Diese Tour führt dich auf eine märchenhafte Reise. In Snæfellsnes nimmst du an einer Walbeobachtung teil, entdeckst Seehunde, die sich am Strand ausruhen, und siehst im Sommer mit etwas Glück auch Papageientaucher.
Steile Klippen, schwarze Sandstrände, kleine Fischerdörfer und einer der drei Nationalparks Islands, in dessen Mitte sich der majestätische und geheimnisvolle Snæfellsjökull-Gletscher befindet, erwarten dich. Durch den Roman „Die Reise zum Mittelpunkt der Erde“ von Jules Verne ist dieser Teil Islands unvergänglich.
Wir erkunden die Hauptattraktionen der Halbinsel sowie die Wasserfälle in Borgarfjörður und Deildartunguhver, eine der wasserreichsten Quellen Europas. Außerdem besuchen wir das Hai-Museum in Bjarnarhöfn, wo du traditionellen isländischen Hai mit einem lokalen Schnaps genießen kannst.
Verpasse nicht deine Chance auf einen entspannten Ausflug auf die Halbinsel, die auch als Miniatur Islands bezeichnet wird. Hier findest du nicht nur atemberaubend schöne Natur, sondern auch einen interessanten Einblick in das „traditionelle Island“.
Sichere dir direkt deinen Platz bei diesem wundervollen Ausflug und prüfe die Verfügbarkeit, indem du ein Datum auswählst.
Snæfellsjökull (1446 m) is an ice-capped volcano found on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland.
Though many consider Snæfellsjökull to simply be a particularly impressive ice cap, it is, in fact, a 700,000-year-old glacier-capped stratovolcano. The mountain is actually called "Snæfell" (Snowy Mountain), though the “jökull” (Glacier) is often added to help distinguish it from other mountains of the same name. For the first time in recorded history, Snæfellsjökull had no snow or ice at its peak in August 2012, causing concern amongst locals that climate change is threatening the nature of the mountain.
On clear days, one can see Snæfellsjökull from Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, approximately 120 kilometres away over Faxa Bay, making for an impressive sight—and a tick off the bucket list if you can’t make it to travelling across the Peninsula itself. The volcano makes up just a small part of the larger Snæfellsjökull National Park.
History
Nearby villages include Hellissandur, Rif and Ólafsvík, all of which were commercial and fishing hubs throughout the peninsula’s long history of human inhabitance. Fishing took off primarily in the 13th-Century, with fishing stations being built in all areas with easy access to the open ocean.
One notable example would be the settlement of Dritvík, one of the largest fishing stations in Iceland at the time, utilising around 40–60 boats and employing between 200–600 people. Fishing in the region declined during the 19th century due to a change in Iceland’s fishing practises, though it is still an important source of livelihood for those living on the Peninsula.
Snæfellsjökull has, for centuries, been considered to be one of the world’s ancient power sites, a source of mysticism, energy and mystery for the peninsula’s superstitious population. This likely has something to do with the stratovolcanoes place in the Icelandic sagas; the feature takes a prominent role in Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss, a late 14th-century saga that tells the story of Bárður, half-human-half-troll, who became the “guardian spirit of Snæfellsjökull.”
In Literature
Snæfellsjökull serves as the entrance to a fantastical subterranean world in Jules Verne’s classic 1864 novel “Journey to The Centre of The Earth.” Given its central place in the novel, Snæfellsjökull has become one of the most popular spots for visitors in Iceland and has inspired a wealth of writers, poets and artists.
Since “Journey to The Centre of The Earth”, Snæfellsjökull has appeared in the Blind Birds trilogy by Czech SF writer Ludvík Souček (partially based on Jules’ work) and in Under The Glacier, a novel by Iceland’s only Nobel laureate, Halldor Laxness.
Nearby Attractions
Along with the glacier, attractions include the two nearby basalt cliffs called Lóndrangar and the many fascinating lava formations at the beautiful Djúpalonssandur beach, such as the arch rock Gatklettur. At Djúpalonssandur, one can also test their strength just as the ancient sailors once did with the four "strength" stones, Amlóði ('Useless'), Hálfdrættingur ('Weakling'), Hálfsterkur ('Half Strength') and Fullsterkur ('Full Strength'). In the area, one can also explore the Saxhóll volcano crater and 'the singing cave' Sönghellir, which is named after the loud echoes inside.
Hraunfossar in Borgarfjordur district is a series of beautiful waterfalls formedby rivulets streaming from a short distance out of the Hallmundarhraun lava field.
The lava field flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the glacier Langjokull. The waterfalls pour into the Hvita river from ledges of less porous rock in the lava. These are some of the most magnificent falls found in Iceland and not to be missed.
Deildartunguhver, by Reykholt, in Borgarfjordur district, has the highest flow rate for a hot spring in Europe.
The flow rate of Deildartunguhver is 180 liters/second and water emerges at 97 °C. The place is also unique for being the only place in the country where the hard fern grows.
Snaefellsnes is a large peninsula extending to the west from West Iceland ending with a national park, Snaefellsjokull National Park, where the glacier towers over the scenery, as can sometimes be seen from Reykjavik, lending its beauty to the area.
Snaefellsnes peninsula
The peninsula stretches over 100 km to the west as a mountain ridge that includes active volcanoes and is unique in the variety of mountains found.
A few small and beautiful villages are located on the south side and a few fishing villages are on the north side: Rif, Hellissandur, Olafsvik, Grundarfjordur and Stykkisholmur. The last one is highly popular for travelers, featuring a volcano museum and a ferry that takes you across the fascinating Breidafjordur bay to Brjanslaekur on the south border of the Westfjords.
Other museums you might want to check out are the Maritime Museum at Hellissandur, the regional museum Pakkhusid at Olafsvik, and, last but not least, the shark museum at Bjarnarhofn, indeed listed as the nr. 1 Snafellsnes attraction by Lonely Planet Travelers. Also, many of the Icelandic sagas take place at Snaefellsnes.
Snaefellsnes has an abundance of interesting sights. At the national park, you can witness the impressive lava formations of Djupalonssandur creek and test your strength on its four stones, see the two massive lava formations that compries Londrangar, explore the Saxholl volcanic crater and enjoy the echo of 'The Singing Cave', Songhellir. You may also hike on the majestic Snaefellsjokull glacier. The glacier has strong ties with folklore and was the setting for Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Other sights we can recommend at Snaefellsnes recommend include Raudfeldsgja canyon, east of the national park and the rugged and colourful Berserkjahraun lava field, near Bjarnarhofn, on the north side of the peninsula.
Last, but not least, Snaefellsnes is one of the main setting forLaxdaela saga. Chieftain Snorri godi, Gudrun Osvifursdottir, Bolli Thorlakssson all lived there as well as his namesake Bolli Bollason, the first West Norse member of the Varangian guard, an elite unit of the Byzantine army. Iceland's most famous mass murderer, Axlar-Bjorn, also lived at Snaefellsnes.
Stykkisholmur is a town of about 1100 people in Snaefellsnes. It is a center of service and commerce in the area and the ferry Baldur sails from there over to Brjanslaekur in the Westfjords.
The main industries of Stykkisholmur are fishing and tourism and the town has an excellent natural harbour. Breidafjordur, from which the Baldur ferry sails, is riddled with islands and has fascinating flora, bird- and sealife, such as whales, and sailing through the fjord is highly popular for travelers. Tasting shellfish straight from the sea is also a great treat. The regional museum in Stykkisholmur is worth a visit, positioned in a beautiful old house built in 1828, as well as the country's oldest weather station,dating from 1845.
Hellnar is an old fishing village on the westernmost part of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. It used to be one of the largest fishing stations of the peninsula, the oldest record of seafaring there being from 1560.
At the shore are spectacular rock formations. Among them is a protruding cliff called Valasnos. Tunneling into the cliff is a cave renowned for its changing colourful hues, according to the light and sea movement. Large colonies of birds also nest in the area.
At Gvendarbrunnar a.k.a. Mariulind you can taste excellent spring water which is said to have healing powers.
Hellnar hosts the guesthouse for Snaefellsnes National Park and has a very interesting exhibition about the economy of former times and on the geology, flora and fauna of the national park.
Barnafoss ('Children's Waterfall') is a waterfall in Hvita river in Borgarfjordur.
The waterfall runs through a narrow rocky gorge and legend has it that there once was a natural stone arc over the river, that was demolished after two children fell from it to their death. Not far away is the stunning series of waterfalls Hraunfossar, flowing out of a lava field into Hvita.
Arnarstapi is a village in the southern part of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. The area has several old and charming houses with interesting stories to them and is furthermore renowned for its beautiful nature.
The beach holds a particular attraction. It has an eroded circular stone arch, called Gatklettur, and three rifts, Hundagja,Midgja and Musagja. The interplay of spectacular waves and the light of the sun creates a fascinating spectacle. Large colonies of the arctic tern also nest in the area.
An old horse trail through the lava field Hellnahraun is highly popular for hiking, due to the impressiveness of the surrounding landscape.
Kirkjufell (“Church Mountain”) is a distinctly shaped mountain found on the north coast of Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula, only a short distance away from the town of Grundarfjörður.
Kirkjufell takes it’s name from its resemblance to a church steeple, sharpened at the top with long curved sides. From other angles, the mountain can resemble a witch’s hat or even a freshly scooped ice cream.
Photography at Kirkjufell
Peaking at 463 m, Kirkjufell holds the honour of being Iceland’s most photographed mountain. Throughout the centuries, Kirkjufell’s striking slopes have acted as a visual landmark for seafarers and travellers.
Walking distance from Kirkjufell, one can find the photogenic waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss (“Church Mountain Falls”), an excellent subject for photographers who can easily frame the mountain in the background. Despite its relatively diminutive height, Kirkjufellsfoss’ three-pronged falls make the waterfall particularly stunning, even for Iceland.
At the base of the mountain, visitors will also be able to find a lake; on calm and clear days, this lake reflects a perfect mirror image of Kirkjufell, only adding to the fantastic photo opportunities around this area. On top of that, the colours of Kirkjufell change with the passing seasons; the summer see it a lush green, full of life, whilst the winter months scar the mountain’s face with a mask of barren brown and white.
Fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones will recognise Kirkjufell as a shooting location from Season 7 of Game of Thrones. The mountain is showcased from the scenes ‘beyond the wall’ when Jon Snow, The Hound and Jorah Mormont, among others, brave the wilderness in hopes of catching an undead wight. Having seen it in a vision, The Hound acknowledges Kirkjufell as “[...] the mountain like an arrowhead.” Even the Games of Thrones producers can’t resist capturing the mountain on celluloid!
Hiking Kirkjufell
There is a fairly steep trail to the top of Kirkjufell, from where there are magnificent panoramas of the surrounding fields, coastlines and rivers. The mountain takes roughly an hour and a half to ascend, and one and a half hours back to the bottom.
Alongside this mountain-track is a steeper route to the peak which involves two points where one needs to rope-climb. This route should never be attempted in the winter, and never without a certified guide. Given the steep elevation, it is highly recommended that you bring a sturdy pair of hiking boots, snacks and water to the trail.
Getting to Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell is extremely close to Grundarfjörður, a small town on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, approximately two hours drive from Iceland's capital city, Reykjavik. From Grundarfjörður, one travels ten minutes west down Route Snaefellsnesvegur 54 to the base of Kirkjufell. Visitors have plenty of parking space to choose from, all free of charge.
Unterkunft in Doppel- oder Zweibettzimmern mit privatem Bad (Hotel Fransiskus o.ä.)
Minibus-Tour (maximal 17 Personen)
Frühstück
Professioneller Tourguide (englischsprachig)
Eintritt zum Hai-Museum in Bjarnarhöfn
Gratis WLAN im Bus
Mittag- und Abendessen (es wird genügend Pausen mit Verpflegungsmöglichkeit geben)
Was du mitbringen solltest:
Warme und wasserdichte Outdoor-Bekleidung
Stabile (Wander-)Schuhe
Kamera
Gut zu wissen:
Diese Tour endet an Tag 2 gegen 18:30 Uhr, mit der Rückkehr in Reykjavík.
Alleinreisende müssen den Einzelzimmerzuschlag wählen.
Da diese Tour im Minibus durchgeführt wird ist nur leichtes Handgepäck erlaubt.
Eventuell kann dein Hotel in Reykjavík größeres Gepäck verstauen, oder du kannst es in unserem Büro in Fiskislóð 45 lagern.
Bitte beachte, dass das Gepäck vor der Abholung verstaut sein muss.
Tagesübersicht
Tag 1 - Die Magie des Snæfellsjökull-Nationalparks: Schwarze Sandstrände, Robben, Lava-Höhlen und mehr!
Wir beginnen den Tag mit einer Fahrt entlang der Westküste bis zum Strand bei Ytri Tunga, der bekannt für seine Seehund-Kolonien ist. Die Seehunde sind freundlich und neugierig und klettern auf die Steinformationen rund um den Strand. Außerdem besichtigen wir Rauðafellsgjá, ein schmaler Gesteinsspalt, der sich bis ins Innere des Berges Botnsfjall zieht.
Der nächste Halt sind die Fischerdörfer Arnarstapi und Hellnar, wo du die Möglichkeit hast, einen halbstündigen Spaziergang entlang der Klippen zu unternehmen. Der Blick aufs Meer ist atemberaubend!
Nachdem wir bereits viele schöne Orte entdeckt haben, führt unser Weg nun zur Vatnshellir-Höhle, wo wir an einer Höhlenbesichtigung teilnehmen. Es ist möglich, tief in die Höhle vorzudringen. Diese Lavahöhle ist durch einen Vulkanausbruch vor etwa 7.000 Jahren entstanden.
In Djúpalónssandur und Dritvík entdeckst du einzigartige Felsformationen und die Strände sind bedeckt von kleinen schwarzen Basaltkieseln. Wir unternehmen eine Wanderung zu Lóngdrangar, wo wir bis zu 70 m hohe Steinspitzen aus Basalt vorfinden.
Am Ende des Tages durchfahren wir noch drei weitere, kleine Fischerdörfer auf unserem Weg nach Stykkishólmur, wo wir die Nacht verbringen werden.
Tag 2 - Wale & Wasserfälle
Nach einem ausgiebigen Frühstück im Hotel nehmen wir an einer 2- bis 3-stündigen Walbeobachtung von Láki Tours teil. Seit einigen Jahren befinden sich zahlreiche Heringe im Fjord von Grundarfjörður. Heringe sind ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Nahrungsaufnahme von Killer-Walen, wodurch sich einige von ihnen im Fjord aufhalten. Dieses Phänomen gibt einem die einzigartige Chance, die Orkas zu beobachten (und zu hören). Mit dem Boot von Láki Tours ist es möglich, ganz nah an die Wale heran zu kommen, sodass wir diese beim Ausblasen der Luft hören und beobachten können. Dieser Ausflug bietet die fantastische Möglichkeit, einzigartige Fotos von diesen gewaltigen Säugetieren bei ihrem Herings-Festmahl zu machen.
Nach der Walbeobachtung begeben wir uns zum majestätischen Berg Kirkjufell und zu den Basaltkolumnen von Geruðberg. Außerdem besuchen wir das Hai-Museum in Bjarnarhöfn, wo du traditionellen isländischen Hai mit einem lokalen Schnaps genießen kannst.
Als nächstes besichtigen wir die Umgebung von Borgarfjörður, wo sich die Hraunfossar Wasserfälle befinden. Auf einer Länge von ca. 900 Meter strömt in über hundert kleinen Wasserfällen das Wasser aus dem schwarzen Gestein des ca. 1.000 Jahre alten Lavafeldes Hallmundarhraun. Die Wasserfälle münden in den Fluss Hvitá, über den eine kleine Fußgängerbrücke verläuft. Von der Brücke aus kann man die Wasserfälle Barnafoss und Hraunfossar gut überblicken.
Nur einen Steinwurf weit entfernt von Hraunfossar befindet sich ein weiterer Wasserfall, der Barnafoss. Seinen Namen, der Wasserfall der Kinder, erhielt er durch einen tragischen Unfall, der sich in früherer Zeit zugezogen hat: Hier gab es einst eine natürliche Brücke, die über den Wasserfall führte. Zwei Kinder einer nahen Farm überquerten diese und fielen herab in den Tod. Anschließend zerstörte die zornige Mutter die Brücke.
Wir besichtigen ebenfalls Deildartunguhver, eine der wasserreichsten Quellen Europas. Am Ende des Tages durchqueren wir Borgarnes und kehren nach Reykjavík zurück.
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