Snaefellsnes Peninsula Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Itinerary

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   Stop Pass by

   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: The tour is over 89 miles long, with more than 83 audio stories, and takes about 3-4 hours per tour to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

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   Djupalonssandur Beach Pass by

   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!

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   Stop 5 minutes

   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!

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   Stop 5 minutes

   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!

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   Stop 5 minutes

   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.

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   Bjarnarfoss 5 minutes

   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.

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   Budakirkja 5 minutes

   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!

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   Stop 5 minutes

   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.

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   Stop 5 minutes

   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.

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    Stop 5 minutes

    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!

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    Stop 5 minutes

    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!

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    Gatklettur 5 minutes

    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.

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    Stop 5 minutes

    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.”

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    Malarrif Lighthouse 5 minutes

    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!

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    Vatnshellir Lava Cave Pass by

    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!

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    Djupalonssandur Beach 5 minutes

    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.

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    Saxholl Crater 5 minutes

    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!

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    Skardsvik Beach 5 minutes

    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.

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    Svortuloft Lighthouse 5 minutes

    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.

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    Stop 5 minutes

    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.

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    Hellissandur 5 minutes

    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!

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    Svodufoss 5 minutes

    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.

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    Baejarfoss 5 minutes

    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!

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    Stop 5 minutes

    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

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    Stop 5 minutes

    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.

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    Grundarfjorour 5 minutes

    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.

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    Stop 5 minutes

    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…

Good to know

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
• How to start touring: 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 No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
• Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
• New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
• Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
• The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.