Hellnar

Small-Group Snaefellsnes National Park Day Trip from Reykjavik

You’ll be picked up at your accommodation and swept off from Reykjavik to the west. First, you'll view Snæfellsjökull volcano, which wears a magnificent crown of ice, the highest peak in this area of Iceland and it is often visible on clear days from Reykjavik. It was here that Jules Verne chose as the entrance to the earth's core in his novel 'Journey to the Center of the Earth'. Next you'll visit Ytri-Tunga is a charming farm with a nearby beach that is also a popular seal colony. Animal lovers will enjoy seeing the seals cute faces as they sunbathe and play in the surf. Arnarstapi and Hellnar are located in a lovely coastal area with a natural harbor. Beautiful rock formations decorate the coastline, spotted with green-and-yellow moss, and you can stroll along the cliffs here to take in the refreshing sea air. Look for Lóndrangar, two black basalt columns marking the coast, so tall they can be seen from the road. Djúpalónssandur is another gorgeous black beach, where the air is filled with the sounds of birds circling the cliffs and the ocean waves hitting the sand. At Djúpalónssandur, you’ll find a curiosity on the beach: four large, smooth stones. They are “lifting stones,” used to measure the strength of fishermen who once worked and lived all along the coasts here. The biggest one is called Fullsterkur (“Full-Strength”) and weighs 154 kg (340 lbs). If you decide to have a go, be sure to lift with your knees so you don’t hurt your back on this one! The second one is called Hálfsterkur (“Half-Strength”) and weighs 100 kg (220 lbs). The third one is called Hálfdrættingur (“Weakling”) and weighs 54 kg (119 lbs). You were the shame of your village if you could only lift the last stone, Amlóði ("Useless”), at 23 kg (50 lbs). If a fisherman wanted to earn a spot on the fishing boat, he had to be able to lift the "Hálfdrættingur" stone – anything less, and they were not acceptable. Try your strength! Are you ready to join the boats? At your last stop, Kirkjufell mountain rises out of the green hills, surrounded by trickling rivers. This is one of the most popular photography spots in Iceland, so be sure to get a picture for your own collection. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the most stunning landscapes in western Iceland.

Snaefellsnes Peninsula Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik

An ideal retreat for travelers in pursuit of tranquility. Wander beside the jagged cliffs of Arnarstapi to the beautiful arcs of Hellnar. Creeping pillars of basalt slowly rise from the unforgiving sea. A stunning backdrop to the summit of Snæfellsjökull will impress onlookers and leave you with a feeling of tranquility. This road less traveled continues to the lava pearl beaches of Djupalónssandur, peppered with smooth volcanic rock. Finish on the north side of this breathtaking peninsula at Kirkufell, seeing the glorious vistas that impart calm and invigorating positive energy from this mystical land. Enjoy complimentary hotel pickup and transfer from your centrally-located hotel or guesthouse in Reykjavik. The pickup starts at 9am, and the return to Reykjavík accommodations are around 7pm.

Kirkjufell Mountain and Djúpalónssandur Beach from Reykjavik

Your tour begins at 8am where a comfortable coach picks you up at your hotel. Set out through the Icelandic countryside towards the Snaefellsjokull peninsula. The region became famous when Jules Verne wrote “Journey to the Center of the Earth” featuring the Snaefellsjokull glacier. Stop by the glacier before continuing on to Kirkjufell Mountain. Enjoy lunch in the ancient fishing village of Hellnar (own expense) before exploring the black sand beaches of Djúpalónssandur. After you’ve enjoyed a day observing the mountains and volcanic craters of the region, head back to Reykjavik for drop off at your hotel.

Small-Group Day Trip to Snaefellsnes National Park

After the pickup from Reykjavik, the journey begins by taking the underwater tunnel - 6 km long crossing under Hvalfjörður - the Whale bay fjord. Afterwards, we travel along the peninsula where we have the seaside on our left and incredible scenery and mountains on our right. This area was made famous in the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013).We stop at the unique Breiðafjörður beach, one of the few beaches in Iceland that does not consist of black sand, that is why it is called the golden beach. Along the way, we visit small towns and fishing villages, see spectacular bird cliffs by the sea at Dritvík and stop at the fishing hamlets at Arnarstapi and Hellnar. In the northern side, we also stop by picturesque church-shaped mountain Kirkjufell which is accompanied by a wonderful little waterfall on the other side of the road. At Djúpalónssandur beach (may not be accessible in winter) we will allow those who feel up to it to try strength with the Stones of Trial.The whole journey of Snæfellsnes peninsula circles around Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano which you can admire from several stops on the tour. Please note: the tour does not go on the glacier itself.

Snaefellsnes Peninsula - Private Day Tour from Reykjavik

ITINERARY: The tour starts from Reykjavik, heading west to pass through the tunnel under the Hvalfjordur fjord toward the beautiful little town of Borgarnes, situated in astonishing surroundings. From there we drive along the outstretched arm of the peninsula, to the north-west passing dramatic coastlines and abundant volcanic features including the Snaefellsjokull glacier.Snæfellsnes peninsula stretches out into the North Atlantic Ocean with it's magnificent snow-capped glacier, Snaefellsjokull, covering beneath the volcano. Snaefellsjokull is an impressive glacier with a height of 1446 meters at its highest point. This volcano is one of the most famous sites of Iceland, primarily due to the Jules Verne novel "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1864), in which the protagonists finds the entrance leading to the center of the earth on the Snaefellsjokull.On this tour, we also visit the beautiful little place of Budir passing through the villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar. On the north coast, we shall see Olafsvik, a charming old fishing village and Iceland's oldest trading town, which dates back to 1687. We stop at Stykkisholmur town, built around a natural harbor by Danish and Norwegian merchants. This charming fishing town is the largest on the Snaefellsnes, located on a promontory overlooking the beautiful Breidarfjordur bay.The majestic Snaefellsjokull gives you breathtaking views over the peninsula and sometimes people say that the glacier is surrounded by a unique energy field. There are no doubts that this area holds special fascination for many. It is also considered a paradise for photographers.

Day Trip to Snæfellsness Peninsula from Reykjavik

Once your guide picks you up, you will set off to your journey, first driving through sea-tunnel to Borgarnes. There you can enjoy sightseeing connected to the Viking history, Icelandic settlement, and Nordic culture. If you wish, you can visit a Settlement centre.From Borgarnes you will then head to Snaefellsness peninsula and en-route you will pass the crater Eldborg which erupted around 5000-6000 years ago. Then you will enjoy the view of Gerðuberg wall consisting of basalt columns. At lunch-time you will reach the Arnarstappi peninsula and you will hike to Hellnar (few kilometres away). Hellnar is a very spiritual place, and you can experience it by trying out to practice yoga, tai-chi, reiki or meditation. The naefellsjökul peninsula is known by Nordic and Eastern civilization as one of the world´s most energetic zones. Even Jules Vernes mentions it regularly in his Journey to the Centrer of the Earth. If you are not spiritual, you can use this time hiking. Then you will head off to Djúpalón and Dritvík. Once at the beach, following in local tradition you can try to lift 4 big stones to test your strength (Fully Strong:154 kg, Half-Strong:100 kg, Weakling:54 kg and Bungler:23 kg). On your way back to Rykjavik, you will stop by Ólafsvík and Grundarfjörður with its church and very special hill Kyrkjufell. You can enjoy some refreshments there.