Transfer and Other Options:

Saturday: Arrival in Iceland – Keflavík Airport – Reykjavík
Transfer from Keflavík Airport to a guesthouse in Reykjavík. We invite you to a Welcome Meeting including traditional Icelandic soup. Receive details of your tour and meet your fellow riders.

Sunday: Reykjavík – Thingvellir – Geysir – Gullfoss – Kjóastaðir Farm
We drive to Kjóastaðir Farm, visiting the historical site Thingvellir and the well-known Geysir Hot Spring Area on our way. The ride starts off towards the majestic glacier Langjökull onto Haukadalsheiði heath. We leave the horses at Sandá River for the night. On our way back to Kjóastaðir Farm we stop at the beautiful Gullfoss waterfall. The night is spend in summer cottages where two rooms share a bathroom unit. (30 km)

Monday: Kjóastaðir – Sandá – Árbúðir Mountain Cabin
Our ride continues along the slopes of Mt. Bláfell. This area was roamed by outlaws in the old days. To be on the save side you might want to take a little stone along today as a special token for safety during the ride. You might need it later today... We cross River Hvítá and enjoy the view to the glacier fed lake Hvítárvatn with its floating icebergs. Tonight we stay at Árbúðir, situated right at the banks of river Svartá. (35 km)

Optional (available at an extra charge): Boat trip on Hvítárvatn glacier lake
Enjoy the white ice field of Langjökull glacier up-close. We drive to a floating pier and board a boat that will take us on a scenic sail around the lake. A short stop is made at the glacier and we get to walk along the shore and touch the mighty ice field before sailing back. While sailing and on land a tour guide takes care of our safety and informs us about the area.
Bring with you: Warm clothes and good hiking shoes. Total duration, approx. 2,5 hrs.
Price per person ISK 7.000

Tuesday: Árbúðir – Hveravellir Mountain Cabin
We ride along the glacier fed river Fúlakvísl through huge rugged lava fields of Kjalhraun that the sure footed Icelandic horses master with such bravery. During the ride we enjoy splendid views of the glacier Langjökull. We leave the herd for a couple of hours to enter into the world of Thjófadalir, or Valley of Thieves, a grassy valley surrounded by high mountains, a true oasis in the wilderness. On to Hveravellir, a unique geothermal area between Hofsjökull and Langjökull glaciers. A natural hot pool invites us to a deserved relaxing bath. (45 km)

Wednesday: Hveravellir – Strangakvísl Mountain Cabin
This day will be a very special one, since we cross the large glacial rivers, Blanda, Svartakvísl and Strangakvísl on our way to the North. No need to worry, most Icelanders would rather choose a trusted Icelandic horse than a vehicle to cross a river! The location of tonight's mountain cabin offers great views of the big glaciers behind you and towards the high mountains of the North ahead of you. Up to mid July the sun hardly sets in this part of the country. (30 km)

Thursday: Strangakvísl – Galtará Mountain Cabin
Today it is easy to see that we follow a historical route, since large man made stone cones accompany us through a desert of sand and stones. All the way back to the early settlement of Iceland, people travelled on horseback on exactly the same trails as we do today. Imagine beeing part of a chieftains family, all dressed up and riding the best horses on this historical route. From the mountain cabin Galtará we can overlook the big man made lake Blönduvatn. In August this is a perfect spot for berry picking! (25 km)

Friday: Galtará – Aðalmannsvatn – Lauftún Holiday Farm
We descend past beautiful Lake Aðalmannsvatn towards the fertile Mælifellsdalur valley in the Skagafjörður area. Enjoy endless herds of horses grazing on striking hills. In good weather conditions you can see all the way to the Atlantic Ocean at the North coast. Good riding tracks give you the opportunity to enjoy a fast ride in the soft tölt! We end the day at Lauftún Holiday Farm with a hot pot heated with geothermal water. (45 km)

Saturday: Lauftún Holiday Farm – Reykjavík
Transfer back to Reykjavík for the last overnight stay. Approx. return to Reykjavík at 14:00.

Sunday: Departure from Iceland – Reykjavík – Keflavík Airport
Transfer by bus to Keflavík Airport in time for the return flight home.

  Some of our departures are operated in reverse order from the North to South.

     Subject to changes

As its name suggests, Iceland is cold, but not as cold as might be expected because of the passing warm waters of the Gulf Stream, which regulate the climate. The summer temperatures in Reykjavík range from 41°F (5°C) at night to as high as 77°F (25°C) during the day. The average January temperature is 31°F (-0.5°C). The south is the wettest part of the country, but snow is rare. Coastal areas tend to experience winter gales and are generally windy. During the summer months there is almost continuous daylight; early spring and late autumn feature long twilights. From mid-November until the end of January, in the darkness of winter, the opposite is true, with the country only experiencing a few hours of daylight each day. The Northern Lights are often visible in autumn and early winter.

Despite its extreme north Atlantic situation, Reykjavik's climate is not as cold as might be expected, its average mid-winter temperatures being no lower than those in New York City. This is because the Icelandic coastal weather is tempered by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The city's coastal location does, however, also mean it is prone to wind, and gales are common in winter. Reykjavik is also a very wet city, having on average 213 rainy days out of the year, with spring having slightly more sunny days.

You should be ready for all kinds of weather as Icelandic weather can change very quickly.
We provide you with good rain-clothes, a riding helmet and a sleeping bag.
Also a saddle bag (where you can keep the picnic lunch, a small camera, extra pair of gloves etc.).
Normal street-clothes are not necessary except for your stay in Reykjavík before or after the tour.
We recommend not too much luggage on the tour and you can leave extra luggage at the guesthouse if you want to.

Cameras:  
We recommend to bring a small camera that can be taken in a pocket, a waist/hip bag or in the saddle bag.
Large camera equipment we can not allow on the horses for security reasons. Tours are operated with a free running herd - at speed of tölt or trot for most of the day. We take breaks to relax the horses and then it is possible to take pictures. While on the horse taking pictures is rather difficult since the horses are constantly moving. Because of the herd instinct it is not possible to stop an individual horse, they all will follow each other.
You can leave larger Digital SLR with your luggage at the farm or put it in their luggage that will be transferred to the new accommodation.
  

Accommodation on this ride is in rustic mountain cabins in the middle of Iceland’s untamed nature. At Hveravellir, a geothermal area in the highlands, we can relax in a long hot bath under the Midnight Sun! If you want to see as much as possible of the Icelandic highland, this tour, which has been in operation since 1982, might be the perfect choice for you.

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden who are only required to produce national identity cards issued by the competent authorities in their countries of origin.
Passport Note
Iceland is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas
Not required by all nationals of referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.
2. EU nationals staying longer than 90 days will need to apply for a residence permit from the directorate of immigration in Iceland.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
A stay in another Schengen-Zone country counts as the same as a stay in Iceland.