Location: Húsavik, northern Iceland

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights / 4 riding days

Accommodation: Shared rooms in the guesthouse

Dates: Set dates

Riding Level: All levels welcome

Group Size: 12 riders

This tour is a slower version of the Diamond Circle Tour and is not accompanied by a loose herd. In addition to the riding there will be 2 half days of sightseeing by car. Visiting all the highlights of the Diamond Circle: Goðafoss and Dettifoss waterfalls, Mývatn area with it‘s beautiful lava fields and Ásbyrgi canyon. 

Visit Húsavík, the oldest settlement in Iceland, the largest town in Þingeyjarsýsla district, and the whale capital of Iceland. Whale watching can also be added as an additional activity for which Skjálfandi Bay is famous. Enjoy hot pot soaks after long days in the saddle, and a visit to a local geothermal hot pool. 

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: All Levels Welcome

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.  

Riders are accommodated in single or shared rooms (2-4 people per room) at the guesthouse on Saltvik Farm, which offers stunning views out over Skjálfandi Bay and a nice hot tub to soak in after a day in the saddle. 

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. 

Round-trip flights from Reykjavik are included. Riders should be ready to catch the early flight departing Reykjavik (7 or 8 am) and plan on returning to Reykjavik on the last flight on the last day, around 8 pm.