Lately, I’ve been asking myself the same question whenever an opportunity presents itself:
Will I regret not taking it?
Most of the time, the answer is yes. And this time was no exception.
So, I set off on a guided day trip around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. It was probably my first time exploring a foreign country’s landmarks by tourist bus… More on my impressions below. 😉
Our first stop was a white sand beach where, if you’re lucky, you can spot seals. From experience, I know that “luck” doesn’t always come at the right time, so I went mainly out of curiosity—to see what the surroundings looked like.
I glanced to the left—all the tourists were gathered there. I quickly scanned the area to see if anything interesting was happening and immediately spotted something that looked like a seal. But it couldn’t be. It was completely still, right in the middle of the shallow water.
“It’s just a rock, Alenka. Just a rock,” I told myself.
Surprisingly, the right side of the beach was completely deserted—a clear sign that I should go there. And then, I spotted an actual seal swimming towards me.
“Wow, I’m here alone, I found a seal—what luck!” I thought.
For a while, I stood there, thrilled with my exclusive wildlife encounter. Then, I started wondering why all the other tourists were on the other side. I took another look in their direction—and there they were, seals lounging on the rocks just a few meters away.
Suddenly, everything made more sense.
And even funnier, when I accidentally zoomed in on that lonely rock in the water with my camera… Which wasn’t a rock!
After our 20-minute stop, we continued through what was supposedly the “most dangerous” part of the peninsula.
This area was home to Iceland’s most notorious serial killer in the 16th century. He offered travelers (probably overnight) lodging, then murdered them in their sleep to steal their money and valuables. One lucky escapee managed to expose him, and the killer met a rather miserable end…
Needless to say, we didn’t linger here for long.
This peninsula is famous for hosting all of Iceland’s signature attractions—ice, lava fields, hot springs, some of the best whale watching, waterfalls, cliffs, and probably more.
The glacier at the tip of the peninsula is particularly intriguing. Jules Verne described it as the entry point for his journey to Italy in his novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Additionally, Snæfellsjökull is often referred to as the “Heart Chakra of the World”, adding to its mystical allure.
I felt something magical about it, too. I can’t quite describe it, but gazing at its grandeur was deeply captivating. Many artists come here for extended stays—to seek inspiration, relaxation, or simply recharge their energy.
Next on our itinerary was a tiny village (about ten houses) nearby. The scenic coastal setting attracts many tourists, but to me, that made it feel less authentic—just another small Icelandic village.
A well-maintained trail ran along the coastline, offering stunning views of the rock formations jutting out from the sea.
Oh, if only I had a car… I would come here at a completely different time of day… And spend more than just 30 minutes.
A bit further north, we stopped at yet another site with rock formations rising from the sea. There are quite a few of these along the peninsula.
Nearby stood one of Iceland’s countless lighthouses, situated by a black sand beach—one of many in the country.
This beach was, without a doubt, my favourite stop of the day. It had everything—a black sand beach, a lagoon, dramatic rock formations, shipwreck remnants, and all sorts of marine debris.
Oh, and plenty of people—who made the photos even more interesting.
Scattered across the area are remnants of a British fishing vessel that met a tragic fate here. These wreckage pieces serve as a memorial, and touching them is discouraged.
Our second-to-last stop—a short walk up to the top of a small volcanic crater. Absolutely fascinating!
They saved the grand finale for last—the famous Kirkjufell, a landscape you might recognize if you’ve watched Game of Thrones.
I haven’t, so I have to admit—I wasn’t as impressed. Maybe also because we only had 20 minutes to explore.
Yeah… That was probably the reason.
With more time, you can take a short hike to one of the many waterfalls that add a refreshing contrast to the glacier-grass-rock scenery.
Timing is everything…
Smoke in Iceland means one of two things: hot water / smelly sulphur fumes. Here, it was the latter. To be honest, I was finally eager to smell it too.
A lot happened, and I saw a lot—but only for very, very short periods. That’s the one downside of tourist bus tours, which is why I generally avoid them.
Maybe I’m just being picky.
But if you’re visiting with your own car, this peninsula is definitely worth including in your itinerary.
By the way—on the northern side of the peninsula, there’s Whale Watching Láki Tours, known for high success rates in spotting orcas.
takk fyrir = thank you very much
halló = hello
<3, Alenka