Iceland
Small groups, quality horses and expert guides!
Riding in Iceland has in many ways turned in to an industry, with a large- scale focus, mix between beginners and experienced rides, horses that cannot tolt and so called guides from other countries with no local knowledge.
We are so happy that we have found Robert and Eija, a professional yo couple who more or less were born on horseback. Both chose the Icelandic horse as career. Growing up they educated, bred and competed. They are lucky to have their base at Roberts familys farm that has 300 hectares of land where they breed horses and milk cows. The farm is located close to the vulcano Helka with its lava beaches, water falls, and endless of unspoilt nature.
At the farm they have about 70 horses, around 20 are used for the trailrides. There is also one stallion. One of the reasons that Robert wanted to start with trails rides is that he did not want to sell his nice horses, he wanted to keep them so that he could make sure that they were well taken care of nad could keep their good tolt. These horses can be compared to private owned competition horses. The passion shines through when talking to Robert and Eija about their horses and trail rides in this magical nature. Since childhood they have sepnt weekends and holidays on horseback in different cabins without any modern facilities and that has given them nature and horse experiences that has to be experienced.
As a rider from another country, it is incredibly enriching and rewarding to get to know this genuine Icelandic horse culture. On the rides there are always a herd of wild horses, even on the shorter rides, which is also unique. So if you want to take advantage of the best that Iceland can offer regarding high quality horses, nature and hosting, the choice is easy. Ride with Robert and Eija.
Accommodation & food
On the trailride you will stay the first and last night at the horsefarm. There you will stay in twin rooms with bathroom outside the room, the rest of the nights you will stay in the familys cabin. On the mini trailride you will spend all nights in the familys cabin. It is so quiet and peaceful and extremely beautiful with the river right next to you and the mountains in the background. The accommodation is basic in bunkbeds in the big cabin. There is a kitchen and bathroom in the house. The shower is in another building. On the winter ride you stay all nights at the horsefarm.
Every day starts with a steady breakfast and after that you make your won lunchpack that you bring in the saddlebag. Dinner is cooked and served in the cabin in the evening, it is served with wine for those who wants that.
Accommodation at the horsefarm the first and last night of the trail ride
Accommodation for the mini trail ride and part of the trail ride
Robert and Eija
Horses
At the farm they have abouit 70 horses, around 20 of them are used for the rides. They also have one stallion. This riding center is different from others, you get to ride well educated horses of high quality, that is it is no regular trail horses. One of the reasons that Robert wanted to start with trails rides is that he did not want to sell his nice horses, he wanted to keep them so that he could make sure that they were well taken care of nad could keep their good tolt. These horses can be compared to private owned competition horses.
You will ride a horse that suits your level of riding. All riders must know how to handle a horse in all gaits, these rides are for experienced riders. Normally you ride 5-10 km on one horse, after that there is a short break and you change to another horse. This way the horses will stay happy and energetic. The flock of wild horses will accompany you every day except day 3 on the short ride. Each rider rides 2-3 horses per day. Given the high quality of the horses, it is a pleasure!
Travel Information
Ability description: Trail ride level 2-3
Included in the price: :
Hekla mini trail: 3 nights, 3 days riding, fullboard incl. wine with dinner, return transfer from Reykjavik bus station
Hekla trail ride: 6 nights, 5 days riding, fullboard incl. wine with dinner, return transfer from Reykjavik bus station
Tolt & sightseeing: 4 nights, 3 days riding, fullboard incl. wine with dinner, return transfer from Reykjavik bus station
Not included: Flight, bus to Reykjavik bus station
Travel: Fly to Iceland, Keflavik
Arrival: Pick up at 16.00 (3- day trails) or 17.00 (week rides) at Reykjaviks bus station on arrival day.
Season: Specific dates
Single room: No single rooms are available
Group size: Min. 4 and max. 8. On the winter ride min. 2 and max 4.
Currency: Icelandic crown (ISK).
Credit card: Not accepted at the riding center, only cash
Tip: Not expected but appreciated
Wifi: At the farm yes, in the cabin no
Electricity jack: Standard EU 2 plug
Pool: No
Misc.:
Riding equipment to borrow: Helmet, raingear
Other equipment to borrow: Sleeping bag, pillow, towel
If you bring your own riding equipment it has to be disinfected. Do not bring riding gloves.
Special diet: Inform when booking.
Hekla Trail Ride
7 days: 6 nights / 5 riding days / ca. 130 km
Preliminary day-by-day program
DAY 1 / Arrival:
We pick our guests up in Reykjavik BSI, bus station at 17:00 and drive to our farm (about 1,5 hrs). We will have a welcoming dinner where we get to know each other and go through the program of your riding holiday.
Accommodation: Double room with shared bathroom and other facilities
DAY 2 / Horse farm - Gunnarsholt (20 km):
After breakfast we head to the horse stable where we saddle up and prepare for the tour. We start in the paddock to get to know the horses and have basic riding instructions. Then off we go! We ride over a bridge and past a cultural place called Oddi á Rangárvöllum. Finally we arrive in Gunnarsholt, where our horses will be staying until the next morning.
Accommodation: Double room with shared bathroom and other facilities
DAY 3 / Gunnarsholt - Foss (20 km):
From Gunnarsholt we head towards the highlands. Riding on ancient viking paths surrounded by old lava and purple lupin fields. Eventually we follow a gravel road up to our mountain cottage at Foss where we spend the night by the riverside of Eystri-Rangá.
Accommodation: Mountain cottage
DAY 4 / Foss - Hungurfit (25 km):
Today we keep on going higher to the mountains. Now we are quite close to the volcano Hekla, explaining the extensive lava fields which our guests have sometimes compared to Mordor from Lord Of The Rings! We follow Eystri-Rangá river until we finally reach Hungurfit, placed right north of Tindfjallajökull glacier. Our horses spend the night at Hungurfit but we drive back to Foss.
Accommodation: Mountain cottage
DAY 5 / Hungurfit - Foss (25 km):
We meet our horses up at Hungurfit again and head back, going a slightly different way down. If the sky is clear, we’ll get a great view over the lowlands. When we arrive in Foss, our last highland dinner will be served; Icelandic lamb meat from our own farm! We spend the night enjoying the fresh breeze and the sound of the river flowing by.
Accommodation: Mountain cottage
DAY 6 / Foss - farm (40 km):
Time to leave Foss and cross the river Eystri-Rangá. You will really feel the spirits of the horses who know they are on the way back home! Tölting on a joyful horse, on soft grounds, in their natural environment surrounded by mountains and glaciers! You’ll feel invincible! We follow an ancient route down along the river Fiská, passing the waterfall Tungufoss before we get all the way down to the lowlands. We ride through the small town Hvolsvöllur, cross the river Þverá until we finally arrive back in our farm where dinner will be served.
Accommodation: Double room with a shared bathroom and other facilities
DAY 7 / Departure:
Back to reality. After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye and leave the farm. You will be back in Reykjavik around 13:00.
Hekla Mini Trail
Hekla mini trail, 3 nights, 3 days riding, ca 60 km
Escape civilization, spend three nights in a remote mountain cottage located by the roots of Mt. Þríhyrningur the ‘Three Peaks Mountain’. During the day you’ll discover the beautiful area of Rangárvellir south of Mt. Hekla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. Riding the Icelandic horse in its natural environment with a herd of free running horses, on soft grassy paths, through rough lava fields, crossing rivers, surrounded by mountains and glaciers is an experience that can never be forgotten.
Preliminary day-by-day program
DAY 1 / Arrival:
We pick our guests up in Reykjavik BSI, bus station at 16:00 and drive directly to our mountain cottage at Foss (about 2 hrs). We will have a welcoming dinner where we get to know each other and go through the program of your riding holiday.
Accommodation: Mountain cottage
DAY 2 / Markaskarð – Foss (15 km):
After breakfast, we drive down to a farm called Markaskarð where you’ll meet the horses and saddle up. On the way up to the highlands we ride along the river Fiská and past a waterfall called Tungufoss. Soon we will stop and rest by the remains of the farm Reynifell. There we eat some lunch before we arrive to our mountain paradise at Foss.
Accommodation: Mountain cottage
DAY 3 / Foss exclusive (total 30 km):
Today we will go for two riding tours around the amazing area of Foss, one before lunch and another one in the afternoon. Riding on soft grassy paths, through lava fields, crossing rivers, looking for caves and waterfalls and enjoying the stunning scenery in the area of Hekla, one of Iceland's most active volcanoes! When we arrive back to the cottage, you will get some time to relax, take a hot shower or go for a walk and enjoy the sound of the river flowing by, while we prepare the last dinner of your holiday. We we will be offering traditional Icelandic lamb meat from our own farm!
Accommodation: Mountain cottage
DAY 4 / Foss – Torfastaðir (15 km):
Every good time must come to an end. We head back to the lowlands with the herd, crossing rivers and riding through Tumastaðaskógur forest, located in Fljótshlíð valley. We leave our horses at the farm Torfastaðir in Fljótshlíð where it’s time to say goodbye to the horses. You will be back in Reykjavik around 17:00 in the evening.
Tölt and Icelands Nature Wonders
Preliminary day-by-day program
Day 1 / Arrival:
We pick you up at BSÍ bus station, Reykjavik at 17:00 and drive to our farm (1,5 hrs). There we will have a welcoming dinner where we get to know each other and go through the program of your winter riding holiday.
Accomodation: Double room with shared bathroom and other facilities.
Day 2 / Riding tour - Geysir - Gullfoss:
Breakfast at our farm and a riding tour around the property with a panoramic view of famous volcanoes and glaciers such as Eyjafjallajökull, Tindfjallajökull and Hekla (weather permitted). After a light lunch on the farm we jump into a car and drive along a part of the Golden Circle, visiting two of southwest Iceland’s most famous attractions; Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. In the evening we drive back and dinner will be served.
Day 3 / Riding tour - Friðheimar - Faxi - Secret Lagoon:
Breakfast at our farm and a riding tour. Again, we jump into a car and drive for about an hour to visit the great geothermal heated horticulture farm Friðheimar. For lunch we will have their special tomato soup and home baked bread - surrounded by fragrant tomato plants! When everyone is full we drive for about 10 minutes to see Faxi, a beautiful 80 meter wide waterfall. About 15 minutes drive from Faxi, we will finally get some time to soften up and relax in the Secret Lagoon at Hverahólmi geothermal area. The Secret Lagoon was made all the way back in 1891 and is Iceland’s oldest man-made pool! If we are lucky enough, we will be able to see some Northern lights, making the whole experience even more magical. After returning to the farm, dinner will be served.
Day 4 / Riding tour - Exploring the South coast:
After breakfast we saddle up for the last riding tour of your holiday. After the riding we prepare ourselves for a road-trip among the south coast, seeing south Iceland’s most classics, such as the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. We’ll have some lunch at a local restaurant called Gamla Fjósið before heading to the famous Reynisfjara “Black Beach”, and plenty other attractive destinations of the south! In the evening we return to farm where we enjoy the last dinner together.
After a long day of riding and sight-seeing, what’s a better idea than sinking yourself in our outdoor hot tub with a glass of wine, enjoying the starry sky and maybe even catching a glimpse of Northern lights!?
Day 5 / Departure:
Every good time must come to an end. After breakfast, it's time to leave the farm and say goodbye. You will be back in Reykjavík around 13:00.
Climate
