2-Day Snaefellsnes Peninsula & West Iceland: Lava Cave & Northern Lights
From ancient lava fields and thundering waterfalls to a glacier made famous by Jules Verne, west Iceland delivers landscapes few visitors ever forget.
This Snaefellsnes Peninsula winter tour takes you deep into a region Icelanders call Miniature Iceland, where glaciers, black beaches, and lava caves converge within a single peninsula. Spanning two full days from Reykjavik, the itinerary moves through Borgarfjordur and the full length of Snaefellsnes, covering landmarks that range from medieval historical sites to volcanic coastlines. When skies clear after dark, the northern lights become a genuine possibility on both nights.
The journey begins along the shores of Hvalfjordur, one of Iceland's longest and most scenic fjords, before arriving at Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring. Boiling water rises directly from the ground here, and the surrounding steam makes the stop unlike anything else on the route. The nearby village of Reykholt adds a layer of medieval history as the former home of Snorri Sturluson, the 13th-century chieftain and author whose writings remain a primary source on Norse mythology.
The waterfalls at Hraunfossar and Barnafoss mark the end of day one's sightseeing before an overnight stay in the Borgarfjordur area. Hraunfossar is unusual among Icelandic waterfalls because the water emerges not from a single drop but seeps through a long stretch of ancient lava into the Hvita river. Barnafoss, just steps away, channels through a narrow rock gorge in a rush of pale blue glacial water.
Day two moves into the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, where the itinerary covers Gerduberg basalt cliffs, the rare white-sand beach at Ytri-Tunga, and the dramatic sea-cliff coastline at Arnarstapi. The black pebble beach at Djupalonssandur requires a short walk through a field of freestanding lava pillars before the shore opens up. The tour also visits Vatnshellir cave, a lava tube formed around 8,000 years ago, sitting directly beneath the Snaefellsjokull glacier that Jules Verne described as the entrance to the center of the earth.
Tour Highlights
Walk through Vatnshellir lava cave, an 8,000-year-old lava tube beneath the famous Snaefellsjokull glacier.
Explore Djupalonssandur black pebble beach, reached by threading through a dramatic field of lava pillars.
Witness Snaefellsjokull glacier, the iconic ice-capped stratovolcano that inspired Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Chase the northern lights on two separate nights, with both the Borgarfjordur area and the drive back through Hraunsfjordur offering dark skies.
Stand beside Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, where boiling water erupts continuously from the earth.
See the side-by-side waterfalls of Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, two contrasting falls just minutes apart in the Borgarfjordur region.
Photograph Kirkjufell, Iceland's most-photographed mountain, from the classic viewpoint near Grundarfjordur on the Snaefellsnes coast.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Departing Reykjavik, the route follows the coast past Mount Esja and into Hvalfjordur before reaching Deildartunguhver hot spring and the historic settlement of Reykholt. The day ends at the twin waterfalls of Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, followed by an overnight in the Borgarfjordur area where northern lights may appear after dark.
Day two begins with the hexagonal basalt columns of Gerduberg cliffs before continuing to Ytri-Tunga, one of the very few white sand beaches found anywhere in Iceland. The contrast with the peninsula's volcanic black-rock landscape makes this stop particularly notable.
The dramatic sea cliffs and basalt arches at Arnarstapi frame the Atlantic in a way that is unlike the gentler southern coast. From there, a walk through freestanding lava formations leads down to the black pebble shore of Djupalonssandur, where rusted wreckage from a British trawler still lies on the beach.
Vatnshellir is a lava tube that descends beneath the surface of the Snaefellsnes lava field, directly under the glacier Jules Verne made famous. A guided descent into the cave reveals chambers and formations shaped by volcanic activity thousands of years ago.
The tour closes with a stop at Kirkjufell, the arrow-shaped mountain near Grundarfjordur and Iceland's most-photographed natural landmark. The return drive passes through Hraunsfjordur and across the Berserkjahraun lava field, with the northern lights a final possibility on the darkened road back to Reykjavik.
What Is Included
Included
- Professional English-speaking guide throughout
- Transportation in a comfortable vehicle from Reykjavik
- Vatnshellir lava cave guided entry
- Accommodation for one night in the Borgarfjordur area
- Northern lights opportunity on both evenings
Not Included
- Meals and beverages
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for the guide
- Any items of a personal nature
Important Information
Ready to Explore West Iceland?
Secure your place on this two-day winter journey through the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, from medieval hot springs and twin waterfalls to a lava cave beneath a glacier with a story older than the novel it inspired.
Book Now
