Reykjavík Grapevine - 09.03.2007, Blaðsíða 23

8_REYKJAVÍK_GRAPEVINE_ISSUE 03_007_TRAVEL/DAY TRIPS
Distance from Reykjavík ca. 170 km
Often called the capital of Snæfellsnes penin-
sula, the small village of Stykkishólmur is con-
sidered one of the more magical municipalities
in the country. Surrounded by historical sites
and natural beauty, the town is located on the
north shore of the peninsula. Characteristic of
the town are all its small and colourful houses,
built around the harbour where fishing boats
are docked alongside cruise ships and ferries.
Activities for travellers visiting Stykkishól-
mur are numerous. To name a couple, the
Snæfellsnes Folk Museum, located inside a
19th-century wooden house, features an in-
formative exhibition worth checking out, and
in the nearby area majestic mountains boast
many scenic hiking trips.
The town is also the gateway to the
Breiðarfjörður islands and several companies
organise daily boat trips from the harbour
during summer months. A trip to Flatey, the
largest island on the Breiðafjörður bay, is a
worthwhile journey, as is a sight-seeing cruise
among the thousands of small islands where
one can spot puffins, eagles and other wild
birds flying around the boat while tasting
freshly caught scallops.
After exploring everything the town and
its surroundings have to offer, restaurant and
café Narfeyrarstofa, located in the heart of
Stykkishólmur, is an ideal destination where
one can enjoy a picturesque view over the
harbour before heading back home again.
Stykkishólmur
Distance from Reykjavík ca. 180 km
The countryside landscape of the western
part of the peninsula is both dramatic and
contrasting where one will come across some
of the country’s extraordinary natural won-
ders.
After a short drive from Búðir, the road
leads you to Arnarstapi, an old fishing village
rich with history and interesting sights to ex-
plore. Its beautiful harbour with a magnifi-
cent view over the gulf of Faxaflói and all the
unusual cliffs and surreal rock formations ris-
ing up from the unfriendly ocean have made
the place a popular hiking destination.
A short walk along the coast leads to Hell-
nar, another old fishing village, renowned for
its magical beach and the small and homely
café Fjöruhúsið. From here one can either
walk or drive to Djúpalónssandur beach (driv-
ing would be recommended if the time is
limited). A short walk down from the park-
ing lot leads to the black sand beach, most
famous for the four large rocks lying in the
shore. These boulders have an interesting his-
tory. Named Fullsterkur (Fullstrong), Hálfster-
kur (Halfstrong), Hálfdrættingur (Half-a-man)
and Amlóði (Lazybones) they were used to
test how strong the fishermen living in the
area were before they could go out to sea.
There are also numerous curious sites to
explore around the Djúpalónssandur area.
Roughly only a 15-minute walk north is Drit-
vík, a small creek that used to be a bustling
fishing community. The path is both easy and
rewarding and the scenic coastline where one
will pass caves, cliffs and unusual rock forma-
tions, explains why the peninsula is supposed
to provide a sample of all that Icelandic na-
ture has to offer.
From Arnarstapi to Dritvík
Distance from Reykjavík ca. 190 km
Snæfellsjökull glacier, a 1,446-metre high vol-
cano on the western part of the Snæfellsnes
peninsula, is among Iceland’s most famous
landmarks. The glacier has been the topic of
endless speculations over hundreds of years
as some think it to possess some mystical
powers. It has even been considered to be
one of Earth’s seven energy sources. In ad-
dition, the glacier has inspired authors such
as Jules Verne – who used it as the doorway
to a passage leading into Earth’s interior in
his sci-fi novel Journey to the Centre of Earth
– and a couple of years ago it captured the
attention of the media when alien watchers
from around the world flocked to the vol-
cano to welcome extraterrestrials who were
supposed to land on its top. Sadly, the guests
of honour never showed up.
The glacier and its spectacular national
park offer plenty of interesting stuff to see
and do aside from alien hunting or energy
searching. Covering an area of 170 square ki-
lometres, the national park was established
in 2001 with the goal of protecting the area
as well as making it easily accessible to all the
many visitors planning a hiking tour around
its wilderness.
For those looking for different excite-
ment there are numerous possibilities to ex-
perience the glacier in an extreme way. Dur-
ing spring and summer months one can for
example go skiing and snowboarding down
the glacier or go on a snowmobile excursion
with a guide. Riding down its slopes in clear
weather gives you the adrenaline rush of a
lifetime. It truly is an amazing experience as
the remarkable scenery adds tremendous
pleasure to this outdoor activity.
Snæfellsjökull Glacier
Distance from Reykjavík ca. 180 km
Surrounded by unparalleled natural beauty,
Búðir, on the southern part of the Snæfell-
snes peninsula, is known for its rugged land-
scape, adventurous hiking tracks and incredi-
ble scenery. Here, the activities include hiking
trips through the Búðahraun lava field, horse
riding around the grassy meadows, and quiet
relaxation down by the yellow sand beach, all
depending on one’s interests.
The tiny black wooden chapel, only min-
utes from the main road, has become a sym-
bol for the area. Traced back to the 17th cen-
tury, the chapel has been a popular setting
for fashion photo shoots, and it’s no wonder
why. With a view over the rocky shore the
chapel stands on a small hill with the beach on
one side and lava fields and the snow-capped
Snæfellsjökull glacier on the other. For most
travellers, this is where a journey around the
area begins as there are numerous walking
paths and opportunities to explore the un-
touched nature. The most popular of them is
walking the old path through the Búðahraun
lava field that leads to the volcano Búðaklet-
tur and Búðahellir cave, both part of a nature
reserve. The trail, named Klettsgata, is well
marked and mapped, with interesting sights
and attractions pointed out along the way.
After a day of sightseeing, visitors should
not miss out on a nice dinner at Hótel Búðir.
The hotel is among the country’s more popu-
lar destinations for an overnight stay due not
only to its location but classy interiors and a
gourmet restaurant famous for its tasty fish
dishes. With the glacier hovering in the back-
ground, a more romantic and memorable
dining experience in the country is hard to
find.
Búðir
A Day Trip to Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Car provided by Hertz, Tel.: 522 4400
Fly and discover
airiceland.is
/ tel. 570 3030
Air Iceland destinations
NARSARSSUAQ
Greenland
FAROE ISLANDS
REYKJAVÍK
AKUREYRI
EGILSSTAÐIR
WESTMAN ISLANDS
ÍSAFJÖRÐUR
VOPNAFJÖRÐUR
GRÍMSEY
KULUSUK
Greenland
NERLERIT INAAT
Greenland
NUUK
Greenland
Get your action-packed day tour brochure
at hotels, airports or any travel agent.
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