Chasing the Midnight Sun

2025 Dates:

June 16-22
June 23-29

Duration:

7 days / 6nights

Difficulty:

Intermediate / Advanced

The North-East part of Iceland is often referred to as the “Edge of the Arctic” with the arctic circle just outside the shores. During a two-week period around the summer solstice, the sun stays up all night and it’s an unforgettable experience to watch the colorful and quiet contrasts of light and water when the blood-red sun hovers over the glittering ocean in the night.

Our ride takes us along the coastline of north Iceland. We ride past isolated farms and along the huge Jökulsá river coming all the way from Vatnajökull glacier. Our trails also take us through the highland plateaus of Melrakkaslétta and Reykjaheiði where the view is breathtaking and our only company are a few happy birds and sheep wandering around in the heathlands. We will visit Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe and the National Park of Jökulsárgljúfur, with Ásbyrgi the hoof-shaped canyon as a highlight. In the sagas it´is said to be the footstep of Sleipnir, the eight-legged stallion of Óðinn, King of Valhalla (Norse mythology).

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

Accommodations are at nice holiday farms in double or triple rooms.

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 you’ll fly from the domestic airport in Reykjavík to Akureyri in the north, where we will pick you up from the airport for a 1 hour busride to our farm Saltvík. At Saltvik, we start our ride after a short introduction to the Icelandic horses and their special gaits. We ride along the seaside of the arctic ocean north of Iceland enjoying a fantastic view out towards the arctic circle. A relaxing bath in a warm outdoor tub before dinner at Saltvik farm is well deserved after this first day of our journey!

    Optional in the afternoon (80 euros which includes transport from/to Saltvík): A whale watching tour starting from the harbor in Húsavík can be offered. Húsavík and the bay of Skjálfandi is known to be one of the best places in the world to find and see some of the gentle giants of the ocean. Humpbacks, Minky Whales, Dolphins and even Blue Whales are some of the creatures you can expect to see!

    Ride time: 2-3 hours
    Distance: 15km

  • We ride over the Reykjaheiði heath and through ancient lavafields and moorlands until we arrive at our lunchbrake at Sæluhúsmúli. There we are located right at the center of the Atlantic ridge going through Iceland which is stretched and pulled by the two continental plates of Europe and Asia. Cracks and fissures in the lava fields make the surroundings spectacular and mystic and are a perfect example of the powers of nature wich make Iceland what it is. After a good lunchbreak and some stories of the area we head on towards farm Fjöll where we end the ride and our bus will be waiting to take us back home to Saltvík farm for a dip in the hot pool, nice dinner and a good rest for coming day.

    Ride time: 5-6 hours
    Distance: 35km

  • We ride from farm Fjöll along the flat country side of Kelduhverfi with the view out to the arctic ocean all day until we arrive at our destination at Meiðavellir farm just aside the canyons of Ásbyrgi national park. We drive back to Saltvík farm for another night but make a nice visit to the Geosea spa on the way. Geosea is a natural hot spring/spa with a fantastic view out to the bay of Skjálfandi and the very best spot to enjoy the midnight sun with a cold drink in the hand.

    Ride time: 4-5 hours
    Distance: 25km

  • We ride into the national park of Ásbyrgi Canyons the hoof-shaped canyons told to be a footstep of Sleipnir the eight-legged horse of Odinn highest in rank of the old nordic gods! We cross the mighty Jökulsá river on a bridge and enter the highly vegetated area of Öxarfjörður with birch forests and green fields of one of the best sheep farming territories in Iceland. We end the day at the farm Klifshagi and drive to our guesthouse nearby at Kópasker village where we have a fantastic view out to the arctic bay of Öxarfjörður and hopefully enjoy a clear sky in the evening for living the nights of the midnight sun to the limits.

    Ride time: 5-6 hours
    Distance: 25km

  • We start the day with a sightseeing tour by our bus to Dettifoss waterfall , Dettifoss is them ost powerful waterfall in europe and a magnificent experience to visit. We come back to our horses at Meiðavellir and ride towards Öxarfjörður which  is one of the best kept nature secrets in Iceland. Rich vegetation, mighty volcanoes and Iceland’s biggest river Jökulsá á Fjöllum make the scenery breathtaking. We ride up in the heathlands and follow nice riding trails across woodlands and along riverbanks while enjoying the fantastic view over the Arctic sea north of Iceland. We ride along the riverbanks of Jökulsá towards the village of Kópasker which is a small fishing village located at the edge of the peninsula where we have a totally undisturbed view towards the arctic circle, the true home of the midnight sun! Overnight at a nice guesthouse in the village.

    Ride time: 5-6 hours
    Distance: 30km

  • We ride from Kópasker village and follow the great river Jökulsá towards Ásbyrgi canions and Meiðavellir farm where the ride ends and we drive back home to Saltvík farm for the last night and farewell dinner.

    Ride time: 5-6 hours
    Distance: 35km

  • After a good breakfast at Saltvík we head to the airport for a flight back to Reykjavík. Arrival in Reykjavík around noon.

Planning and Packing

Dates

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Price Includes:

  • All accommodations

  • All meals

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

  • Entrance to Geosea geothermal spa

Does not include:

  • Airfare to and from Iceland

  • Transportation to/from the Akureyri airport

  • Travel Insurance

  • Visas

  • Gratuities and personal expenses

  • Whale watching (book upon arrival)

  • Additional excursions or activities not included in itinerary