Nicetravel · Reykjavik, overnight in Borgarnes
Nicetravel drives the full Snæfellsnes loop on day one, ending at Kirkjufell for 30 minutes, puts you up in a hotel in Borgarnes, then spends day two at the Hraunfossar falls and inside Víðgelmir, Iceland's largest lava tube. Pick it if one 11-hour day sounds like too much, and you want the cave anyway.
Day one follows the route of Nicetravel's one-day small group: Borgarnes, 40 minutes with the seals at Ytri Tunga, the black church at Búðir, Arnarstapi, the Lóndrangar cliffs and Djúpalónssandur, then Kirkjufell for 30 minutes. Instead of the long drive to Reykjavik, you sleep in Borgarnes, in a twin or double room at the standard you choose when booking. Dinner is on you; one guest found the town lovely, with plenty of places to eat.
Day two is the reason to book. After breakfast you see Hraunfossar, where water seeps out of a lava field in dozens of small falls, and Barnafoss next door. Then comes 90 minutes at Víðgelmir, a lava tube 1,585 m long and by far the largest of its kind in Iceland; admission is included. The day ends at Deildartunguhver hot spring and a horse farm at Sturlureykir before the drive home.
Honest caveats. It costs $559, so compare it with the day trip plus a separate cave tour. Borgarnes is only about an hour from Reykjavik, and one guest felt two day trips would have made more sense. Bring only a backpack: there's no room for suitcases. The minibus has Wi-Fi and USB chargers at every seat, and children must be at least 5.
Free pickup in Reykjavik between 8:30 and 9:00, or meet at Fiskislóð 45M before 8:20.
Ytri Tunga, Búðir, Arnarstapi, Lóndrangar and Djúpalónssandur.
30 minutes at Kirkjufell, then the drive to your hotel in Borgarnes.
40 minutes at the lava falls and 20 at Barnafoss.
About 90 minutes underground in the lava tube.
Deildartunguhver, the Sturlureykir horse farm, then back to Reykjavik.
★★★★★Small group two day tour. Variety of activities, from black beach, waterfalls, lava cave, horse farm. Incredible, stunning scenery. Our guide Thormodur has deep family roots in the area and related moving, personal stories that made the experience come alive. Highly recommend.
★★★★★Our guide/driver from Nice Travel, CD, was knowledge, funny, and considerate. The large van was comfy and had wifi. Plenty of "comfort" stops. [...] Hotel was perfect, in a lovely little town with plenty of dinner options.
★★★★★Excellent trip. Super organized by Nice travel agency. Our guide Maria was amazing. Always telling us interesting facts and stories about Iceland. I would definitely recommend this tour.
★★★★★It was great trip with Philip. He was wonderful and have us enough time to explore. He wasn't rude at all and was always kind and gentle.
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A lava tube in the Hallmundarhraun lava field in west Iceland, 1,585 m long and the largest of its kind in the country. The visit lasts about 90 minutes, and admission is included in this tour.
In Borgarnes, a small town on a fjord about an hour north of Reykjavik. You choose the room standard when booking; breakfast is included, dinner isn't.
About 30 minutes, at the end of day one, before the drive to Borgarnes.
If you want the lava cave and a slower pace, yes. If you only want Kirkjufell, the one-day Nicetravel trip covers the same peninsula route for much less.
Ready to book
Two slower days on Snæfellsnes with a hotel night in Borgarnes and the Víðgelmir lava cave.
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