It is our pleasure to present again one of our most popular tours from our early years – Fjallabak, with a twist. The ride combines the varied nature of Iceland, geological highlights with great riding tracks that pleases riders and horses alike.
Our ride starts alongside Markarfljót River and up into the mountains. We follow good riding tracks through black ash from Mt. Hekla eruptions and spend a night close to Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. Our ride leads us across the sand desert Mælifellssandur and into lava fields originating from Skaftáreldar, a devastating eruption in the 18th century. Lakagígar craters created an area of dramatic beauty and are just one of the many natural highlights we visit on this tour. Whether you join this tour from east to west or west to east, riding through the amazing Fjallabak landscape is an unforgettable experience.

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.
A ride for Strong intermediate riders. Comfortable and in control at all paces, firm seat, comfortable in the saddle for up to 7 hrs. per day.

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.

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

Monday: Reykjavík – Eyvindarmúli – Einhyrningur
Drive in the morning to Eyvindarmúli Farm in the historical Fljótshlíð area where we meet staff and horses and start our ride alongside the Markarfljót River. We ascend into the mountains to Einhyrningur Mountain Cabin where we spend the night. Enjoy the great view of Eyjafjallajökull Glacier and Thórsmörk Nature Park. (25 km)

Tuesday: Einhyrningur – Emstrur
This day takes us across the mighty Markarfljót River (on a bridge). We ride through the scenic Emstrur area. This sensitive grazing area in the highlands pleases our horses and we spend the night in a mountain cabin. At the cabin we leave the herd behind and continue on individual horses to explore the area some more. We ride into the beautiful Botnar valley and stop at a cave used in earlier times as a shelter for farmers when gathering the sheep. Before heading back to the cabin we stop at a hilltop and enjoy the great view of Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and the notorious Katla crater. (30 km)

Wednesday: Emstrur – Glacier Mýrdalsjökull – Lambaskarðshólar
We follow the Fjallabak Trail across Mælifellssandur, a black sand desert north of Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. Through Álftavatnskrókur grazing area and past Lake Álftavatn we continue our ride and cross several small glacier fed rivers on our way to the cabin at Lambaskarðshólar. This is our longest riding day that features an ever changing landscape. Many of our clients in the old days told us that this is a day they will never forget. We end our ride at Lambaskarðshólar cabin, close to River Skaftá. Hot showers are available tonight. (55 km)

Thursday: Lambaskarðshólar – Skaftárdalur
Our horses rest in the morning and we enjoy the beautiful nature at Lambaskarðshólar. It is only a short walk to Silfurfoss waterfall, also called “little Gullfoss”. After lunch we follow Skaftá River down to Skaftárdalur Farm where we spend the night at the farmhouse. Now we have entered the area that was most effected by the Skaftáreldar eruption in the 18th century, when the river canyons were filled by lava, causing the water to cascade on top of the lava field since. Overnight stay at Skaftárdalur Farm.
(20 km)

Friday: Skaftárdalur – Hrossatungur – Laki – Blágil Cabin
Today we ride back into the highlands again to visit the famous Lakagígar craters. About 135 craters erupted on a huge fissure and they covered the area with lava and the whole country with ashes for about two years. Animals succumbed to hunger or volcanic poisoning, a large part of the human population died and only 38.500 people survived the disaster. We ride in the huge lava fields originating from the devastating eruption and spend the night at Blágil Cabin, only 5 km away from the craters. (40 km)

Saturday: Blágil – Leiðólfsfell – Skaftárdalur
This is our last day of riding and we descent from the mountains down to Skaftárdalur valley again.
We ride east of the lava flow to Mt. Leiðólfsfell, a landmark of the area and continue our ride to Skaftárdalur Farm where we spend another night. (30 km)

Sunbday: Skaftárdalur - Reykjavík
Transfer back to Reykjavík for the last overnight stay. Return to Reykjavík at approx. 15:00.

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

Departure July 22 is operated on a reversed itinerary. On Monday we drive to Farm Skaftárdalur and start the ride to Blágil Cabin past Mt. Leiðólfsfell.

Other Info
Meeting: Reykjavík
Airport: Keflavík
Transfer: Keflavík airport

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland enjoys a cool temperate ocean climate: cool in summer and fairly mild in winter. However, the weather can change quickly, and you should be prepared for the unexpected.

Average temperatures in Reykjavik:
January        35 F (1.6 C)
April            42 F (6 C)
July              56 F (13.3 C)
October       44 F (7 C)

You can find the weather forecast in English on www.vedur.is/english.

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