Explore The west coast
Just east of Hellnar along the main road – or a short walk along a clifftop path – the village of ARNARSTAPI sits at the foot of Stapafell (526m). It comprises little more than a few holiday cottages and a harbour, reached by following the road through the village down to the sea – but beware of the large number of arctic tern that gather here during summer and take pleasure in divebombing unsuspecting intruders. On entering the village, look out too for the large stone monument to the pagan-age figure Barður Snæfellsás who, according to local legend, still lives in Snæfellsjökull and protects the area from evil.
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Tours from Arnarstapi
Tours from Arnarstapi
Arnarstapi is a starting point for hikes and jeep drives up to Snæfellsjökull via Route F570, but is also known for its snowmobiling excursions across the glacier. Snjófell (t 435 6783, w snjofell.is) organizes 90min trips (21,900kr per person for two sharing one snowmobile; 25,500kr for your own machine); speeding along the ice top is an exhilarating experience, and the views of the glacier and the coastline are breathtaking when the weather is good – but don’t be tempted to head onto the ice if it’s raining because you’ll see nothing. If speed isn’t your thing, a slower snowcat, a sort of open-top truck on caterpillar tracks, also carries groups of twenty or so across the ice (1hr trips 8500kr).
