Snaefellsnes by the Sea
Snaefellsnes 3-day Seaside Stay - Iceland
Overview
The paved roads will leave you alone for the next few days, as you turn to the western peninsula of Snaefellsnes. Climb up to the lighthouse at Stykkisholmur, enjoy the view of the fjord and take a walk along the steep coast with its bird cliffs at Hellnar. We’ll book you into a cosy guesthouse and take you on a guided tour to the local lava cave. In your free time you can take in the daily scenes in the nearby fishing village, where daily fresh catch is brought into the harbour.
What's included
- Accommodation – price based on 2 people sharing
- 2 x breakfast
- Winter excursion: Orca spotting excursion
- Summer excursion: Hiking Snaefellsnes and lava cave excursion
Create your own holiday itinerary 1. Add at least 3 chosen trips to your travel plan 2. Send it our way 3. Our travel specialists will get planning and send you a quote
Location map
Your day-by-day itinerary
Arrival in Snaefellsnes
From the northern town of Akureyri it takes about 5 hours to drive to the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Many travellers skip this part of Iceland making it a real hidden gem, and with its vast grasslands it’s a nice counterpart to the more rugged interior. As you approach the Snaefellsnes peninsula you’ll have a stunning view of the towering volcano in the distance, which makes for a great picture. You will be welcomed by an Icelandic couple as you pull up to their small family guesthouse.

Summer: Hiking Snaefellsnes and lava cave excursion
After a long drive yesterday, it’s time to get out and stretch your legs today. Take a walk along the deeply carved bird cliffs at Arnarstapi, where you can see fulmars and kittiwakes. Walk past bizarre lava formations and a waterfall to a coffee house with lovely terrace. They offer an incredibly tempting homemade chocolate cake and the waffles with whipped cream are delicious too. After your coffee stop, head back to the guesthouse for your trip to the lava cave.

Just a few miles away is a lava cave that was formed long ago when a volcano erupted. Equipped with a flashlight and helmet, you will walk into the cave and down some stairs. With all the torches turned off, it is pitch black except for the glittering red glow of the walls. Your guide will tell you how the cave came to be and which trolls are said to exist here. In the afternoon why not head over to the shark museum on the north side and explore the peninsula further.

Winter: Orca spotting excursion
In winter, large troops of orcas come along the coast, so dress warmly today as you will be heading out to sea in search of these majestic animals. They are here to hunt the herrings that congregate in the fjords. Be ready, because they can be difficult to spot and you do, it’s a truly wonderful experience as the water spurts above the surface and you see a fin emerge. After about two hours on the water you’ll head back to harbour. Due to its remote location, Snaefellsnes is also ideal to see the Northern Lights, so a night walk is highly recommended to end the day with a little more excitement.

Departure from Snaefellsnes
Hopefully by now you were lucky enough to have experienced all three highlights during your stay at Snaeffelsness: orcas, whales and the special northern lights. If you can’t get enough of it and want more walks along the cliff coast or if you want to go into the nearby lava cave, you can of course extend your stay here. Just let your travel specialist know.
Combine this trip with
Where to next? This trip goes together perfectly with these: