Snæfellsnes peninsula is located in Western Iceland. The peninsula is a detour from the ring-road, worth visiting. You will witness breathtaking attractions. Snæfellsjökull the glacier, is the main attraction and one of a three volcanic systems on the peninsula. It is now an active independent volcanic system away from the main Atlantic rift system. The glacier itself is a cone shaped volcano which erupted last time 1700 years ago. The glacier and its surroundings was one of the first National Park established in Iceland and known as the Jewel of the West.
Attractions in Snæfellsnes are also the iconic black church and the towering Kirkjufell mountain which was made popular by Game of Thrones. Others are are dramatic sea cliffs/rocks with spectacular bird life , fishing villages, colorful beaches and Volcanic lava landscapes with moss.
In a one day tour to Snæfellsnes peninsula, you will experience diverse Icelandic scenery. Volcanic Craters, Arnarstapi sea cliffs, bird live and costal rocks, Black sand of Djúpalónssandur, the majestic peak of Kirkjufell which is shaped like an arrowhead, the seal colony and birds live, the black church, lava fields of Berserkjahraun etc.
This tour can be organized in various ways all depending on your preferences.
Borgarnes the small town is worth visiting, especially if you are interested in the stories of the Vikings. The town house a very interesting museum named the Viking Settlement Center which provides insight into the Viking saga 1100 years ago.
We may visit the geothermal area in the upper Borgarfjordur area, home to Europe's most powerful hot springs. This region boasts the largest low-temperature area in Iceland. It has five major low-temperature geothermal systems and a total natural discharge of about 450 l/s of boiling water.
The first area of interest is Varmaland/Laugaland, showcasing a small village that was developed around a geothermal site. In 1942 the residents constructed a swimming pool, simultaneously establishing a greenhouse farm utilizing the hot springs for heating. Over time they developed a small village called Varmaland, a story which is interesting to learn about. One may say that Varmaland is a good example for geothermal development in rural areas.
We witness the largest hot spring in Europe at another geothermal site called Deildartunga. At the core of this hot spring, we can choose to experience and relax at the Krauma SPA baths. An option for lunch break is available, allowing us to enjoy the cusine offered at the restaurant while takein in the spectacular view of the powerful hot spring. The geothermal pipeline from Deildartunga to Akranes in use since 1980-1981 hold the record as the world's longes at 64 km.
From there we will continue to Iceland's main historic site, the cultural center of Reykholt (4). This was the home of the famous Snorri Sturluson, (1206 to 1241) who was a politician and historian. There we can see the oldest geothermal pool which dates back to the 10th century. From Reykholt we will drive to the beautiful Hraunfossar (5) which is a series of waterfalls. The name basically means Lava Waterfalls. The scenery is spectacular and beautiful where you will see how the water pours out of “Hallmundarhraun” lava wall and cascades down to the river appearing in an enormous length of 900 meters.
The Glacier Lagoon is one of the most popular tourist destinations, and no wonder. The glacier and its surrounding offer every changing, spectacular scenery.
Massive Icebergs, breaking off the outlet glacier, float inside the lagoon, eventually making their way to the ocean. The black beach, known as Diamond Beach" for its fragmented icebergs scattered all over forms part of the beautiful scenery, showcasing melting icebergs.
The lagoon flows through a short waterway into the Atlantic Ocean, leaving chunks of ice on the back beach. Huge blocks of icebergs float around in the lagoon. Ice chunks on the black beach look like diamonds, which give the beach its name, so take a walk on the diamond beach along the Glacier Lagoon.
Very often the lagoon host hundreds of seals. Exciting boat or Zodiac trips can be offered if requested.
The lagoon is also famous for its settings in two James Bond films, one being "A View to Kill" (1984) and “Die Another Day” (2002), was the other. The location has also been used in other films such as Tomb Raider and Beowulf.
During the long drive along Iceland's southern coast to the Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach, we'll make just one additional stop at your choice. Options include iconic landmarks like Skógafoss or Seljalandsfoss waterfalls or at the black sand beach (Reynisdrangar), near Vik í Mýrdal.
Covering a distance of 380 km from Reykjavik Capital, this tour is our longest lasting 13 to 15 hours. The journey however, is undoubtedly worth the drive.
This is an adventure tour which involves a ferry trip and combines history, sightseeing and puffin watching. On the way back to the mainland, a visit to famous Seljalandsfoss waterfall is a must. The islands are considered to be the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in the world. A volcanic eruption began without warning on the edge of the village on the main island in January 1973. We have an option to hike up to the new crater. Another eruption occurred 10 years earlier in 1963 in the ocean which created a new island, Surtsey.
The Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) are in the south coast of Iceland and consists of around 16 islands. Only one of them called Heimaey is inhabited and has a population of around 4300 people. Around those islands there are a number of rocks and skerries making the seabird life very rich and bountiful. .
The trip with the ferry from the south coast to the islands, takes only 35 minutes. If we are lucky, we may see whales and seals on the way. We will either drive into the crater or hike up to the mountain and enjoy the view of the crater and the village. Our guide will tell you his personal experience of being on the island during the clean-up, the year after the eruption in (1974). We will explore and drive around the whole island and visit other interesting sightseeing spots while reviewing the history of the island. One option is a visit to Belgua Whales & Puffin Sanctuary. Other interesting spots are Stórhöfði to see the puffins up close, Herjólfsdalur farmhouse ruins, the elephant rock etc.
In this fishery village we recommend spending some time at a seafood restaurant to taste fresh seafood before leaving the island to the mainland.
You can read more about the Eldfell 1973 eruption here
We'll journey along Iceland's South Coast and reach our final destination, Skaftafell National Park, a Nature Reserve since 1967.
While travelling from Reykjavík to Skaftafell we will pause to admire some of Iceland's stunning landscapes, including iconic waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, or consider visting the Black sand beach (Reynisfjara).
Upon arrival of Skaftafell we will see the spectacular view of the outlet glaciers. Glaciers in Iceland are among the greatest natural wonder in the world. Ice caps cover a total of 11% of Iceland land area. The biggest glaciers are Vatnajökull, Langjökull, Höfsjökull and Mýrdalsjökull.
Glacier forms only in places where fresh snow never fully melts, up on mountains or in the highland. It gradually compresses into ice under its own weight. A process which takes centuries. Outlet glacier are like a frozen river which slowly moves forward towards the edges, down hills towards the lowland.
Skaftafell is a kind of a pearl or a natural wonder in between the biggest outlet glacier in Iceland. In Skaftafell we can take a short and easy hiking tour. We propose two hiking options, one to a waterfall named Svartifoss (moderate) and the other one flat and easy hiking trail toward the outlet glacier Skaftafellsjökull.
Svartifoss: One of the two option is a 45-minute hiking tour, (each way) which is one of the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland. The waterfall is perhaps not the biggest in Iceland, but its surroundings are spectacular. Located in front of basalt columns, makes this place special.
Skaftafellsjökull: the other two options are short hiking tour to see the spectacular glacier close up.
Filmmakers selected Svinafellsjökull a nearby outlet glacier, as an ideal location for film setting. These include Batman Begins, James Bond, "Die Another Day" and Season 7 of the TV series Games of thrones. Lesser know films, including Kung Fu Yoga featuring Jackie Chan and “Interstellar” portraying the Ice Planet, have utilized the location for filming.
Travelers highly prefer the South Coast of Iceland private day tour, which showcases some of the country's most breathtaking attractions. Explore the scenic coastline on a day trip, encountering the majestic waterfalls both Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. During summer, catch sight of adorable Puffins at Dyrhólaey and visit the famous Black sand beach (Reynisfjara). Conclude your adventure in the charming town of Vík í Mýrdal, before returning back.
If you wish, you can also choose to go glacier walking at Sólheimajökull. We are flexible and can tailor the South Coast Iceland private tour to your preferences and interest, ensuring you see and experience exactly what your desire.
When driving from Reykjavik towards the South Coast Iceland, the first attraction are the two waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. When stopping at Skogafoss we have an option to visit the museum in Skogar (cultural heritage collection and turf houses). Skogafoss is a big waterfall having a cascade of 60 meters and a width of 25 meters. It is a beautiful scenery where you can walk all the way up to the waterfall and feel the spray on your face. Due to the spray the waterfalls produce, then you very often see a rainbow in a sunny day. You can walk up a staircase which leads you to an observation deck on the top of the waterfall. It will give you a spectacular view of the waterfall and the surrounding landscape.
On the way back to Reykjavik, along the South Coast of Iceland we will stop at Seljalandsfoss. The waterfall you will be able to walk behind and witness spectacular view. It is 60 meters high and has its origins in the famous glacier and volcano Eyjafjallajökull. The water is clean, and therefore a good idea to full up your water bottle before continuing the tour.
A drive up to the island of Dyrhólaey, we will see the birds live during summer time (for example, puffins) and a spectacular view of the black sand beach. Dyrhólaey used to be an island before on the South Coast of Iceland, but is now accessible by most vehicles. From the top of the mountain, you will see an old light house, and spectacular view in all directions. The black sand to the west and east and the mountains to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.
The final destination on the South Coast Iceland tour is the small village of Vík (the filming set/location of KATLA the Netflix series) where you will have a wonderful view of Reynisdrangar. We usually choose this location for lunch due to the selection of good restaurants there. Katla is the name of the dangerous volcano located in the glacier above the village.
The option to walk on glacier (Sólheimajökull) is very popular, which takes about 3 hours. The glacier is a outlet glacier on the South Coast of Iceland and is part of Mýrdalsjökull glacier. A lagoon has been formed in front of the glacier which certainly add to the charm of the location. If you choose the option to take a hike on the glacier, then unfortunately it will limit our ability to visit all the other attractions mentioned above, on the south coast. But remember this is once in a lifetime experience, especially if you are lucky with the weather. The tour difficulty changes from easy to moderate as you need to be able to climb the various formations having crampons attached to your hiking boots. All necessary glacier walk equipment will be provided.
Other type of setup in Golden Circle private tours
This below description combines Iceland's most popular tour with a horseback riding experience on the same day.
We have made slight modification to the Classic Golden Circle day tour, including an hour-long detour for an Icelandic horse ride. During this extended tour, you'll have the opportunity to explore the captivating natural wonders within the “Golden circle”, such as Thingvellir National Park, Iceland's most beautiful waterfall, Gullfoss, and the bubbling hot springs at the Geysir area. Thingvellir earned a spot on the World Heritage list in 2004 for its cultural significance.
Icelandic horseback riding is a unique experience which many of our guest do not want to miss. Not only the ride itself but also the ability to enjoy then beautiful nature at the same time. The staff at the horse farm are experienced tour guides and will give you a clear guidance to all the abilities of the group, regardless of prior experience. The famous Icelandic horse is especially strong animal, and the only horse species in the world that can perform 5 gaits, instead of 3 gaits which is normal for all horses. Those are Walk, Trot, Canter, Tölt and Flying pace.
Witness the famous natural attractions within the Golden Circle classic tour, while immersing yourself in Iceland's unique geothermal energy sources.
Geothermal Energy has been used in regions which shows obvious surface manifestations of activity near tectonic boundaries worldwide. Thanks to Iceland location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the country boasts and an abundance of geothermal resources. Embark on the Golden Circle tour and witness the remarkable showings of geothermal energy first hand.
Embark on a remarkable tour that showcases Iceland's impressive geothermal wonders and national attractions. Here are the highlights of our itinerary.
Join us on this captivating journey that combines Iceland's geothermal wonders with its fascinating natural attractions. Book your tour today and discover the extraordinary power and beauty of geothermal energy in action.
Icelanders often claim to be pioneers in the utilizating geothermal energy for space heating and bathing. However if we look at the history, this practice dates back to the first century in Pompeii, Italy. In the 13th century, Snorri Sturluson, renowned writer, politician, and a poet in Iceland, used geothermal baths and even heated his turf hourse with hot water. Furthermore the French people in the city of Chaudes-Aigues installed a district heating system in the 14th Century using geothermal resource. Thus, it becomes evident that geothermal energy has a fascinating historical background, which you will have the opportunity to explore and learn about during this tour.
In summary, Icelanders can be considered pioneers in using geothermal energy for both space heating and bathing in hot natural pools and swimming pools. Using geothermal for electricity generation first became reality in Iceland in the seventies last century.
What is “geothermal energy”?
Read more about geothermal energy HERE
Below you see photos of geothermal power plants. In this Golden Circle tour we will have visit Hellisheidi power plant (303 MWe and 200 MWth)
The Golden Circle classic day trip links some of the country’s most impressive natural attractions, such as Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir in one day.
This first stop is usually Thingvellir National park, which is an interesting place both from a geological point, but also historically. Geology is very special as Thingvellir is situated on the tectonic plate boundaries. You literally see how the two tectonic plates separate North America and Europe. The fissures have been moving apart at the rate of 2 centimeters every year which gives the fissure spectacular appearance. Here you will also see the amazing clear glacier water which can be found in some fissures which opened in a earthquake in the year 1789. Thingvellir is UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Historically, the world first parliament was founded there in the year 930 AD, also known as "Althing". Althingi General Assembly continued to convene there until 1798 when it was moved to Reykjavik. In the eyes of Icelanders this place is a national shrine and is protected area by law since 1928.
The Golden Circle classic trip will take you to the most beautiful Waterfall in Iceland named Gullfoss (translated Golden waterfall). From Gullfoss we will go to the bubbling geothermal hot springs at Geysir area. You will see the hot spring Strokkur spouting hot water 30 meters (100ft) into the air every 5-10 minutes interval.
If the time schedule allows, then we may stop before heading to Reykjavik at Kerid a volcanic crater. This vibrant blue gem erupted some 6 thousand years ago.
You may choose other setup of this day tour, or you may ask us to tailor make your experience based on your preferences:
Such as a visit to the greenhouse at Fridheimar, the famous tomato farm and restaurant, or you may choose to visit and bath in the Secret lagoon. or Fontana Spa at Laugarvatn
Click here to see the tour location and standard route on a map
