Snaefellsjokull Glacier: Jules Verne's Gateway to the Centre of the Earth

Snaefellsjokull is Iceland's most storied glacier. Jules Verne placed the entrance to the Earth's centre here in his 1864 novel, and the location repays that mythological weight. It sits at the tip of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a 700,000-year-old stratovolcano whose summit is permanently capped with a glacier visible across the sea from Reykjavik on clear days. The entire area surrounding the glacier forms a National Park — Iceland's only one to include both marine and glacial environments.

The Glacier and Its Character

At 1,446 metres, Snaefellsjokull is not Iceland's highest glacier — Vatnajokull and Hofsjokull both exceed it — but it is arguably the most atmospheric. The glacier sits above a peninsula of extraordinary geological variety: ancient lava flows, dramatic sea cliffs, basalt columns, black sand beaches and steaming hot springs all within a few kilometres of each other. The glacier's summit is often shrouded in cloud or mist, which adds rather than detracts from its mystique. When it clears, the views extend across the peninsula and out over the cold Atlantic to the Westfjords.

Like all of Iceland's glaciers, Snaefellsjokull is retreating. Scientific measurements confirm the glacier has lost significant mass over the past century and the loss is accelerating. Some projections suggest the glacier could disappear entirely within 200 years. Visiting now carries a certain poignancy — you are seeing something that future generations may only know from photographs.

Accessing the Glacier

The glacier is accessible by two routes. A mountain road (F570) winds up the northern slope to near the glacier edge during summer months — a 4x4 is required and road conditions must be checked before ascending. From the end of the accessible track, guided snowmobile and glacier walking tours are available. All surface glacier access requires a qualified guide.

The easier option for most visitors is a guided snowmobile tour from the lower slopes. These operate in summer and provide access to the glacier surface without requiring mountaineering experience or a 4x4. The experience of crossing the silent white expanse with the Atlantic ocean visible far below on both sides of the peninsula is extraordinary.

Snaefellsnes Peninsula: Beyond the Glacier

The peninsula is arguably Iceland's most diverse environment — a microcosm of everything Iceland offers compressed into a 90km strip of land. The dramatic basalt columns of Londrangar rise from the south coast. The beach at Djupalonssandur is black volcanic sand scattered with rusted iron from a British trawler wrecked here in 1948. The Vatnshellir lava tube extends 35 metres below the surface and can be explored on guided tours. The small town of Arnarstapi sits below dramatic cliffs honeycombed with sea caves and nesting fulmars. The fishing village of Grundarfjordur provides the closest accommodation to the famous Kirkjufell mountain photography location.

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