The Snæfellsnes Peninsula, recently designated a national park, is named after the glacier covered cone volcano Snæfellsjökull, one of the most recognized sights in Iceland. Its mystic atmosphere has been described in words and written language historically and became famous through Jules Verne´s novel “A Journey to the Centre of the Earth”! The area is home to elves and trolls and many of the famous Icelandic Sagas originate from this spectacular area. Rich bird life attracts visitors from all over the world. Snæfellsnes itself is often called “Iceland in a nutshell” because of its extreme diversity of landscape.

Ride through mighty lava fields, craters and ashes of ancient eruptions and enjoy wide-open stretches of light-coloured sand on the beaches where only the tide sets a limit to the freedom of horses and riders. Hítardalur valley surprises with multi-coloured mountains. Majestic Snæfellsjökull rises ahead of you when you traverse the beach on a traditional trail only known by the locals. Crater Eldborg is a landmark, you see the light sand turn black once you reach its lava field. On your last riding day you follow the outskirts of the lava flow along the shore before you return the horses back to the farm.

Your hosts and our partners on this tour for 20 years, Sigurður (Siggi) and Ólöf are proud of their large selection of well trained horses. Whether you like the easy going horse or a more spirited one, you can be sure to find the right horses to suit your liking. Learning the tölt, the special gait of the Icelandic horse, is made easy for you since you follow good quality riding tracks on even land and the smooth sands of the beach makes this tour a delight for both horses and riders.

Siggi and Ólöf’s farm Stóri-Kálfalækur offers cozy rooms and a warm outdoor tub for you to relax in after an exciting riding day. Accommodation at the farm is in made up beds in shared rooms. Two nights of the tour are spent at different locations in sleeping bag accommodation. Enjoy the luxury of not having to pack and unpack every day, yet experience a challenging ride herding free running horses alongside.

You will be staying in small guest houses or mountain huts, or in school dormitories in sleeping bags.

Accommodation in Reykjavík includes breakfast only, not lunch and dinner. At the welcome meeting, a traditional Icelandic stew is served on the arrival day.

Vegetarian meals are available upon request. During the ride all meals are provided. Our menu consists of a large breakfast and traditional Icelandic meals (fish or lamb). Vegetarian meals are available if requested in advance. All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table.

A very special experience seldom to be experienced anywhere else but in Iceland - except maybe on some of our horse drives. On this ride you will be riding each day with a free running herd of horses. You may switch horses from time to time.

The Icelandic Horse
The origin of the horse in Iceland is exactly the same as the arrival of the first settlers from Scandinavia in the ninth century. Clearly, the horse was the catalyst that allowed the settlement of Iceland to go forward and prosper. Since no other breed of horse has ever been imported to Iceland, this special animal is a pure-bred "Viking Horse".
The horse was used for everything. They worked tilling the farmlands from dawn to dusk and provided transportation between the farms as they were settled. They went on scouting expeditions into this new territory in search of everything from water to grazing areas. Strong and sure footed, the Icelandic horse adjusted and adapted to this new land certainly as fast and most likely faster than the new settlers.
Viking battles were fought on horseback and the animal quickly adjusted to any situation that was presented to it. Is it any wonder that many of the slain Vikings warriors of the many battles in earlier times were often buried with their horses as a sign of honor and respect.
The Icelandic horse has many characteristics unique unto itself. Perhaps the most noticeable would be its intermediate size and the mane of shaggy hair. The five gaits of the horse are also one of the special features that sets it apart form all other horses. These gaits are the fetgangur, the walk or step, the brokk or trot, the tölt, which is a faster type of walk, the skeið or the pace and the stökk, or gallop.
On large farm areas, perimeter fences keep in most of the horses, but many are also simply allowed to run free. This most naturally accounts for the spirited nature of the animal. All of them seem to adapt to the personality of their owner. It is essential to establish a trust between the Icelandic horse and the rider. Doing so literally guarantees a friend for life. The passion and spirit of the Icelandic horse is never broken only brought under control. As a result, the Icelandic pure-bred horse remains one the world's most unique animals to this day.

Itinerary
Saturday: Arrival in Iceland - Keflavík Airport - Reykjavík
Transfer from Keflavík Airport to a guesthouse in Reykjavík. At 17:30 we invite you to a Welcome Meeting including traditional Icelandic soup. Receive details of your tour and meet your fellow riders.

Sunday: Reykjavík – Stóri-Kálfalækur – Grímsstaðir
Morning transfer to Stóri-Kálfalækur Farm, where horses and staff are waiting for us. After an introduction to the Icelandic horse and its special gaits we start our ride into the mountains through fertile farmlands and along good riding tracks to Grímsstaðir Farm with its proud history dating back to medieval times. Overnight at Stóri-Kálfalækur in made up beds, Showers and a hot tub on site. (5 - 6 hours)

Monday: Grímsstaðir – Hítarhólmur
The ride today leads through multi-coloured mountains and along low bushy hillsides. Hítardalur is a geological paradise. Vast lava fields, soft tracks through ashes and the high palagonite (tuff) mountains give you the impression of taking a ride on the moon! We leave the horses at the Hítarhólmur mountain and drive back to Stóri-Kálfalækur, where the hot tub is waiting. (5 - 6 hours)

Tuesday: Hítarhólmur – Kolviðarnes – Laugagerði Schoolhouse
We continue our ride through this mystical volcanic valley. We stop at the sheep gathering place Hítardalsrétt and if you take a good look you can see the troll woman Hít who was turned into stone returning late from a date. We proceed west across Hítará River and travel trough an area well known as the hideout of Iceland’s most famous outlaw, Grettir. At Kolviðarnes Farm we leave the horses and spend the night at Laugagerði Schoolhouse where a swimming pool heated with geothermal water awaits us. (7 - 8 hours)

Wednesday: Laugagerði Schoolhouse – Traðir – Hof Farm
After rejoining the horses we start our beach ride on Löngufjörur, the famous horse trail on the seashores of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. View majestic Snæfellsjökull Glacier ahead of you and feel the horses’ excitement and take part in their joy on this extraordinary trail released by the tide. Our horses spend the night at Traðir Farm while we stay at Hof Farm with a geothermal hot tub on site. (6 - 7 hours)

Optional (available at an extra charge):
Drive along the coast towards the romantic fishing villages of Arnastapi and Hellnar. Here we are right underneath magical Mt. Snæfellsjökull. Visit the Information center of the Snæfellsnes National Park and learn about its mysterious powers. View beautiful bird cliffs along the shore, shaped by powerful waves. Meet giant Bárður Snæfellsás and hear about historic celebrities like the far travelled Guðríður Þorbjarnadóttir and mass murderer Axlar Björn! (Price per person: ISK 3.500)

Thursday: Hof – Traðir – Kolviðarnes – Stóri-Kálfalækur
Another day´s ride on the yellow coloured, sandy beach. Direction changes and we head back towards mighty Eldborgarhraun lava field. An unique experience for everyone with lava-fields and mountains on one side of the trail and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. We leave the horses at Kolviðarnes Farm and drive to Stóri-Kálfalækur, where we spend the last two nights. (6 – 7 hours)

Friday: Kolviðarnes – Stóri-Kálfalækur Farm
Last day on the beach and yet a new experience. The sand turns black as we follow the outline of Eldborgarhraun lava field. Imagine the black lava still on the move on your way back to dry land. The ride ends at Stóri-Kálfalækur Farm, where we enjoy Ólöf’s farewell dinner. (5 – 6 hours)

Saturday: Stóri-Kálfalækur – Reykjavík
Transfer back to Reykjavík for an overnight stay in a guesthouse. Approx. arrival in Reykjavík at 11:00.

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

**Subject to change

***Please note that the beach ride is determined by the tide. Therefore the riding can start at any hour of the day and even last into the night. Don't worry though, the nights are bright at this time of the year.

Other Info
Meeting: Keflavik Airport
Airport: Keflavik Airport
Transfer: Keflavik Airport

From the end of May to the end of August it's the time of the midnight sun, of the never-dark nights. Iceland is famous for its thermal pools, and you can count on never being more than a few nights away from their warmth and relaxation.

You should be ready for all kinds of weather as it 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.

Magical Snaefellsnes

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