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Snæfellsnes Peninsula Small-Group Tour from Reykjavík

About 12 hoursGroup: Small group, up to 18 peopleEasyMinibus, max 18 peopleAge 6+All year
5.0(24 reviews)

A full-day Snæfellsnes Peninsula tour from Reykjavík by minibus, with no more than 18 people. You see seals, black beaches, sea cliffs, the black church at Búðir and Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.

Ytri Tunga seal beachBúðir black churchArnarstapiLóndrangarDjúpalónssandur beachKirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss
  • A small group on a minibus, 18 people at most
  • Seals resting on the rocks at Ytri Tunga
  • The black church at Búðir and the cliffs at Arnarstapi
  • Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach and the Lóndrangar basalt pinnacles
  • Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland
  • Pick-up in Reykjavík included

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.
1Pick-up in ReykjavíkPick-up from bus stops and set locations in Reykjavík from 8:00. Pick-up takes up to 30 minutes.
2BorgarnesBorgarnesA small town on a fjord, on the way to the peninsula.
BorgarnesBorgarnesBorgarnes

Borgarnes is a town of about 2,000 people on a small peninsula in West Iceland, and the first proper town most travellers reach heading north or west out of Reykjavík, just after the Ring Road crosses the Borgarfjarðarbrú bridge. It has fuel, shops and restaurants, and the Settlement Center has exhibitions on the settlement of Iceland and on Egil's Saga.

Read our Borgarnes guide →
3Ytri TungaYtri TungaA beach where seals often rest on the rocks.
Ytri TungaYtri TungaYtri Tunga

Ytri Tunga is a stretch of pale golden sand on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, unusual in a country of black volcanic beaches. It is best known for its seals: harbour and grey seals rest on the rocks just offshore, less than a kilometre from the car park across sand, grass and stones. Keep your distance so you do not disturb them.

Best time · seals are most reliable in summerWalking · short walk to the shore
Read our Ytri Tunga guide →
4The black church at BúðirBúðir black churchA lone black church in the lava field.
The black church at BúðirThe black church at Búðir at sunsetThe black church at Búðir in a winter landscape

Búðakirkja, the black church at Búðir, stands alone on a stretch of grassy coastline, with the Búðahraun lava field on one side and a beach of pale sand scattered with black lava rock on the other. The current building dates from 1848, though a church has stood here since 1703, and it is still a working parish church with room for around 50 people. Búðahraun has been a nature reserve since 1977. The church interior is not always open to visitors.

Walking · a few minutes from the car park
Read our Búðir guide →
5ArnarstapiArnarstapiA fishing village with sea cliffs, stone arches and a statue of Bárður.
ArnarstapiArnarstapiArnarstapi

Arnarstapi, also called Stapi, is a small fishing village and harbour on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, at the foot of Mt Stapafell. It is known for its basalt sea cliffs, the Gatklettur arch and a coastal path of about 2.5 kilometres to the neighbouring village of Hellnar. It is free to visit and open all year.

Walking · easy cliff pathFacilities · café and toilets
Read our Arnarstapi guide →
6LóndrangarLóndrangarTwo basalt pinnacles, 75 and 61 metres high.
LóndrangarLóndrangarLóndrangar

Lóndrangar is a pair of basalt pinnacles, about 75 and 61 metres tall, standing against the sea on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. They are the eroded remains of an old volcanic crater, worn down over thousands of years until only the harder plugs at its centre were left. The viewpoints are inside Snæfellsjökull National Park and free to visit.

Walking · short walk to the viewpoint
Read our Lóndrangar guide →
7DjúpalónssandurDjúpalónssandurA black pebble beach with old lifting stones and shipwreck remains.
DjúpalónssandurDjúpalónssandurDjúpalónssandur

Djúpalónssandur is an arched bay of black pebbles at the foot of Snæfellsjökull, reached by a path of about 300 metres through black lava formations. The pebbles are lava, broken up and polished by the surf of the open Atlantic. Four lifting stones, weighing 23, 54, 100 and 154 kg, were once used to test the strength of fishermen, and the rusted iron on the beach is from the trawler Epine GY7, wrecked in 1948.

Walking · short, uneven path down to the beachSafety · keep well back from the wavesFacilities · toilets at the car park
Read our Djúpalónssandur guide →
8Kirkjufell and KirkjufellsfossKirkjufell and KirkjufellsfossThe 'Church Mountain' and the waterfall in front of it.
Kirkjufell and KirkjufellsfossKirkjufell and KirkjufellsfossKirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss

Kirkjufell, 'Church Mountain', is a 463-metre cone that rises straight from the shore just west of Grundarfjörður, next to the small waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss. Its shape, wide at the base and narrowing to a point, comes from layers of basalt and softer sedimentary rock that have eroded at different rates. The viewpoint by the falls is the classic place to see it. The climb itself is steep and dangerous, for experienced hikers only. Kirkjufell's shape, carved by glaciers in the last ice age, makes it the most photographed mountain in Iceland; it also appeared in Game of Thrones.

Walking · short path from the car parkFacilities · toilets at the car parkTip · your guide knows the best photo spots
Read our Kirkjufell guide →
9Back to ReykjavíkDrop-off at set locations in Reykjavík.

About the Snæfellsnes Peninsula tour

Snæfellsnes is often called 'Iceland in miniature', because one peninsula has a glacier, a volcano, lava fields, black and golden beaches, sea cliffs and fishing villages. This tour runs in a minibus with no more than 18 people, so it feels personal and the guide can make the most of each stop. It is a long day, about 12 hours, but most stops have only short walks.

On the way you pass Borgarnes, one of the first places the Norse settlers made their home. On the peninsula you look for seals at Ytri Tunga, visit the lone black church at Búðir, walk the cliffs at Arnarstapi, where Bárður, half man and half troll, is said to have lived, and see the 75-metre Lóndrangar pinnacles. At Djúpalónssandur you can try the old lifting stones fishermen used to test their strength and see the remains of a trawler wrecked here in 1948. The day ends at Kirkjufell and its waterfall, the classic photo of West Iceland.

The weather on Snæfellsnes can change quickly, and in winter daylight is short, so the guide may change the order or timing of the stops, also to avoid crowds. Seals at Ytri Tunga are most reliable in summer. Bring warm, windproof clothes and good shoes whatever the season; hiking boots and waterproof clothing can be rented if you need them.

Make it your own

Optional extras, at extra cost
  • Hiking boot rental
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers rental
  • Hat and gloves to buy
  • Neck warmer to buy
  • Cap to buy

Included

  • English-speaking guide
  • Small group on a minibus, 18 people at most
  • Pick-up and drop-off at set locations in Reykjavík
  • Wi-Fi and Icelandic music on board

Not included

  • Food and drinks
  • Pick-up outside the Reykjavík capital area
  • Hiking boots and waterproof clothing (can be rented)

What to bring

  • Warm, windproof and waterproof clothing
  • Hiking boots or sturdy shoes
  • Hat and gloves outside summer
  • Money for lunch and snacks
  • Camera

Good to know

  • The tour takes about 12 hours
  • Minimum age is 6
  • Easy: short walks at each stop, some on uneven paths
  • Pick-up starts at 8:00 from bus stops and set locations in Reykjavík and takes up to 30 minutes
  • No pick-up from Keflavík airport or outside the capital area
  • Food is not included; you stop at shops and petrol stations for snacks, and somewhere with warm food at lunchtime
  • Runs all year; in winter the schedule may change because of short daylight
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

Questions people ask

How big is the group?

No more than 18 people, on a minibus.

Is Snæfellsnes worth a day trip from Reykjavík?

Yes, if you don't mind a long day. You see a lot of different landscapes, and it is usually quieter than the Golden Circle or the South Coast.

Will we see seals?

Often, especially in summer, at Ytri Tunga. They are wild animals, so there is no guarantee.

Is lunch included?

No. You stop where you can buy snacks and a warm lunch, or you can bring your own.

Is the tour good in winter?

Yes, but the days are short, so the guide may change the schedule and some stops will be in low light.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.
5.0Based on 24 reviews
5 stars24
4 stars0
3 stars0
2 stars0
1 star0
Great day tour

Beautiful places everywhere you look. Guide was great and the vehicle was comfortable. Beautiful walks and great people in our group. Arnarstapi was my favorite stop of the day.

Catherine C. · July 2026
Worth it!

We really loved this tour to explore the peninsula. Our teenage kids also loved it and we finally got to see the Game of Thrones mountain! Definitely worth it.

Hillary J. · May 2026
Beautiful

Beautiful locations and great guide on this tour. Thank you for helping us plan our trip and recommend the tours!

Idlo · March 2026
Can recommend Snaefellsnes tour

Excellent tour, nice guide and beautiful spots we visited!

Alexandra · August 2025
Best guide and tour

Amazing sites, variety of different places in this fascinating land. Beautiful people that ensure it isn't spoiled by visitors. Very positive experiences. Our knowledgeable tour guide, Anna, was the best!

Emily R. · June 2025
snaefellsnes tour great

If you want to see a bit of everything Iceland has to offer, this is the tour! The iconic Kirkjufell mountain, and every stop on this tour was picture-perfect. The Snaefellsjokull glacier made it feel like we stepped into a fairytale. Peaceful, scenic, and full of surprises!

Ann G. · May 2025
From17,074 ISKPer person

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