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    Rêves d'ailleurs

    Rêves d'ailleurs

    Rêves d'ailleurs

      

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    • Prepare your USA roadtrip
    Home
    • Galleries and infos
      • USA
      • Kenya
      • Namibia
      • Ethiopia
      • New Zealand
      • Norway
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Portugal
      • Seychelles
      • Baleares
      • France
    • Travel Logs
      • Norway 2024
      • New Zealand 2023
      • Kenya 2023
      • Norway 2022
      • Iceland 2022
      • USA 2022
      • Kenya 2021
      • Ethiopia 2020
      • Namibia 2019
      • Portugal 2018
      • USA 2018
      • USA 2017
      • Ireland 2016
      • USA 2015
      • USA 2014
      • USA 2013
      • USA 2012
      • Iceland 2011
      • USA 2010
      • USA 2009
      • USA 2007
      • Seychelles 2005
      • USA 2000
      • USA 1999
      • USA 1998
    • Prepare your USA roadtrip

    In this page, you will find informations and advices we can give, based on our experience

    Snaefellsnes Peninsula

    What to do if you have little time : Kirkjufell

    The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is mainly known for its Snaefellsjokull volcano. But there is not only the volcano to see. The clipped coast is worth a look. The tour of the peninsula is quite feasible in a day car with a picnic in Djupalon.

    The climate here is a little more mild and the temperatures slightly higher.

     

    Access : the tour of the peninsula is 116 miles from Stykkisholmur to the crossing of highway 54 with highway 55. From Stykkisholmur, take the Stykkisholmurvegur / Adalgata south for 6 miles then road 54 towards the east. Make as many stops as you like. One stop is not to be missed, it is Kirkjufell which is probably the most photographed place on the peninsula. After 36,6 miles on route 54, take the 574 towards Olafsvik. It is on this road that you can reach Olafsvik, Svodufoss, Saxholl, Djupalon, Arnarstapi and the best views of the volcano Snaefellsjokull. After 53 miles on route 574, we find Route 54 to continue the tour of the peninsula. After 34.5 miles towards the east, take a track in very good condition on the left for 1 mile towards Ytri Raudamelur.

    Kirkjufell
    Selvallafoss
    Svodufoss
    Berserkjahraun
    Djupalon
    Arnarstapi
    Snaefellsjokull
    Ytri Raudamelur
    Stevefoss
    Saxholl Crater
    Mount Helgafell
    Stykkisholmur
    Olafsvikurkirkja
    Ingjaldsholl
    Fjords and coast

    Kirkjufell

    Place worth a visit  

    Length and duration of the hikeNo hike

    Time to spend1 hour

    Fee

     

    Fee parking 5€

    It is an essential stop on the peninsula. This spot is very well known by photographers because it allows to have on the same shot the mountain and the waterfalls in foreground. The place is indeed very nice but also very popular. You will not be alone there.

    Selvallafoss

    Place worth a visit  

    Length and duration of the hikeNo hike

    Time to spend1 hour

    Fee

     

    Free

    Very pretty waterfall as there are so many in Iceland. It is completely invisible from the road. It is necessary to make a small walk of less than 5 minutes to reach the top of the waterfall from where we have a pretty sight on a lake and on some craters. It is possible to go down to the foot of the waterfall. 

     

    Access : from Stykkisholmur, take the Stykkisholmurvegur Adalgata road south until you reach road 54. Take it westward for 4,6 miles and then turn left to road 56 for 1,7 miles. The parking lot will be on your right.

    Svodufoss

    Place worth a visit  

    Length and duration of the hikeNo hike

    Time to spend1 hour

    Fee

     

    Free

    Nice waterfall very easy to access by a fully equipped path.

    Berserkjahraun lava field

    Place worth a visit  

    Length and duration of the hikeDepending on wish

    Time to spend1 hour

    Fee

     

    Free

    Beautiful field of old lava covered with vegetation, magnified by the colors of autumn. By taking the 558 Berserkjahraun track, if your car allows it, you will reach the heart of this lava field. It is possible to take a little height by taking a path along a crater.

     

    Access : from the northern intersection between roads 56 and 54, take 54 west for 0,2 miles. Turn left onto the 558 Berserkjahraun trail indicated by a sign.

    Djupalon

    Place worth a visit  

    Length and duration of the hike0,25 mile one way

    Time to spend1 to 2 hours

    Fee

     

    Free

    Black pebble beach very beautiful with its ancient lava flows covered with moss. On this beach, we find pieces of scrap metal. A sign at the entrance to the beach indicates that this is the wreck of an old trawler failed in 1947. Ideal place for a picnic break.

    Arnarstapi

    Place worth a visit  

    Length and duration of the hikeDepending on wish

    Time to spend1 to 2 hours

    Fee

     

    Free

    Small town friendly and quite busy. A trail runs along the coast where you can admire the basalt columns that gush from the turquoise waters of the sea. The port deserves to be seen.

    Snaefellsjokull

    Place worth a visit  

    Length and duration of the hikeNo hike

    Time to spend15 to 30 minutes

    Fee

     

    Free

    From Djupalon parking, we have a superb view of the volcano / glacier Snaefellsjokull. For the record, Jules Verne was inspired by this place to start his "Journey to the Center of the Earth".

    Ytri Raudamelur

    Place worth a visit  

    Length and duration of the hikeDepending on wish

    Time to spend1 hour

    Fee

     

    Free

    Long wall of basalt columns located on a track (in good condition) that goes north from Highway 54. In some places, it is possible to climb up the wall. The view is frankly pretty and gives a panoramic view of several craters.

    Stevefoss

    Place to visit if you're in the area  

    Length and duration of the hikeNo hike

    Time to spend15 minutes

    Fee

     

    Free

    Compared to the other waterfalls of Iceland, Stevefoss is not really worth the detour. It is far, hidden and not easy to approach.

    Saxholl Crater

    Place to visit if you're in the area  

    Length and duration of the hikeDepending on wish

    Time to spend1 hour

    Fee

     

    Free

    Small crater, not to be missed, at the roadside, with nice colors. To go up there, you will have to take the staircase with 384 steps ! From the top, the view is very nice.

    Mount Helgafell

    Place to visit if you're in the area  

    Length and duration of the hike0,2 mile one way

    Time to spend1 hour

    Fee

     

    Free

    Short hike (0,4 mile roundtrip) which is to climb up the hill to get a nice view of Stykkisholmur and Snaefellsnes peninsula. A legend tells you have to climb without looking back and without talking to the summit of Mount Helgafell. Once up, you have to head east and make three wishes. It seems that it works! (We are still waiting!).

    Stykkisholmur

    Place to visit if you're in the area  

    Length and duration of the hikeDepending on wish

    Time to spend1 hour

    Fee

     

    Free

    Small town with a port status, but little interest. To see, however, the large white church with a strange design.

    Olafsvikurkirja Church

    Place to visit if you're in the area  

    Length and duration of the hikeNo hike

    Time to spend15 minutes

    Fee

     

    Free

    Small church of the city of Olafsvik with a modern architecture. The road leading to it is painted with the colors of the rainbow.

    Ingjaldsholl Church

    Place to visit if you're in the area  

    Length and duration of the hikeNo hike

    Time to spend15 minutes

    Fee

     

    Free

    Small church visible from far thanks to its red roof near Hellissandur. Contrary to many other churches in Iceland, this one was closed at the time of our passage.

    Fjords and coast

    Place to visit if you're in the area  

    Length and duration of the hikeNo hike

    Time to spendDepending on wish

    Fee

     

    Free

    You can also find pretty fjords on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and some small coastal towns.

    To see around

    • Not much else to see in the area

    Lodging

    We have tested :

    • Stykkisholmur - guesthouse Heimagisting Olmu : very good room, clean, no kitchen, breakfast included but with a limited choice. The owner, cold on a first is talkative once launched !
    • Borgarnes - youth hostel of Borgarbraut : quite noisy, because on roadside, old fashioned rooms, small kitchen but spacious dinning room.

    Copyright Magali and David BELLEC