The Snaefellsjokull National Park
The mystical
Snaefellsjokull Glacier meets the sky at the tip of Snæfellsnes
Peninsula, rising above other mountains to the height of 1446 meters.
The Glacier and the area round it offer opportunities for hiking, bird
watching, exploring diverse lava fields, craters and beautiful beaches.
The Park’s Visitor Centre is at Hellnar and is open daily.
Visit Snaefellsjokull National Park for further information. Snjofell runs daily tours to the top of the Glacier on snowmobiles and snowcats. Visit: www.snjofell.is for further information.
The Breidafjordur Islands
Stykkisholmur is the
gateway to the Breidafjordur Islands. Boat tours give the visitor the
possibility of enjoying the diversity of the seabirds that frequent the
area. The favourite is the puffins but the rare sea eagles can often be
spotted. A passenger/car ferry runs across the fjord twice a day with
stops in Flatey Island.
Visit www.seatours.is for further information. Kayak rentals are at Stykkisholmur and in Grundarfjordur.
Big-whale watching
For spotting big whales like
the humpback and the blue whale, take a tour from Ólafsvik harbour. The
waters off the coast of Snæfellsnes are the best to spot these large
mammals, as well as smaller whales. Visit www.seatours.is for further information.
Healing water
Enjoy a soak in the outdoor spa
pool at Stykkisholmur. It’s filled with natural geothermal water with
great healing properties. The same applies to the spa pool at Lysuholl
on the southern part of Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which offers you a soak
in geothermal mineral water.
Hiking trails
There are many marked and unmarked
hiking trails on Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The hiking trail from Arnarstapi
to Hellnar is very popular. It takes you along a very special coastal
area. The cliffs host kittiwakes, fulmars and seagulls and the grounds
the aggressive arctic tern.
The Icelandic fishing heritage
Many relics that
bear witness to the Icelandic fishing heritage can be found in
Snæfellsnes. Renowned fishing stations were at Djupalon, Bervik,
Londrangar and Gufuskalar, which are all within the boundaries of the
Snaefellsjokull National Park. The exhibition at the Park’s Visitor
Centre gives detailed information.
Golf & Horse Riding
Four golf courses are on
Snaefellsnes Peninsula located at Langaholt in Staðarsveit, Ólafsvik,
Suður-Bár near Grundarfjörður and Stykkishólmur.
Horse riding centers can be found at Lýsuhóll, Brimilsvellir, Suður-Bár and Þórdísarstaðir.
Heritage and historical museums
The
Snæfellsjökull National Park’s Visitor Centre at Hellnar, the
Sjóminjasafnið heritage centre at Hellissandur, Pakkhusid heritage and
information centre at Olafsvik, the Sögumiðstöðin heritage and
information centre in Grundarfjörður, the Shark heritage centre at
Bjarnarhöfn in Helgafellssveit, and the Norwegian House in
Stykkishólmur.
A sustainable destination
The five municipalities
on Snæfellsnes Peninsula joined GREEN GLOBE 21 in 2003. GREEN GLOBE 21
is an international organization that certifies sustainable tourism and
communities worldwide.
In September 2004 the Snæfellsnes Community was benchmarked by GREEN GLOBE 21, and thus became the first community in
the Northern Hemisphere to reach such a status.
The community is aiming
for certification in 2005, and will from then on be re-certified
annually. Please remember: take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but your
footprints and waste nothing but time!
