Stokksnes or Vestrahorn is a location in east Iceland where a massive mountain meets the sea on a black sand beach. If you visit Stokksnes in the winter, you’ll get an even better view of the sea and mountains because Vestrahorn peak is covered in snow.
Stokksnes’ beautiful summits reach an altitude of about 450 metres (1500 feet). It is commonly referred to as ‘Batman Mountain’ because of its resemblance to the superhero.
In the immediate vicinity of Vestrahorn, are Eystrahorn and Brunnhorn (the 3 little summits extending into the sea). The 3 peaks are classified together and are known as Vestrahorn.
Compared to the rest of the island, which are dominated by basalt and lava rocks, the landscape here comprises of rare gabbro and granophyre rocks. Scientists estimate the natural landscape to be as old as 9 to 11 million years old. The peaks are incredibly tough to climb because of their shape and structure.
What makes Stokksnes Beach such a beautiful place to visit
With the lagoon’s azure waters and black dunes in the background, it makes for photography that will get you tonnes of ‘loves’ on Instagram.
It’s not uncommon to see some beautiful reflections on the water when the weather is calm. The east shore of the island is six hours away from Reykjavik.
Stokksnes is around an hour’s drive from Jökulsárlón Ice Lagoon, so if you want to see Diamond Beach as well, make that a part of your itinerary while you’re there.
Make sure you have enough time to get there. It’s easy to get to the beach itself.
If you love taking pictures and videos, you may spend up to three hours here; if you’re a casual traveler, you may only need one hour.
You can see the Northern Lights at Stokksnes beach thanks to its dark mysterious environment.
Since Stokksnes is relatively undiscovered compared to other well-known black beaches in Iceland, this is an excellent choice for anyone wishing to escape the crowds.
Stokksnes is also a great place to take pictures of your reflection in the water.
The beach is flat, allowing you to catch the reflection of the waves as they pull back from the shore. Reflection may be disrupted by tiny pebbles.
For this particular site, we recommend that you carry some form of waterproof footwear.
How to get to Stokksnes (Vestrahorn) beach in Iceland
If you want to get the most out of your trip to Stokksnes, you’ll need to plan ahead and spend at least one night there. Stokksnes is about a 6-hour drive from Reykjavik and three and a half hours from Vik; so it’s ideal to go if you only have a few days to spare in Iceland.
It is situated on the east coast of Iceland, near the town of Hofn, around 20 minutes drive to the place. From Jökulsarlon,it is a 1 hour 15 minute drive.
To get to the black sand beach, simply drive down the Stokksnes Peninsula, park, and walk to the beach.
Stokksnes, in contrast to other Icelandic natural regions, is privately owned land, which means there is a nominal entrance fee involved.
You park your car at the end of the road, walk inside the little Viking Cafe, and buy a day pass for 900 ISK (about $6).
They also accept credit cards.
Stokksnes Beach (Vestrahorn) – Pictures
Be the first to comment