Location: Húsavik, northern Iceland

Duration: 7 days / 6 nights / 6 riding days

Accommodation: Shared rooms in the guesthouse + 1 night in a mountain hut

Dates: Set dates

Riding Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Group Size: 12 riders

The landscape of northern Iceland is known for its vastness and beauty. The tour begins and ends at Saltvik Farm near Húsavík. From there we trek to Lake Mývatn through volcanic features and picturesque landscapes, from the shores of the river Laxá, over Hvammsheiði Heath, along the forested hillsides in Laxárdalur, towards the Gæsafjöll Mountains, and across the black sand deserts of Hólasandur. All the while we are accompanied by a loose herd - riders  rotate horses throughout the tour, experiencing the full range of the Icelandic horse.

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. Spend one night in a mountain hut, surrounded by natural geysers and the vast, open landscape. 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: 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.  

Accommodations are at nice holiday farms in double or triple rooms. 

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 just after noon on the last day.   

In the morning you’ll fly from the domestic airport in Reykjavík to Akureyri in the north, where we will pick you up from the airport for a 1 hour busride to our farm Saltvík. At Saltvik, we start our ride after a short introduction to the Icelandic horses and their special gaits. We ride along the seaside of the arctic ocean north of Iceland enjoying a fantastic view out towards the arctic circle. A relaxing bath in a warm outdoor tub before dinner at Saltvik farm is well deserved after this first day of our journey!

Optional in the afternoon (80 euros which includes transport from/to Saltvík): A whale watching tour starting from the harbor in Húsavík can be offered. Húsavík and the bay of Skjálfandi is known to be one of the best places in the world to find and see some of the gentle giants of the ocean. Humpbacks, Minky Whales, Dolphins and even Blue Whales are some of the creatures you can expect to see!

Ride time: 2-3 hours
Distance: 15km

We ride over the Reykjaheiði heath and through ancient lavafields and moorlands until we arrive at our lunchbrake at Sæluhúsmúli. There we are located right at the center of the Atlantic ridge going through Iceland which is stretched and pulled by the two continental plates of Europe and Asia. Cracks and fissures in the lava fields make the surroundings spectacular and mystic and are a perfect example of the powers of nature wich make Iceland what it is. After a good lunchbreak and some stories of the area we head on towards farm Fjöll where we end the ride and our bus will be waiting to take us back home to Saltvík farm for a dip in the hot pool, nice dinner and a good rest for coming day.

Ride time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 35km

We ride from farm Fjöll along the flat country side of Kelduhverfi with the view out to the arctic ocean all day until we arrive at our destination at Meiðavellir farm just aside the canyons of Ásbyrgi national park. We drive back to Saltvík farm for another night but make a nice visit to the Geosea spa on the way. Geosea is a natural hot spring/spa with a fantastic view out to the bay of Skjálfandi and the very best spot to enjoy the midnight sun with a cold drink in the hand.

Ride time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 25km

We ride into the national park of Ásbyrgi Canyons the hoof-shaped canyons told to be a footstep of Sleipnir the eight-legged horse of Odinn highest in rank of the old nordic gods! We cross the mighty Jökulsá river on a bridge and enter the highly vegetated area of Öxarfjörður with birch forests and green fields of one of the best sheep farming territories in Iceland. We end the day at the farm Klifshagi and drive to our guesthouse nearby at Kópasker village where we have a fantastic view out to the arctic bay of Öxarfjörður and hopefully enjoy a clear sky in the evening for living the nights of the midnight sun to the limits.

Ride time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 25km

We start the day with a sightseeing tour by our bus to Dettifoss waterfall , Dettifoss is them ost powerful waterfall in europe and a magnificent experience to visit. We come back to our horses at Meiðavellir and ride towards Öxarfjörður which  is one of the best kept nature secrets in Iceland. Rich vegetation, mighty volcanoes and Iceland’s biggest river Jökulsá á Fjöllum make the scenery breathtaking. We ride up in the heathlands and follow nice riding trails across woodlands and along riverbanks while enjoying the fantastic view over the Arctic sea north of Iceland. We ride along the riverbanks of Jökulsá towards the village of Kópasker which is a small fishing village located at the edge of the peninsula where we have a totally undisturbed view towards the arctic circle, the true home of the midnight sun! Overnight at a nice guesthouse in the village.

Ride time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 30km

We ride from Kópasker village and follow the great river Jökulsá towards Ásbyrgi canyons and Meiðavellir farm where the ride ends and we drive back home to Saltvík farm for the last night and farewell dinner.

Ride time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 35km

After a good breakfast at Saltvík we head to the airport for a flight back to Reykjavík. Arrival in Reykjavík around noon.