we start our return back to Reykjavik including some extra stops added by your guide.