Wonders Of The West

OVERVIEW

Discover the natural wonders in western Iceland, especially around Snæfellsjokull National Park, an area that has been famous since 1864, when Jules Verne used it as a setting in his classic science fiction novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” The landscape looks eerily primeval, especially at Djupalonssandur, whose coastline is strewn with large rocks and the remains of a shipwrecked fishing trawler. Sailors once demonstrated their strength there by lifting boulders to show that they were fit to work on ships. While walking along the beach at Arnarstapi, you will observe birds nesting in the craggy lava formations. A noticeably different volcanic terrain awaits you in Búðir, whose beach features yellowish sand instead the pitch-black sand commonly found elsewhere. The modest Búðir church is also noteworthy. Painted black, it sits in a lava field blanketed with lush grass, and the contrast is stunning. An ice-capped volcano looms dramatically in the background.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a panoramic drive through western Iceland’s hauntingly beautiful volcanic terrain.
• Behold a primeval landscape of volcanoes, lava fields and rock-strewn beaches.
• Look for wildlife, birds in particular, that often nest on the coastal cliffs.
• Pause at Búðir church, a 19th-century wooden building that overlooks the sea.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.