Today is the last day before we head back to Reykjavík. Last part to explore is the Snæfellsnes peninsula, which is located in western Iceland, about 2 hours away from Reykjavík. We drove about 250km / 150miles today and we are so close to completing the whole circle!
Rauðisandur Beach
There is one more spot we wanted to hit before heading down. If you have enough time, this is something you could do on the way to the bird cliff Látrabjarg (~ 10km), but we ran out of time yesterday because we ended up spending a long time at the bird cliff, aka puffin hunting (just to be clear, not actually hunting puffins, but spotting them for pictures!).
Unlike most beaches in Iceland (mostly black), Rauðisandur beach is a beautiful red sand beach and it is located in a relatively remote area that it is unlikely to see any tourists around.
Stykkishólmur
This is a cute little town on the north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. To be honest, there isn’t a whole lot to see in the town, but it is worth stopping by as it is on the way to the more exciting part of Snæfellsnes anyways. Right outside of the town, there is this “sacred hill” called the Helgafell. If you hike to the top (it is a small hill, so it only took ~ 15mins) without looking back and talking, it is believed that you will get 3 wishes fulfilled. I tried to do that but I failed :(
Kirkjufell - Waterfall
Kirkjufell literally translates to “church mountain”, which has a very distinct shape and therefore is a very popular mountain for photographers. It is apparently called “the most photographed mountain in Iceland”. Right next to it sits a gorgeous waterfall, highly recommended!
Kirkjufell - Mountain
There are two trails, where one wraps around the mountain and the other one goes to the top of the mountain. We decided to take a walk around the mountain, and it took a lot longer than I thought it would (I was deceived by the look of the mountain, I mean… it really did not look that big lol). It took us ~ 2.5 hours, but it has some really nice views and it was a really nice walk as well. Love it!
We did not know at the time that it is possible to climb up the mountain, but based on what I read online, it is a very treacherous hike, and takes about 1.5 hour one way. For those of you who are more adventurous, the view looks amazing!
Svöðufoss
Surprise! Another beautiful waterfall! This is really close to the Snæfellsnes National Park and would be a perfect detour on the way to the national park.
Svörtuloft Lighthouse
Svörtuloft lighthouse is located on the cliff at the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The formation of the cliff is quite interesting, especially the beautiful natural arch by the lighthouse. I personally did not find a lot things to see in the Snæfellsnes National Park, and it could very well be that I didn’t do enough research, but this is one of the highlights!
Búðakirkja
How often do you see a church painted pure black? There is a very interesting one in Iceland!
This really concludes the nature part of our Iceland trip. A lot of people complained about how touristy Iceland has become, although it is true, the natural beauty is indisputable. And one tip I have is the further you are from Reykjavik, the less touristy it gets, and also the more remote attractions you go to, the less touristy it gets. So if you really hate being around a bunch of tourists, plan accordingly, there are plenty of quiet spots with stunning scenery!