Depart Reykjavik and head to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula on a bus day trip to experience Iceland's diverse natural beauty. Take in the dramatic landscape of volcanic peaks, sea cliffs, golden beaches, and sparkling fjords. Visit charming fishing villages, such as Grundarfjordur, Arnarstapi, and Hellnar. Admire the spectacular mountains and volcanic craters, including Kirkjufell and Ljósufjöll. Cast your eyes on the black sand beach at Djúpalónssandur, and see the majestic glacier of Snæfellsjökull. Take a photo stop at the famed Black Church at Budir, and spot seals lolling in the sea at Ytri Tunga beach. Tour at a leisurely pace and experience the magnificent scenery of the peninsula at ease. This tour visits a variety of landscapes in a compact region which was immortalized by Jules Verne in his book, "Journey to the Centre of the Earth." 

Spend the day in Snæfellsnes National Park, often described as “Iceland in Miniature” for its diverse scenery. Travel in a group of no more than 19 people for your comfort and maximum personal attention. Depart Reykjavik and get your first view of Snæfellsjökull volcano on the way to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Marvel at the highest peak in the area, often visible from the capital on clear days. Continue to the charming farm of Ytri-Tunga, where the nearby beach is home to a popular seal colony. Look at their cute faces as they sunbathe and play in the surf. Discover the coastal areas and natural harbor of Arnarstapi and Hellnar, where beautiful rock formations, spotted with green-and-yellow moss, dot the coastline. Take a stroll along the cliffs to get some refreshing sea air. Next, look at the 2 black basalt columns of Lóndrangar, so tall that they can be seen from the road. Go to the black beach of Djúpalónssandur, where the air is filled with the sound of birds circling the cliffs and the ocean waves hitting the sand. Move on to the curious smooth stones of Djúpalónssandur. Known as “lifting stones,” they were used to measure the strength of fishermen who worked and lived along the coast.  The largest, called "Fullsterkur" (“Full-Strength”) weighs 154 kilograms (340 pounds) and you should lift it with your knees so that you don’t hurt your back. The second is known as "Hálfsterkur" (“Half-Strength”) and weighs 100 kilograms (220 pounds), while the third, called "Hálfdrættingur" (“Weakling”), weighs 54 kilograms (119 pounds). If you could only lift the 23-kilogram (50-pound) stone called "Amlóði" ("Useless”), then you were considered the shame of your village. Test your strength! End this fascinating day trip with a visit to Kirkjufell Mountain. See the mountain rise from 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.

In a small group, explore Snæfellsnes peninsula. Walk along the seashore near Arnarstapi and view this tiny fishing village from afar.  Next, you'll visit rock formations formed by the sea at Lóndrangar. You'll notice that Djúpalónssandur's pebbled beach is also the site of a 1948 shipwreck. For centuries, fishermen rowed out to the Atlantic Ocean from here. Try one of the "lifting stones" to see if your strength measures up! Then, check out Saxhóll Volcano, formed in an eruption nearly 4,000 years ago. For spectacular views of the lava formations and the national park, you can climb to the top via stairway. At the end, you’ll visit one of Iceland’s most famous mountains - Kirkjufell. You’ll recognize the hat shape when you see it. For the best view, walk around its circular path and see Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall.  Fun Fact: Kirkjufell appeared in Game of Thrones (Season 6 and 7) as ”Arrowhead mountain.”

Following your Reykjavik hotel pickup, you will hop inside your climate-controlled Super Jeep, a 4x4 specially equipped to tackle Iceland’s rugged terrain. You will meet your group of no more than six passengers, and then enjoy the views of the stunning west coast as you travel north to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. You will hear about this untouched peninsula, immortalized by Jules Verne in his novel "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" from your guide, and learn about its viking heritage and folk tales, beloved by Iceland’s artists, writers, and musicians. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a comprehensive tour of the peninsula’s scenic highlights, quaint towns, and villages. You can view Snæfellsjökull, the towering, snow-covered volcano on the peninsula’s tip, and take photos of the rock formations. You can also watch for "kittiwakes" as your guide explains how Verne imagined the volcano’s crater as the entrance to the earth’s center. Next, you will pause at Skardsvík Beach to admire its golden sand and cliffs, before driving through the folklore-steeped Lóndrangar to see its basalt pinnacles that look like a seaside rock castle. You will then stop for photos at Búdir, where a tiny church stands picturesquely against the Snæfellsjökull Volcano, before visiting the villages of Hellnar and Arnarstapi, tucked among basalt mountains and connected by a spectacular coastal road that winds past rock formations. Keep your camera ready for the harbor town of Grundarfjördur. Set beneath Mt. Kirkjufell, this is a stunning, cone-shaped mountain replete with waterfalls and known as one of Iceland’s prettiest spots. You’ll also visit Stykkishólmur, one of Snæfellsjökull’s most charming towns which is known for its environmental sustainability. You can admire the pastel-hued buildings, see the well-preserved traditional houses in the center, and take in the surrounding coastline, home to colonies of seabirds.

After hotel pickup in Reykjavik, we head on towards the peninsula. On route there is a bakery producing one of three best cinnamon rolls in Iceland. This tour has a lot of optional stops as a one day tour can not include all the wanders of Snæfellsnes. On a clear day there is a fantastic view on a mountain pass, a lake, a lava field, a few volcanic creators and the ocean in-between majestic mountains. In summer it is possible to use a dirt road and visit a lava field. Close by there lives a family that invented the fermented shark (about six generations ago). They now have a great private museum on everything shark related in Iceland. We drive over a bridge, shaped like a viking sord (if seen from above) on our way to church mountain (Kirkjufell). The pointy mount with the waterfall in foreground has become quite famous in recent years, has even made an appearance on TV show Game of Thrones. For lunch I would recommend a local, family restaurant, next to the harbor, for fresh fish. After lunch we continue around the end of the peninsula, optional stop would be the western most part of it. In western wind the waves of the sea slam the lava cliffs and show the power of nature. On a calm, clear day the view from the top of volcano Saxhóll, includes a horizon of the ocean, over 200 degrees. Djúpalónssandur is a black pebble beach, quite similar to the end of the world. Framed with lava cliffs, it offers a unique connection to nature and to one self. A great viewpoint is Svalþufa and it has an optional walk past the Lóndrangar, basalt pillars, to the visitor center at Malarrif. Another optional stop would be the lava cave Vatnshellir. Arnarstapi is a wonderful place to visit, the waves of the sea ponder cliffs of basalt columns, making a walk along the waterfront magnificent. An optional extended walk would reach Hellnar and the lovely little café Fjöruhúsið. The black church at Budir is next up, as it rests on the edge of a lava field, next to a yellow sand beach (quite rare in Iceland). Close by the waterfall Bjarnafoss cascades over a mountain edge and can be seen from below. Before heading back towards Reykjavík, it is possible to stop by at your guides house for a cup of tea and see an Icelandic home.

Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in Reykjavik, and then head west towards the Snaefellsjokull National Park on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Create a customized itinerary for your 12-hour tour that suits your interests. Learn about Icelandic settlement at the Settlement Centre in Borgarnes, or visit the Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum, where the farmstead is the region’s leading producer of the Icelandic delicacy of fermented shark meat. Both entrance fees are included in your tour. Explore the volcanic wonders of the Elborg Crater, or go to Rauðfeldsgjá, where the ravine is steeped in Icelandic folklore. See the lava field at Berserkjahraun, and drive to Kirkjufell Mountain to observe its unique shape. Marvel at the rock formations of the Gerduberg basalt columns at Lóndrangar, or take a look at the black sand beach at Djúpalónssandur. Make a stop at Snæfellsnes National Park, where the wilderness spans from the mountains to the shore. Visit the fishing villages of Arnarstapi, Hellnar and Stykkishólmur. Along the way, get some free time for lunch and dinner in the Icelandic countryside (own expense), before returning to your hotel in Reykjavik for the end of the tour services.