Activities in Snæfellsnes

The cave itself is an 8000 year old lava tube created by volcanic eruption from a nearby crater in the Purkhólar crater family. As the lava rushed down the hill in a lava river it began to cool on the surface, creating a crust on top of the lava river. As the eruption stopped, all the lava from underneath this crust continued to drain out. That eventually left behind empty tube with roof on top that gradually cooled down. We offer 45 minute guided tours to Vatnshellir Cave.

Lýsulaugar is an extraordinary geothermal bath, filled with naturally hot mineral water. It is rich in green algae (chlorella) and various minerals and is thought to have a soothing and healing effect on the body. There are two hot. tubs, one cold tub and a large pool, which were renovated in 2019.  Open June - Mid August from 11:00 - 21:00. Extra opening hours are posted on Facebook.

Stóri-Kambur Horse rental offers riding tours under Snæfellsjökull glacier.

Lýsuhóll is a small family business. Accommodation offered in cosy little cottages and a guesthouse with double and single rooms. There is a restaurant and horse back riding tours are offered.  During summer you can rent six cosy little summer cottages which consist of a bedroom, a living-room, a small kitchen, shower and toilet and are ideal for two or four people, especially families. From all the cottages you have a fantastic view of the glacier Snæfellsjökull, the mountains and the sea. Accommodation is also available in two bigger houses with 4 rooms each which can be used all year round. There are two twin/double rooms, one single and a big family room. They all have a washing basis in the room and share two bathrooms with showers. There is a kitchen with all the basic equipment and a cosy sitting and dining room. There is a hot tub on the veranda. Horse riding tours offered on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, mostly along the wide beaches of Iceland's most beautiful horse riding area "Löngufjörur". Longer and shorter guided horse riding tours available upon request. Swimmingpool and hot tub nearby the farm (with warm mineral water directely from the ground).

Láki Tours offers responsible whale watching tours in West Iceland. We also operate puffin tours and sea angling trips from Grundarfjörður in Snæfellsnes. Whale Watching in SnæfellsnesWest Iceland is a paradise for whale enthusiasts and famous for its unique whale species. Snaefellsnes is the only area in Iceland where orcas are seen on a regularly base. Another unique species around Snaefellsnes are sperm whales. Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales in the world and one of the deepest diving whales.  Other species we regularly see on our whale trips are humpback whales, minke whales, pilot whales, dolphins, and sometimes even blue whales. During winter, our 3-hour whale watching tours start from Grundarfjörður. In summer, we operate our whale trips from Ólafsvík. Our tours take place on a comfortable boat and are suitable for the whole family. Seeing the magnificent landscape around the glacier and the famous mount Kirkjufell from sea is an additional highlight. Puffin tours from GrundarfjörðurA nature reserve on the nearby island Melrakkaey attracts hundreds of puffins and other seabirds. Our one-hour tour on a traditional oak boat offers the maximum potential to see these amazing birds in their nesting environment. It is wonderful to see puffins lined up along the edge of the cliffs like sentries on watch while the other birds wade and warble through the waves around the island with its basalt columns. A slow cruise around the island gives photographers a golden opportunity to capture the variety of birds on the island through their lenses. This amazing trip is not just about birds - the setting for the trip with Mt. Kirkjufell dominating the scenery also lends enchantment to the view. Sea-angling & birdwatching from GrundarfjörðurOn this 2-hours boat tour we head out to the nearby island, Melrakkaey, a nature reserve where many birds nest, such as puffins, shags, cormorants, kittiwakes and more. We sail close to the cliffs to get the best view and to photograph these beautiful ocean birds. Then we move into deeper waters for some sea-angling. Each passenger is given a fishing rod to try to hook a fish or two and for this, all necessary fishing equipment is provided. It is all action and excitement on board as the thrill of the chase is felt with passengers trying to catch a big one. Follow us on social media where we regularly post photos from our whale watching tours - Facebook, Instagram  

We run sea kayak trips from the small fishing village of Stykkishólmur on the beautiful Snæfellsnes peninsula in Western Iceland. We are just a 2-hour drive from Reykjavik city. Our main focus is day trips for small groups along the coastline of Breidafjordur bay to get close to nature and wildlife. This two-hour sea kayak tour is the perfect opportunity to experience Iceland's nature and wildlife at its very best. Truly a must-do for the adventurous traveller and nature lover eager to explore the west of Iceland. On this personalised tour we teach clients the basic skills of kayaking before heading off in search of puffins and seals and to explore an abandoned shipwreck and learn about the fascinating history and geology of the wild and rugged Snæfellsnes peninsula.

Víkurvöllur is a 9-hole golf course which lies north of Hótel Stykkishólmur. The course makes for good walking, lies between two ridges and continues down to the beach.  A well kept, challenging course.

The fields of Garðar consist of a 9-hole “Links” golf course in beautiful surroundings. The course is built on windswept sand dunes from the nearby shore so the experience is very “Scottish”. It is situated on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and embraced by spectacular nature. To the north lies a magnificent mountain range, to the south a golden beach and to the west, the majestic Snæfellsjökull in all its glory. Guesthouse, restaurant and camping site.

Come enjoy a truly unique kayaking experience in Grundarfjörður, Iceland. The home of Mt. Kirkjufell. Jutting majestically out into the Atlantic Ocean, Kirkjufell is the stunning centerpiece of our guided kayak tours. You will experience unspoiled Icelandic nature up close while enjoying the local history and wildlife. There is also a very good chance of meeting a curious seal or two! Have a look at the tours we have to offer and book your adventure!

A comfortable little pool in a prime location next to the campsite. Two hot tubs and a wading pool for children.  Opening hours October 1, 2022 - May 21, 2023:Weekdays 08-21Saturdays 13-17Sundays and public holidays: closed   

The indoor swimming pool is 12.5 metres long and has a hotpot. There is also an outdoor area with hot tubs and slides. The swimming pool is situated beside the elementary school, artificial grass pitch, football pitch and play area. Open weekdays from 7:30 to 21:00, Saturdays-Sundays from 10:00 til 17:00.

Outdoor and indoor swimming pool with Frasenius certified water, claimed to have regenerative powers. Thermal tubs, a cold tub, water slide and a wading pool for the children.  Summer opening hours - June 1st. - August 31st. Fridays - 07.05 - 19.00 Mondays-Thursdays - 07.05 - 22.00 Saturdays - 10.00 - 17.00

Folk artist with an open workshop and gallery. Open all year round daily from 10:00 to 18:00.

Vatnasafn / Library of water is a long-term project conceived by Roni Horn for a former library in the coastal town of Stykkishólmur in Iceland. The building stands on a promontory overlooking the ocean and the town, and houses an exhibition which reflect Roni Horn’s intimate involvement with the singular geography, geology, climate and culture of Iceland... Water, Selected is a constellation of 24 glass columns containing water collected from ice from some of the major glaciers around Iceland. The glass columns refract and reflect the light onto a rubber floor embedded with a field of words in Icelandic and English which relate to the weather – inside or outside. The sculpture installation offers a space for private reflection whilst accommodating a wide variety of community uses. In a small side room, visitors can look at Roni Horn’s ongoing series of books made in Iceland, To Place and listen to a selection of people talking about the weather. Through 2005 and 2006, at the instigation of Horn, writer Oddny Eir Ævarsdóttir, her brother archaeologist Uggi Ævarsson and their father, radio broadcaster Ævar Kjartansson interviewed around a hundred individuals from Stykkishólmur and the surrounding area about the weather. Weather Reports You presents these spoken testimonies as a collective self-portrait of a country where the weather is strongly present in everyday life. The lower floor of Vatnasafn / Library of Water is a private writers’ studio where each year writers are invited to spend a number of months living and working. The residencies alternate between Iceland-based and overseas writers, and have so far included Guðrún Eva Mínervudóttir, Rebecca Solnit, Anne Carson, Oskar Arni Oskarsson and Oddny Eir Ævarsdóttir. Commissioned and produced in 2007 by Artangel with The Town of Stykkishólmur, The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, The Ministry of Communications and the Icelandic Parliament. Opening hours: June 1st -August 31st: 11:00-17:00 Tickets for the Library of Water are sold at the Norwegian House. Admission 2022: Adults ISK 830,- Students, senior citizens and groups ISK 675,- Free for under 18 Stykkishólmur Museum Pass - all museums: Adults ISK 2.080,-

Norwegian house: The regional museum  of Snæfellsnes The Norwegian house, built in 1832, was the first wood-frame residence with two full-sized storeys in Iceland. The wood was imported from Norway hence the name. It was the home of Árni Ó. Thorlacius (1802–1891) and Anna M. Steenback (1807–1894) and has been renovated partially back to its original style. The Norwegian house serves as the regional museum for the Snæfellsnes area with an open storage on the top floor and 
rotating exhibitions on the lower level as well as a museum shop with handicraft, sweets and products from the area.  Opening hours: June 1st - August 31st: Every day from 11-17. May: Every day from 13-16. Stykkishólmur Museum Pass - Norwegian House and Water Library: Adults ISK 2.080,- Tickets for the Library of Water are sold at the Norwegian House.

At Bjarnarhöfn Shark-museum visitors get to experience a unique Icelandic culture. This family owned museum offers you a peak into their history. This family has been involved with sharks for the past four centuries with the only change being they don ‘t fish for sharks anymore, now it‘s only bycatch. At the museum everyone gets a guided tour that explains the six months processing of the shark meet, the sharks biology, the history behind it all and more. Visitors have the opportunity to try the fermented shark and have first hand experience of this traditional Icelandic delicacy. Visitors also have the opportunity to visit the drying house where the shark meat it being processed.

Crisscross offers a selection of food tours and farm visits in West Iceland. We choose to let our taste buds lead the way and move in the spirit of slow travel; in small groups at an easygoing pace. If you are interested in delicious artisanal food, curious about stories of everyday life told by local people, and prefer a short hike on scenic trails, consider crisscrossing with us in rural West Iceland.

Do you want to experience the mysteries of Snæfellsjökull? Come and explore the view and beauty that Snæfellsjökull has to offer. Being there and looking over the Breiðafjörður and the West is just not a descriptive beauty there. 

Sailing around Breiðafjörður's innumerable islands, the ever-so popular Viking Sushi Adventure Voyage offers a glimpse of the fjord's fairytale-like-scenery: variegated rock faces, areas of historical interest, along with the strongest ocean currents anywhere on Iceland's coasts. Birds, fresh seashell samplers, Breiðafjörður's innumerable islands, a taste of history and unforgettable adventures. 

Exhibition on fisheries and nature by the Glacier -  coffee and cakes  In the Fishermen’s Garden you will find a collection of items reminding one of the local community’s connection to the ocean and how its inhabitants dealt with a life that revolved around fishing in days gone by.

The Icelandic Eider Center is a modern museum and knowledge center which invites visitors to learn about the eider duck and the fascinating methods of eiderdown farming in the past and present.  Located in the town of Stykkishólmur on Breiðafjörður bay, home of large Eider duck breeding grounds and the most extensive eider farming world wide. You can enjoy a hot cup of coffee while visiting.  Opening hours:Summer: daily 13:00-17:00Winter: open for groups upon agreement. Please book in advance.