Excursion Caves, craters and coves tour at Grundarfjordur

Enjoy an adventurous tour exploring some of the area's best loved coastal hiking trails, coupled with an approximate 45-minute cave exploration - all under the watchful eye of the famous Snæfellsjökull glacier.

Snæfellsjökull glacier is a dormant stratovolcano, 1446m high and the crater approximately 200m deep) is believed to be one of the seven chakras (energy centers) in the world. Visitors often comment on being aware of the glacier's almost tangible magnetic energies. It is even said that some people don't sleep at all while visiting the area due to the energies that radiate from the glacier! The peninsula is brimming with evidence of volcanic activity, with untold craters and moss-covered lava fields stretching as far as the eye can see.

Depart the pier and drive 45 minutes to Saxhóll to begin your tour. Take a refreshing walk amongst the craters at Saxhóll. The walk to the main crater takes about 30 minutes return and despite not being particularly high (approx. 300m), it offers great views and a chance to walk around a volcanic crater rim and take a look inside. Next, discover Malarrif lighthouse which had an important role guiding fisherman from the rocky beaches and visit the visitor center for the Snæfellsjökull National Park and learn more about this beautiful area.

Next, drive to enjoy some light refreshments before going underground. At last it is time to enter the Vatnshellir cave and take a journey into the underground. Get geared up and make your way along a 200m lava tube (quite appropriate considering this is the exact location where Jules' Verne based his famous novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth").

Follow the path of the lava flow into the cave and descend 35 meters below the surface to see amazing colors and lava formations. The upper section of the cave has great features and unique formations of lava statues curved on the sides. The lower part of the cave is reached by way of a long and narrow staircase that takes visitors deep down underground to a place which was hidden from the outside world for thousands of years. Scientists believe Vatnshellir was created in an eruption between 6,000-8,000 years ago.

Return your gear and make the one-hour return drive to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Snæfellsjökull National Park, Malarrif lighthouse, Vatnshellir cave

Note

Please note: This excursion is extremely active, with hiking over inclines, steps and over gravel and other rough surfaces, making this tour not recommended for guests with limited mobility. Warm, layered clothing appropriate to the local weather and sturdy walking/hiking shoes are recommended.