Transfer Option:

2009 Itinerary

Day 1 Saturday: In the late afternoon, transfer to our farmhouse Grýtubakki. We will have dinner together and talk about the week’s program. Overnight at Grýtubakki.

Day 2 Sunday: After a substantial breakfast we meet our horses and saddle up. After some short instructions, off we go! Our first ride goes up the mountains where we have a wonderful view over one of the longest fjords of Iceland – Eyjafjörður. After lunch, we ride around the mountain Höfði and enjoy the views out to sea and the island of Hrísey, Iceland’s second biggest island. We ride close to the hill of the ravens “Hrafnabjörg”, beneath us is the valley of the cows – we will tell you more about it! Coffee and cakes await us at Grýtubakki. Dinner and overnight. About 6 riding hours.

 Day 3 Monday: After breakfast we saddle up for a day tour. We will ride to Grenivik, a little fishing village close to our farmhouse. From Grenivik we ride along the coast of Látrarströnd. The North Sea greets us! We ride above steep cliffs, through luxurious meadows, clear brooks and impressive valleys. We will have our lunch close to the ruins of the farmhouse Svínarnes. In this area the farmer’s young horses spend the summer- they are very curious and will probably have a look at our sandwiches! We take the same way back to the farm. Dinner and overnight at Grýtubakki. 5 riding hours.

 Day 4 Tuesday: Today we prepare for a two-day excursion. We ride through the valley of Fnjóská. The river Fnjóská is the longest freshwater river in Iceland. Approximately 10, 000 years ago there was a glacial lake in this valley. The shore of this lake is still visible on the slopes of the mountains. We cross the river and ride to Laufàs, the famous turf houses. Here we will have lunch and visit the museum to learn about how life was in the past. After lunch we ride along the river, through the woods until we reach the farmhouse Hjarðarholt where we stay overnight. Close to this farmhouse is the church of Draflastaðir, a historical place. You are welcome to visit it. About 5 hours in saddle.

Day 5 Wednesday: After breakfast we catch the horses and ride back home on higher terrain along the slopes of Draflastadarfjall. Today we have beautiful views over the fjord Eyjafjörður, where the river Fnjóskà flows into the sea. On our way home we ride to Helguholl, the holy hill. People in the area say that under the hill there is an old Viking ship full of gold. If anyone tried to dig up the gold, all the churches on the hill will burn down. Nobody has tried to dig for the gold…not yet! Coffee and cakes will be ready for you at Grýtubakki. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6 Thursday:  Today we will ride up the mountains into the area of Fjörður. Fjörður is a mysterious and deserted countryside. It has been closed off from the rest of the world for 40 years. Only about 4000 sheep spend the summer here every year, together with the trolls and elves. Names like Trölladalur, the valley of the trolls and Álfaborgir, the cities of the elves remind us of the existence of these invisible beings. From the peak of Leirdalsheiði there are wonderful views over the whole of Eyjafjörður fjord, the fishing village Grenivík and the surrounding farms. We ride through green valleys, along rushing rivers and over stony paths. Extinct volcanoes, silent glaciers and hidden waterfalls accompany us. At the highest point a tremendous view out to the polar sea awaits us. At the mountain hut of Gil we will have our lunch break, enjoying the silence of nature which is only interrupted by the roaring waters of river Vestur-Gilsá. In the late afternoon we will be back at Grýtubakki. Dinner and overnight. About 6 hours in saddle.

Day 7 Friday: The horses enjoy their rest day and we drive by bus to the famous pearls of the North in the Myvatn area. On the way to the lake, we have a look at the historic waterfall of Goðafoss. Then we drive on and visit the bubbling mud pools of Námaskarð, the well-known pseudo craters of Skútustaðir and the bizarre lava formations of Dimmuborgir. A day full of impressive scenery! Dinner and overnight at Grýtubakki.

Day 8 Saturday: After breakfast we say good-bye.

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.

At Grytubakki farmhouse there are sleeping bag accommodations in 2 - 4 bed rooms.
During the rides we sleep at farmhouses, in mountain huts, schools, community centres and tents. Usually our guests sleep in 2 or more bed rooms and sometimes everybody sleeps in the same big hall on mattresses.

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.