Join your private driver-guide for this day trip to experience the dramatic landscapes of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. 

With hotel pick-up in Reykjavík, you’ll avoid the crowds and enjoy a personalized, relaxed adventure. As you travel along Route 1 and Route 54, your guide will share Icelandic folklore and geological insights, culminating in visits to Gerðuberg Basalt Cliffs, Ytri Tunga Beach, Arnarstapi, Hellnar, Lóndrangar Cliffs, Djúpalónssandur Beach, and the iconic Kirkjufell mountain.

Highlights of Our Snæfellsnes Peninsula Day Trip

Private Hotel Pick-Up from Reykjavík

Overview of Icelandic Geology en Route

Gerðuberg Basalt Cliffs Exploration

Seal Watching at Ytri Tunga Beach

Guided Coastal Walk at Arnarstapi

Authentic Lunch in Hellnar

Lóndrangar Cliffs & Djúpalónssandur Beach Visit

Photo Stop at Kirkjufell & Kirkjufellsfoss

Our Snæfellsnes Day Trip Itinerary

All our day trips are customizable. Below is our recommended schedule. If you’d like to adjust the timing, add stops, reserve a restaurant for lunch, or make any other changes that may appeal to you, please let us know.

Collection and Departure from Reykjavík

Your driver-guide will collect you at your central accommodation in the morning as you set off toward the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. 

During this 1.5-hour drive, your guide will provide an engaging overview of Iceland’s geological history, highlighting its volcanic origins, glacial formations, and seismic activity. Admire the changing scenery, from coastal vistas to rolling lava fields, and feel free to ask questions as you settle in. 

Serene Gerðuberg Basalt Cliffs Exploration

Your first destination, Gerðuberg, boasts a natural amphitheater of towering basalt columns that stretch into the sky, each hexagonal pillar born from slow-moving lava cooling uniformly some 3,000 years ago. 

Walking the length of the cliff base, you’ll feel the cool, smooth surfaces under your fingertips, a testament to centuries of wind and water polishing these once-molten rocks. Beneath you, vibrant moss blankets the uneven ground, illustrating how life reclaims even the most volcanic of landscapes with lush greenery.

Beyond their geological precision, these cliffs are steeped in folklore: your guide will share tales of hidden elves believed to dwell in nearby lava tubes and recount stories of early settlers who sought refuge behind these rock walls during harsh Icelandic storms. 

While you capture photographs of the columns against bright skies, your guide can point out subtle variations—some pillars remain perfectly uniform. In contrast, others bear gentle irregularities shaped by shifting lava flows. This blend of science and story ensures that Gerðuberg is not just a geological marvel but a place of living heritage where legend and landscape intertwine.

Seal Watching at Ytri Tunga Beach

Re-join your private driver for the journey toward Ytri Tunga Beach.

Spend some time strolling along the golden-sand shore, where seals often sunbathe on rocky outcrops. Your guide will point out seal behavior and discuss the marine ecosystem of Breiðafjörður Bay. 

Binoculars will be available for wildlife spotting, and the guide can offer photography tips—perfect for capturing seals against the backdrop of distant sea cliffs. This peaceful stop allows you to connect with Iceland’s coastal wildlife before continuing on your journey.

Coastal Walk and Photo Stop at Arnarstapi

Your guide will lead you along the rugged cliffs of Arnarstapi, where jagged lava formations meet the relentless Atlantic. 

As you walk, you’ll navigate narrow paths carved into the coastline, pausing to admire Gatklettur—the striking stone arch sculpted by centuries of crashing waves. Beyond the arch, clusters of sea stacks rise dramatically from the water, their silhouettes shifting with each passing cloud. The guide will point out local birdlife, and if you’re here during nesting season, you may glimpse puffins dotting the cliff edges. 

Along the way, you’ll learn about centuries-old fishing traditions that once sustained this remote village, imagining fishermen hauling nets ashore as seabirds wheeled overhead.

You’ll have time to explore small alcoves where fewer visitors venture, discovering hidden coves framed by basalt columns. 

Lunch Break in Hellnar 

A short walk (or drive) brings you to Hellnar for a casual lunch. 

Choose a cozy local café or enjoy a picnic by the scenic harbor—either way, you’ll taste fresh Icelandic seafood and local specialties such as langoustine soup or hearty lamb soup. While you dine, your guide will recount Hellnar’s history as an old fishing village and describe how its natural harbor sustained generations of families. 

Afternoon Exploration of Lóndrangar Cliffs and Djúpalónssandur Beach

At Lóndrangar, you’ll encounter two towering basalt pinnacles rising dramatically from the sea, their jagged silhouettes shaped by millennia of relentless waves. 

As you walk amongst and on top of the basalt columns, you’ll hear of the legend of the “Black Guard” trolls said to lurk among the rocks—mythical sentinels who, according to local lore, were petrified by the sunrise. 

Walking along the cliff edge, you can feel the raw power of the ocean and observe seabirds nesting in the crevices, their calls echoing against the rugged stone.

A short drive brings you to Djúpalónssandur Beach, where the landscape shifts to a vast expanse of smooth, black pebbles polished by centuries of tides. Wander freely across the shore, examining the rusted remnants of the Epine shipwreck scattered among the stones. 

Visit to Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss

Kirkjufell often hailed as “the most photographed mountain in Iceland,” rises in a perfect cone shape that seems almost too symmetrical to be natural. 

A short walk leads you to Kirkjufellsfoss, a graceful waterfall that tumbles down a series of tiers with Kirkjufell looming majestically in the background. Your guide will recall stories of ancient Vikings who believed the mountain held protective powers, as well as tales of its role in recent film and television productions—most notably its appearance in “Game of Thrones” as the backdrop for pivotal scenes. 

This visit is both a celebration of Iceland’s natural artistry and a window into the rich tapestry of stories woven around one of its most enchanting landmarks.

Return Drive to Reykjavík

Depart Kirkjufell for the 45-minute return drive to Reykjavík.  

If time permits, there’s a scenic pull-off near Borgarnes where you can stretch your legs one last time and breathe in the fresh air. 

Conclude with recommendations for evening activities in Reykjavík—perhaps a stroll along the old harbor or a visit to a cozy local café—leaving you with a sense of accomplishment and inspiration for your next Icelandic adventure.