2 jours à Snæfellsnes |Observation de baleines, cascades, grotte et sources chaudes

Cette excursion vers la péninsule de Snaefellsnes est tout simplement magique. A seulement 3h de Reykjavik, cette péninsule est un condensé des paysages islandais. A Snaefellsnes, vous partez observer les baleines, vous apercevez les phoques se relaxant sur la plage et les macareux (à partir du 20 avril) le long des falaises au bord de l'océan et découvrez des paysages magnifiques comme des champs de lave, des plages de sable noir, des petits villages de pêcheurs et d'un des trois parcs nationaux d'Islande avec son majestueux et mystérieux Snaefellsjokull en son centre.

Jules Verne a rendu ce lieu immortel avec son livre "Voyage au centre de la Terre". Nous découvrons de nombreux lieux d'intérêt sur la péninsule mais également les belles cascades de Borgarfjordur et les sources chaudes bouillonnantes de Deildartunguhver avec un des plus hauts débits d'Europe. Nous visitons également le musée du requin à Bjarnarhofn où vous pourrez goûter le traditionnel requin fermenté avec la boisson locale.

Vous passez la nuit à l'hôtel Fransiskus situé dans le village de pêcheur Stykkisholmur, scène de tournage du film "La Vie rêvée de Walter Mitty".

Réservez vite cette sortie vers la péninsule de Snaefellsnes !

• Disponible: Jui. - Mai.
• Durée: 2 jours
• Activités: Grotte, Randonnée - Trekking , Observation des baleines, Visite de sites naturels, Bateau, Visite culturelle, Observation d'oiseaux
• Difficulté: Facile
• Âge minimum: 8 ans
• Langues: English
• Temps forts:

   

  The Snaefellsjokull national park has many famous sites, with the magnificent Snaefellsjokull glacier as its crown jewel.

  Along with the glacier, attractions include the two basalt cliffs called Londrangar and the many fascinating lava formations at the beautiful Djupalonssandur creek, such as the arch rock Gatklettur. At Djupalonssandur you may also has test your strength on the four stones, Amlodi ('Useless'), Halfdraettingur ('Weakling'), Halfsterkur (Half Strength') and Fullsterkur ('Full Strength'). The Saxholl volcano crater is worth checking out and so are the many fascinating caves, such as 'the singing cave' Songhellir, called so due to its echoes and the Vatnshellir lava tube. We do adwise uttermost caution when entering the caves and to enter them with a seasoned guide. Snaefellsjokull itself features strongly in folklore and was the site for Jules Verne’s A Journey to the Center of the Earth.

  Snæfellsjökull,

  Hraunfossar in Borgarfjordur district is a series of beautiful waterfalls  formed by 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.

  Hraunfossar,

  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.

  Deildartunguhver,

  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 for Laxdaela 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. 

  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.

  Stykkishólmur,

  Bjarnarhofn is a farmstead on the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Many notable Icelanders lived here. Bjarnarhofn's church and shark museum are listed as the nr. 1 Snaefellsnes attractions by Lonely Planet travellers. Also don't miss the colourful Berserkjahraun lava field.

  At the shark museum you can learn about the habits and biology of the Greenland shark and the seafarers who risked their lives hunting it. Try a bit of shark, best washed down with a nice portion of Brennivin.

  Above Bjarnarhofn lies Bjarnarhafnarfjall, where seagulls are parricularly common and nearby is the rugged Berserkjahraun lava field, 'Berserk's lava'. It has all kinds of strange shapes, with beautiful colours, and stark contrasts in the rock and mosses. The area is steeped in history, featuring prominently in Eyrbyggja saga and Heidarviga saga.

  Bjarnarhöfn,

   

  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.

  Hellnar,

  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.

  Arnarstapi,

  Olafsvik is a fishing town of just over a 1000 people, located on the west side of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. 

  Economy and services

  Olafsvik has a good natural harbour and it has a thriving fishing industry. Other main sources of the economy are commerce and services. Accomodation can be had in the town, at Hotel Olafsvik, sleeping bag accommodation is available at the Lysuholl Community Center, and camping grounds are open from June through August.

  Cultural attractions

  The Pakkhus at Olafsvik is a regional museum and a center for culture and art. It is open in the summer. The building is an old trading store, built in 1844. The first floor has a handicrafts store and a coffee shop and on the upper floor guests can get to experience the feel of a 19th century home and the life of seafarers and farmers in former times. The exhibition 'Krambudarloftid' bears witness to Icelandic trade history. The museum also functions as an information center for travelers. The town also features a small maritime museum, located by the harbour.

  A short drive from Olafsvik is the 412 m high Gufuskalar radio mast, the highest structure in Iceland, and for a time the highest in Western Europe.

  Natural attractions

  There are many opportunities available for travelers in the area, such as birdwatching, hiking and exploring the sandy beaches. Near to the town is a pleasant waterfall called Baejarfoss, well worth visitng. Furthermore, though, Olafsvik lies right next to Snaefellsjokull National Park. At the park you can see many fascinating attractions. These include 'The Singing Cave' of Songhellir, the beautiful Djupalonssandur beach by the village Arnarstapi, with its amazing lava formations, the Saxholl volcano crater, the magnificent Londrangar lava rocks and more.

  Ólafsvík,
  Kirkjufell,
  Snaefellsjoekull National Park,
  Dritvikurgrunn,
  Vatnshellir Cave,
  Londrangar,
  Djúpalónssandur,
  Gerduberg Cliffs,
  Kolgrafarfjördur

• Transferts aller-retour vers les hôtels à Reykjavik

• Guide anglophone

• Excursion en minibus (maximum 15 passagers)

• Frais d'entrée à la grotte de lave Vatnshellir

• Frais d'entrée pour la sortie observation de baleines (3 heures)

• 1 nuit à l'hôtel Fransiskus (ou hôtel similaire) en chambre double avec salle de bain privée et petit déjeuner inclus. (possibilité de surclassement en chambre individuelle à partir de 7 500 ISK : pour toute demande, contactez le tour-opérateur)

• Dîner

• Déjeuner et dîner

• Vêtements chauds, chaussures de randonnée, appareil photos, il est préférable d'apporter une petit valise si possible

• Chaussures robustes pour marcher/randonner

• Appareil photo

• Un sac d'affaire pour la nuit (prendre un petit sac)