Join a Timeless Icelandic Tradition

2024Dates:

▪ September 10-15
▪ October 2-6

Duration:

6 days / 5 nights

Difficulty:

Intermediate / Advanced

In September and October, Iceland changes costume from the green summer dress over to the multi-colour outfit of autumn! It’s an amazing season to travel around on horseback watching nature slow down for the upcoming arctic winter. This is also the time when farmers gather their sheep and horses down from the wilderness where they have spent the summer running around free in the mountains.

This 5-day tour is a combination of a 4-day riding tour where we enjoy the autumn colours and ever-changing landscape of the north, and a visit to the horse roundups “Skrapatungurétt ” and Laufskálarétt where we join the farmers when they drive a herd of 500 young Icelandic horses from the mountains and separate them in the roundups.

Horses

The Icelandic horse is a symbol of national pride and cultural heritage. They are known for their surefootedness and gentle nature, and they are famous for the Tölt, a gait unique to the breed, which makes them incredibly comfortable over great distances and rugged terrain.

Riders will be accompanied by a loose herd, which adds a unique and exciting dynamic to the ride! Riders will change horses 1-2 times per day, giving them the opportunity to get to know a variety of horses over the course of the week.

Riding

Intermediate to Advanced

Riders should be capable of spending long hours in the saddle, tacking and untacking their own horse, and controlling the horse at all paces, even though rides will mainly consist of the walk and tölt.

Distance: 10-25 miles/15-35 km per day

Ride Time: 3-5 hours/day

Tack

Horses will be in saddles developed specifically for the Icelandic horse, closely resembling Dressage saddles. Saddle bags will be provided.

Terrain

This tour encompasses remote areas only accessible on foot or by horseback, riding on mainly soft riding tracks, ideal for riding the tölt. The ride will travel through farmland, across rivers, winding through hills and mountains to alpine lakes, and across black sand deserts.

Accommodation

Riders are accommodated in single or shared rooms (2-4 people per room) at the guesthouse on Saltvik Farm, which offers stunning views out over Skjálfandi Bay and a nice hot tub to soak in after a day in the saddle.

Guests spend one night in the mountain cabin at Þeistareykir, a quaint bunkhouse surrounded by bubbling natural steam vents.

√ WiFi
√ Hot tub
X Laundry

Dining

Breakfasts and dinners are served family-style at the guesthouse. Home-cooked meals consist heavily of lamb and fish. Traditional Icelandic breakfasts include porridge, toast, cold cuts, and cheese. Riders make their own sandwiches in the morning to pack on the trail each day.

*We recommend bringing your own snacks for the trail, and any packets or condiments for adding to your sandwich (peanut or almond butter, mustard, mayonnaise, etc.)

Itinerary

  • In the morning the group will be picked up by our private bus from BSI busstation downtown Reykjavík. After the busdrive up north (about 3 hours drive), the first ride is a short but nice ride through Vatnsdalur valley, ideal to get used to the horses and riding with the herd before we ride a long day away from roads the next day. We follow the gravel road leading us out of the valley with a beautiful view over the river and the mountains. (1-2 hours)

  • We ride from the farm down to lake Hóp, which is one of the largest lakes in Iceland. We ride along the lake until we reach the river Víðidalsá and ride along the soft riverbanks and cross the river several times on our way to Dæli where we‘ll leave the horses and a nice hot tub is waiting for us. (5-6 hours)

  • Today we enjoy the excitements of seeing the local farmers bringing their horses to the corral Víðidalstungurétt. We will ride with a big group of riders towards the gate from the mountains from where the farmers drive the big herd towards the corral. About 1000 young horses and mares with foals come together at the corral and it´s an amazing sight to see this big herd running down from the mountains.

  • In the morning we watch the farmers while they separate the horses at the corral. We start riding in the afternoon, cross the heathlands of Miðfjarðarháls and ride along the river Miðfjarðará to our destination at Reynhólar farm.

  • After breakfast at Dæli we drive back to Reykjavík where the tour ends.

    Estimated arrival in Reykjavík around 12.00

Planning and Packing

Dates

September 10-15 2024
October 2-6 2024

Rates

Solo Rider
Individual Booking

Multiple Riders
Booking together

Price Includes:

  • All accommodations

  • All meals

  • All riding activities, including tack and equipment, riding helmet, rain gear, water bottle, lunch box, and saddle bags

  • Sleeping bag for night in mountain hut

  • Flight from Reykjavik to Húsavík

  • Entrance to Geosea geothermal spa

Does not include:

  • Airfare to and from Iceland

  • Transportation to/from the airport

  • Travel Insurance

  • Visas

  • Gratuities and personal expenses

  • Whale watching (book upon arrival)

  • Additional excursions or activities not included in itinerary

Book This Trip

Please fill out this form to request more information or to book this trip, and a member of our team will contact you shortly regarding the next stage of your booking.