Thursday : Hvammur – Vatnsdalsá – Kárdalstunga
Pick up from BSÍ bus station in Reykjavík at 08:30. Please be dressed already in riding clothes. You will arrive to Hvammur farm around noon and have a nice local lunch. After we have met our horses we start our ride through the beautiful Vatnsdalur valley. The valley is the setting of the Vatnsdælir Saga and our guide, Haukur, knows this Saga well. It will be interesting to listen to him tell stories of the past and present. Our route runs along the banks of river Vatnsdalsá and we have to cross it several times. We end our ride deep in the valley where our horses rest but we go back to Hvammur and enjoy a well-deserved meal and relax in the hot tub. (3 – 4 hours)
Friday: Kárdalstunga – Auðkúluheiði -Sléttárdalur – Auðkúlurétt
Great authentic experience! We ride from Kárdalstunga and into the Highlands with a stunning view of the glaciers. We will meet sheep farmers on their way back to civilization after many days in the saddle, herd a big flock of sheep. It is for sure a unique sight to witness 14 thousand sheep on their way back home after spending the summer up in the highland followed by over 30 shepherds with 100 horses! You can feel the joy and the excitement as this is their last day and everyone is on their way back home. We end our day in the Auðkúlurétt corral where we leave the sheep and horses and go back to Hvammur farm and continue our singing. (8 – 9 hours)
Saturday : Auðkúlurétt – Reykir – Húnavatn – Þingeyrar – Sveinsstaðir
We drive from Hvammur farm to Auðkúlurétt Corrall where a number of people have shown up to help the farmers sorting out their sheep. We can also give a helping hand to Haukur´s grandfather, who is 86 years old and a sheep/horse farmer at Röðull farm.
Auðkúlurétt is the largest Sheep corral in Iceland (and possibly in the world) with up to 14,000 sheep. This is also where you can get really deep into the Icelandic culture and it does not get more authentic than this! When our job is done at the corral we continue with our riding tour. We ride from the farm, Reykir, across lake Húnavatn. We also look at the remarkable stone church at Þingeyrar built in 1877. After this cultural stop, we continue our ride on lowland countryside to Sveinsstadir farm where the horses rest overnight. (6 – 7 hours)
Optional (not included in the tour price):,, Réttardansleikur” dance at a nearby community center, where everybody relaxes after the excitement of the day and celebrates yet another successful roundup. On special occasions like this, our guide and farmer, Haukur, put his best dancing shoes on!
Sunday: Sveinsstaðir – Lake Hóp – Þingeyrar
Today is our last riding day and of course, we finish the tour in style! We ride from Sveinsstadir towards Lake Hóp (one of the biggest lake in Iceland). On our way we pass the historical place, Þrístapar, where the last execution in Iceland took place in 1830. Haukur will tell us the dramatic story which will leave no one untouched. We then ride alongside the lagoon Hóp. The black sand at the beach is ideal for riding tölt, the special gait of the Icelandic horse as well as feeling the joy in the horses when they are running in the shallow water. The lake is a reservoir (lagoon) because it is connected with these. The view and the movement of the horses give us an unparalleled sense of freedom. We spend the last evening at Hvammur farm enjoying good food and of course, we sing along and share entertaining stories of men and horses. (6 – 7 hours)
Monday: Return to the South – Reykjavík
Breakfast will be served and after we say goodbye the bus will take us back to Reykjavík BSÍ.
– We reserve the right to alter the itinerary if necessary –
- Bus transfer from Reykjavík to the farm.
- During the ride full board is provided. Our menu consists of a large breakfast and traditional Icelandic meals (fish or lamb). Vegetarian meals are available if requested when booking. All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table.
- Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price and are hard to get in the highlands. They can be bought at a reasonable price in the Duty-Free Store at Keflavik Airport upon arrival.
- Rainwear, water bottle, saddle bag, riding helmet.
Hvammur farm
Hvammur farm is situated in the beautiful Vatnsdalur Valley which is so full of the old Sagas and has the famous salmon fishing river Vatnsdalsá running down the middle. The farmhouse was renovated 4 years ago and has a hot tub in the garden with a view over the river.
- Number of rooms: 6 rooms
- Number of beds: 2-4 beds in each room, altogether max 19
- Outdoor jacuzzi: Yes
- Number of showers: 2
- GSM connection: Yes
- WiFi: Yes
- Made up beds: Yes
- Number of WC: 2
Here you can book your Flybus ticket to and from Reykjavík. The Flybus departs from Keflavík airport 35-40 minutes after each arrival. Busses are located right outside the terminal building. Book my ticket.
Pick up:
Morning pick up: Between 07:30 – 08:30
Terms & conditions:
Íslandshestar request a confirmation payment upon booking of minimum 30% of the tour price. When the confirmation payment is received the seat is secure. The remaining balance is due 2 weeks before the tour departs. If you book the tour through the website the full amount is requested.
Children’s under 12 years receive 25%multi-day on our multi day tours.
Liability:
Íslandshestar reserves the right to alter routes, itineraries or timetables without prior notice, should the necessity arise. No liability is accepted for loss or expenses due to delays or changes of arrival or departures of flights or other services, injury, sickness, accident, strikes, damage, negligence, weather, wars or other causes outside the control of Íslandshestar. All such losses and expenses are the personal liability of the traveller. The estimated duration of tours as indicated by km or timing can change according to road or weather conditions.
For more information please see also our Frequent Asked Questions and/or contact us at [email protected]
