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Beautiful home between glacier and sea, Iceland

your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Beautiful home between glacier and sea, Iceland

Interior
Beach nearby
Outdoor dining
Exterior
2 bedrooms, free WiFi, bed sheets

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 596 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer
  • Outdoor space

Room options

Pool

GREAT LOCATION - LUXURY COTTAGE – UNIQUE SURROUNDINGS - GLACIER – NATIONAL PARK

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Outdoor space
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (61)
GREAT LOCATION - LUXURY COTTAGE – UNIQUE SURROUNDINGS - GLACIER – NATIONAL PARK
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About the area

Map
Hellnar, Snaefellsbaer

What's nearby

  • Rauðfeldsgjá - 7 min drive - 7.6 km
  • Djupalonssandur Beach - 17 min drive - 15.5 km
  • Snaefellsjoekull National Park - 19 min drive - 12.2 km
  • Kirkjufellsfoss - 42 min drive - 52.6 km
  • Kirkjufell Mountain - 43 min drive - 53.2 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Arnarstapi Centre - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Stapinn Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Samkomuhúsið Arnarstapa - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Fjöruhúsið - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Arnarbaer Restaurant - ‬5 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Beautiful home between glacier and sea, Iceland

PERFECT PLACE TO EXPLORE ICELAND. STUNNING VIEW TO THE GLACIER AND SEA
Kjarvalströð is a new luxury 'old style' privately owned cottage located in the spectacular and unique surroundings of Snaefellsnes on the west coast of Iceland. To Hellnar, it takes approx. 2.5 hours to drive from Reykjavik. The National Park is only 5 min away. Enjoy the magnificent views of the glacier Snaefellsjökull, the surrounding mountains and over the bay Faxaflói. The cottage is one of a few cottages designed as Icelandic houses from the 1920s. There are plenty of things to do and see in the area such as: beautiful hiking, whale watching, sailing around the many islands, historical places, bird watching, horse riding, skiing and sightseeing on the glacier.

If you are looking for a quiet area to relax or want to explore the unspoiled nature and many wonderful activities in the area, the cottage is the perfect place!

Property manager

Aline and Fabian

Languages

English, German

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Cable/satellite channels
  • DVD player
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In the mountains
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • Near the ocean
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,033 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful home between glacier and sea, Iceland pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful home between glacier and sea, Iceland?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful home between glacier and sea, Iceland?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful home between glacier and sea, Iceland located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Rauðfeldsgjá, Vatnshellir Cave and Snaefellsjoekull National Park. Djupalonssandur Beach is 9.6 mi (15.4 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 117 out of 127 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 127 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 127 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 127 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 127 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

jane b.

My thoughts
It was nice and spacious. A lovely location. Issues - Firstly, we arrived to find dirty dishes, garbage still in the bathroom and overall not cleaned properly. This isn't an issue with the owner as they were responsive when we brought it up but still we had to clean. The dirty linens were left in the washer, which we understood would happen. We were expected to clean them, thats ok as we were leaving ours in the washer also. Our issue was we had no laundry detergent, on emailing the owners we were told to check the shed. There was none, the owner did not reply to that? Not sure what they expected us to do? We ultimately purchased detergent at our expense and washed the linens. This was not acceptable to us. We then determined the sink in the bathroom wasn't draining properly so again emailed the owners and asked them to have it fixed. Their response was "we can't come from Rekjavik on such short notice and there is drain cleaner in the shed pour some down the drain". The unit is less than 2hrs from Rekjavik and we were staying 4 nights? Not acceptable to us. Lastly the add stated that internet was included. Our booking was at the end of a month from the 25th to 29th. We had reasonable internet the first night then nothing. Turns out they had limits on the data and once they were reached you couldn't even send an email. The owners response was "if you need internet go to the hotel nearby or purchase a card for internet. Not acceptable to us. Thank you
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent
This was our favorite place we stayed in all of Iceland. Beautiful home, super clean, and in a great location. We had everything we needed!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura K., Portsmouth, RI

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful spot
Property is lovely. Location is beautiful. The home had a crib and toys for my children to play with. Note that you are responsible for cleaning the home upon your departure, including washing linens and towels. I would still have rented this home despite this requirement, it was a small sacrifice for a great stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jason S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Magical
Simply gorgeous setting for a family adventure. We experienced all that Iceland has to offer in the compact package that is the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Stunning mountains, lava fields, waterfalls, beaches, caves, whales, bitter cold, punishing wind and rain, perfectly clear skies, and an awe-inspiring hour of the northern lights. The house was perfect for our needs, but be sure to read up on the expectations. You’ll need to be prepared to save some time for running laundry on your last day, and know where you’re going to get your groceries on the journey to the house.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Denise D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful House
The house is beautiful as is the surroundings. Great restaurant at Fosshotel within walking distance. Great location to explore the peninsula. The house was well equipped and very cozy.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Greg M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice, comfortable base in Hellnar
We enjoyed our stay immensely. The house is cute, well-appointee and conveniently located for all of the wonderful sights and experiences on Snæfellsness Peninsula.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Fiona C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cosy cottage in a great location
The house was clean, large and well-appointed and is in a great location for exploring the Snaesfellsnes Peninsula. We stayed on this development a few years ago in a different house in the wintertime. This house is of the same spec and quality as the previous one and we found it very comfortable. It was good to come back to the area in early autumn and we were lucky to see the northern lights on the last night of our stay. The visitors' welcome folder and leaving instructions refer to an alarm remote control, but this wasn't there when we arrived. We messaged Aline and Fabian on the first night to make them aware that it wasn't in the house and mentioned it in our phone call message on the last day, but we didn't hear back. Perhaps this information is out of date. We found that the cleaning policy for guests to wash all the bed linen and towels before leaving is an unrealistic expectation and a nuisance. For two of us it took three hours for the washing and drying cycles. The instruction folder does say that you can leave one load in the washing machine if you are in a rush, but a full house of four or five's washing would not fit in one load. At many places in Iceland, we have been asked to clean the properties' kitchens, bathrooms and floors, which is fair enough, but only in our stays on this development have we had to wash all the linen and towels as well. That gripe aside, the accommodation was excellent, and we had a lovely stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tanja P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Toller Ort um abzuschalten
Ein schönes Häuschen, liebevoll eingerichtet umbettet von einer unglaublich schönen Gegend. Stundenlange Wanderungen oder einfach nur abschalten. Beides wunderbar machbar. Auch unsere Kinder waren begeistert.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Silke W.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Very nice Location!
The house is very nice, well decorated , much bigger than it seems on the photos and it is located in a great area with views to the sea and the mountains (glacier). The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you need and the beds are very comfortable. But the principle of self-cleaning should be reconsidered. Especially against the background that everyone has a different understanding of cleanliness. But nevertheless we enjoyed our stay very much.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melissa H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved it
Great! Amazing house and location!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Coos V.

Liked: Cleanliness
The perfect place for exploring the west side if Iceland
Easy to rent the cottage, discription of the house was good.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Emily E., Houston, TX

Liked: Cleanliness
Hellnar never disappoints
My husband and I have stayed at this property two times in the past. Our third visit did not disappoint. This was our first time experiencing Hellnar in the summer versus the winter and we loved every minute of the home and the village. We had a bit of pause when we realized the cottage was under new control where, but everything is exactly the same and Aline and Fabian were very responsive to our needs. Hellnar and this cottage renews the soul. We will be back.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

JOHN H., Auburn, US

Liked: Cleanliness
Love staying in Hellnar
This was our second stay in this little neighborhood of cabins. Just as lovely as last time. We enjoy how quiet and beautiful. Great place to relax and unwind. Views from Hellnar can not be beat. Will return.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cindy B., Salt Lake City, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Snaefellsnes location
Full disclosure - We’re repeat customers. This property is perfectly located for exploring Snaefellsnes. The upstairs bedrooms are comfortable with plenty of room to spread out. Downstairs is perfect for recovering from exploring the park or cooking a meal after walking the coastline. The property is well maintained, all the amenities are available as listed and the hosts are great to work with. If you’re looking for a place to stay and experience the magic of the western peninsula, this is an excellent harbor from which to launch those adventures.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

william k.

Liked: Cleanliness
Base camp
We had a wonderful time exploring the peninsula, the cabin was the perfect base. Great views of the glacier and the sea!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Roland E.

Liked: Cleanliness
A home for Christmas
We were looking for a remote location, for a relaxed 4 days with a proper kitchen, and this was it. With great road access for winter months yet also a decent drive away at a beautiful location and surroundings. The house was faultless and we would certainly love to stay there again, thank you Jakob and Elsa for offering such a warm and well equipped cottage.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Leslie Y.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect!
We spent 4 nights here in late September on recommendation from friends and were not disappointed! It was clean, comfortable and equipped with all of the essentials. We were blessed with perfect weather, visited by the George our northern lights everty night and had nearly complete privacy as there were very few other cottages occupied during our visit. The location was perfect to allow for leisurely hikes along the shore, riding Icelandic horses on the beach, exploring lava caves and exploring the peninsula. The owners are very responsive and helpful. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the cottage to anybody considering a stay in the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2019

8/10 Good

Holly H.

Amazing Location! Other things guests show know in advance........
First, let me say that we enjoyed our stay. The location near the National park, walking distance to unique hiking trails, and The Foss Hotel restaurant can't be beat (make restaurant reservations in advance). There is so much beauty in the area!! The cottage itself is nice once you acclimate yourself to a few unusual expectations from the host. You are expected to clean before you leave until it is "spotless" (their words). There might be (likely will be) dirty sheets left in the washer that you are also expected to clean. If the prior guests used both beds, you will be washing the bedding for 2 beds (that was our case - even though we only needed 1 bed). The homeowner does not live close. They live 2 hours away. They don't want to hire a professional cleaner, nor do they want to drive 4 hours (both directions) to clean it themselves. This is the reason for this requirement. You are essentially the cleaner for the next guest. The dirty sheets are from the previous guest. The homeowner does not want wet sheets in the washer so they ask you to leave the dirty sheets in the washer for the next guest. You are asked to put on the spare clean sheets before you depart for the next guest. There is a minimum stay of 4 days, so you have plenty of time to get the other sheets clean and then place those on your bed when you depart. Guests should also know there is no closet space, but there is an empty large dresser in each room. The cabin is in very close proximity to other cabins of the same basic style. It is not a private as you might think from the pictures in the description. Also note, many of these cabins have the same cleaning policy. Some even ask for your credit card information, which is against VRBO policy. Stairs leading to the upstairs are hardwood and can be slick. Bring slippers with traction. If you are bringing young ones they will need help with these stairs. Bring your own shampoo and body wash. There was only hand soap. There was plenty of salt, pepper, oil, vinegar plus a few seasonings spices. This was a very nice cottage. The owners have a couple of these cottages. The cleaning rules are surprising at first, but we got adjusted. I imagine it keeps the cost down. Once you understand all the rules for enjoying the cabin, you can relax and enjoy this spectacular area.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Kirsten L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful cottage with great view of the mountains
Located in an interesting part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula close to the coastal walking track and the Snæfellness Glacier. The cottage is new, clean, comfortably furnished, very well equipped and well maintained. Parking immediately at the cottage. Good wifi. Good communications with the owner. Bedrooms upstairs with bathroom downstairs.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Christian L., MIDDLETOWN

Liked: Cleanliness
Best rental
The cottage in Hellnar was wonderful. Very clean and comfortable. Incredible views Would consider going back to Iceland just to stay in that Cottage Thank you
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

KATHLEEN M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Hellnar cottage 8
Perfect location and lovely cottage
Stayed 13 nights in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Adam N.

Great vacation spot
Loved the location and it was a great place to stay. No complaints whatsoever. Make sure you go grocery shopping in Borgarnes on the way in otherwise it’s about an hour/hour and a half. There’s not a lot in the local area. Also there are 9 or so cabins all right next to each other so when the blinds are up there’s not a lot of privacy. Overall loved the place!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

christian b.

Perfect location for Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Clean and cozy. Amazing place by the ocean. Very quiet. Host is super responsive to any questions. If you want to take your time exploring this peninsula, stay here. Me and my family have high expectations for living accomodations and Jakob's cottage exceeded them. We stayed in Cottage 14 and it was detached single unit.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Roslynn T.

Wonderful Stay
My husband and I just returned from our stay in Western Iceland. The cottage is wonderful. It is very comfortable and had everything we could want for our stay. The cottage was very warm and quiet, even with massive cold winds. The kitchen is well stocked for cooking. The location is perfect for exploring Western Iceland. It isn’t a big issue, but be sure to plan your time carefully to finish the laundry during checkout. The washer and dryer run longer than we were used to. We would definitely stay here again if we were back in the area. Thank you Jakob and Elsa
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

David H.

Impressed again
I stayed in one of the larger cottages for my second trip to the peninsula. Location is great, the cottage is absolutely spotless upon arrival. It’s a great location, a few small places to eat in the area despite being fairly isolated. It’s quiet and peaceful. I look forward to staying here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2019