Snæfellsnes Peninsula Tour
If you missed my previous post, this post is a continuation from last section at this link. I had a wonderful journey across striking landscapes on Snæfellsnes peninsula and experienced the stunning natural beauty and breathtaking imagery.
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| Djúpalónssandur, Black Pebble Beach |
One the left side of the black sand beach, there is a big rock that the waves crashes into. The single rock is called Kerlingin (The Crone) stands at the water´s edge. This is another landmark of Snæfellsnes Peninsular and Djúpalónssandur, black pebble beach.
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| Kerlingin At Djúpalónssandur, Black Pebble Beach |
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| A Small Bay, Dritvík |
Apart from the black beach, the hike to Dritvík cove from Djúpalónssandur cove is quite scenic with lava formation. About 1 kilometer west of Djúpalónssandur beach is a small bay called Dritvík. Approximately one kilometer to the west from Djúpalónssandur is a path you need to hike over a rugged lava to reach Dritvík. The walk by the shore is spectacular with many interesting lava formations. But, once there, you are likely to enjoy inspecting the area and taking advantage of the many photos and selfie opportunities.
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| Sunset At Djúpalónssandur, Black Pebble Beach |
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| A Small Pond At Djúpalónssandur, Black Pebble Beach |
On the shore behind the lava rocks when walking the path is a small pond, a beautiful sight. Specifically, if you are at Djúpalónssandur on a clear day with the glacier in the background.
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| Vatnshellir Cave |
Visiting the beautiful Vatnshellir cave is a unique experience. With the total darkness inside the lava cave and the complete silence of the underground world, you might experience a heightening of your other senses. Vatnshellir can be located just 10-minutes drive from the village of Hellnar, making it easily accessible to those travelling through the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. We received all the necessary gear, for instance, a helmet and a torchlight to see deep below the earth.
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| Vatnshellir Cave |
Vatnshellir is an 8000-year-old lava cave that you can access on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It is only accessible with a guide, at certain times of the day (on the hour between 10 and 18). The cave has only been open to the public since the summer of 2011.
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| Vatnshellir Cave |
Inside the lava tube, there are two main sections. The upper section has great features and unique natural lava statues curving around the sides of the lava tube.
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| Vatnshellir Cave |
We descend down a spiral staircase, 35 metres (115 feet) into the ground. We followed the flow of the ancient lava for about 200 metres (656 feet) and admired the colourful lava.
When we explored Vatnshellir, we saw the strange, subterranean cavern of stalactites, stalagmites, and mystically shaped lava formations.
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| Vatnshellir Cave |
The glow of our torchlights created eerie shapes and shadows, which danced across the walls of the cave. The cave trip was a short, easy walk and suitable for everyone but the ground was sharp and uneven. So children aged 5 and up are welcome. Do make sure wear good hiking shoes and warm clothing. Visitors should be in good health and physical fit as the tour provider prefers the visitors to be able to walk unassisted.
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| Vatnshellir Cave |
At the bottom of the cave, the guide asked us to turn off our lights for a moment to experience the all-consuming darkness. In the modern era, we are used to having easy access to light, so it can be startling to imagine life before electricity. After feeling a little spooked, we proceed to explore a number of chambers hidden within the cave. Throughout the tour, our guide told us all about the bursting eruption which cracked the earth open to form this cave, as well as the folklore woven into the fabric of the peninsula. Our tour took about 45 minutes.
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| Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall |
Leaving Djúpalónssandur, we travelled past striking landscapes to the north coast of Snæfellsnes peninsula to Grundarfjordur fishing village. Surrounded by exceptionally beautiful mountains Grundarfjörður is home to one of the peninsula‘s most iconic and photographed landmarks, the symmetrical mountain Kirkjufellthat towers 1500 ft. up from the shoreline. The beautiful waterfall, Kirkjufellsfoss, is nearby, and such a perfect place to stop. However, it was snowy and sky was quite dark. In November, sunset in Iceland started early around 5pm. We couldn't take amazing pictures for Mount Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall.
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| Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall |
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