snaefellsnes puffin tour

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Snæfellsnes Peninsula – Ultimate Guide

8 minute read

By Max Naylor

21 April 2022

Lava fields, fishing villages, and its very own glacier – all this and more is in store for you on a trip to Iceland’s Snæfellsnes peninsula.

This slice of West Iceland is sometimes described as ‘Iceland in Miniature’, and for good reason. Its diverse landscapes capture the essence of what Iceland is all about, but it’s easily accessible and doable in a day or two.

• See all of Snæfellsnes on one of these Iceland vacation packages .

So what are the Snæfellsnes peninsula must-sees? There’s too many to squeeze into one paragraph, so read on to get the lowdown on this breathtaking region of Iceland.

Top Snæfellsnes peninsula things to do

1. snæfellsjökull national park.

At the far end of the Snæfellsnes peninsula sits Snæfellsjökull National Park. Named after the Snæfellsjökull glacier, this nature reserve is home to a wide variety of different landscapes.

The crowning glory (quite literally) is the glacier itself. Although Snæfellsjökull can’t compete with its bigger brothers Langjökull and Vatnajökull for size, it’s no less jaw-dropping. On a clear and sunny day, you can even catch a glimpse of its white peak from Reykjavík .

• Read our Travel Guide to learn more about Iceland’s nature and landscape .
• Related: Best glaciers to visit in Iceland .

Snæfellsjökull is famous for appearing in Jules Verne’s classic novel Journey to the Center of the Earth. In the novel, the main characters find a passage leading to the center of the earth underneath the glacier.

The ice sheet covers a giant volcano, the largest in this part of Iceland. It’s inactive though, as it hasn’t erupted for a couple of thousand years. The foot of the volcano is hemmed in by giant lava fields that stretch all the way to the sea.

At the extreme western edge of the park, you’ll find a cliff-lined coast where the lava meets the Atlantic Ocean. This coast is dotted with interesting rock formations and lighthouses that are well worth checking out!

2. Stykkishólmur

The sleepy fishing village of Stykkishólmur is the largest settlement on the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the main harbor in the region. Founded in the 16th century as a trading post, it’s an Icelandic town wears its merchant history on its sleeve.

Some of the old merchants’ houses around the old harbor have been converted into trendy modern bistros serving up fresh and tasty Icelandic seafood. This is probably the best place to eat on the whole peninsula.

• Read our Travel Guide to find out more about Icelandic food & restaurants .

You might recognize the row of buildings along the harborfront from the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. The village was actually used as Greenland in that film!

From the harbor you can sail out into the Breiðafjörður bay (more on that below). A ferry connection is available to the island of Flatey and the Westfjords, or you can join a puffin-watching tour by boat.

It’s also worth taking a wander to the cliff on the other side of the harbor, where you can get a panoramic view across the whole bay.

3. Kirkjufell mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall

Kirkjufell is one of the most instantly recognizable mountains in Iceland thanks to its pointy peak resembling a witch’s hat.

If it seems familiar to you, that might be because you’ve seen it as Arrowhead Mountain in Game of Thrones. (Authors and filmmakers seem to love this part of Iceland!)

Kirkjufell lends its name to the nearby Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall, which rolls gently into the sea through a series of shallow cascades. The waterfall is easily accessible from the 54 road, the main route around the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

Explore the area around the waterfall by following the footpaths and crossing the bridge above the falls. The scene is especially magical at sunset, so if you want to nab the best pic, this is the time of day to visit.

4. Grundarfjörður & Ólafsvík

If you’re driving to Kirkjufell along the north coast of Snæfellsnes, then you’ll pass through Grundarfjörður, one of a handful of fishing villages on the peninsula. This is a great place to stop for a coffee or a bite to eat as you admire the view of the mountain.

Whilst you’re in town, you could also pay a visit to the Saga Center . Here you’ll find an information center, the Bæringsstofa photo collection, and a small exhibit about the town’s history. The exhibit includes a replica of a shop from the 1950s, which is like a time capsule!

Grundarfjörður is located between the small towns of Stykkishólmur, the hub of the region, and Ólafsvík. The latter is a fishing community worth stopping at for the cute waterfall alone (see below), but there’s some more dining options here too.

Ólafsvík is also home to Pakkhúsið, a historical building where you’ll now find the Útgerðin fashion and lifestyle shop. Drop in here to pick up Icelandic design products and gifts.

As you drive around Iceland, you’ll no doubt notice some of its radical modernist churches. Many of these were built around the middle of the 20th century and have striking modern designs. The church in Ólafsvík is no exception, with its minimalist spire and angular roof.

5. Caves & gorges

Buried under the lava fields of the Snæfellsnes peninsula is a hidden gem: Vatnshellir cave. As you descend into the cave via a spiral staircase, you’ll be surrounded by gnarly rock formations.

To explore the cave, which was only opened to the public in 2011, you will need to join a guided tour. Exploring the actual cave is not too difficult, but you’ll need to wear the right safety gear and follow precautions.

There are a couple more awesome rock formations in the area you can check out yourself. First up is Sönghellir (‘Singing Cave’), renowned for its magical acoustics. To get here, you’ll need to turn off the coastal road onto a gravel track, so a 4×4 is required.

• Check out these Iceland adventure packages that include lava cave experiences.
• Want to explore further underground? Read our lava caves and ice caves guide .

Further up the coastal road, you’ll find the more accessible Rauðfeldsgjá gorge. This narrow passage cuts into the Botnsfjall mountain, and it’s possible to explore the inside in summertime.

The walls are lined with palagonite, a kind of volcanic rock. And a small waterfall runs into the back of the gorge, creating a mystical atmosphere!

Around a 15-minute drive from Rauðfeldsgjá is Búðakirkja. This small black church sits next to a massive lava field featuring the Búðaklettur volcanic crater. You can park near the church and follow the trail to the crater to explore it up close.

6. Breiðafjörður bay

Breiðafjörður means ‘Wide Fjord’ and it’s easy to see why: this bay that divides Snæfellsnes from the Westfjords is one of the biggest in Iceland. You can see it from pretty much anywhere on the north shore of Snæfellsnes.

• Discover Iceland’s remotest region in our guide to the Westfjords .

The bay itself is packed with small islands and skerries, home to all sorts of wildlife including puffins and eider ducks. That’s right, eider ducks as in eider pillows. Locals collect the soft feathers from the birds’ nests as they naturally shed them.

The heart of Breiðafjörður is the island of Flatey, accessible by the Baldur ferry from Stykkishólmur. This car-free island has been settled for centuries and was once an important religious and cultural center.

Today it’s fantastic to visit for its laid-back vibe and collection of traditional timber-framed houses. A great place to escape to and disconnect from the rush of daily life.

7. Yellow and black sand beaches

You may well have heard of Iceland’s famous black sand beaches, but on the Snæfellsnes peninsula you’re more likely to come across a beach with yellow or red sand. In fact, almost the entire length of the peninsula’s southern coast is yellow beach.

One particular spot worth visiting is Ytri Tunga, a golden beach ideal for spying seals. They tend to bask on the seaweed-covered rocks just off the coast.

However, if you really do want to see a black sand beach, Snæfellsnes does deliver. Stop off at Djúpalónssandur or Malarrif in the Snæfellsjökull National Park. Malarrif is right next to the famous Lóndrangar sea stacks, which you can read about below. There you’ll also find a lighthouse to add to your photo collection!

8. Sea stacks

As well as beaches that seem stolen from the Caribbean, the south coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula has tons of otherworldly cliff and rock formations.

Within the Snæfellsjökull National Park, you’ll find Lóndrangar. This pair of basalt columns towers over a sea cliff. The bigger of the two is 75 meters (245 feet) tall, whereas the smaller is 61 meters (200 feet).

The columns are the remains of an ancient volcanic crater which has long since eroded. Today they are home to some nesting birds, including kittiwakes, murres, fulmars, and puffins .

Slightly further up the road is Arnarstapi , a set of cliffs and rock formations including Gatklettur (above). This famous rock arch is one of many you can spot in Iceland, formed by the sea wearing a hole in solidified lava.

9. Pocket-sized waterfalls

Although Kirkjufellsfoss is undoubtedly the crown jewel of waterfalls on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, there are plenty of pocket-sized gems dotted around the region.

Just above Ólafsvík is Bæjarfoss, literally ‘Town Waterfall’, which is easily walkable from anywhere in the town. It’s quite modest in size, but still charming enough to look at. It drapes over the mountainside like other ‘bridal veil’ waterfalls such as Dynjandi. And what’s more, you can enjoy it at night because it’s lit up!

Slightly more majestic is Svöðufoss (above), just west of Ólafsvík. At around 10 meters (30 feet) tall, it’s set within a cliff of basalt columns. This is similar to the famous Svartifoss waterfall in southeast Iceland.

From the same parking lot, you can also walk to Kerlingarfoss, a semi-hidden, multi-tier waterfall spanning about 60 meters (200 feet).

Despite their beauty, these waterfalls aren’t as well known, so they’re definitely a little off the beaten track. Thirst for waterfalls still not quenched? Read our guide to the best waterfalls to visit in Iceland .

How to explore the Snæfellsnes peninsula

If you’ve never visited Iceland before, adding the Snæfellsnes peninsula to your itinerary is a great way to see a lot of what the country has to offer in a short time. But what’s the best way to get to, and around, the region?

You’ll have the most freedom to explore if you rent a car. On a self-drive trip , you can set the pace and take as many detours as you like. This means you don’t have to miss any of the hidden gems of Snæfellsnes, and you can spend as long as you like at each one.

If you base yourself on the peninsula, you could also join day tours of the Breiðafjörður bay, where you could spot puffins and whales.

That said, if you’d prefer to skip the driving, you could also join a guided group tour or private tour that includes Snæfellsnes.

Browse these vacation packages and get inspired for your trip to this magical part of West Iceland.

• Travel advice

About the author

Max has been back and forth from Iceland since 2009. He lived and worked there for several years, and although he’s moved away, he left a piece of his heart there. When he’s in Iceland, he loves to relax in the ‘hot pot’, chow down on some local food, and catch up with friends. He speaks Icelandic fluently, so if you need to know how to pronounce ‘Fagradalsfjall’, he’s your guy.

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Puffin Tour from Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Excellent Puffin family experience from Grundarfjörður in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland.

What to expect?

This one-hour puffin tour is the perfect family outing. There is a puffin colony on the Melrakkaey Island and we sail around it to see these little birds and their colourful beaks. The island is also full of other seabirds, so the trip is a birdwatcher's dream.

What do I need to bring?

Warm clothes - hats and gloves. Binoculars and cameras

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Where to See Puffins in Iceland

Responsible Puffin Watching in Iceland

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• Puffin Watching from North Iceland

Puffin Watching from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Puffin watching from heimaey, puffin watching on papey island, puffin watching on grimsey island.

Where is the best place to see puffins in Iceland? Can you find puffins throughout the year? Are there any tours particularly tailored to puffin watching? How close will they let you get? Discover all you need to know about Iceland's most adorable animal. 

It is little wonder why so many coming to Iceland seek out the nation's puffin population. These beautiful little birds, with their brightly colored bills, emotive watery eyes, and clumsy, wobbling walk, are intrinsically likable creatures, and they are very easy to attribute with human traits. After all, they nest in lifelong pairs, nurture their chicks as a couple, and have clear social bonds within the colony.

There are many ways in which you can enjoy the puffins up close. There are certain places along the coast where they nest in vast numbers, which you can rent a car  or take  one of our fantastic self-drive tours to drive to and approach yourself, or get to see on a number of great puffin tours.

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The puffin colonies in themselves are also part of the appeal of these charming birds, as they can number in the tens of thousands. This makes puffins quite as awe-inspiring collectively as they are adorable individually.

• Learn all you need to know about  Wildlife and Animals in Iceland  
• Discover the magical world of Birds in Iceland  

Iceland is home to sixty percent of the world's Atlantic Puffin population: over six million individuals. The fact that they nest in the same places they were born and only nest when there are other puffins around means that certain places in Iceland are undoubtedly the best in the world for this special kind of birdwatching.

They cannot be seen all year, however. Puffins roost on the surface of the ocean and only come on land in order to breed, lay their eggs, incubate them, and raise their chicks until they fledge. This occurs throughout the summer; therefore, the puffin-watching season in Iceland lasts from June to September. 

When they are nesting, puffins are often very easy to see and approach; in spite of being hunted and having their eggs raided in Iceland for a millennium, they have very little fear of people, and it is easy to get within a meter of them in some places. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with nature, but, of course, needs to be done so with respect to the animal.

If puffin watching, therefore, heed the following guidelines to ensure the experience is as pleasant for you as it is botherless for the bird in question.

• Always approach quietly and slowly
• If approaching on a cliff, do not get right to the edge; puffins dig burrows into cliffs, so you could inadvertently step on a weak piece of earth and crush their nest (of course, this poses a danger to people too, considering some of Iceland's cliffs are hundreds of meters tall)
• Never try to touch a puffin unless it is very clearly lost and in need of rescue
• If watching from a boat, keep a respectful distance, especially if your vessel has a loud engine
• Do not try to feed the puffins; they are more than capable of hunting for their own food

Protecting the puffins you are watching is not only important because they are cute but also because it's the decent thing to do. Puffins are "Threatened," according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN); their populations are in decline across their range, including in Iceland, so ensuring that you do not hinder their protection will help in their recovery efforts.

Furthermore, if you disturb one puffin, you may actually unsettle the whole colony. Puffins are sociable when on land and look to each other to determine the safety of their environment. If one takes off in a panic, all the others may follow suit; they tend to flock together and fly in a tight circle above where they are nesting to intimidate and protect from potential predation.

You do not, therefore, want to be responsible for emptying the cliffs at a popular bird-watching destination just because you thought a puffin wanted to be stroked.

If you wish to take a step further to protect the puffins while in Iceland, you could avoid purchasing their meat. Although they are hunted responsibly, and eating puffin is not considered taboo here, there is a strong push from many in Iceland to ban the practice, at least until the population comes back into recovery.

• See also: The World’s Most Disgusting Icelandic Food

As they nest along the cliffs of Iceland's craggy coastline, there are many places around the country where you can reliably find puffin colonies throughout summer. In many of these, you can follow a trail to reach them without having to book a boat tour.

Due to the cautious nature of these birds when choosing a place to nest, however, you are unlikely to find any in a location that is not known for its puffins. In spite of this, however, you may have a bizarre stroke of luck and find a puffin or a puffling somewhere you would never think

Tour guides Paulina Pierzak and Ármann Ægisson, for example, found a puffling at midnight in downtown Reykjavik , likely confused by the lights and as bewildered as to see them as they were lit. After a night of regaining strength in a cardboard box with some water and crackers, little Puffer was released back into the wild.

Horticulturalist James McDaniel, who works in Selfoss , a town over five kilometers from the ocean, found a lost puffin hiding between two greenhouses. Again, after a little nursing, it could be released back into the wild.

These cases, of course, were particularly exceptional. For your best chance at seeing puffins without getting on a boat, you are much better checking out one of the five places listed below.

The Latrabjarg birdwatching cliffs are the most westerly point of Iceland; considering Iceland is the most westerly European country, they are often also considered to be the most western point of the whole continent (in spite of the fact that they are actually on the North American tectonic plate). At fourteen kilometers long and over four hundred meters high, they are one of the most popular attractions in the Westfjords .

While certainly an impressive sight during winter, it is throughout the summer that these cliffs truly come alive. Puffins are just one of the dozens of species of birds that come here to nest; you will also find guillemots, northern gannets, auks, and forty percent of the world's razorbills. There are literally millions and millions of individuals who collectively turn Latrabjarg into a breathtaking natural wonder.

Many trails will take you close to the cliff edge, where you can easily admire the many animals, be they nesting or swooping out to sea. With caution, you can approach more closely, being sure to stay approximately a meter from the edge so that you don’t accidentally cave in a hidden puffin burrow. A friendly local guide will make sure you get the best experience in a scenic 7-hour puffin & bird watching tour .

In most places, there will be markers showing you the closest you can get, so for the safety of everyone involved, follow their guidance.

Latrabjarg is renowned for its dramatic scale and unmatched bird-watching but is also a place of Icelandic culture, tradition, and history. You may see some individuals abseiling down the cliff faces on ropes, foraging for eggs and feathers; there is a long tradition of this in Iceland, dating back centuries, which continues today under regulation.

Because of this skill, Icelanders developed an incredible rescue that was possible when the British trawler Dhoon crashed at the bottom of Latrabjarg. Local farmers were able to use the ropes to scale down the cliff, saving the twelve surviving members of the accident.

Those who continue to harness this skill should, according to folklore in the area, be cautious, however. It is said that a troll who lived in the cliffs was renowned for cutting their ropes and, though forced by a bishop into a cave without any birds nesting around it, is still alive and hidden within Latrabjarg.

Coming to these cliffs just for the bird-watching is well worth the trip, but thankfully, many other wonders of the Westfjords are close by for when you've had your fill. Raudasandur is a nearby beach renowned for its unusual pinkish sands, an anomaly in Iceland. Dynjandi is just a little further away and, without a doubt, one of Iceland's most awe-inspiring waterfalls.

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While the Latrabjarg birdwatching cliffs are well worth a visit, to reach them is a seven-hour drive from Reykjavik, making it quite a schlep for those staying in the capital. Luckily, however, there are puffin colonies just a few hours away along the South Coast , the closest being at Dyrholaey Rock Arch .

Driving Route 1 South, you cannot miss this enormous landmark. Curving out from a row of cliffs into the tumultuous ocean, Dyrholaey is a fascinating example of Iceland's dramatic landscapes, shaped over millennia by fire and water. Up close, you will also see that it has unusual hexagonal basalt columns, rare formations that can only be found in a few places around the world.

It is possible to approach the arch both from the beach and from atop the cliffs, and both directions will reveal to you the vast puffin colony that nests here throughout summer. There are fewer other species of bird than at Latrabjarg (although eider ducks are also numerous), but the puffins still number in the thousands.

Standing atop Dyrholaey, however, means that the landscapes around you may even steal your attention from the birds you came to see. To both the east and the west, you can see the South Coast stretching far in both directions; to the east, the views are particularly great as they go across the notorious black-sand beach of Reynisfjara to the Reynisdrangar sea stacks . In clear weather to the north, you will be able to see Myrdalsjokull glacier , which covers Katla volcano .

Reaching Dyrholaey from Reykjavik is a journey of fewer than three hours, but considering the number of features en route will likely take much longer. You will drive through the geothermal town of Hveragerdi , where you can hike to and bathe in natural hot springs  and pass by two of the country's favorite waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss .

Dyrholaey is a great stop if you are heading to the sites of the southeast, such as Skaftafell Nature Reserve and the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon .

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The Tjornes Peninsula is a small, remote peninsula in North Iceland famous for two things: the fossils that can be found on its west coast and the birdlife on its east. While the former draws visitors throughout the year, and its other popular resident bird species, the rock ptarmigan, does not migrate, the area truly comes alive with the arrival of the puffins.

Several bird-watching trails will take you to see the puffins; one leads to its outermost tip, called Voladalstorfa, while another runs along the cliffs by Skeidsoxl. Both of these will grant you fantastic views of the colony. While admiring them, you can keep an eye out for the elusive ptarmigans, great cormorants, and black guillemots.

A great advantage of birdwatching from Tjornes is the fact that, when looking out to the ocean, you have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins. It sits right beside the town of Husavik and Skjalfandi Bay , the whale-watching epicenter of Iceland and arguably all of Europe.

• See also: Whale Watching in Iceland

The peninsula is also in a convenient location near other awe-inspiring sites of the North. It is, for example, just an hour's drive from Lake Myvatn , an area renowned for its diverse array of geological and geothermal wonders. The "Capital of the North," the cultural town of Akureyri , is just an hour and a half away.

Avid birdwatchers seeking more than just puffins should head just a few minutes southeast of the peninsula to Vikingavatn, the Viking Lake. The wetlands here are home to thousands of freshwater birds, allowing you to admire all kinds of duck species and nesting horned grebes.

Further along the South Coast from Dyrholaey, between Skaftafell and Jokulsarlon, you can find Ingolfshofdi Cape and Nature Reserve . This hidden gem of a destination is surrounded by mighty cliffs and only accessible by crossing the dunes to its northwest; its sheltered, protected location makes it a thriving home for Iceland's puffins and other birds.

Like at Latrabjarg, you can expect to see the puffins nesting with a number of other species, such as kittiwakes and guillemots; because Ingolfshofdi has a rich vegetation, however, you can also expect a wealth of seafowl that includes many of the country's saltwater duck species.

This nook on the South Coast is often overlooked by travelers, so is the perfect place to come if you want to admire puffins without the crowds. A good way to take in the surroundings and, of course, get to meet the puffins is on a beautiful 1.5-hour hiking & puffin watching tour of Ingolfshofdi .

Ingolfshofdi has more appeal to it than just its nature. It is named after Ingólfur Arnarson, Iceland's first settler to come here by choice, as it is where he first wintered before settling in Reykjavik. It is also home to an old lighthouse, and some long-since deserted fishing huts, which, as unhomely as they appear, once kept the few residents of the area from the brink of starvation.

The Westman Islands , or Vestmannaeyjar, off the South Coast of Iceland, have the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in the world; thirty different species nest over the archipelago, but puffins are by far the most numerous. They nest on most of the islands, including the only one with a human population, Heimaey .

Reaching the Westman Islands throughout summer is easy; there are domestic flights from Reykjavik airport and regular ferries running from the southern town of Thorlakshofn . There are also some great accommodation options in Heimaey  if you want to enjoy all that the islands have to offer.

As will be discussed below, once on Heimaey, it is possible to take a boat tour, which will introduce you to islands teeming with puffin life. If you wish to spend more of your time on land, however, you need not worry; there are colonies in the cliffs here too. A highly recommended way of seeing the puffins and more of what the islands have to offer is on a scenic 1-hour small island boat tour in the Westman Islands .

The puffins are so numerous in the Westman Islands that there is a tradition in the town where the children help pufflings who have wandered away from the cliffs, confused by the lights of the town, make it to the ocean. While cases like those mentioned above in downtown Reykjavík and the greenhouses in Selfoss are uncommon, finding a lost puffin in the Westman Islands is a regular occurrence. Indeed, nearly 5,000 of these pufflings were picked up and put back on track by the local children last season.

Spending a full day or two in the Westman Islands will provide you with more than just an excellent puffin-watching experience. These islands have a fascinating history of runaway slaves, murders of vengeance, pirate attacks, and, most recently, an eruption that threatened to engulf the main town. There are many museums and natural sites that you can spend hours exploring to learn about all of this colorful past.

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There are several advantages to taking a boat tour to see puffins rather than just walking up to them on the shore.

Firstly, it provides you with a great opportunity to get out on the water and admire sites such as the peninsulas around Faxafloi Bay from a unique perspective. Secondly, it allows you to watch puffins doing more than just guarding their burrows, such as bobbing in the water and diving for fish.

Finally, it also provides a better chance to see more of the animals that many hope to catch in Iceland, such as Humpback Whales (which also migrate to Iceland for the summer) and White Beaked Dolphins.

Taking a boat tour from Reykjavik's Old Harbor to see an island full of puffins seems too convenient to be true, but from May to August is more than a possibility. Two islands out in Faxafloi Bay, Akurey and Lundey, become the nesting grounds for thousands of these darling creatures every summer.

The most affordable and direct puffin tour will take you out in a boat that has been visiting these islands for seventeen years; it is small enough to get close to the islands safely and quietly, yet still has a sheltered area in case it the weather becomes problematic. There are binoculars on board so that you can get a perfect view of the nesting puffins.

It is also possible, however, to combine your puffin-watching trip with whale-watching . Faxafloi Bay has a huge wealth of life, with white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, minke whales, and humpbacks all frequently seen in the summer months; you also have a chance to see blue and fin whales, orcas, and even basking sharks.

Even if you overlook a puffin-watching segment and simply take a standard whale-watching tour , you are still more than likely to see puffins bobbing like corks in the ocean or fluttering overhead.

Although your operator will do their best not to disturb any animals, you may see a puffin take off in flight from the ocean, which is quite an entertaining sight. With a body built for agile swimming, not for flying, they have to clumsily and energetically "sprint" over the water, maniacally flapping their wings, to gain enough momentum to lift into the air. 

Puffin Watching from North Iceland

It is as easy to take a puffin-watching boat tour from the northern towns of Akureyri and Husavik as it is from Reykjavík; throughout the summer, multiple operators set out into Eyjafjordur and Skjalfandi, respectively, and return with incredible success rates.

While it is not so easy to book a trip to see puffins specifically, there are tours that combine the experience with whale-watching, considering the number of Humpback Whales in these waters and the area's tendency to invite even mightier creatures such as the Blue Whale, this is hardly a problem.

From Husavik, you can book a  puffin and whale-watching tour on a RIB vessel to head out in hunt for diverse wildlife. Most of these tours will make a stop at Flatey Island, which is renowned for the sheer number of puffins that crowd it. From Akureyri, there is not quite the same center of puffin life, but there are whale-watching tours that focus on finding seabirds that will most likely result in you seeing many of these creatures in the seas and on the craggy coasts of Eyjafjordur.

• See also: Wildlife and Animals of Iceland

Breidafjordur is the fjord that separates the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the Westfjords. It has many little islands dotting it and fertile waters making it a perfect place for puffins to nest.

Unfortunately, there aren't any tours into Breidafjordur focused on locating and admiring its puffins. Even so, however, there are multiple boat trips you can take from the historic town of Stykkisholmur that will allow you to explore the fjord and see these birds both nesting and hunting in the waters.

For example, you could take a  magical 2-hour seafood cruise , which combines a cruise with a freshly caught seafood dinner served as sushi, blending Icelandic ingredients and ingenuity with Japanese style. Though it is available throughout the year, taking this tour between May and September almost guarantees that you will see several islands with thriving puffin colonies.

You could also jump onto this whale-watching tour in the final months of its season (it runs from November until June) for the same results. Whale watching in Breidafjordur is a higher risk, higher reward kind of experience, as compared to Reykjavik or Husavik. While great whales do not frequent their waters so reliably, the area is the best place in the country to find the elusive and magnificent orca.

If neither of these trips appeals to you or fits into your schedule, you also have a great chance of catching puffins simply by taking the Baldur ferry from Stykkisholmur to Brjanslaekur in the Westfjords  or taking the  ferry from the Westfjords back to Snaefellsnes . Those traveling around the country may have this in their plans anyway, as the ferry carries cars and is the quickest way to get between the two locations.

If you are utilizing a summer self-drive package that guides you around the entire Ring Road of Iceland, the Westfjords, and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, such as these, which go over ten , thirteen , and fourteen days , this ferry trip is included in your itinerary and in the price.

Top Snaefellsnes Tours

Small group tour of snaefellsnes national park with transfer from reykjavik, 8-day guided northern lights winter tour of the complete ring road of iceland, excellent 2 day west coast tour of snaefellsnes peninsula with lava caving in vidgelmir.

As discussed earlier, if you want to make the most of the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in the world, you can take boat tours from Heimaey in the Westman Islands to fully immerse yourself in an avian spectacle. These tours do not necessarily market themselves as puffin-watching excursions, as puffins are just an expected part of the experience.

Take, for example, this hour-long RIB tour  that whisks you around the uninhabited islands of Vestmannaeyjar, taking you into five separate caves and to unusual features such as the famous Elephant Rock . Many of the little isles and rock crops you will pass (and, of course, linger at) will be packed with puffins, and throughout the tour, you will see many in the air and water.

These tours often have a lot more life than just the birds; seals are likely to be sharing the craggy coasts with them, and you have a good chance of seeing cetaceans too. It is the best place in Iceland to see the elusive and mighty Fin Whal, and the second-best place, after Breidafjordur, to see Killer Whales. It was, after all, home to Keiko, the long-suffering orca that played Free Willy, prior to his release back into the wild.

Just off the shore of East Iceland is another enormous puffin colony that can be reached by boat. Papey is a low-lying island, just two kilometers squared, that since 1948 has been deserted of full-time residents. Now, it is a paradise of birds (with puffins and guillemots being the main residents) and seals.

• See also: Seals and Seal Watching in Iceland

Reaching Papey Island required you to take a boat trip from the sleepy village of Djupivogur . Those who are taking the Ring road of Iceland will no doubt pass through here, as it is the first major settlement of the East Fjords if approaching from the South Coast.

If taking a self-drive tour around the whole country, this town will be visited on the day in which you head from the Jokulsarlon/ Hofn area to Egilsstadir , the largest settlement of the east. This part of your journey is mainly comprised of sightseeing landscapes rather than specific features, so interrupting it with a boat trip to Papey can make for a great way to break up the day.

The final place in Iceland where you are guaranteed to see a great colony of Iceland's favorite animal is  Grimsey Island , the only Icelandic territory north of the Arctic Circle. Most people visiting come only for the novelty of having their passport stamped with the proof they entered a polar region and are surprised to find the wealth of birdlife present.

Something to be aware of if planning a visit to Grimsey is that, because of how far north it is, the puffins tend to migrate a little earlier than in much of the rest of the country. While in September, there will certainly still be a few puffins at, say, Vestmannaeyjar, they are likely to have already left Grimsey by mid-August.

Grimsey Island is easy to reach for any travelers to North Iceland; ferries run throughout the summer from Akureyri, and flights from its domestic airport go on throughout the year.

• See also: Top 5 Islands in Iceland 

To conclude, Iceland is the puffin-watching capital of the world. No matter where you are based in the country, with the obvious exception of the Highlands, a puffin colony will be easy to reach and return from within a day. If traveling in summer, then you should make every effort to get to at least one of them; you will not regret it.

Seeing these creatures is a blessing, no matter where you are in the world. The fact, however, that in Iceland, you can get so close to them, that they nest in such numbers, and that their nesting grounds are in such beautiful locations, puffin-watching over here has a special kind of magic.

That concludes our guide to meeting puffins in Iceland. Did we leave any questions unanswered? Do you have any stories of encountering these birds in Iceland? Let us know in the comments below!

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Home / Tours / Grundarfjordur / Snaefellsnes National Park

Snaefellsnes National Park

• The photogenic Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall, also featured in the Game of Thrones series • Panoramic views from the Saxholl crater • The Djupalonssandur black sand beach • The lighthouse and Information Centre at Malarrif • The basalt columns at Londrangar • Arnarstapi fishing village and the Bardur sculpture • Budir black church • Panoramic views over the Berserkjahraun lava fields from the Selvallavatn Lake

• Minimum Age

More about the Tour

The Snaefellsnes peninsula is often referred to as “Iceland in miniature” because of the incredible variety of sights offered by this small region. The majestic Snaefellsjokull glacier volcano dominates the peninsula and was also featured in Jules Verne’s famous The Journey to the Center of the Earth.

We start the tour with a short drive outside the town to the very photogenic Kirkjufell Mountain and waterfall. Translated as “Church Mountain”, it is a favourite with photographers and is also featured in the Game of Thrones series as the “Arrow Head Mountain”.

Continuing along the coast, we stop at the Saxholl crater. The easy climb, thanks to the walking path, offers one of the best views of the peninsula, the ocean and the glacier volcano.

Further ahead is the wind swept Djupalonssandur black sand beach with peculiar rock formations. Once crowded with fishing boats, the bay is now uninhabited but you can still check out the four lifting stones used by fishermen to test their strength.

We will stop at the Malarrif, the site of an old farm and lighthouse, which is now an Information Centre where you can learn more about the peninsula.

In the vicinity, the eroded remains of the Londrangar volcanic crater rising from the ocean are an impressive sight. The basalt columns and surrounding cliffs are home to many species of birds including the puffin, fulmar and kittiwake.

Arnarstapi is a small fishing village steeped in history. At the beautiful beach, you will find the huge stone sculpture of the half-man half-troll Bardur, known to be the protector of Snaefellsnes.

We continue along the southern coast of the peninsula to the Budir black wooden church set at the edge of a lava field by the sea.

Our last stop is the Selvallavatn Lake where we have a panoramic view over Berserkjahraun, an ancient lava field. A setting for the 13th century Eyrbyggja Saga, the landscape is colourful and dramatic with moss-covered lava, red crater hills and unusual rock formations.

If you’re interested in more, it is possible to add an hour to the tour for one of the following detour options: – A lava cave tour in Vatnshellir, an 8000-year-old lava tube. – A coastal walk between the fishing villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar. The breathtaking route is dotted with remarkable rock formations abound with seabirds, the most striking being the Gatklettur stone arch with a circular window. – A detour to Stykkisholmur, the biggest town of the peninsula, with a charming harbour area, brightly coloured lighthouse Sugandiseyjarviti and beautiful views of the Breidafjordur bay. – A walk through the colourful and dramatic landscape of the Berserkjahraun lava field.

*Please note that private tour bookings are classed as requests until availability can be confirmed by our staff. Prices shown are flexible and you may be offered different prices, subject to availability.

Why Book with Us

• Pickup and dropoff from the port • 100% refund if your ship cancels its visit with more than 24 hours’ notice • 50% refund with less than 24 hours’ notice • Customisable tour with a local guide

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Do you have a question or want something customised? Send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Snæfellsnes peninsula

Trip information, snæfellsnes glacier, jules vern, halldór laxness and arnarstapi.

On this route we will explore the National park of Snæfellsnes Peninsula , driving through lava fields along the coast and there will be many classic Icelandic photo opportunities on our way. We will make sure to visit most popular sites at the national park such as Kirkjufell, Arnarstapi and Djúpalónsandur. In the summer it is possible to go to  Sönghellir and it is optional to go to Vatnshellir cave .

Whether you are interested in bird life, black beaches, glaciers or history, you have come to the right place.

Snæfellsnes glacier has been an inspiration to many poets and writers such as Jules Vern and our Nobel prize winner Halldór Laxness. Some believe it is one of the seven chakras in the world.

We will be hiking around beautiful old fishing village Arnarstapi. On our way we will enjoy the scenery and breathing in the sea breeze is quite memorable. Good idea to have fish and chips here for lunch.

On our way back we will visit Djúpalónsandur referred to as black pearl beach and enjoy the sea breeze.

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Day Tours/Activities

Puffin Tour From Grundarfjörður

The Puffin Tour From Grundarfjörður is a must for true bird lovers! The presence of hundreds of puffins on and around Melrakkey Island with its basalt columns is a sight to behold.

• Trees planted 1
• Available jun, jul, aug
• Duration 1.5 hours
• Location Snæfellsnes peninsula
• Number of participants Min. 1
• Age limit No age limit

What you'll experience.

The Puffin Tour From Grundarfjörður is a must for true bird lovers!

The presence of hundreds of puffins on and around Melrakkey Island with its basalt columns is a sight to behold. On the traditional oak boat, Láki, you´ll get as close to the cliffs as possible to see these small birds with their brightly colored beaks. The boat will then sail around the island nature reserve to get a view of the other birds that nest there, including shags, cormorants, guillemots, kittiwakes and many others.

This one-hour plus Puffin tour from Grundarfjörður offers the maximum potential to see these endearing creatures in their nesting environment. On the way home, you’ll get to soak up the beautiful scenery of the fjord which includes Mt Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.

This tour is a perfect family outing and a great opportunity for photographers.

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What to bring.

• Warm clothes
• Good sturdy shoes
• Binoculars & Camera

Tour operator

This tour is operated by our friends at Láki Tours. They are a thriving family-owned company in Grundarfjörður which specializes in whale watching and birdwatching tours. Their aim is to bring our customers as close to the whales as possible, without impacting negatively on them and their magnificent environment.

Láki Tours' certifications:

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Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Snæfellsnes Excursions

Your gateway to West Iceland's wonders

Join us on a trip to discover the wonders of Snæfellsnes

Shark Museum and Stykkishólmur Tour

A short tour to experience West Snæfellsnes

Scenic Snæfellsnes Bus Tour

Discover the best of Snæfellsnes on our popular bus tour

Viking Sushi Adventure Tour from Stykkishólmur

A sailing adventure...with a twist

Snæfellsjökull Glacier Tour from Arnarstapi

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Snæfellsnes, Iceland in miniature

Snæfellsnes Peninsula, located in West Iceland, is our favorite part of Iceland, with fascinating and diverse landscapes that are waiting to be explored.

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tour or driver to vladimir & suzdal - Moscow Forum

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My husband and I will be in moscow and wanted to take a side trip..understand Vladimir & Suzdal is quite nice. Do you prefer that to Sergiev Posad? Do you know any agencies that provide group tours or private tours to Vladimir & Suzdal? I understand that Patriarshy Dom is not operating its group tour during this time. Please advise. Any information you have to share would be helpful.

Vladimir & Suzdal are close to each other. you can use vladimir as base and also visit suzdal.

I will give you some links ( sorry i am out on tour and can't do more research).

http://gotorussia.vand.ru/ ( this is a tour operator offering 1 day tour from moscow to Vladimir , Suzdal or both) there are also combo tours with sergiev Possad with any of the above towns.

In order to organize tours from Vladimir, there are 3 major sites where you will get infor about the tours operating from Vladimir, how to reach there etc.

1. http://www.tour.vladimir.ru

2. http://www.vladimir-city.ru ( official site)

3. http://www.museum.vladimir.ru ( my recommended site)

<< go to english version / select option "services" / tours & excursions

My sugestion would be to go to Vladimir by train from moscow in the evening, take rest and then join a full day tour of vladimir - suzdal and return at night or next day morning. The train takes 2-3 hrs. Details available at http://www.poezda.net ( in english) .You can even book online

Trains are clean and safe. Hotel Vladimir at Vladimir is ok. near the train station. you can find the contacts in google. ( book the tickets in advance.)

You can visit sergiev possad ( quite near to moscow) using the moscow based tour agency mentioned above. They offer day trips to Sergivev possad.

If you want to search the net further, go to http://www.yandex.ru ( russian website) and type in "vladimir tour" or "suzdal tour" in ENGLISH. This will give you many sites with english option

have a nice trip

will you consider a DIY trip?

from moscow to vladimir take a long-distance train or a suburban (electrichek) train from kursky station. there are several in the daytime/early evening. certain long-distance trains are faster and can arrive in 2 hours. suburbans take 3 hrs. probably less complicated to buy suburban ticket than one of a long-distance train (where you need passport, specify what type of seat, which train number...) and also cheaper

once in vladimir you can walk around for 1-2 hours or even have your dinner there. then take a bus (avtobus) at the bus station just up a slope from the train station. the bus runs every 30-60mins till late. i took the one around 8-9pm. and the evening buses go directly into city centre of suzdal. the trip is about 40-60mins

the tricky part is if you reserve your accomodation in suzdal with a guesthouse/B&B, it may not be easy to locate. the one i had booked did not have a sign hanging at the door. i walked around for about an hour and at last had to find a local to talk to my host over phone and then she kindly led me to the right wooden house

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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