Reykjavik Snaefellsnes Day Trip Review: Vatnshellir Lava Cave

OK, so you’re probably thinking about swapping the city lights of Reykjavik for the amazing landscape of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and visiting the Vatnshellir Lava Cave sounds like a pretty good way to add some pizzazz, alright? Well, after my recent trip, I figured I’d let you know what’s up. It can be quite the undertaking, deciding how to spend your precious vacation time, and hoping to get the most bang for your buck can be tough, like it is almost a job. Is this day trip worth your while? I can go over my experience, and give you the lowdown so you can make a call on whether you want to make it your next stop or not.

The Appeal of Snaefellsnes: “Miniature Iceland”

Basically, Snaefellsnes is named “Miniature Iceland” for a very, very good reason, really. You see all different sorts of terrains packed into one little area, so you might get volcanos, lava fields, black beaches, crazy cliffs, and sweet little towns. It has this almost mystical thing to it, alright, Snaefellsjökull glacier sitting in the middle of the park has inspired artists and storytellers for ages, like it’s more than just ice and rock.

Thinking about taking a guided day trip is, for me, just way easier than renting a car and going it by myself, but that’s me. The roads can be a bit of a gamble depending on when you go, alright, so letting someone who really knows the area do the driving really gave me piece of mind so I could just concentrate on enjoying the views. Many tours from Reykjavik promise a good view, comfortable transportation, and stops at most of the spots around, for instance Kirkjufell mountain. This offers up a convenient taste of Snaefellsnes’ most popular spots, which is a pretty good option when you don’t have lots of time to spare, I think.

Vatnshellir Cave: Getting Below the Surface

The thing about Vatnshellir Cave, I guess, is that it gets you up close and personal with Iceland’s volcanic landscape in an unusual way. It offers tours, and it is that so most people can safely see what it looks like way down in a real lava tube that formed from a volcanic eruption like thousands of years back, maybe 6 or 8,000, as a matter of fact!

You should be sure to put on some warm clothes, you know, since it will be fairly chilly down there, also sturdy footwear makes all the difference in the world since the ground can be quite uneven. A guide walks you through, filling you in on how the cave formed, its geology, and other pretty rad stories, actually. They use this pretty powerful flashlight that points out crazy rock formations and shares lots of insight into why the cave is cool and important, I think. What I will tell you is that if you are kind of claustrophobic you need to give it a good think since the spaces get rather confined from time to time.

My Day Trip: Highs, Lows, and Lava Flows

Ok, so on the plus side, seeing a lot of what Snaefellsnes has to offer in just one day was just really awesome, but very jam-packed, literally. Kirkjufell looked like it does in the photographs, that iconic mountain against a cool backdrop, alright, I could stay for longer there, basically, but then I don’t suppose there’d have been much of a day trip if that happened. Also, driving through the lava fields was amazing, more or less. Now, as for the cave? Seriously awesome, I mean it, I liked learning a ton on how it happened, that took it from just being a hole in the ground to being seriously interesting, honestly.

Now a bit of the bummer parts for me, just so you are aware of stuff, very is that tours can sometimes get cramped so that when I really wanted some more space, that might have to take the back burner. Also I kinda thought some of the stops weren’t exactly that great, kind of just a photo opp thing, actually. And you know, it isn’t a really cheap thing to do, spending a fair amount of cash on a day trip really should be weighed in as to if you are really going to enjoy the experience.

Is the Snaefellsnes Day Trip with Vatnshellir Worth It?

So, what should you do with this stuff, is that right? If you don’t have all kinds of time in Iceland but still want to see stuff besides the Golden Circle deal then yeah, very, that tour really offers a killer peek at a region with lots of terrain in one day, I think. Having Vatnshellir included on the ticket made me feel like I saw something unusual instead of just doing surface stuff. However if you’re planning on coming for a week or two and the quiet of backroads appeals to you more then spending a couple of days on Snaefellsnes and experiencing things a little more casually might suit your fancy more. If you are sort of wigged out in closed spaces or don’t want to do something very active, though, then I would probably advise going to other places.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Trip

Bundle Up: Icelandic weather has a way of switching on you real quick, or not so quick depending, literally. Dress in warm layers regardless of the time of the year you show up, right.
Comfortable Footwear: If it wasn’t clear earlier in this blurb then get a solid set of walking or hiking boots, I tell you. Very comfy and water resistant!
Book in Advance: Iceland is the “now” place for tourism so getting a tour set ahead of time makes all the sense in the world so that something that you really wanted isn’t all booked up, definitely.
Snacks and Water: I thought it was very thoughtful that the tour stopped for grub, that it included was not always that easy to get to at all of the stops we hit. Stashing snacks will save your sanity, believe me.
Ask Questions: Get all of the goods out of your tour guide! These peeps will generally live in the country or grew up there so that they have so much data that isn’t very likely on those pamphlets they have in hotels and such.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best time of year to visit Snaefellsnes?

It is always different, as a matter of fact, the summer can provide you better traveling weather, while, for instance, winter is great for anyone who wants to view the northern lights. To view wildlife or wildflowers a sweet spot might be May to September if the sun doesn’t scare you off of exploring Iceland’s cool spots.

How long is the Vatnshellir Lava Cave tour?

The cave is 45 minutes to an hour, this length usually can get you through it completely.

Are there age or physical restrictions for the Vatnshellir Cave tour?

People who take these should be ready to walk on ground that shifts often since it can be a bit uneven; in certain spots it can be a bit steep, though it can always be walked with aid, for example walking sticks or your tourmates. Kids of very small stature might get very weirded out so bring distractions. The lava formations in some of these spots, or others, can prove tight for a really big dude so maybe give that a second though if you’re one of those persons. This information does not count as complete and up-to-date information or professional assessment regarding the potential for these conditions, right.

Can I explore Snaefellsnes without a guided tour?

Without tour guides on hand exploring Snaefellsnes is pretty easy, if you choose it. During parts of the season certain sites, specifically those at higher elevations, for example, are impossible. Getting from A to B with four wheels lets you go completely wherever that tickles your fancy and for however much time you thought it should take. A decent compromise will entail some kind of personal shuttle service with specific tour dates. Just think, basically, what is that kind of traveler that really fits you. Is that right?