Horseback riding in West, Iceland

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- Golden Highlights of the South
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Horseback riding vacations in Iceland, West

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Equestrian tours in Iceland, West
Golden Highlights of the South


Itinerary for Golden Highlights of the South




Sample itinerary- subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
The tour starts in the evening. Tour members who arrive the same day to Iceland should take the “Flybus” from the airport to BSÍ final bus stop in Reykjavík (not included). We will greet you at the bus station or at your hotel/ guesthouse in Reykjavik for 5:30 pm and drive you to our farm Vellir near Hveragerði. There you will be lodged at our guesthouse. We will get to know each other during the dinner and the day will end with a detailed description of the tour.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at the Guesthouse

Day 2: Hveragerði to Kolvidarhóll
We start the day by getting to know the horses in the paddock. After lunch, we follow the old route from Hveragerdi to Hellisheidi. When we reach the moor, we continue to the Hengill volcano along the Kristnitökuhraun lava field. This lava came from the eruption of Hengill in the year 1000, the same year Iceland officially became Christian. The old folktales say that the eruption was the revenge of the old gods Thór, Ódinn and Freyr. We continue on the track between lava and hills (“milli hrauns og hlidar”), down to Kolvidarhóll, where people have stopped to rest for hundreds of years. The night will be spent at the farm.
Riding 21 km ( approx. 4 hrs.)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Kolvidarhóll


Day 3: Kolvidarhóll to Heiðarbær
We continue our ride North, below the Húsmúli and Hengill mountains. We dismount and lead the horses to Marardalur (Valley of Horses). We ride through Dyrfjöll (Door mountains) and alongside Sköflungur. When we reach the mountaintop, we have a view over Lake Thingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland. After arriving near Heiðarbær, we will end the day with the sightsseeing at the old Althing, aka Thingvellir (Old Icelandic Parliament). From here, it is not far to Skógarhólar, where we spend the night in a mountain hut. Iceland’s national horse competition Landsmot was held in Skógarhólar until 1978.
Riding 38 km (approx. 6-7 hrs.)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Heiðarbær Mountain Hut


Day 4: Skógarhólar to Laugarvatn
Today, we ride across the Thingvellir National Park. From Gjábakki we have an exceptional view over the park, lake Thingvallavatn and the stunning volcanic landscape around it. This is the area where the North American and European continental plates meet. The plates are drifting apart about 2 cm per year on average, which has created a beautiful valley.
We cross Lyngdalsheidi Moor, and stop at the Laugarvatnshellir lava caves before we finish the day’s ride outside the village of Laugarvatn, named after the nearby lake. The lake is heated by underwater hot springs.
From there, we are transferred to Guesthouse Myrkholt and then we go on a sightseeing tour to the famous “golden waterfall” Gullfoss, and to the Geysir hot spring area in Haukadalur.
Riding 35 km ( approx. 6-7 hrs.)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Guesthouse Myrkholt


Day 5: Myrkholt to Helgaskáli
From Myrkholt, we continue up towards the Icelandic highlands, leaving the inhabited farmlands. On our way into the desert-like landscape, we have a magnificent view over the glacial river Hvítá (“white river”), and we can see how the river, over hundreds of years, has shaped the mountain, flowing deeper and deeper into it. We spend the night in a mountain hut called Helgaskáli beside the Litla-Laxá River.
Riding 35 km ( approx. 6-7 hrs.)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Helgaskáli Mountain Hut


Day 6: Helgaskáli to Hólaskógar
We continue riding through the fascinating, wide landscape in the highlands where we can actually listen to the silence until we reach Háifoss, which is the second highest waterfall in Iceland (122 meters). Our destination for today is the Hólaskógar hut, which is located in a very special and varied environment.
Riding 20 km (approx. 4 hrs.)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Hólaskógar Mountain Hut


Day 7: Hólaskógur to Fellsmúli
The tour continues along Iceland’s longest river: Thjórsá. We pass the Mt. Búrfell, which, in the old days, was the home of trolls, and Tröllkonuhlaup (the place where a troll woman jumped over the river). After some kilometres along the river, we get a magnificent view over Thjófafoss (the Waterfall of the Thieves), about which many stories are told. We can see the Mt. Hekla volcano when we leave the horses at the Fellsmúli Farm. We spend the night at the old community center of Brúarlundur.
Riding 45 km (approx. 8 hrs.)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Brúarlundur Community Center


Day 8: Ride along the Eystri-Rangá River
The whole day, we have the Hekla volcano in view. Hekla volcano is Iceland’s most active volcano and was once called the entrance to hell. We ride in a loop, leaving the horses at Fellsmúli. Drop off in Reykjavik and end of tour.
Riding 24 km ( approx. 4 hrs.)
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

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Golden Highlights of the South
Tour Code: IT-ICRT-E13
8 days / 7 nights
Dates : June to August

Trip Rating :
Difficulty : Riding Level
Riding Level Explained
ABeginner
Beginner A rider who has limited experience, is unable to post the trot and does not canter.
BNovice
Novice A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, capable of applying basic aids, comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length posting trots, and short canters.
CIntermediate
Intermediate A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control at all paces (including posting trots, two point canters and gallops), but does not ride regularly.
D Strong Intermediate
Strong Intermediate An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 6 hours per day.
EAdvanced
All of the above, plus an independent seat, soft hands, and capable of handlinga spirited horse in open country.
Lodging: Basic
Lodging Level Explained
   
= Facilities in lodges, estancias, haciendas, resorts, etc.
   
Basic lodging - some with shared bathroom facilities, usually no AC or room service.
Regular standard room - usually with private bath.
 Accommodations with superior comforts.
   
 = Trips with nights in tent camps. Sometimes the first and last night are in hotels.
   
Basic tent camping - everyone helps out with camp chores.
Regular standard with some camp amenities and camp cook.
Camping facilities with superior comforts like camp shower, bathroom facility..
   
 = Trips that combine nights in hotels and camping.
   
Basic accommodation and basic camping facilities can be expected.
Regular standard with some nicer amenities.
Only assigned to hotel and camping facilities with superior comforts.

Online Reservation

Check here for details and availability
Season Tour Dates  Min / MaxReserve
A 2024 06/03 - 06/10 8d / 7n 8 day trip 6 /18 Sold Out
A 2024 07/02 - 07/09 8d / 7n 8 day trip 6 /18 Sold Out
A 2024 08/15 - 08/22 8d / 7n 8 day trip 6 /18 Reserve
A 2024 08/24 - 08/31 8d / 7n 8 day trip 6 /18 Reserve
Introduction
Day to Day Itinerary
Rates | Dates
Accommodation
Tack: Icelandic
Horses: Icelandic Horses
Pace: Moderate with long tolts. 4-9 hrs (20 ...

Airport: Keflavik Airport
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