Journey to the Centre of the Earth - EI28

Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a world of diversity, comprising many of Iceland's unique features on one peninsula. It is a legendary area of magic and beauty, immortalized in Jules Verne's “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”. We will also visit a cave on the way.

For a Snaefellsnes Peninsula tour during winter, click here.

Tour Description

The tour begins with collection from your hotel in Reykjavik and progress west towards Snaefellsness peninsula, following a scenic route of dramatic landscapes. We will make a short stop for refreshments, allowing you to pick up supplies for the day ahead.

The peninsula is home to varied wildflife, including many types of bird and even a seal colony. We stop at a black sand beach near Ytri-Tunga farm, offering an opportunity to spot some of these playful residents.

Next up is a visit to the idyllic Arnarstapi village where you‘ll take a walk through extraordinary landscape along the precipitous shoreline toward the small village of Hellnar. Here we will break for lunch.

Lava Cave Vatnshellir

In the afternoon the tour continues to Vatnshellir lava cave located in the Snæfellsjökull National Park, close to the glacier which is the setting Jules Verne chose for the start of his famous adventure. The cave is optional (see price in booking engine). If you do not book the caving tour, you can take a short walk around the area with your guide while the other guests go caving. Note that you can also wait in the car if you want.

Exploring Vatnshellir you‘ll descend into a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites, and strange lava formations. The glow of your headlight may form eerie shapes and shadows, which dance across the walls of the cave. The caving is short, very easy, and suitable for everyone.

Black Beach Djúpalónssandur

From the curious underworld of Vatnshellir, we continue to Djúpalónssandur, a black-pebbled beach that offers stark views out to the sea and fascinating histories of shipwrecks and adventure.

Departing Djúpalónssandur beach we travel past impressive landscapes, towards the northern side of Snæfellsnes peninsula. Grundarfjörður fishing village is the next stop. Surrounded by particularly beautiful mountains. The area is home to one of the peninsula‘s most photographed iconic landmarks Kirkjufell. This symmetrical mountain towers 463 m (1519 ft) up from the shoreline, “church mount” is it's name translated to English and you can see why.

Out of Grundarfjörður the route lies across a lava field named Berserkjahraun. According to Viking legends this is the place where two Swedish "berserkers“ forged Iceland‘s first road and over to the south side of the peninsula through a highland pass.

On the way a short stop is made at a viewpoint where you can take a short walk down to a small and beautiful waterfall.

Heading back to Reykjavik, we have time to take in the Natural Heritage Site of Gerðuberg, home to a beautiful belt of basalt columns in impossibly geometric shapes. Finally, we drop-off to your hotel, allowing the day's magic to sink in deep.