Reykjavik: 2-Day West Tour with Snæfellsnes & Silver Circle

A geothermal spring powerful enough to send steaming water skyward, a waterfall that seems to flow out of a lava field, and the sharp profile of Kirkjufell: this two-day trip packs several of West Iceland’s signature sights into one loop from Reykjavík. You get a taste of both the historic Borgarfjörður region and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula without having to plan the driving yourself.

I like the mix of big natural sights and local details, especially the stop at Sturlureykir horse farm for a close look at Icelandic horses and homemade hot spring bread. I also like that you can choose between a guided visit to Víðgelmir Lava Cave and a trip to Husafell Canyon Baths, so the first day can suit your interests.

The main consideration is the pace: there are many stops over two days, and lunch and dinner are not included. Pick-up starts between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m., so you’ll need to be ready early and dressed for changing weather.

• Deildartunguhver gives you a close view of Europe’s most powerful hot spring.
• Sturlureykir pairs an Icelandic horse farm visit with hot spring-baked rye bread and coffee or water.
• Hraunfossar and Barnafoss offer two very different waterfall stops in the same area.
• Your first-day choice is between Víðgelmir Lava Cave and Husafell Canyon Baths, with a 4WD ride and a stop at Langifoss on the baths option.
• Borgarnes overnight breaks the drive and puts you in a fjord-side town with coffee houses and restaurants.
• Snæfellsnes highlights include seals at Ytri-Tunga, views from a historic church, and Kirkjufell with nearby Kirkjufoss.

Two days for West Iceland’s varied sights

This is a practical choice if you want to see more than one corner of West Iceland but would rather leave the route and driving to a guide. The tour combines the Borgarfjörður area, known for geothermal activity and waterfalls, with the longer sweep around Snæfellsnes, where the coast, glacier, wildlife and mountain views keep changing.

The group is limited to 19 people, a useful cap for a minibus tour. You won’t have the space of a large coach, but a smaller group can make getting on and off at stops simpler. The trip includes Reykjavík pick-up and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, onboard WiFi, one night in a double or twin room with a private bathroom, and admission to either Víðgelmir Lava Cave or Husafell Canyon Baths.

The itinerary is full, and conditions can shape what you see and how long you linger. Think of it as a sampler of the west rather than a slow, single-region visit. The payoff is range: steaming ground, waterfalls, a horse farm, a night in Borgarnes and the broad coastal scenery of Snæfellsnes in two days.

Day one: hot springs, horses and waterfalls

Your morning starts with pick-up in Reykjavík between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m., then a drive along Route 1 toward Borgarnes. From there, the route enters the Borgarfjörður area. Glanni Waterfall is the first listed stop, followed by Deildartunguhver, where boiling geothermal water rises with striking force. Bring your camera, but keep a sensible distance from hot water and steam.

The trip’s stop at Sturlureykir Icelandic Horse Farm adds a welcome human-scale pause. You can get close to the friendly horses, then try homemade rúgbrauð, a dense Icelandic rye bread baked using geothermal heat. Coffee or cold water is included with the bread. I like this stop because it gives the day a local texture that a string of roadside viewpoints can’t provide. It also offers a chance to warm up and take a break from the minibus.

Next come Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, near one another but worth seeing as separate sights. Hraunfossar is known as the lava waterfalls: water flows out from beneath a lava field rather than dropping as a single tall cascade. Nearby Barnafoss offers a different look and feel. Together, they make a strong case for allowing time to notice how water and volcanic terrain meet in this region.

The route also visits Reykholt, a historic site in Borgarfjörður, before reaching Husafell, described as a woodland oasis. These stops give the day a change of pace between the geothermal sights and the main activity choice. The information provided doesn’t specify how long you spend at each place, so don’t count on a lengthy independent visit at every stop.

Choose a lava cave or canyon baths

At Husafell, you choose between Víðgelmir Lava Cave and Husafell Canyon Baths. Víðgelmir is described as Iceland’s biggest lava cave, and the included admission makes this the option for travelers curious about the country’s volcanic interior. A cave visit brings a different kind of landscape into the trip: instead of looking at lava from the road, you go inside it.

The alternative is a 4WD trip to Husafell Canyon Baths, with a stop along the way to take in Langifoss, a two-tiered waterfall. This option trades the cave’s subterranean setting for a drive into the canyon and time at the baths. The admission fee for either choice is included, but the two activities are alternatives, not a chance to do both.

This is a useful decision to make before you book. Choose the cave if exploring a lava formation appeals more than a bath stop. Choose the baths if the idea of relaxing in a canyon setting sounds like the better reward after a day on the road. The tour details don’t specify further about the bath facilities, so check current information if you have particular questions about them.

Night in Borgarnes, beside the fjord

The overnight stop is in Borgarnes, a town by the fjord often called the capital of West Iceland. Your stay is in a double or twin room with a private bathroom. The accommodation is included, which makes the $564 per-person price easier to assess than a tour that leaves lodging entirely to you.

Borgarnes has coffee houses and restaurants, giving you somewhere to find dinner after the day’s stops. Meals are not included, and the tour makes scheduled opportunities to buy lunch and dinner. Budget for those separately, and bring snacks if you prefer to have something on hand between stops.

The area is also known for northern lights when conditions are favorable. Treat that as a possible bonus, not a promised part of the experience: sightings depend on conditions, and the tour description makes no guarantee. A night away from Reykjavík does at least put you in a different setting for the evening, rather than sending you back to the city after day one.

Day two: seals, church views and Snæfellsnes

The second day heads for Snæfellsnes, a peninsula where the trip shifts from geothermal country to coastal scenery. At Ytri-Tunga Beach, you may have the chance to watch seals from the shore. The area is home to a large seal colony, but wild animals don’t follow a tour schedule, so a sighting is not assured.

The next stop is Ingjaldshólskirkja, a historic church completed in 1903 and set on elevated ground. The position gives you views toward the coast and glacier, as well as a quiet pause in the day. Local tradition links the area to Christopher Columbus, who is said to have visited centuries ago. Take that as a local story attached to the place, rather than a reason to expect a formal history presentation.

As the route circles the peninsula, Snæfellsjökull glacier comes into view in the distance. The glacier is one of the defining sights of this region, though visibility depends on the weather. In Iceland, a view can change quickly, so warm, waterproof layers are more useful than a rigid list of must-see photos.

Kirkjufell is the day’s best-known landmark, with Kirkjufoss waterfall nearby. The mountain’s distinctive shape makes it one of Iceland’s most photographed sights, and the pairing with the waterfall gives you a classic view of the peninsula. A previous winter trip here saw the area covered in snow, which can make the scenery especially striking. Snow and clear glacier views are never guaranteed, of course, but this is a memorable final highlight if conditions cooperate.

What the $564 price covers

At $564 per person, this is not a bare-bones sightseeing shuttle. The price includes a two-day guided minibus tour, Reykjavík pick-up and drop-off, one night in a private-bathroom double or twin room, the horse farm admission, and admission to your choice of cave or baths. WiFi is available onboard, too.

The value depends partly on whether you would otherwise arrange the overnight stay and drive yourself. With transport, lodging and the main paid activity bundled together, the price can make sense for someone who wants a guided route through several West Iceland sights without managing the logistics. It is less attractive if you prefer to travel slowly, choose every stop yourself, or would rather book accommodation and activities separately.

Food is the main extra cost to plan for. Lunch and dinner are not included, though scheduled stops give you a chance to buy them. You’ll also want to account for any additional charge if you rent hiking shoes on the day. The tour says these can be rented for a small fee, but doesn’t specify the amount.

Guides, pace and what to bring

The tour is in English, and guides on this route have included Walter and Siggi. Walter was described as friendly and memorable, while Siggi led a highly enjoyed winter trip around the peninsula. Those names are useful context, but you can’t assume either guide will lead your departure.

Guiding style matters on a two-day trip, because you spend long stretches together in a small vehicle. One guest had a poor experience with a guide who talked too much about personal matters unrelated to the itinerary. That’s a reminder that a good route and a good guide are not quite the same thing. The tour’s maximum group size of 19 keeps the group from growing too large, but it cannot guarantee a particular guiding style.

Pack warm, waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear. Hiking shoes can be rented for a small additional fee, but bringing your own means you don’t have to rely on a rental. Weather can affect how the sights look and how comfortable you are during outdoor stops, so layers are a better plan than expecting one outfit to work all day.

Pick-up takes place between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. Be ready from 8:30 onward. In central Reykjavík, some restricted areas are off limits to buses, so your pick-up may be at the nearest official pick-up station rather than right outside your accommodation.

Who should choose this West Iceland trip?

I’d consider this tour if you have two days, want to see both Borgarfjörður and Snæfellsnes, and value having a guide handle the drive. It suits people who enjoy a varied itinerary, are happy with scheduled stops, and want the cave or baths included rather than arranged separately.

It may be a poor match if you want long hikes, extensive time at each sight, or complete control over when to leave. The itinerary covers a lot, and the guide sets the pace. The choice between cave and baths is helpful, but you can’t do both on this tour.

Overall, the strongest reasons to book are the range of sights, the included overnight stay and activity admission, and the small-group limit. The best reasons to pause are the extra meal costs and the possibility that a fast-moving two-day schedule won’t suit your style. If you’re comfortable with those trade-offs, this is a well-rounded way to see the west without turning your holiday into a driving plan.

FAQ

What is included in the $564 price?

The price includes the guided two-day minibus tour, Reykjavík pick-up and drop-off, a double or twin room with a private bathroom, admission to Sturlureykir Icelandic Horse Farm, and admission to either Víðgelmir Lava Cave or Husafell Canyon Baths. WiFi is available on the bus.

Are lunch and dinner included?

No. Lunch and dinner are not included, but there are scheduled stops where you can buy them.

What are the two activity options at Husafell?

You can visit Víðgelmir Lava Cave or take a 4WD trip to Husafell Canyon Baths. The baths option includes a stop to view the two-tiered Langifoss Waterfall.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 19 passengers.

When does pick-up take place?

Pick-up is between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. Be ready at your pick-up location from 8:30 onward. Some central Reykjavík streets restrict bus access, so you may be asked to meet at the nearest official pick-up station.

What should I bring?

Bring warm, waterproof clothing. Hiking shoes can be rented for a small additional fee on the day of the tour.

Where do you stay overnight?

You spend the night in Borgarnes in a double or twin room with a private bathroom.