Private Mythical Snaefellsnes Tour

We start the day by reaching the town of Borgarnes.

Borgarnes is a small town located on a peninsula in Borgarfjörður Bay, about an hour’s drive north of Reykjavík. The town sits atop an ancient lava field and is surrounded by low-lying hills formed through post-glacial erosion. Its position near tectonic boundaries has influenced the shape of the surrounding fjords, carved by both glacial and volcanic activity over millennia.

Borgarnes is historically significant as a key area during the early Viking settlement of Iceland, around 874 AD. The region is closely tied to Egil’s Saga, one of Iceland’s most important medieval manuscripts. This saga is part-history, part-legend, and traces the life of Egil Skallagrímsson, a complex figure known for both brutal combat and sophisticated poetry — showcasing the duality of Viking culture.

The Settlement Center in town, an optional stop along the route, features two exhibitions: one on the first Norse settlers and their migration across the North Atlantic, influenced by both exploration and environmental factors such as climate change and volcanic soil fertility; the other is dedicated to Egil himself, offering a blend of literary history and archaeological context.

Arnarstapi and Hellnar, our next stops, are two historic fishing villages located on the southern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, known not only for their cultural heritage but also for their extraordinary coastal geology. The area sits near the base of Snæfellsjökull, a stratovolcano capped by a glacier, which has influenced the formation of the surrounding lava fields and cliffs.

The shoreline between the villages features dramatic basalt columns, arches, blowholes, and sea stacks formed through repeated lava flows that met with the cold Atlantic, causing the molten rock to crack and cool rapidly. These geological features are prime examples of columnar jointing and coastal erosion that continue to shape the landscape.

Seabird colonies thrive along these cliffs, particularly kittiwakes, fulmars, and arctic terns, which nest in the vertical rock faces during the summer. 

A walking path connects Arnarstapi and Hellnar, passing through moss-covered lava fields and along tectonic fissures. In Arnarstapi, a large stone sculpture of Bárður Snæfellsás, a legendary figure said to be part-man, part-giant, represents the region’s deep ties to folklore. According to legend, Bárður vanished into the glacier above and became its guardian spirit.

Hellnar, once a key fishing hub, has evidence of early human habitation dating back centuries. Today, visitors come to admire the lava-formed coastline and enjoy its peaceful setting, where volcanic geology meets Icelandic myth.

On our third stop we visit Djúpalónssandur, a black pebble beach on the western tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, shaped by ancient volcanic activity tied to the Snæfellsjökull volcanic system. The beach lies in a natural cove carved out by lava flows that solidified thousands of years ago and were later sculpted by wave erosion and glacial retreat.

The small, smooth black pebbles known locally as djúpalónsperlur, or "pearls of Djúpalón", were created by centuries of wave action breaking down the lava rock. These pebbles are protected and it is illegal to remove them, as they are part of the geological heritage of the area.

Djúpalónssandur was once home to a thriving fishing outpost, and the beach served as a natural harbor for seasonal fishermen during the harsh winter months. The surrounding lava fields offered shelter from the wind and waves, creating a rare haven along the otherwise rugged coastline.

One of the beach’s most distinctive features is a set of four ancient lifting stones of different weights, used to test the strength of fishermen. The heaviest, known as Fullsterkur ("full strength"), weighs 154 kg (340 lbs). Lifting these stones was a rite of passage and determined a man's eligibility for crew work and wages.

Scattered across the beach are rusted remains of the British trawler Epine GY7, which wrecked off the coast in 1948. The twisted metal pieces have been left untouched as a memorial, slowly oxidizing and blending with the volcanic backdrop.

Our fourth and final stop, Kirkjufell or “Church Mountain,” is one of Iceland’s most recognizable landforms, rising 463 meters (1,519 feet) near the town of Grundarfjörður on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Its isolated, conical shape was sculpted by a combination of glacial erosion and geological layering during the Ice Ages, giving it the distinctive profile that draws photographers from around the world.

Geologically, Kirkjufell is a nunatak — a peak that once protruded through surrounding glaciers during the last glacial period. While much of the landscape was ground down by ice movement, Kirkjufell stood as a resistant mass, its upper layers composed of alternating bands of lava, sandstone, and volcanic tuff. These layers reveal a complex volcanic history dating back millions of years.

The mountain is surrounded by sediment-rich lowlands and small waterfalls, including Kirkjufellsfoss, which add to its iconic appeal. The contrast between the angular rock formations and flowing water provides a vivid example of how Iceland’s topography reflects the interplay between volcanism and glaciation.

Folklore plays a strong role in the mystique of Kirkjufell. In local legends, the mountain is said to be inhabited by elves or even trolls, and early settlers may have viewed it as a place of spiritual or ritual significance. Its striking form has fueled myths about it being a gathering place for supernatural beings or a sacred landmark in pre-Christian Iceland.

After visiting Kirkjufell we head back to Reykjavík where we arrive late in the evening and your driver returns you to your chosen drop-off location.

Here are just a few things to consider taking with you on your day out:

• Warm layers - Places inland tend to be colder than Reykjavík
• Rainproof layers - The weather changes fast in Iceland
• Food and Drinks - We'll make sure to also stop along the way
• Hiking boots - Sturdy shoes are better in these landscape
• A fully charged Camera