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Our first stop after leaving Reykjavik was the wonderful Snefellsness Peninsula, which stretches along a glacier-carved strip of mountains and sea jutting into the Atlantic off the west coast of Iceland. We stayed just at the entrance to Snæfellsjökull National Park, which we explored over the next 3 days. The primary attraction of the park is Snæfellsjökull Glacier, which covers an active volcano with a history of eruption dating back over 700 thousand years. It rises 1,446 meters from the sea just below. Providing the setting for Jules Vernes' Journey to the Center of the Earth. Snæfellsjökull glacier is considered one of the seven great energy centres of the earth.

In addition to the glacier, the park is also great for exploring the coastal area that surrounds it on 3 sides. We were treated to a feast for the senses: moss-covered lava flows, a rich carpet of colorful flowers, dramatic rock formations, sea cliffs, black sand beaches, small tarns, and wonderful bird sounds. The lava field that flows out to the sea from the base of the mountain is covered with some of the most beautiful vegetation in Iceland, providing shelter in its many crevices and hallows to over 100 species of plants, including gorgeous cream-colored moss and 11 species of fern.
Our hikes included: The path from Svalþúfa, where there precipitous sea cliffs that teem with sea birds, to Lóndrangar, where a couple of grand rock outcroppings guard the headland; the trail down to Djupalonssandur, a nicely-shaped pebbled beach, with interesting rocks emerging from near the shore, and over to Dritvik cove, which is only a short walk away; a circular route at Beruvíkurbæir that took us to a series of beautiful tarns; a pleasant walk to Klukkufoss waterfall, which is surrounded by basalt columns. On two different late afternoons we followed the Eysteinsdalur River and walked on the snow fields just below the north side of the glacier, watching the sunlight on the peak on one side and from the other side gazing at the sunset colors reflected in the distant clouds and surface of the sea below. We also followed the old path along the coast between Hellnar and Arnastapi (now a National Reserve), which has splendid sea cliffs, which provide nesting places for Artic tern, flocks of kittiwakes, Arctic fulmars, and other sea birds. Along the way is the beautiful Arch Rock (Gatklettur), with lovely swirled patterns, and there are many magnificent lava formations, many of them associated with stories of elves and trolls.

Outside the park we visited the magnificent waterfall Bjarnarfoss, which tumbles off the cliffs north of Búðir; we followed a delightful path from Budir Church to Frambúðir, the site of many ancient relics; we drove across the peninsular to the harbor of Stykkisholmur, the region’s most colorful town interesting architecture and old timber buildings; and we made a stop at Kirkjufell mountain, which is one of the most beautiful mountains in the country, rising from the edge of the sea.