Multi Day Tours
2 Day Snæfellsnes and Lava Cave Tour
Join this exploration of the amazing nature of West Iceland. Visit the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and explore the historic area of Borgarfjordur with magic waterfalls and hot springs.
- Trees planted 2
- Available all year
- Duration 2 days / 1 night
- Location Snæfellsnes peninsula
- Difficulty
- Number of participants Min. 1, max. 10
- Age limit 5 years
What you'll experience.
Join us on this amazing 2 Day Snæfellsnes and Lava Cave Tour and explore the wonders of Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You will also explore the historic area of Borgarfjordur with all its magical waterfalls and hot springs.
Less than 3 hours from Reykjavik, this area combines all the wonders of Iceland in one place: the sea crashing upon the sandy shores, jagged lava fields, waterfalls, imposing cliffs for hiking and photography, and small fishing villages for those who are curious about the culture Iceland.
After being picked up in Reykjavik, your tour starts by driving on the scenic route 1 road to the friendly town of Borgarnes. From there the course is set to the Snæfellsnes where you will enjoy watching seals play on the beach and take in some amazing sights at the many beautiful creations of nature in the area, including Arnarstapi, Hellnar, Djúpalónssandur, Lóndrangar, Svöðufoss and Saxhóll. The Snæfellsnesjökull glacier looms mysterious and magical as your tour continues around the peninsula. One of the many highlights of the tour is a caving expedition in the Vatnshellir Lava Cave with admission fee included.
After this visual feast, your day ends in the beautiful village of Stykkishólmur where your accommodation for the night is in the charming and historic Hótel Fransiskus. The Northern Lights are known to play their amazing symphony of lights in this area if the conditions are favorable.
On the second day, your journey continues by visiting the Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum and the beautiful and photogenic mountain of Kirkjufell. The Gerðuberg basalt column is next on the agenda and from there you will be whisked away to the Borgarfjodur area where you will visit Hraunfossar and Barnafossar waterfalls as well as the Deildartunguhver hot spring before heading back to the bright lights of Reykjavik.
If you want to enjoy the Icelandic nature to the fullest and to witness the untouched beauty of the West of Iceland then this tour is for you!
Please note: it is only possible to bring small carry on luggage such as backpacks for the tour.
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Included in final tour price.
Included
- Pick up & drop off in Reykjavik
- 2 day minibus around the Snæfellsnes peninsula
- Accommodation for 1 night in Guesthouse/hostel in double rooms with private bathrooms
- Breakfast
- Lava Cave expedtition
- All necessary equipment's for the lava cave
- English speaking guide
- Free Wi-Fi on bus
Not included
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
What to bring.
- Warm clothes
- Rain gear
- Good shoes (hiking boots recommended)
- Camera
Highlights.
- Hraunfossar waterfall
- Barnafoss waterfall
- Snæfellsjökull glacier
- Deildartunguhver hot spring
- Vatnshellir lava cave
- Hellnar
- Arnarstapi
- Stykkishólmur
- Seals
- Kirkjufell mountain
- Djúpalónssandur
Itinerary.
The day begins with a drive along the west to the beach in Ytri Tunga which is a well-known seal colony. The seals are friendly and curious and will climb up on the rocks near the sandy beach.
The next stop is the fishing hamlet Arnarstapi and then Hellnar where you will have time to walk along the cliffs for half an hour; the view to the sea on this hike is breathtaking.
In Djúpalónssandur you will discover incredible rock formations. The beaches are covered with small black stones which are unique. You will hike to one of the most impressive formations called Lóndrangar, which are a pair of rock pinnacles made of basalt approximately 70 m high.
After enjoying the many amazing sites above ground level it is now time to journey towards the Center of the Earth! You will go caving in the Vatnshellir lave cave where you can see the tumult of the volcanic landscape up close. This cave was created by volcanic eruption 7.000 ago.
You will also stop in Saxhóll which is an old 100 m high volcanic crater. There is a good path to the top of the crater where you can enjoy one of the most spectacular view in the area. From the magical Snæfellsnesjökull glacier to the mighty Atlantic Ocean, the scenery is simply amazing.
At the end of the day, you will finish with a drive through three small fishing villages on the way to the charming village of Stykkisholmur. There you will enjoy a lovely evening and spend the night in the unique Hotel Fransiskus, a beautiful hotel located in a former monastery. The rooms are cozy and comfortable with private bathrooms.
After a refreshing rest and breakfast at the hotel, your day starts with a visit to the majestic Kirkjufell mountain, which is one of the most popular photo stops in Iceland. If you have not used your camera before on the tour then this one is a must! You will also visit the Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum, where you can taste some traditional Icelandic shark with a local schnapps while viewing hundreds of fishing and boating artifacts.
Driving across the Snæfellsnes peninsuela, your next stop is at Gerðuberg, a big wall of huge Basalt columns. This is one of the marvels of nature that just makes you stop and wonder about the architectural brilliance of mother earth.
Next is the visit to the historic Borgarfjordur area where you will see the great Hraunfossar, a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about 900 m (almost 300 ft!) across the Hallmundarhraun lava field. The waterfalls pour into the Hvítá River from ledges created by less porous rock in the lava.
Literally a stone’s throw upstream from Hraunfossar, is the waterfall Barnafoss. Its name, “the waterfall of the children,” comes from an accident which is said to have taken place here in a previous century. There was a natural stone bridge over the waterfall, and two children from a nearby farm fell to their deaths crossing the river on the bridge. Afterwards, the grief-stricken mother had the bridge destroyed.
Finally, you will make a stop at Deildartunguhver, the highest-flow hot spring in Europe. Thread the path carefully while watching and hearing the massive energy of the hot spring at work.
After your adventure exploring the Wild West of Iceland for two unforgettable days, you will make your way back to Reykjavik.
Tour operator
This tour is operated by our friends at Nicetravel. A family run tour operator that aims to offer personal service and creating memorable experiences for their guests. Their motto is simply: “be Nice”.
Nicetravel certifications:
49.900 ISK