Landmannalaugar - Power of Fire and Ice  Tour # E18
Wilderness, mountains, hot springs and a rich array of colors

This tour in South Iceland begins between three glaciers. We ride north from the cornet-shaped mountain Einhyrningur, with its troll's head cliff, and cross the Markarfljót River. We follow an ancient route, where sand, lava, glaciers and high, majestic mountains spread out in front of us. We ride over a 30-km-long sand plain where we see a glacier on one side and the Icelandic highlands on the other. We cross a powerful glacial river and ride over the mountains to the green Ófærudalur Valley.
We continue into the Eldgjá gorge, a 40-km-long volcanic crater. There we see the beautiful waterfall Ófærufoss. We arrive at Landmannalaugar, where we have the opportunity to bathe in a natural hot spring, surrounded by a beautiful mountain chain. We spend one day riding in this very colorful rhyolite mountain area, which is one of Iceland's most outstanding sites. The riding tour comes to a close in the lush district of Fljótshlíd, one of the locales in Icelandic Sagas.

Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Keflavik Airport, Iceland. You take the bus from Keflavik to Reykjavik (BSÍ). Our representative will greet you at 17.30 - 18.00 and arrange further transportation to the farm Vellir near Hveragerdi. In Hveragerdi the tour members will be lodged in guesthouses. The first evening we will dine together, and we will provide details about the next few days.

Day 2: Hveragerdi - Einhyrningur We go by car from Hveragerdi to the farm Eyvindarmúli where the riding tour starts. We ride further east in the area of Fljotshlid, known from Njál's Saga. We cross the river Grímsá and ride to the mountain Einhyrningur. The mountain is shaped like a cornet and has a characteristic cliff resembling a horn in the head of a troll. We spend the night in a mountain hut. 25 km, 5 hours.

Day 3: Einhyrningur - Hvanngil We ride on soft roads with a view in the North of Tindfjallajökull Glacier. We ride to Markarfljót River and over it to Emstrur. From there, we follow the ancient route Fjallabaksleid Sydri, where sand, lava, glacier and high majestic mountains meet us. We come to Hvanngil after crossing Kaldalófsá River . Hvanngil is a newly built mountain hut with all facilities. 30 km, 6 hours.

Day 4: Hvanngil - Lambaskardshólar From Hvanngil we ride over the 30-km-long sand plain Mælifellssandur. On one side, we have Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and, on the other, the Icelandic highland. We cross the powerful Hólmsá River and follow a mountain road to the valley Álftavatnskrókur and on to Ófærudalur Valley , with its exceptional surroundings, shaped in a volcano eruption 1100 years ago. We cross the river Sydri Ófærá before coming to Lambaskardshólar where we spend the night. We also have here the opportunity to take a shower. 45 km, 9 hours.

Day 5: Lambaskardshólar - Landmannalaugar On our way to Landmannalaugar, we visit Eldgjá, a 40-km-long volcano crater, with unique stone formations. Riding into Eldgjá, we find the Ófærufoss Fall, known from the movie "The Raven Flies". The way wends along soft paths over Herdubreidarháls to the Jökuldalir Valleys. We ride into Landmannalaugar where we have the opportunity to bathe in natural hot springs. 35 km, 7 hrs.

Day 6: Landmannalaugar - Landmannahellir We continue through Landmannalaugar. The mountains around the hot springs are extraordinary and beautiful. We then ride to Landmannahellir. On both sides, we have the famous and incredibly colourful mountain chain of Landmannalaugar. 35 km, 7 hrs.

Day 7: Landmannahellir - Hvanngil This day we ride up along Pokahryggir to Reykjadalir. We will also find hot springs and beautiful colours here . We cross Markarfljót, where the river is shallowest. We continue over mountains and through valleys north and east of Laufafell, through Álftavatnsskard to Lake Áltfavatn. The night is spent in Hvanngil. 50 km, 9-10 hrs.

Day 8: Hvanngil - Fljotshlid On the last day, we ride in the same area as the first day, but farther south to the beautiful district Fljotshlid, known from the Saga of Burning Njál. The tour ends at Grímsá River. 25 km, 4-5 hrs.

Day 9: Departure. You take the bus to Keflavik Airport (not included).