Have you always wanted to visit Iceland but don't want to sacrifice your usual comforts? Our new riding programme in the south offers hotel comfort instead of hiking huts. Furthermore, we guarantee small groups with a maximum of 8 participants on this ride, ensuring individual attention. The ride takes you to some of the major highlights in the south of Iceland, across lava fields, through green river valleys, past hot springs, waterfalls, glaciers and volcanoes. You will therefore gain a deep impression of the island's diversity. You will ride in the area of the Hekla volcano, in the Heiðmörk nature reserve and on the beach, discovering the amazing contrasts of Icelandic nature on four exciting day rides. Horses and riders are taken to a new starting point each morning for 3 days, so that none of the routes overlap and you ride four completely different routes. When you return to the riding hotel in the late afternoon after a day spent in breathtaking natural surroundings, you can enjoy a dip in the hot tub. Then round off the day with a delicious buffet in the hotel restaurant and at the bar before retiring to your cosy double or single room. If the weather is nice, you can also enjoy the terrace with a view of the oval track, green horse pastures and mountains.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival. Our partner will meet you between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the bus terminal or at your hotel in Reykjavik, from where you will be taken to the hotel on the farm. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Ölfusá Delta beach ride
Today you will start your first day's ride directly from the riding centre. You will ride across green pastures along the Gljúfurá river to the mighty glacier river Ölfusá, where you can enjoy the view over the river delta with its black sandy banks and the volcanic mountains stretching out to the sea. The ride continues at a brisk tölt along soft meadow trails along the river and through shallow water at the edge of the wide Ölfusá delta to the black lava sand on the south coast. Along the way, you will have a good chance of seeing various birds. One of the highlights of the tour is the ride along the approximately 3 km long beach before you reach the fishing village of Thorlákshöfn.

Day 3: Heiðmörk Nature Reserve
The day begins with a drive to the stables in Reykjavik. After a few fun laps on the oval track, where Iceland's best horses compete in the big annual Landsmót tournament, you will spend the day riding along picturesque trails in the beautiful Heiðmörk Nature Reserve and Recreation Area. The tour takes you through an extremely varied landscape with lakes, forests and lava formations. You ride along the wooded shores of Lake Rauðavatn and on through the impressive pseudo-craters of Rauðhólar, the red hills that were formed around 4,700 years ago during a violent eruption. From the hills near Lake Elliðaárvatn, you will enjoy a beautiful view of Reykjavík, ride through a forest area and visit another typical Icelandic horse village before returning to the riding hotel on horseback.

Day 4: Thjórsárdalur Valley
Today you will drive east to the idyllic Thjórsárdalur Valley. There you will ride in a unique landscape shaped by Iceland's longest river, the Thjórsá, and eruptions of the nearby Hekla volcano. The green valley on the edge of the barren highlands with its forests, streams, soft sandy soil, bizarre volcanic structures and green hills offers an unforgettable riding experience. You will visit the foundations of a Viking farmstead that was buried under ash about 800 years ago during an eruption of the Hekla volcano, as well as the Gjáin valley with its small waterfalls and pools, a hidden natural gem that lies like an oasis in the black sand.

Day 5: Hekla volcano
You will drive to the wide, green plains east of the Rangá glacier river, where the majestic Hekla volcano rises above rolling hills and vast black sand plains. This area is known for its excellent riding trails in an extraordinary setting. Here, the horses show themselves at their best in a fast, smooth tölt. The view is fantastic in good weather, with Hekla to the north, the famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano, the striking Thríhyrningur mountain (the three horns) and the Westman Islands to the south. After the ride, you will return to Reykjavik in the afternoon.

Subject to change! The order of the individual riding days may vary.

Accomodation
You can stay overnight in the Reiterhotel in spacious double rooms (approx. 23 sqm) with private bathroom. Single use for a surcharge. Family rooms and 3-bed rooms are also available at to stand . The hotel offers TV and Internet in all rooms, a restaurant with excellent international cuisine, a bar, fireplace and hot tub. Towels are provided and you can borrow a hairdryer from reception.

A delicious buffet awaits you in the morning. Drinks are included water, tea and coffee. In the evening there is a 3-course menu for guests, of course always with a vegetarian option. Other meal requests can also be accommodated by prior arrangement. Beer, wine and soft drinks are available for an extra charge. On the way, you can fortify yourself with a picnic of sandwiches in the great outdoors.
Payment by credit card is possible at the hotel.

Saddle & Tack: Snaffle and Icelandic trekking saddles.

Experience: You should have at least 3-5 years of riding experience and be confident in all gaits, including riding outside of the arena. Experience in tölt is not required.

Horses: Icelandic horses, well trained and experienced in tölt.