Snaefellsnes Peninsula – Snæfellsjökull glacier is a dormant strato-volcano, 1446 m high and the crater is ca 200 m deep. It is the main tourist attraction in the peninsula of Snæfellsnes, towering over the National park at the far end of the 90 km long peninsula.
Jules Verne wrote an interesting science fiction “Journey to the Center of the Earth” in 1864 about a group of scientists who ventured into the crater of Snæfellsjökull glacier. The Peninsula has many diverse attractions beside the Snæfellsjökull glacier. It is one of few places in Iceland with golden and pink beaches, natural mineral spring, Beautiful Rhyolite Mountains and the spatter cone Eldbog volcanic crater.
Arnarstapi and Hellnar are not to be missed. Small fishing village are passed along with Mt Kirkjufell which is said to be the most beautiful mountain on the peninsula.
Right outside of Stykkishólmur, the capital of the Snæfellsnes peninsula is Mt. Helgafell “The Sacred Hill”. Mt. Helgafell is magical in that if you can climb it without looking back or uttering a word you can get 3 wishes. When you reach the top you should go to the ruins of a prayer chapel on top of the mountain, watch east and think about the wishes (which shall all be of positive nature) and don’t tell anybody what you wished for. This only works the first time you hike the mountain.
The hike up the 73 m high mountain takes about 10-15 minutes (one way) and there is a great view from the top of Breiðafjörður and the surrounding areas.
