Reykjavík Grapevine - sep. 2019, Side 29

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Must-See Spot
Flatey
Breiðafjörður
You know that quintessential summer feel-
ing of time slowing down? The smell of the
season—grass, wildflowers, sea spray—
floats on the breeze and there’s nothing
on your agenda but to breathe it in. That’s
Flatey. Drive to Stykkishólmur—a gem of
the West in itself—and catch the ferry out
onto Breiðafjörður to spend a day among
Flatey island’s colourful houses, impossibly
green grass and undeniable charm—and
puffins. Said one panellist: “It’s a magical
place.” A10
Runners Up
Snæfellsjökull
Snæfellsnes
All of Iceland’s glaciers are magnificent, but
Snæfellsjökull is something else. It glows. It
beckons you to gaze upon its majesty. You
cannot say you’ve been to West Iceland
unless you’ve basked in its glory, or, better
still, booked a tour to the top of the glis-
tening leviathan to explore it up close. B12
Arnarstapi & Hellnar
Útnesvegur, Snæfellsnes
These two coastal villages are just a stone’s
throw from one another—a 6-minute
drive, or an hour-long stroll—and both
come recommended by our panel as places
to sit and watch the sea life as the sun sets.
Fly over to Arnarstapi for seabirds, or roll
down to Hellnar to try and spot seals. B12
Best Hike
Glymur
Botnsdalur valley, Hvalfjörður
If you want a hike to brag about, try Gly-
mur. Iceland’s second-tallest waterfall,
Glymur plummets an impressive 198m,
and it is a real gem of the oft-overlooked or
bypassed entirely Hvalfjörður. Be warned,
though—it’s no stroll in the park. The hike
is a four-hour round trip on uneven terrain,
and crossing a stream. Sturdy hiking boots
and a decent level of physical fitness are
required, but the payoff is, as our panel
puts it, “Breathtaking!” F14
Runners Up
Arnarstapi to Hellnar
Snæfellsnes
If you need to stretch your legs on a
Snæfellsnes road trip, this is a no-brainer.
It’s an easy coastal walk that takes around
50 minutes (one way); in exchange for your
minimal effort, you’ll see crashing waves,
lively bird cliffs, lush valleys and possibly a
playful seal or two. B12
Hafnarfjall
Borgarnes
This trek up a volcano isn’t for beginners,
but, as the panel exclaimed, “Oh my, those
views!” Your hike begins near the base of
the bridge running across the fjord from
Borgarnes, and will take you to a height of
844m. It can be windy, so check the fore-
cast before lacing up your boots. E13
BEST OF ICELAND 2019
West
Go West, in the open air
Best Tour
Snæfellsjökull
Glacier Tour
Various providers, Snæfellsnes National Park
The Snæfellsjökull glacier is a staggering 1,446m high, crowning the tip
of Snæfellsnes. Many would be happy just gazing up at its icy form—but
then you’d be missing out on the best tour in the West. There are a couple
of ways to summit Snæfellsjökull. 3-5 hour tours will deliver you to the
highest accessible point in a snowcat, with the option of skiing back down;
other tours allow you to conquer the glacier on foot. Map square: B12
Runner Up
Víðgelmir Cave
Fljótstunga
The West is riddled with caves, but you’ll
need a guide to safely explore them. One
cave with regular guided tours is Víðgelmir.
The tour brings you into the heart of the
largest lava cave in Iceland, to explore the
lava formations therein and gape at the
earth’s power. G12
Runner Up

Into the Glacier
Langjökull, leaving from Húsafell
So, you’ve seen glaciers in the distance—
but have you been inside one? Into the Gla-
cier is a tour that gives you the opportunity
to do just that, via a man-made tunnel into
Langjökull. It’s a fascinating glimpse at the
lifespan of the ice giant, with history lit-
erally frozen into the tunnel’s walls. H13
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