2 Day Snaefellsnes Peninsula & West Iceland: Lava Cave & Northern Lights
Experience the magical West Iceland on this excellent 2-day expedition to Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Borgarfjörður. Get a chance to explore hot springs, lava fields, waterfalls, black beaches and see the Snæfellsjökull glacier. You’ll also enter an 8,000-year-old lava cave and try to catch a glimpse of the mystical Northern Lights. Snæfellsnes Peninsula or ‘Iceland in […]
Duration
2 Days
Highlights
✓ West Iceland ✓ Snaefellsnes ✓ Hraunfossar ✓ Barnafoss ✓ Hvalfjörður ✓ Reykholt ✓ Arnarstap ✓ Kirkjufel ✓ Vatnshellir Cave ✓ Lóndrangar ✓ Djúpalónssandur ✓ Ytri Tunga Beach ✓ Búðakirkja
Included
✓ Two day guided minibus tour of the West Coast and Snæfellsnes Peninsula ✓ One night in accommodation on the West Coast, breakfast included ✓ Lava Cave Tour ✓ Professional English speaking guide ✓ Northern Lights spotting ✓ Taxes
Experience the magical West Iceland on this excellent 2-day expedition to Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Borgarfjörður. Get a chance to explore hot springs, lava fields, waterfalls, black beaches and see the Snæfellsjökull glacier. You’ll also enter an 8,000-year-old lava cave and try to catch a glimpse of the mystical Northern Lights.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula or ‘Iceland in Miniature’ has to offer many of Iceland’s natural formations for you to experience. You will have a chance to explore the fascinating and often overlooked West region of Iceland.
A professional guide and driver will pick you up in the morning to start of your exciting journey to the West coast, where you will first visit Hvalfjörður fjord and Deildartunguhver hot spring geothermal area, hear about Vikings and Sagas and enjoy magically waterfalls cascade.
After spending a restful night at one of the best available hotels on the West Coast, you will hike along a path that takes you past dramatic cliffs, explore a black pebble beach, descend into a lava tube, and photograph Iceland’s most iconic mountain, Kirkjufell, all in the shadow of the impressive Snæfellsjökull glacier.
You will enjoy a good night sleep at an excellent hotel in the West Coast before you carry on your journey. You will hike along trails, past staggering cliffs, descend into a lava tube, visit Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach and of course the unique Kirkjufell mountain will greet you with its phenomenal features and photogenic nature. All of this with the amazing Snæfellsjökull glacier watching from a distance.
This is an opportunity to explore some of Iceland’s most popular locations and some of its lesser known hidden gems. Check availability by selecting a date.
Daily itinerary
Day 1 – Borgarfjörður Valley, Waterfalls, and Viking Heritage
Your two day tour in west Iceland is about to begin. Prepare to explore amazing things like, lava fields, dreamy waterfalls, dark caves, black and white beaches, historical locations and the mighty Snæfellsjökull glacier of the west.
You will be picked up in the morning by a guide and a driver and you will be heading straight towards the mountain Esja, which overlooks Reykjavík. Driving along side it you will reach Hvalfjörður fjords, the name of it translates to “whale fjord”. You will enjoy the features of the area, towering snow capped mountains and open fields. You will be able to see an old abandoned naval base, which was occupied by the British during WWII.
After Hvalfjörður you will head on to Borgarfjörður, a region filled with historical heritage, Viking sailors reached land and settled there after leaving their homeland.
Reykholtsdalur valley is your next location, there you can learn all about the forces of Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring. From there you will journey to the village of Reykholt, where Snorri Sturluson, the poet, lawmaker and historian used to live during the Middle ages. Snorri wrote many codices that are invaluable records of mythology and the Old Norse language.
Not far from there are you will find two very different but equally beautiful waterfalls, Hraunsfossar and Barnafoss. Hraunfossar are a series of streams rushing through dark lava fields and Barnafoss, a bright blue stream speeding through a narrow ravine.
You will then head to your accommodation for a restful sleep. Keep an eye out for the magical Aurora at night, especially if the sky is starry and clear.
Day 2 – Snaefellsnes Peninsula and The Journey to the Centre of the Earth
The glacier of the west, Snæfellsjökull towers over the Peninsula in all its glory. The glacier played an important role in the novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth, by Jules Verne, where it was the opening point to a great underground journey. You will have a nice breakfast and then head out for a adventure where you will be exploring the underground.
Once you have reached the Snæfellsnes Peninsula you will visit Gerðuberg Cliff, a large basalt column wall. Next you will be able to explore a white sand beach at Ytri-Tunga, which is unusual for Icelandic beaches, most of them have black sand. The sand in Ytri-Tunga is golden and the location is great for spotting seals.
The village of Arnarstapi is your next destination, a small fishing village surrounded by basalt ravines and lava pillars. You can see old fisherman landing spots and you can follow a path leading you along the coast with the Atlantic Ocean waves crushing against Gatklettur arch rock.
You will head to Djúpalónssandur, a black pebble beach, to get there you will trek through a unique field of lava pillars and rocks, a very special location, unlike anything else. When you reach the beach you can walk on the pebble shore and take in all the incredible features of the location.
As the Professor Otto Lidenbrok along with his uncle Axel from Verne’s novel, you will venture into the volcanic tube towards earths core, you wont reach the centre of the earth but Vatnshellir lava cave is an exhilarating experience. In the cave you will follow a path of lava that was created over 8,000 years ago.
After you resurface from the lava cave you will continue to explore Snæfellsnes and head to the northern part of the Peninsula. The iconic Kirkjufell mountain will welcome you with all of its unique features. As you may know, the mountain was featured in the popular series, Game of Thrones and has become one of Icelands most popular sites.
On your way back to the capital, you will past Hraunsfjörður, a beautiful fjords surrounded by mountains covered in snow you will be able to see the dark lava field of Berserkjahraun, and your guide will give you some knowledge about the road’s construction.
Remember to keep a look out for the magical sight in the sky when it gets dark, the Northern Lights with their unbelievable colours cant wait to put on a show for you. You then will reach your accommodation in Reykjavík in the evening where you can relax, that concludes your journey to West Iceland.
General Information
✓ Pickup time: 08:00
✓ Pick up might take 30 minutes. Please be ready at your selected location. Read carefully if you will be picked up at your hotel or at the nearest designated area (Bus Stop). For walking distance to bus stops, please check busstop.is
✓ Easy to Moderate
✓ Oct-Mar
✓ No minimum age. However, 5 year old is the age limit for the lava cave. If children under those ages are on the tour then an adult needs to stay with the child while others do this activity.
✓ Two day guided minibus tour of the West Coast and Snæfellsnes Peninsula
✓ One night in accommodation on the West Coast, breakfast included
✓ Lava Cave Tour
✓ Professional English speaking guide
✓ Northern Lights spotting
✓ Taxes
• Lunch and Dinner
• Camera
• Warm clothes (first layer)
• Waterproof clothing (second layer)
• Hiking boots (available for rent when booking)
• Joy and happiness!
• Customers travelling on their own will receive a single room. Reservations for 2 people will be allocated a double room. For bookings of 3 or more, triple rooms will automatically be allocated. For example, a group of 8 will receive 2 triple rooms and 1 double. If these arrangements do not meet your requirements, please contact the provider.
• The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and therefore cannot be guaranteed, but this itinerary is designed to maximise your chances to see them if weather allows.
• It can happen, in the case of extreme weather, that an activity is cancelled. If your chosen activity is cancelled, we will assist you with rearranging or booking other activities when possible, and any potential price difference will be refunded to you.
• Note that Icelandic roads and pavements can be slippery in the wintertime. We recommend you bring shoes with slip-resistant soles or ice-grip shoe covers. The covers can be purchased in most supermarkets and gas stations around the country.
• The limit is one 24″ suitcase per person. You can store your luggage in our office for 1,000 ISK. It can be added as an extra at the time of booking. If there is room on the bus, then we will bring the piece of luggage with us on the tour. The luggage fee however is non-refundable upon payment in all cases.
• Please note that only pick up and drop-off from designated pick up locations in the greater capital area is available, not from Keflavík International Airport. Therefore, we do not recommend attempting to start this tour on your arrival day in Iceland.
• Arrival time back to Reykjavík at the end of your tour can vary depending on weather and traffic. It is highly recommended that you do not book your flight home the same night as bad weather or delays could affect your journey. Please be sure to arrange accommodation for this evening and an airport transfer the next day to take you to Keflavík International Airport for your departure.
• This insurance guarantees that you can cancel tour and package bookings and receive a full refund, minus the insurance cost of 5,000 ISK per person.
• The cancellation must be made more than 48 hours before the listed starting time on your voucher. To cancel your booking and claim your refund, simply contact [email protected] and declare full cancellation.
• Please note that this insurance covers the cancellation of the whole tour or package. Individual services cannot be cancelled and refunded separately, but are all covered and refunded in case of a full cancellation.
Photos
Map
FAQ
How does pick up work?
For tours that state that they pick up from Reykjavík, we ask all our customers to send their pick up location at least 24 hours prior to the departure of their tour. We cannot be responsible if you do not provide your pick up location, we won’t be responsible if you miss your tour. We offer free pick-up from Reykjavik city center. Pick up starts at the scheduled departure time for the tour can take up to 30 minutes. We ask our passenger to be ready in their listed location so they can be easily found.
What are designated pick up locations?
Due to regulations of Reykjavik City, tour companies are allowed to stop at certain designated bus stop locations in the city centre to pick up passengers. It is stated on your voucher whether we will pick you up directly from your accommodation or from the bus stop.
How can I find the nearest designated pick up location?
Find the closest designated pick up location using the map below:
What is a multiday tour?
A multiday tour is a tour that includes a guided day tour for more than one day and accommodation.
Why should I book a multiday tour?
All our multiday tours are in a minibus and offer small group experience. By booking a multiday tour you don’t have to worry about accommodation during the time of the tour. Staying overnight in the countryside gives you the opportunity to explore Iceland further and experience places that you would normally not be able to on a one day tour.
Will I have a private bathroom?
All our partner hotels have private bathrooms.
Is breakfast included?
Yes, breakfast is included after each night of accommodation included in the multiday tour.
I’m a solo traveller, is there a single supplement?
Yes, single fee suplement is mandatory for all multiday tours. This is to ensure your single room in all hotels of accommodation. There is no way to opt out of single fee supplement if you are a solo traveler.
Is it guaranteed that we will see the Northern Lights during the tour?
Most of our partner hotels are located in prime areas to spot the northern lights. If the forecast is favorable chances are that you will be able to see the magical show of aurora borealis outside the hotel. Most of the hotels offer a wake up call up on request if they northern lights are spotted. However, northern lights are a natural phenomenon that tour operators cannot guarantee.
How much luggage can I bring?
The limit is one 24″ suitcase per person. You can store your luggage in our office for 1,000 ISK. It can be added as an extra at the time of booking. If there is room on the bus, then we will bring the piece of luggage with us on the tour. The luggage fee however is non-refundable upon payment in all cases.
What should I wear for glacier tours?
Weather in Iceland is very unpredictable. For tours during winter: warm clothing as first layer, waterproof jacket with a hoodie, hiking boots with ankle protection and hard sole, a hat and gloves are ideal. For tours during summer, bringing a light rain jacket or a soft shell with a hoodie is in most cases enough protection. Icelanders often say, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes”. Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.
Do I need hiking boots?
We encourage bringing hiking boots for glacier tours. They have to hard on the sole and tight around the ankle. If you don’t have them, we have them for rent in all sizes in Skaftafell or Sólheimajökull. You can add them to your reservation at the time of booking or rent them on location pay with cash or card. The price is ISK 1,500 per pair. For ice climbing tours, boots are included in the price.
How difficult are glacier hikes?
We offer glacier hiking tours in Skaftafell and one in Sólheimajökull. Both locations either easy or moderate in difficulty. Our tours are considered to be safe for anyone in good physical condition. If you are fit to walk for about an hour on an uneven surface a glacier hike is for you. Longer tours will be more challenging in endurance and some areas of the glacier. We also recommend you remember that we offer all the safety equipment necessary and you will be hiking with a professional and certified glacier guide. If you have specific questions regarding one of our glacier tours, feel free to email us.
If I am pregnant, can I join a glacier hike?
This is a personal choice. We have had pregnant women on our glacier hikes and we always recommend you read the description of the activity to get a better idea. In any case, feel free to contact our Service Team for further questions and concerns.
What if it’s raining?
It rains a lot in Iceland, but we do not let rain stop us from going out and enjoy nature. All we need to do is choose our clothing wisely, which is why we recommend wearing waterproof clothing as the second layer. Of course, safety is our #1 priority. In case of extreme weather conditions, we will cancel our tours and do our best to reschedule. In these cases, you’ll receive a full refund.
Reykjavik
3 Days
21
Nov-Mar
