Monday: Arrival in Iceland – Keflavík Airport – Reykjavík

Transfer from Keflavík Airport to a hotel in the Capital area. We invite you to a Welcome Meeting including traditional Icelandic lambstew. Receive details of your tour and meet your fellow riders. 

 

Tuesday: Reykjavík – Eyvindarmúli – Einhyrningur Mountain Cabin

Drive in the morning to Eyvindarmúli Farm in the historical Fljótshlíð area where we meet staff and horses and start our ride alongside the Markarfljót River. We ascend into the mountains to Einhyrningur Mountain Cabin where we spend the night. Enjoy the great view of Eyjafjallajökull Glacier and Thórsmörk Nature Park. (25 km)

 

Wednesday: Einhyrningur – Bólstaður Mountain Cabin

This day takes us across the mighty Markarfljót River (on a bridge). We ride through the scenic Emstrur area. This sensitive grazing area in the highlands pleases our horses and we spend the night in a mountain cabin. At the cabin we leave the herd behind and continue on individual horses to explore the area some more. We ride into the beautiful Botnar valley and stop at a cave used in earlier times as a shelter for farmers when gathering the sheep. Before heading back to the cabin we stop at a hilltop and enjoy the great view of Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and the notorious Katla crater. (30 km)

 

Thursday: Emstrur – Glacier  Mýrdalsjökull – Lambaskarðshólar

We follow the Fjallabak Trail across Mælifellssandur, a black sand desert north of Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. Through Álftavatnskrókur grazing area and past Lake Álftavatn we continue our ride and cross several small glacier fed rivers on our way to the cabin at Lambaskarðshólar. This is our longest riding day that features an ever changing landscape. Many of our clients in the old days told us that this is a day they will never forget. We end our ride at Lambaskarðshólar cabin, close to River Skaftá. Hot showers are available tonight. (55 km)

 

Friday: Lambaskarðshólar – Skaftárdalur Farm 

Our horses rest in the morning and we enjoy the beautiful nature at Lambaskarðshólar. It is only a short walk to Silfurfoss waterfall, also called “little Gullfoss”. After lunch we follow Skaftá River down to Skaftárdalur Farm where we spend the night in summer houses. Now we have entered the area that was most effected by the Skaftáreldar eruption in the 18th century, when the river canyons were filled by lava, causing the water to cascade on top of the lava field since. (25 km)

 

Saturday: Skaftárdalur – Leiðólfsfell – Blágil Mountain Cabin

We follow old trails towards Mt. Leiðólfsfell, reaching high above fertile grassland. The Icelandic book of settlement mentions this mountain, telling that one of the first settlers, Leiðólfur kappi, established his farm there. We finish our ride at Blágil Mountain Cabin where we spend the next two nights. (30 km)

 

Sunday: Blágil – Laki – Blágil 

Today we ride back into the highlands again to visit the famous Lakagígar craters. About 135 craters erupted on a huge fissure and they covered the area with lava and the whole country with ashes for about two years. Animals succumbed to hunger or volcanic poisoning, a large part of the human population died and only 38.500 people survived the disaster. We ride in the huge lava fields originating from the devastating eruption and spend the night at Blágil Cabin, only 5 km away from the craters. (30 km)

 

Monday: Blágil – Reykjavík

Transfer back to the Capital area for the last overnight stay in a hotel. Return at approx. 15:00.

 

Tuesday: Departure from Iceland – Reykjavík – Keflavík Airport

Transfer by bus to Keflavík Airport in time for the return flight home.