Location:  Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights / 4 riding days

Accommodation: Shared rooms in the guesthouse

Dates: Set dates

Riding Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Group Size: 12 riders

On this new comfort tour we introduce you to the Northern part of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, home to hidden waterfalls, mystical folklore and small fishing towns.  Our ride leads along colorful volcanoes and takes you through the haunting 4000 year old Berserk lava field that consists of variable shaped lava rocks, and that is also where a part of the well known Eyrbyggja saga happened.⁣
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On our journey we ride around Mt Kirkjufell, considered as being the most beautiful mountain on the Snæfellsnes peninsula and yet most recognized as being “Arrowhead Mountain '' on the TV series, Game of Thrones.⁣

The Icelandic horse is a symbol of national pride and cultural heritage. They are known for their surefootedness and gentle nature, and they are famous for the Tölt, a gait unique to the breed, which makes them incredibly comfortable over great distances and rugged terrain. 

Riders will be accompanied by a loose herd, which adds a unique and exciting dynamic to the ride! Riders will change horses 1-2 times per day, giving them the opportunity to get to know a variety of horses over the course of the week. 

Riding Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Riders should be capable of spending long hours in the saddle, tacking and untacking their own horse, and controlling the horse at all paces, even though rides will mainly consist of the walk and tölt.

Speed: walk and tölt, occasional canter

Distance: 10-25 miles/15-35 km per day

Ride Time: 3-5 hours/day

Tack: Horses will be in saddles developed specifically for the Icelandic horse, closely resembling Dressage saddles. Saddle bags will be provided.

Terrain:  This tour encompasses remote areas only accessible on foot or by horseback, riding on mainly soft riding tracks, ideal for riding the tölt. The ride will travel through farmland, across rivers, winding through hills and mountains to alpine lakes, and across black sand deserts.  

Comfortable shared rooms in a cottage accommodation with made up beds. Accommodation before and after the ride are to be arranged individually. 

Breakfasts and dinners are served family-style at the guesthouse. Home-cooked meals consist heavily of lamb and fish. Traditional Icelandic breakfasts include porridge, toast, cold cuts, and cheese. Riders make their own sandwiches in the morning to pack on the trail each day. 

Bus transfer to/from Reykjavik

Today we arrive at Snæfellsnes around 12 pm. We have lunch and enjoy our free time until we get the horses saddled up for the first ride. We start single horse on a trail just outside of Grundarfjörður, a small beautiful town situated in the north of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. We continue our ride towards Kirkjufell, the most distinct mountain in Iceland, considered one of the top 10 most beautiful mountains in the world, and yet most recognized as being “ArrowHead Mountain” on the TV series Game of Thrones. On the way we stop at the majestic waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss, take a selfie and enjoy the pristine nature around us. Then the ride leads us to the roots of Mt Kirkjufell where we make our way around this unique natural wonder, riding on the beach and grassy fields.

The timing of the ride around Kirkjufell depends on the tide. In some cases, we need to start the ride very early in the morning or we have to wait until the afternoon

Accommodation: Hellnafell Guesthouse

Riding distance: 15 km

Grundarfjörður- Kolgrafafjörður – Bjarnarhöfn

We start our ride into the mountains passing Grundarfjörður, following the old postal route towards Kolgrafarfjörður bay. We bring the herd with us today and ride through green grasslands and cross rocky grounds. We rest the horses at the foot of the mountain range Axarhamar, before we take the steep way up the mountain Tröllaháls. The ride leads into the beautiful Hraunsfjörður fjord where we ride pass deserted farms and through the mystical Berserk lava, named after two unruly Berserks that were betrayed by an Icelandic farmer in the 10th century, and end our day at the farm Bjarnarhöfn.

Accommodation: Hellnafell Guesthouse

Riding distance: 26 km

Around Bjarnarhafnarfjall back to Hraunsfjörður

We continue our ride from Bjarnarhöfn surrounded by mountains on one side and the sea on the other, riding on private land. On the way we enjoy the view of the islands of Breidafjörður venturing off the beaten path. Today we ride rather slowly due to rocky grounds and also to keep the sheep in the area calm. We will make our way towards Mjósund fjord and ride next to the first bridge that was built over a fjord in Iceland. After that we make our way back to Hraunsfjörður enjoying the spectacular views of lava fields covered in moss as well as impressive mountain ranges. When we return to Bjarnarhöfn, we can explore the shark museum and get to know everything about the Greenland shark and try the (in-)famous “hákarl”(a.k.a. fermented shark)

Accommodation: Hellnafell Guesthouse

Riding distance: 30 km

Ride to lake Selvallavatn

Dinner at Bjargarsteinn

Today's route leads us from Bjarnarhöfn on a marvelous lava trail called Berserkjargata where the two unruly Berserks are buried. We pass craters and ride on soft paths up to lake Selvallavatn, with a spectacular view of the colorful Berserk lava field and variably shaped landscape around. This lava field is around 4000 years old. On our way you spot a hidden waterfall; just another proof that this area is magical.. We continue our ride through the lava field and return to Bjarnahöfn. We head back to Grundarfjörður and have a dinner at Bjargarsteinn that is a local restaurant well known among Icelandic people.

Accommodation: Hellnafell Guesthouse

Riding distance: 25 km.

We return to Reykjavik in the morning after breakfast.