Snaefellsnes Peninsula Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
Snæfellsnes Visitor Center

Discover Snæfellsnes Peninsula’s wonders with a self-guided audio tour. Explore glaciers, cliffs, and black sand beaches. Perfect for multiple trips!

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Snæfellsnes Visitor Center - Welcome to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula! Often called “Iceland in Miniature,” this peninsula offers the unforgettable, from views of a glacier-capped volcano to tales of Vikings, trolls, and elves! So let’s get started!

Note: This 80+ -mile-long tour covers the essentials of Snæfellsnes Peninsula in 3-4 hours.

  • Djupalonssandur Beach - Just below the parking lot for Djúpalónssandur Beach lie two lagoons. In the 1100s, a Catholic bishop blessed the pools, apparently instilling them with healing powers. If you visit these lagoons, you’ll follow a trail known as Nautastígur, or “The Path of the Bulls.” This is the route that farmers once took as they brought their bulls to drink from the lagoons. Those were some sacred bulls!

  • Ingjaldshólskirkja - At the end of this road, we’ll reach Ingjaldshólskirkja, one of Iceland’s most famous churches. Although this structure wasn’t built until 1903, there has been a church on this property since the early 1300s!

  • Ölkelduvatn Mineral Spring - The water at Ölkelda farm is chock full of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and… iron! When iron reacts with oxygen and water, it creates a reddish substance known as iron oxide. If you leave a metal chair outside in the rain, this is what will cause it to rust!

  • Ytri Tunga Beach Parking - One night, a young farmer wandering at night spotted a seal skin and brought it home with him. There, he locked the skin in a wooden chest. The next morning, the farmer found a young woman sitting on the chest, crying. He consoled her.

  • Bjarnarfoss - Here’s another reason to check out the waterfall: The Lady of the Mountain once bathed here! Not familiar with the Lady of the Mountain? Well, she is a legendary matriarch who locals consider the very incarnation of Iceland itself.

  • Budakirkja - Right now, we’re in front of Búðakirkja, one of Iceland’s most famous churches. You might be thinking: This church is small enough for a Huldufólk wedding!

  • Snæfellsjökull View Point - Earlier in the tour, we talked about two big features of Iceland’s landscape: Volcanoes and glaciers. Well, Snæfellsjökull combines these two elements! A vast glacier covers the summit of the volcano. Sadly, this glacier has become smaller and smaller in recent decades. In 2012, for the first time in human history, you could stand in this very spot and see no ice on the top of Snæfellsjökull.

  • Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge - This is a deep, rocky ravine with a small waterfall. In the summer, you can even climb inside! The half-mile trail to the gorge is moderately challenging and takes about 20 minutes to complete.

  • Sönghellir Cave - If you plan on visiting the cave, it might be time to start warming up those golden pipes… Sönghellir translates to “the cave of songs.” The cave’s twisting, rocky walls provide an absolutely fantastic echo. Some say the echoes are the songs of the Huldufólk!

  • Arnarstapi - Ahead is an optional detour to the tiny fishing village of Arnarstapi. In Arnarstapi, you can look out over craggy cliffs, peer through a dramatic stone arch, and even walk over a natural bridge. Plus, the town has a statue dedicated to our favorite troll, Bárðar Snæfellsás!

  • Gatklettur - Since the days of Bárðar Snæfellsás, humans have been drawn to the area around Arnarstapi. Fishermen found plentiful herring in the natural harbors along the shoreline, and the village became a bustling port.

  • Lóndrangar View Point - We’re nearing the Lóndrangar View Point, where two basalt columns soar above the surrounding cliffs. These dramatic columns help to explain Lóndrangar’s nickname: “the rocky castle.”

  • Malarrif Lighthouse - This distinctive lighthouse was built in 1917 to help sailors navigate the treacherous basalt cliffs. The Malarrif Lighthouse might look a little unusual to you: It’s almost shaped like a rocket preparing for lift-off!

  • Vatnshellir Cave - Despite the name, Vatnshellir Cave is actually an 8,000 year-old lava tube. Lava tubes form during volcanic eruptions, when rivers of magma continue to flow beneath sections that have already cooled. This creates a long, hollow tube!

  • Djupalonssandur Beach - Just below the parking lot for Djúpalónssandur Beach lie two lagoons. In the 1100s, a Catholic bishop blessed the pools, apparently instilling them with healing powers. If you visit these lagoons, you’ll follow a trail known as Nautastígur, or “The Path of the Bulls.

  • Saxholl Crater - Imagine pools of magma bubbling away beneath the Earth’s surface. Sometimes, magma rises up to meet water-saturated rocks. Eventually, this can lead to something called a phreatic eruption. During phreatic eruptions, a huge quantity of water, steam, and molten rock explodes outwards! This leaves behind an enormous hollow, which you’ll be able to explore at Saxhóll Crater!

  • Skardsvik Beach - We’ll soon reach the turn for Skarðsvík Beach. This beach is an absolute study in contrasts. You’ll be able to admire turquoise water straight out of a tropical vacation, while also enjoying the dark volcanic rock that defines so much of the peninsula.

  • Svortuloft Lighthouse - At the end of this road, the bright orange Svörtuloft Lighthouse stands out against the dark lava cliffs. Built in 1931, this lighthouse has helped generations of sailors and fishermen safely navigate the rocks and crags of the western Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

  • Öndverðarnesviti - Another lighthouse, Öndverðarnesviti, overlooks the cliffs just ahead. Since its construction in 1973, sailors have relied on Öndverðarnesviti to help them navigate the peninsula’s rocky tip.

  • Hellissandur - Although Hellissandur was once a thriving fishing village, today it’s best known as the “Street Art Capital of Iceland!” Huge murals cover many of the walls in town, and galleries line the main road. Another big draw: The Maritime Museum!

  • Svodufoss - So where did all this water come from? As you look at Svöðufoss, you’ll get a pretty big hint. Behind the falls rises Snæfellsjökull… with its glacier-capped summit! Meltwater from the glacier helps to sustain nearly all the waterfalls on Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

  • Baejarfoss - The Bæjarfoss waterfall overlooks the small town of Ólafsvík. The waterfall’s name translates to “Town Falls”… and yes, Bæjarfoss is an easy walk from Ólafsvík!

  • Kirkjufellsfossar - We’ll have the chance to see one of Iceland’s most iconic views: Kirkjufell Mountain rising steeply behind the Kirkjufellsfossar waterfall! If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, this spot might look extra familiar to you

  • Kirkjufell Viewpoint - Unlike some of the other mountains we’ve seen today, Kirkjufell is not a volcano. Instead, this is a nunatak! Nunataks are mountain peaks that rise above surrounding glaciers. The erosion of these glaciers left Kirkjufell with its sheer sides and cylindrical shape.

  • Grundarfjorour - Positioned at the edge of a wide lava field known as Berserkjahraun, Grundarfjörður plays a big role in Iceland’s fabled Eyrbyggja saga. The story goes that a 10th-century farmer named Viga-Styrr employed two muscular ‘berserkers’ to work his fields.

  • Kolgrafarfjördur Viewpoint - In about a mile, Kolgrafarfjördur Viewpoint provides the final grand panorama of our tour. Think about all the sights we’ve seen today: basalt cliffs, ancient volcanoes, and fields of dark lava…

What's Included
  • Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
  • Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • Learn more: dive deeper into any story you enjoyed with extra stories.
  • Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's Not Included
  • Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Additional Information

Discover a landscape that encapsulates the very best Iceland has to offer with this self-guided driving tour of the stunning Snæfellsnes Peninsula. This is one of Iceland’s must-see for good reason. Featuring steaming mineral springs, dramatic coastal views, a soaring volcano, black sand beaches, and much more, you won’t want to leave Iceland without touring this peninsula. Plus, get plenty of fascinating history and can’t-miss pointers as you drive!

Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
  • How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
  • Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
  • Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
  • Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
  • Please be advised that the remaining hours of this tour will be dedicated to travel time.
Location
Snæfellsnes Visitor Center
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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September 2024
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