(Volcano and historic glacier in Vest-Iceland)
Height: 1446 m.
Terrain:
Lava field, volcanic rock, snow and glacier. A great hike to the top Iceland’s most famous glacier and volcano. The glacier has crevasses so a mountain guide and the right equipment are essential. The route down offers great skiing in the spring.
Average ascend time: 3-5 hours. Total average trip time: 5-7 hours.
12 hours with transportation to/from Reykjavik
Height gain: ~1100 meters
Trip difficulty: 3+ of 5 possible.
Challenging
The Snæfellsjökull glacier is one of the most picturesque mountains in Iceland. This famous volcano rises up 1450 meters from the middle of the Snæfellsnes peninsula and is clearly visible more than a 100 km away.. Many have written poems about its grandeur and shining white coat of ice and snow. The most famous literature about Snæfellsjökull is undoubtedly Jules’s Vernes novel “Journey to the center of the Earth” where the entrance to the center was through a caldera at the top of Snæfellsjökull.
Everything about this trip is an amazing adventure; even the drive to the start of the hike offers breathtaking views only surpassed by the vistas from the slopes and the peak. On clear days the entire Westfjord peninsula is visible, beyond the North Atlantic ocean you can catch a glimpse of the shores of Greenland, and the peninsula itself with its amazing mountains and beaches are sights not soon to be forgotten. This is one of the very best glacier hikes in the world…!
After the hike we drive down to the sheer ocean cliffs of Arnarstapi and stroll down to the Hellnar alcove for a delicious Icelandic fish soup in a tiny fishing hut a few meters from the relentless surf and pounding of the sea.
Guaranteed departures: Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:00 a.m. from the 1st of June – 31st of August from the Cintamani Center on Laugavegur 11. Pick-ups from hotels outside the city center are between 8:00 and 8:30 AM. Please call or email for availability in April, May, and September.
Details:
Price: 29.990 ISK including pick up and fish soup at Hellnar.
Available from April to September (depending of weather and snow conditions). Distance from Reykjavik: ca. 180 km. Duration of trip: 12 hours. Age limit: 16 years. Minimum: 4 persons. Maximum: 60 persons. Included: Guiding and all necessary glacial gear, sight seeing at Arnarstapi village and fish soup at Fjöruhúsið. Bring with you: see the equipment list. Trip starts at approx 08:00 AM if leaving from Reykjavik, 10:30 from the base of the mountain. We reserve the right to postpone or cancel trips due to weather or other factors out side our control.
Please refer to our
Equipment list for information on what to bring.
Disclaimer: All hiking trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Glacier Guides do not assume any responsibility for accidents that are caused by its customers or can be traced to there own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherit risk.