Tours 2013
“Horses lend us the wings we lack”
Dear fellow riders, Traveling on horseback through the harsh wilderness of Iceland follows a long tradition, which goes back as far as to the first settlement of Iceland. In the 9th century, a group of Vikings discovered this young Island to form a Free State, independent from the totalitarian regimes in their home countries. The main riding routes were formed when these young settlers embarked to travel to Þingvellir from all over Iceland for the annual meeting of the Parliament to resolve disputes and uphold the law. An even finer web of small tracks and riding paths was formed thanks to yet another ancient Icelandic tradition – the grazing of the sheep in the mountains during the summer months. It was the Icelandic horse that accompanied the farmers into the highlands in the autumn to collect the sheep and bring them home safely. Both horse and men had to work together harmoniously in order to survive the rough terrain and weather conditions. With their amazing geographical knowledge, the farmers and the sure footed and high tempered Icelandic horse formed a perfect team for this task. The tours in our catalogue follow and explore these traditional riding tracks with the help of our strongest horses and local farmers that still cultivate their ancestor’s knowledge about their country. In the company of a small group of fellow riders and a herd of horses, you will undertake a journey that takes you out of your daily routine and put you in intimate touch with the simplicity and serenity of nature. The tours require a relatively high level of physical fitness and considerable riding experiences in the open country. To make this a great experience for everyone, it is absolutely vital to meet the demands of the specific tour. If you are interested in joining one of the tours but are unsure about the necessary requirements, please feel free to contact me personally. I would be happy to find the perfect tour for your individual needs and interests.
Travel Agency
I hope we will ride together soon,
Authorised by Icelandic Tourist Board
Riding Iceland Operations ehf. Kringlan 7 103 Reykjavík Iceland sib@riding-iceland.com www.riding-iceland.com Tel: +354 8593560
Sincere thanks to Ragnar Axelsson, Mieke Roelse, Þórunn Bjarney Garðarsdóttir, Arnold Björnsson, Joanna Bateman Bromwich, Halldór Friðrik Þorsteinsson and Michelle Joosen for allowing the use of their photography. Graphic design: Eline Wieland, Siggi Björnsson Text work: Siggi Björnsson, Stefanie Luther and Melanie Cary.
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The Riding-Iceland experience
Over 1000 years ago a man named Ingolfur Arnarson and his kinsmen headed west to keep their freedom and independence from Norwegian aristocracy. Guided by the Gods, the wind and the sea, they settled where Ingolfur’s high seat pillars came ashore, which they had thrown overboard earlier according to an old Norse tradition. The land welcomed them with smoke and steam from hot springs and rifts in the ground and so they called their new home Reykjavík – Smoke Bay. The aura of the young country has not changed too much ever since the first settlers have set foot on this island. The experience of visiting Iceland still contains impressions like the strong smell of sulfur coming from the hot sulfur springs – and out of every hot water pipe in Icelandic households. Vast lava fields and earth cracks are testament to the story of a powerful mother nature, who is not done forming this country yet. At the youngest places of the island, close to the rift of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which bisects the island transversely, you can feel her boiling energy under the thin earthly surface underneath your feet. At the places that are already solidified, nature has built the most amazing shapes and colorful sceneries to the landscape.
The adventure
During a Riding Iceland tour, our horses take you to the most beautiful and remote areas that the country has to offer. We enjoy the vast nature of Iceland by leaving man made roads behind and following the old historic tracks of Ingolfur’s descendants across the Highland, accompanied only by our fellow riders and a herd of loose horses. On the first day a bus will take the group from Reykjavik to the starting point, where we meet horses which have been carefully selected and specially trained for the purpose of a highland tours and thus are in good spirit and have the necessary stamina to take us safely through the wilderness. The sure footed Icelandic horse is mainly known for its two additional gaits – the tölt and the pace. We will indulge in the breathtaking feeling of riding a smoothly tölting horse whenever there are suited riding tracks. The different tour designs are carefully drawn, so you have the chance to explore the great variety of the Icelandic nature. It ranges from mighty canyons, waterfalls and colorful mountain ranges to smooth and flowery heath land, powerful glacier rivers and the magic scene of the glacier itself. It includes old lava fields as well as the wetland – an area that is covered with cotton grass as far as the eye can reach. We might also come across one of the countless fields of wild growing blueberries – where we usually stop for snack break.
The greater part of the country is still uninhabited since most of the population is allocated around the coast line. The most remote areas remain beyond the reach of any vehicle. That is the reason why men depended on their horses to carry them and their goods across the country throughout the history of Iceland. Ingolfur and his kin had brought in horses from Norway and the western isles of Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. Since space on the small open Viking boats was limited, they only chose to bring the best of the best of their living stock and import was stopped as soon as there were enough horses on the island. Thus only nature could mold this unique breed of the Icelandic Horse thereafter and its treats and talents were preserved until today.
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The food
A day of high physical activity and lots of fresh air usually quickens the appetite quite a bit. On the dinner table, you will find fresh local food that has been lovingly prepared. We will eat salmon from the rivers we crossed and lamb that has been roaming free in the heath land areas as well as wild geese and reindeer from Iceland or Greenland. We also invite you to try out and taste local specialties like the strong and dark whale meat and the spicy HĂĄkarl (shark meat). With all dishes, we serve fresh vegetables from local farms and greenhouses. If we were lucky on the hunt for wild blueberries, we might also prepare a delicious blueberry skyr cake for dessert. Following a deepseated tradition, the schedule for the hours after dinner is reserved for larking singing and lively storytelling. This daily ritual includes old Icelandic songs and poetry as well as your favorite songs, re-mastered by the tour guide and his guitar.
The hut
Accommodations on most of our tours are relatively basic. We sleep in sleeping bags on bunk beds or mattresses in the small and cozy mountain huts where generations of travelers have gathered close together and found shelter before us. To begin a new day, we start by having a typical Icelandic high-energy warm or cold breakfast to be well prepared for another long day on horseback out in the Mountains. It is an unforgettable experience to drive and maneuver a herd of loose horses, either feeling their rush in your back or watching them disappear behind the crest of a hill. Especially during the last days it might be more of a challenge to control the herd, since they already feel the call of home. The last stints on perfect riding tracks allow us to enjoy the experience of the horses tÜlting at full speed – a cheering and overwhelming feeling on its own - before we finally arrive at our final destination. Here we can for the first time after several days in the wilderness indulge in hot showers and regular beds and sheets. For having been the last riding day, it is a perfect occasion to organize a lavish feast and celebrate our adventures.
The evening
After a day of utter solitude in the wilderness, we will find our way to a remote mountain hut. Our horses spend the night in a fence or rudimental stable close by the huts. Every one of these cottages has its own story, being built or even inhabited by elves or the ghosts of old heroes and outlaws. There is a magic moment during the hours of twilight in the Icelandic mountains, when you almost feel them sitting next to you on one of the mossy hummocks, following your gaze to the horizon that seems to be as far away as anywhere else. At some places we will find natural hot water pools, where we can warm ourselves up again, relax sore and stiff muscles and listen to some stories about the local ghosts, elves and hidden people.
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Overview of 2013 Tours Riding Workshop Riding Workshop
5 days for Intermediate to Advanced Riders A five day riding workshop where you will be assigned 3 horses to work with under guidance from experienced riding instructors. Topics include gaits and gait changes, dealing with gait anomalities (pacey tölt, trotty tölt, misstrength) and the magic of pace. We end the day with a nice dinner, where we feast on the best raw materials that the countryside has to offer. Dates: June 12 - 16, 2013
Highland Tours Kjölur
7 days, 6 riding days, 190 km total. Difficulty: Intermediate Kjölur is one of the most important of the old routes that were established by the vikings when they first came to Iceland. We ride between two majestic glaciers with breathtaking views in every direction. Date: June 20 - June 26, 2013
Mystic Trail
7 days, 6 riding days, 200 km total, Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced Riding south the old Kjölur route and visiting places important to the Icelandic Sagas and folklore. We ride into the impressinve mountain range of Kerlingarfjöll and continue south to the majestic Laxárgljúfur canyon. Great trails and unforgettable scenery and according to Dante, da Vinci and Botticelli, we might even be able to find the Holy Grail on the way! June 28 - July 5, 2013
Grand Canyons
7 days, 6 riding days, 225 km total, Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced Exceptionally scenic tour around the impressive mountain range Kerlingarfjöll in the middle of Iceland. Part of the route goes to an elevation of up to 1000m presenting a breathtaking view of glaciers and mountains hundreds of kilometers away. We ride by spectacular canyons and waterfalls and explore the most beautiful parts of Iceland. Dates: July 9 - July 15, 2013
Elves and Outlaws
15 days, 13 riding days, 600 km total, Difficulty: Advanced A demanding grand tour of the south, covering the the famous Fjallabak area and continuing east to Síðumannaafréttur to the Laki crater system. Great trails, fast pace and only experienced riders. Dates: July 19 - August 2, 2013
Sleeping Dragons
11 days, 9 riding days, 280 km total, Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced A beautiful ride between some of the most powerful volcanoes in Iceland. Have a close look at Eyjafjallajökull, that brought down flights over Europe couple of years ago, see the incredible Landmannalaugar and tip toe past the volcano Hekla, in order not to wake her up! The tour is in two parts; you can choose to ride either of them or both. Dates: Part 1: August 7 - August 11, 2013, Part 2: August 11 - August 17, 2013 You can book a tour on our website - www.riding-iceland.com, or by contacting us on sib@riding-iceland.com or tel: +354 859 3560
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Riding Workshop Duration: 5 days Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced Dates: June 12-16, 2013 Group size: max. 12 participants Price: € 1.500
This intense 5 day workshop will be led by two experienced riding instructors. The workshop will focus on riding the 5 gaits of the Icelandic horse correctly, dealing with gait anomalities like pacey tölt and uneven tölt. We go through exercises to deal with misstrength, stiffness and tension and work on how to establish a cooperative and trusting relationship between the rider and the horse. You will be assigned 3 horses to work with. Each day there will be two 45 minute training sessions and a 2-hour trail ride where we reinforce our progress with the horses. Three course dinner and good time at night!
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Kjölur Duration: 7 Days, 6 Riding days, 170 km Difficulty: Intermediate Dates: June 20 - 26, 2013 Group size: max. 14 travelers Price: € 1.795
The settlers that came to Iceland in the 9th century were free minded people that did not want to become subjects of King Harald Fairhair that was seizing power in Norway. They decided to form a unique social arrangement in Iceland: Democracy without central government. A critical part of that arrangement was the annual meeting at the Þingvellir parliament, established in 930 A.D. They established routes across the mountains of Iceland to be able to attend and one of the most important one was Kjölur – the link between north and the south. This route offers great variety of landscapes going between the two giant glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull to the hidden valley of Þjófadalir to the Hveravellir geothermal area. North of there the route lies across the heaths and rivers above Skagafjörður. We end the tour in by riding down the beautiful valley of Gilhagadalur.
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Day to day itinerary Day 1: Kjóastaðir – Fremstaver We start at Kjóastaðir close to the famous Geysir geothermal area and stop at the Gullfoss waterfall. Gullfoss and Geysir are absolutely a must-see if you come to Iceland. From Gullfoss we continue towards the mountain Bláfell and stay at a hut called Fremstaver. Distance: 30km, 5 hours
Day 5: Strangahvísl - Galtará Beautiful trails over soft heaths towards the hut in Galtará. Hot showers and soft beds await us in this nicely equipped hut. Distance: 20km, 4 hours
Day 2: Fremstaver - Árbúðir The day starts by riding over the shouler of Mt. Bláfell. The view from the top is absolutely breathtaking with the intimidating glaciers and mountainranges of the inlands towards the north and the fertile contryside of Biskupstungur and Hrunamannahreppur to the south. We continue to cross Hvítá river at a bridge and continue to our destination of Árbúðir. At the end of the day you will have the opportunity to take an exciting boat trip on the glacierlake Hvítárvatn (fare not included) Distance: 30km, 4-5 hours
Day 6: Galtará - Gilhagi From Galtará we ride to the hut at Bugar and continue through the Gilhagadalur valley to our final destination of Gilhagi where we will have our farewell dinner and celebration Distance: 35km, 6 hours Day 7: Departure After a breakfast at Gilhagi a bus will take you to downtown Reykjavik. The bus will leave at 12:00 and the ride will take approx. 4 hours.
Day 3: Árbúðir - Hveravellir We ride north along Fúlakvísl river through a lavafield and enter the beautiful valley of Þjófadalir (Valley of Thiefs). We continue over nice and fast trails toward Hveravellir. Hveravellir is a geothermal area and one of the things not to be missed is to soak in the geothermal hot pool under the midnight sun. Distance: 50km, 8 hours Day 4: Hveravellir - Strangahvísl From Hveravellir we ride north to pass the rivers Blanda, Svartahvísl and Strangahvísl. Nice soft trails in between and amazing view of the Kerlingarfjöll mountain range and Hofsjökull glacier to the east. Distance: 25km, 3-4 hours
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Mystic Trail Duration: 8 days, 7 riding days , 200 km Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced Dates: June 28 - July 5, 2013 Group size: max. 14 travelers Price: € 2.100
This southbound version of the old Kjölur trail takes us through the amazing lavafield of Kjalhraun where the famous outlaw Grettir sterki lived in a cave. The cave lies just beside our trail, so we can have a look at the accomodation of this old hero 1000 years earlier. A bit further we pass by Beinhóll, a place of great mystery and importance to Icelandic folklore, and ride into the spectacular mountain range of Kerlingarfjöll and from there by the Skipholtskrókur area which according to evidence in Botticelli’s “Primavera”, da Vinci’s “Last Supper” and even Dante’s “Divine Comedy” is considered to be the hiding place of the Holy Grail! We continue and ride south along the formidable Laxárgljúfur canyon to our final destination of Kaldbakur farm.
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Day to day itinerary Day 1: Gilhagi - Galtará After a bus ride from Reykjavík to Gilhagi in Skagafjörður, we mount our horses and ride through the beautiful valley of Gilhagadalur. The route is uphill as we are entering the plains of the northern heaths. Our destination for the first night is the well equipped hut of Galtará. Distance: 30km, 4-5 hours Day 2: Galtará - Strangahvísl From Galtará we ride over beautiful heaths with amazing vegetation. To the south we see the glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull framing in the mountain ranges of Kerlingarfjöll, Hrútfell and Bláfell. We arrive at a hut called Strangahvísl where we stay for the night Distance: 20km 3-4 hours Day 3: Strangahvísl - Hveravellir River day! We cross three glacier rivers: Strangahvísl, Svartahvísl and Blanda. These rivers are quite safe to cross but they provide an exciting experience when the horse wade through the heavy stream of opaque glacial water. We end the day at Hveravellir, which is famous for its geothermal area. It is almost mandatory to soak for an hour or two in the geothermal hot pool with a cold drink and the midnight sun above. Distance: 25km 3-4 hours
Day 7: Búðará - Kaldbakur From Búðará we ride southeast towards the formidable Laxárgljúfur canyon, which is up to 200m deep. We ride along the canyon until we arrive at the deserted farm of Hrunakrókur by river Stóra-Laxá. From there we ride to our final destination at Kaldbakur where we say goodbye to the horses and move on to our farewell dinner and celebration Distance: 30km, 5-6 hours
Day 4: Hveravellir - Ásgarður We ride towards Mt. Rjúpnafell and enter the formidable lavafield of Kjalhraun. The trail is marked by spectacular waystones and has been the major route between the north and the south for centuries. The environment is ghostly and many stories of the Icelandic folklore take place here. We pass Grettishellir, where Grettir Ásmundarson, famous for strength and fighting skill , lived for awhile about 1000 years ago. Later we pass Beinhóll (Hill of Bones) where two brothers from Skagafjörður perished in 1780 with their 3 fellow companions, 16 horses and 300 sheep. Their story is one of great mystery and their fate made people abandon tours over Kjölur for over a century. When we have passed through Kjalhraun we ride east into the amazing Kerlingarfjöll mountain range to our destination of Ásgarður Distance: 40km, 6-7 hours
Day 8: Departure After a nice breakfast a bus will pick you up around 12:00 and take you to downtown Reykjavík.
Day 5: Ásgarður - Fosslækur Staying in Ásgarður is always a great experience. The surrounding mountain range was formed in eruptions under the icecap of the last iceage which result in strange shaped mountains with steep slopes. The geothermal activity of the area provides a mystical dimension to the environment. Of course there is a natural geothermal hot pot to soak in, just as in Hveravellir. From Ásgarður we ride south past Skipholtskrókur, yet another mystical place. Evidence from Dante’s “Divine Comedy” and the paintings of da Vinci and Botticelli suggest that the Holy Grail is hidden somewhere in that area! We navigate through the mountain range and end up in a beautiful hut at Fosslækur Distance: 30km, 4 hours Day 6: Fosslækur - Búðará (overnight stay in Svínárnes) From Fosslækur we ride a beautiful path along river Grjótá towards a hut in Svínárnes, where we will stop for lunch and change horses. This will be our place to stay for the night, but we ride another 15K to a pen at Búðará river were we leave the horses. A car will pick us up and bring us to the Svínárnes hut Distance: 35km, 6 hours
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Grand Canyons Duration: 7 days, 6 riding days, 225 km Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced Dates: July 9 -15, 2013 Group size: max. 14 travelers Price: â‚Ź 1.795
On this tour we ride through unusual landscape formed in the furnace of gigantic ice age eruptions and then refined by water. Water coming from melting glaciers, water coming from the purest fountains and water coming from the depths of the geothermal hot springs The water is like a diligent artist that continuously shapes and forms. Relentlessly, it hollows and breaks the hardest rock, files it smooth or just moves it from the highest mountain all the way down to the sea. Over the course of thousands of years the water has been at work in the impressive mountain range of KerlingarfjÜll, situated in the middle of Iceland’s wilderness. It has formed beautiful yet intimidating canyons and provided for the vegetation to add color and texture to the landscape. Not stopping there, the geothermal water of the area has brought colorful minerals from deep down to complete the painting of a picture of immense beauty. But all this is to set the stage for the main actor, the water itself, presented in the form of bulging rivers and quiet creeks, the ghostly steam from the hot springs and particularly the beautiful waterfalls. This is an exceptionally scenic tour where all this is augmented by the breathtaking view of glaciers and mountains up to hundred of kilometers away when our route takes us to the elevation up to 1000m (3000ft).
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Day 5: Leppistungur - Helgaskáli We ride about 15km from Leppistungur to Mikluöldubotnar where we change horses. Somehow the horses are sensing that we are now on the way home and this first stint is commonly ridden at high speed tölt as th e herd is in good spirit. We continue along the slopes of Geldingafell down to Helgaskáli. We are likely to see large flocks of geese running around as this time of year they shedding old flight feathers and growing new ones. The arctic fox is also common in this area. We will enjoy nice trails but this is a reasonably long day. As this is our last day in the mountains we will celebrate that evening. Distance: 40km, 7 - 8 hours Day 6: Helgaskáli - Kaldbakur From Helgaskáli we follow the impressive Laxárgljúfur canyon. Laxárgljúfur is up to 600ft deep and the trail will lead us at times quite close to the canyon. Vertigo anyone? We follow the canyon down to the deserted farm of Hrunakrókur and end the tour at Kaldbakur. On the last stint of the tour we select our favorite horses and ride like the wind, since the horses feel the call of home. Distance: 35km, 6-8 hours
Day to day itinerary Day 1: Kaldbakur - Búðará (overnight stay in Svínárnes hut) After a early pickup in Reykjavik we head to the remote farm of Kaldbakur close to the Laxárgljúfur Canyon, where we meet the horses and the guides that will be with us on the tour. The drive from Reykjavik is just over an hour. We mount our horses and ride across the heaths of Hrunaheiðar to a pen at Búðará river. From there we will go by car about 15km to a mountain hut in Svínárnes where we stay the night. Distance: 35km, 5 hours
Day 7: Departure After a breakfast we head for Reykjavík. We will most certainly take the scenic route and drop by the Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir geothermal area and Þingvellir where Iceland’s parliament was founded in 930.
Day 2: Svínárnes - Fosslækur We drive back to the pen at Búðará and ride very nice trails west of Búrfell mountain with the view of Langjökull glacier to the west. After about a 15km ride, we arrive at the Svínárnes hut where we have our lunchbreak. After lunch, we saddle our horses again and ride along Grjótá river a newly built hut called Fosslækur. This hut is built like the old Icelandic “torfhouses” with the roof and walls covered with grass. Distance: Total 30km, 4-5 hours Day 3: Fosslækur - Ásgarður We ride towards the impressive Kerlingarfjöll mountain range. When approaching, we will see the rock Kerling which is believed to have been a huge female troll that turned to stone when caught by the morning sun. The mountain range is named after her. We will stay the night at Ásgarður. This is going to be very scenic day. Distance: 30km, 5 hours Day 4: Ásgarður - Kisubotnar - Leppistungur This day is the crux of the tour. We ride east to Kisubotnar and along Kisugljúfur canyon to the slopes of Draugafell (The mountain of Ghosts) up to the elevation of 3000 ft. The view from there is absolutely breathtaking. We follow Kerlingargljúfur canyon down to the hut Leppistungur. This area is very remote and is almost like a country within the country. It has even a climate of its own. This is the longest day of the tour, but we will be rewarded with the most spectacular views and an incomparable experience of nature and wilderness. Distance: 50km, 8 -10 hours
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Elves and Outlaws Duration: 15 days, 13 riding days Difficulty: Advanced Dates: August 9 - 17, 2013 Group size: max. 12 travelers Price: € 3.900
Elves and Outlaws is a group of diehard riders that have made numerous visits to Iceland. We know all about herding horses, crossing rivers and taking on every challenge that the Icelandic mountains throw at us. In the Elves and Outlaws tours, the distinction between guides and guests dissolves, we are a group of friends travelling together, with everyone sharing the responsibility of making things work and everyone has to count. The Elves and Outlaws ride long days, stay up late and we like to have fun. We welcome new friends to ride with us but these tours are designed for very advanced riders. Fjallabak, Síðumannaafréttur, Landbrot Last year we rode around the two glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull. This was an exhausting tour over very difficult and rocky terrain. An unforgettable experience but the group is craving for softer trails for 2013 where we can ride fast tölt and enjoy the horses to the fullest. So this year we will start at Kaldbakur farm and ride through the Þjórsárdalur valley into the Fjallabak mountain range. Fjallabak is the area where we do the Sleeping Dragons tour. We ride the northern trail of Fjallabak east towards the Lakagígar crater system that erupted in 1783-1784. Then we ride down to the countryside of Landbrot and continue back into the south trail of Fjallabak and end at the farm Teigur in Fjótshlíð.
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Day to day itinerary
very fragile so we can’t go there on our horses. After exploring Lakagígar we ride east to Miklafell - a short ride on nice trails. Distance: 20km, 4 hours Day 8: Miklafell - Landbrot From Miklafell we ride through the Eldhraun lavafield on nice trails down to Síða and Kirkjubæjarklaustur and continue down to Eysti-Dalbær in Landbrot. Distance: 40km, 6- 7 hours Day 9: Landbrot This will be a resting day for the horses. A lot of fresh green grass to feast on at Eystri Dalbær. We use the opportunity to visit interesting places in the neighborhood like Systrastapi at Kirkjubæjarklaustur or even have a look at the spectatular Reynisdrangar at Vík in Mýrdalur Day 10: Landbrot - Skaftárdalur It is difficult to find better trails anywhere in the world than Landbrotshólar, an old lavafield that is completely covered with grass. We continue to the deserted fram Heiðarsel to change horses and continue on beautiful trails to Skaftárdalur farm where we spend the night.day. Distance: 40km, 6 hours Day 11: Skaftárdalur - Hólaskjól We ride a short day through Skaftártungur to Hólaskjól where we stayed on day 5. Happy hour day! Distance: 20km, 3-4 hours Day 12: Hólaskjól - Hvanngil We start the day by riding into the oasis of Álftakrókur - a truly spectacular place where we have to navigate through a canyon so narrow that only one horse can pass at a time. From there we continue on one of the best riding trails in Iceland, the sands of Mælifellssandur. Mýrdalsjökull, the nest of the powerful volcano Katla, dominates the view most of the day. Katla has erupted approximately every 100 years or so, causing enormous glacial floods as the massive glacier covering its caldera is melted in a few hours. Distance: 50km, 8 hours Day 13: Hvanngil - Þórólfsfell We ride west from Hvanngil over a sandy trail. Most of the mountains in this area were formed in eruptions under the icecap of the last ice age and many have a remarkably perfect conical shape. The contrast in vegetation is stark, almost neon green mountain slopes ending in fields of black sand. We cross Markarfljót river on a bridge and ride alongside a spectacular mountain Einhyrningur until the famous glacier/volcano Eyjafallajökull appears in its greatest majesty. The hut at Þórólfsfell is small and cozy with a great view. Distance: 35km, 6 hours Day 14: Þórólfsfell - Fljótshlíð This day we will ride into civilization again but one with an impressive history. The most famous of the Icelandic Sagas: The Story of Burnt Njáll took place in this area about 1000 years ago. We ride through the fields of the old heros to the farm Teigur to enjoy our farewell dinner. Distance: 25km, 2-3 hours Day 15: Departure Big breakfast and relaxation. The bus will leave at 11:00am and take you to downtown Reykjavik where you will arrive about 2 hours later.
Day 1: Kaldbakur-Fossnes After a early pickup in Reykjavik, the bus will take us to the farm Kaldbakur which is located in a beautiful spot close to the Laxárgljúfur cayon. We start the ride by crossing river Stóra-Laxá at Hrunakrókur and ride east along Skillandsá river and turn south to our destination of the day, the farm Fossnes. Distance: 30km, 6 hours Day 2: Fossnes-Hólaskógur We start on nice trails through Þjórsárdalur, with the famous volcano Hekla dominating the view. We will pass the ancient ruins of the farm Stöng. The ruins have been excavated so that we have an opportunity to see how Icelanders used to live 1100 years ago. From there we will pass through Gjáin, which is supposed to be the most densely populated elf habitat in the world. We stay in a well equipped house for the night. Distance: 35km, 6 hours Day 3: Hólaskógur-Landmannahellir We ride across Þjórsá river with the view of Mt. Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull to the east and progress through the lifeless desert of Dómadalsleið, which Hekla has regularly drowned in ash and lava, but at the same time formed almost unearthly landscape where you can see faces of mythical creatures formed when the lava has assumed and hardened in its various shapes. Distance: 35km, 6 hours Day 4: Landmannahellir-Landmannalaugar We have an early start and cover the short path to Landmannalaugar quickly in order to have some time for hiking and exploration of this remarkable area. Landmannalaugar is considered to be one of the crown jewels of Iceland. Distance: 25km, 4 hours Day 5: Landmannalaugar-Hólaskjól This is a long day but on nice trails. The landscape keeps changing the whole time, covering a sandy riverbed, numerous hills and valleys until we come to the magificient Elgjá area. Eldgjá is the largest volcanic canyon in the world and the first documented eruption in 934 AD was the largest flood basalt in historic times. It contains the beautiful waterfall Ófærufoss. We spend the night in the well equipped facilities of Hólaskjól. Distance: 50km, 7 hours Day 6: Hólaskjól - Hrossatungur From Hólaskjól we head south Skaftártungur valley to the farm Skaftárdalur and ride north along Mt.Leiðólfsfell to a beautiful location in Hrossatungur where we spend the night. This is a pretty long day and the mountain view can hardly be matched.. Distance: 45km, 7 hours Day 7: Hrossatungur - Miklafell We have an early start by driving to Lakagígar, the crater system that erupted in 1783-1784. This eruption caused several cold summers in the whole of Europe due to large amounts of sulphur emittied into the stratoshpere. This caused a famine in Europe and is by some scholars thought to be one of the leading causes of the French Revolution. This eruption caused a major disaster in Iceland where about 20% of Icelanders died and upto 75% of the livestock. The nature around the craters is
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Sleeping Dragons Duration: Part 1: 5 days, 4 riding days - Part 2: 6 days, 5 riding days Total: 11 days, 9 riding days, 280 km Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced Dates: Part 1: August 7-11, Part 2: August 11-17, Full tour August 7-17 Group size: max. 14 travelers Price: Part 1 € 1.195, Part 2 € 1.495, Part 1 + Part 2 € 2.295
The landscape of Iceland, as well as the history of its people, has been shaped by the sheer forces of our numerous volcanoes. These sleeping dragons regularly wake up and spew destruction in the form of all consuming lava, ash and glacial floods. But in this destruction lies the seed of creation. New landscapes are formed; rivers find new paths to the sea and the relentless resilience of life in the form of various grasses and flowers dress this new landscape in clothes that fit. This tour will take you through Fjallabak, the area north of Mýrdalsjökull, which has been under siege of the powerful volcanoes Hekla, Katla and Eyjafjallajökull but also contains many of the most beautiful places in Iceland. This tour is in two parts, The the first part we will ride the south trail of Fjallabak in four days, mostly on even ground. The second part is more challenging due to the landscape, which provides a few demanding uphill/ downhill stints. You may choose to do either of the two parts or both of them.
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Day to day itinerary Part 1: Fjallabak South Day 1: Fljótshlíð - Þórólfsfell After an early pickup in Reykjavik, we drive to Fljótshlíð an area with a wealth of history. Here many of the events in Njál’s Saga, the most famous of Icelandic Sagas, took place. We make a stop at the magnificent Seljalandsfoss waterfall before we continue to meet the horses and the staff. We ride east through the countryside towards Þórsmörk and stay the night in a cozy hut at Þórólfsfell. Distance: 25km, 4 hours
Part 2: Fjallabak North Day 5: Hólaskjól – Landmannalaugar We head towards Landmannalaugar through a landscape of great variety and with breathtaking views of the mountains. Landmannalaugar is one the most precious gems of Icelandic nature, a place not to be missed. Distance: 40 km, 6 hours
Day 2: Þórólfsfell - Einhyrningsflatir (Field of the Unicorn) We ride to a hut in Einhyrningsflatir where the strange looking mountain Einhyrningur (Unicorn) will be displayed to us in the magical light of the August sun. On our way the powerful Eyjafallajökull will tower over us, the volcano that brought flights in Europe to a grinding halt when it erupted a couple of years ago. Distance: 20 km, 3 hours
Day 6: Landmannalaugar – Áfangagil We start by riding a relatively short ride through Dómadalsleið to Landmannahellir. On the way we will be greeted (not too forcefully I hope) by the famous volcano Hekla. We continue through the lifeless desert, which Hekla has regularly drowned in ash and lava, but at the same time formed almost unearthly landscape where you can see faces of mythical creatures formed when the lava has assumed and hardened in its various shapes. Distance: 45 km, 7 hours
Day 3: Einhyrningsflatir – Hvanngil We start the day by riding west of Einhyrningur and cross the Markarfljót river and continue to the plain of Fjallabak. Most of the mountains in this area were formed in eruptions under the icecap of the last ice age and many have a remarkably perfect conical shape. The contrast in vegetation is stark, almost neon green mountain slopes ending in fields of black sand. We stay the night in a mountain hut in Hvanngil. Distance: 30 km, 4-5 hours
Day 7: Áfangagil – Hólaskógur We ride to the west and across Þjórsá river and arrive in well equipped hut in Hólaskógur. The ride is short as the previous two days have been long and demanding. Distance: 18km, 3 hours
Day 4: Hvanngil – Hólaskjól This day sports one of the best riding trails in Iceland, the sands of Mælifellssandur. Mýrdalsjökull, the nest of the powerful volcano Katla, dominates the view most of the day. Katla has erupted approximately every 100 years or so, causing enormous glacial floods as the massive glacier covering its caldera is melted in a few hours. Later that day we progress into the oasis of Álftakrókur and conclude the first part of the tour at the mountain hut in Hólaskjól Distance: 50km, 8 hours
Day 8: Hólaskógur – Helgaskáli We start by riding to one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls: Háifoss. From there we ride on to Helgaskáli hut at the roots of Mt. Geldingafell Distance: 30km, 4 hours Day 9: Helgaskáli – Kjóastaðir From Helgaskáli we ride west over river Leirá and stop at the Laxárgljúfur canyon. Laxárgljúfur is up to 200m deep and immensely beautiful. A sight you won’t forget. Then we head to the west and ride over Hrunaheiðar heath into Tungufellsdalur valley, hoping not to run into any of the herds of wild horses that graze in the heaths (if that happens, things get unnecessarily interesting). We end the the tour at Kjóastaðir where we will have our farewell dinner. Distance: 40km, 7 hours
Day 5: Rest day in Hólaskjól. In between part 1 and part 2 we will have a rest day for the horses at Hólaskjól hut. Those who are staying on for the part 2 will have the opportunity to take an excursion tour of this beautiful area. The bus who brings new participants for part 2 arrives around 12:00. At 13:00 the bus will take those who are leaving to downtown Reykjavík where it will arrive about 3-4 hours later
Day 10: Departure After a breakfast at Kjóastaðir we head for Reykjavík. We will most certainly take the scenic route and drop by the Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir geothermal area and Þingvellir where Iceland’s parliament was founded in 930.
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Useful information Weather conditions: The tours cover a season from the middle of June until the end of October. During this period of time, there can be a great variety in weather conditions and especially in the mountains, where the weather changes surprisingly quickly. The range can extend from warm and sunny summer days (most likely in July and August) to rain and wind and even snow at the end of the season. It is vital to bring suitable clothes to be well equipped for all eventualities. For further information see our recommended packing list below which is based on the propositions of well experienced Iceland riders. Clothing and necessary equipment: All items that you don’t need during the ride in the mountains can be left behind and picked up again at the final destination of the tour. The luggage will be transported by the kitchen van. It is recommended to pack light and use the soft duffle type of bags rather than hard shell suitcases since space in the van is limited. Heavy raingear, a helmet, lunchboxes and drinking bottles will be provided. Beyond that, your bag should contain:
Disinfection of the riding gear: Riding gear (riding boots, riding trousers, jackets, hats, etc.) needs to be washed (40°C) or dry cleaned. Used riding clothes and boots that cannot be placed in a washing machine or dry cleaned should be washed and disinfected as follows:
Beyond that, your bag should contain: - Long functional underwear, both pants and shirt - Two pairs of warm socks (preferably woolen) - Leather riding shoes and a pair of rubber boots - Riding pants (soft shell if available) - A light middle layer sweater or shirt - A warm sweater (preferably woolen or fleece) - A functional warm rain jacket - Warm and water repellent riding gloves - A small med-kit - Dextrose or chocolate for quick energy shots - Set of comfortable clothes to wear at night - Swimsuit and towel - Small pillow and ear plugs
– Rinse thoroughly with detergent – Dry – Spray with 1% VirkonS ® (10g per liter of water) – Store for at least 5 days prior to bringing the clothes in contact with horses in Iceland Saddles, bridles and other used leather gear may not be brought into the country. Please understand that these precautions are necessary because there are no contagious animal diseases in Iceland. Horses are not vaccinated and are therefore susceptible to infectious agents from abroad. What is included: Transfer will be arranged from the international airport of Keflavík to Reykjavík as well as transfer from your hotel in Reykjavik to where the riding starts. At the end of the tour, the transport from where the tour ends to Reykjavik is also included. The flights to and from Iceland and hotel stay in Reykjavík are not included in the tour fees. Breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as drinks to accompany the meals are fully included. Alcohol however is very expensive in Iceland, so you might want to visit the duty free shop at the airport to bring a small stash. Information we require: To find the right tour and later also the best horse for you we will need to know information about age, weight, height and riding experience. Please also let us know about dietary requirements and medical issues in advance. Children: We do accept children but they must be strong competent riders. There is no adjustment in price for children.
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Guiding: At least one qualified professional guide will be present on every tour. He will be accompanied by experienced Icelandic riders when required. All guides are dedicated to the Icelandic nature and passionate horse riders. They will be happy to share their cumulative knowledge about Glacier Rivers, Table Mountains, volcanic activity, the lively birdlife and the Icelandic history and culture with you during the ride. Size of rides: Group size ranges from 9 to 14 riders. We usually calculate to bring 3 horses for every rider. It is also possible to book a custom made tour. For this – please contact me: sib@riding-iceland.com Riding ability: The tours require a relatively high level of physical demands. Please make sure you are fit to join. The minimum riding ability required is mastery of the basic aids and the ability to control the horse at all paces and in the open country. It is a great advantage if you are a proficient rider. We do not accept absolute beginners but would be happy to offer help in finding a more suitable tour with other operators.
Accomodation: We usually spend the last night at a well equipped farm, where we enjoy the luxury of showers and regular beds. During the ride, we often stay in remote mountain huts, where the whole group has to share a room in some cases. It might be comfortable to have ear plugs to be forearmed in case there are snorers among us.
The rides: The mean length of the day is 4-6 hours in the saddle and can sometimes be longer than that. We start shortly after breakfast when all necessary preparations are done. Whenever the terrain allows it, we enjoy the fast but still comfortable Tölt of the Icelandic horse. We take short breaks every hour or two to stretch our muscles and allow the horses to rest a bit. During a long break at midday, we have lunch and change horses before we continue to the destination of the day.
Meals: The day starts with a hearty high energy breakfast (usually including warm porridge). We then pack our lunchboxes for days the car won’t reach us in the wilderness. On days we meet the car we might even get a small hot snack. The dinner is aimed to be one of the highlights of the day where we explore the healthy and fresh Icelandic cuisine.
Terms and conditions: We request a 30% non-refundable confirmation payment upon booking to be able to reserve a seat. When we have received the confirmation payment the seat is secure. The remaining balance is due six weeks before the tour starts. We accept all major credit cards. We reserve the right to alter the route plan in case of events beyond our control, like waterlevel in rivers, condition of riding paths and conservational issues.
Terrain: Iceland’s landscapes offer a wide variety of landscape, ranging from rough rocky mountain passes to smooth and wide heath land, flowery meadows, swamps and stony deserts. The sure footed Icelandic horse is perfectly fit to carry us even through difficult terrain. Our aim is to find the remotest spots that remain beyond the reach of any vehicle or hiker. Other activities: Although our priority is riding, we might reserve some time during the afternoons to visit interesting sites if they are reachable from our camp like geysirs, waterfalls or hot water pools. There is usually no entrance fee for natural wonders in the Icelandic mountains, it might however come in handy to have a small stash of Icelandic Kronas, in case you want to visit swimming pools in the civilized areas. Communication: GSM connectivity is available in most areas of Iceland. Mobile internet is also available in most areas but is sometimes slow. Insurance: All guests must have adequate medical and travel insurance.
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When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes. William Shakespeare, Henry V
Riding Iceland uses:
www.riding-iceland.com sib@riding-iceland.com