Snæfellsnes

Snæfellsnes the Magical and Mysterious! On this tour you ride through Iceland’s most beautiful and gorgeous sights and you can experience the special gate Tölt on the long stretches of sandy beaches.

Dates 2023

  • Aug: 12 - 19 & 26 - Sep 2

Dates 2024

  • June: 3 - 10 & 22 - 29
  • Aug: 3 - 10 & 17 - 24

The Snæfellsjökull National Park is where you find one of Iceland´s most beautiful and emblematic sights – the glacier-covered cone volcano Snæfellsjökull. This horseback riding tour in Snæfellsnes Iceland is definitely the best way to see the astonishing nature of the peninsula.  The mystery and spiritual aura of this still active volcano were made famous through Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Many of the great Sagas are located in this very area. Today the remote beauty and rich birdlife draw visitors from all over the world. The peninsula itself is often called “Iceland in a nutshell” because of its diversity of landscape.

Experiencing “tölt”, the unique extra gait of the Icelandic Horse is made easy for you on this tour when we follow good riding tracks. The long stretches of smooth sandy beaches make this tour a delight for both horses and riders.

This horseback riding tour takes us through a landscape of extensive lava fields, craters, and ash from ancient eruptions in Hítardalur valley. We also enjoy wide-open stretches of light-colored sand at Löngufjörur beach, where only the tide sets a limit to the freedom of horse and man. The impressive 50-meter deep crater Eldborg is a distinctive landmark, where the light sand turns black once you reach its lava field.

Attention

  • Individual travel insurance is not included in the tour price. We encourage clients to obtain relevant travel insurance before visiting Iceland.
  • Flight to and from Iceland is not included.
  • Bring bags rather than hardcover suitcases.
  • Pack light because transport space is limited.
  • Please bring high rubber boots for this ride.

Tour Highlights

Hraunholt Farm

A cozy farmhouse in the Snæfellsnes peninsula

Haffjarðará

ranks among the top salmon rivers of Iceland in an outstanding landscape of lava-fields covered in moss and birds

Löngufjörur beach

wide-open stretches of light-colored sand in the peninsula of Snæfellsnes

One horse on a light sand coloured beach in Snæfellsnes peninsula

Snæfellsnes peninsula

Snæfellsjökull National Park includes the glacier-covered cone and still active volcano Snæfellsjökull. Many of the great Sagas took place in this area. Remote beauty, rich birdlife, black and golden beaches as well as ocean and seals draw visitors from all over. The peninsula is often called “Iceland in a nutshell” because of its diverse landscape.

Snæfellsjökull Glacier

still active volcano and glacier-covered cone. The name translates snow mountain glacier and became famous with Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Rauðamelslaug

a natural pool wonderful to bath in with a temperature around 40 degrees celsius 

  1. Day 1.  Reykjavík – Hraunholt
    Pick up
     at BSÍ Bus station in Reykjavik at 18:00 where our Islandshesta bus will transfer you and your fellow riders to Hraunholt Farm, where horses and the family at Hraunholt are waiting for us. After a lovely introductory meal where we get to know each other, we relax and rest so we are well prepared for the adventure ahead of us. Overnight at Hraunholt.

  2. Day 2. Hraunholt – Kolviðarnes
    After an introduction to the Icelandic horse and its special gaits, we start our ride from Hraunholt and ride through fertile farmlands with lava on both sides. We cross the river Haffjarðará on our way to Kolviðarnes where our ride ends today. Over night at Hraunholt. Riding distance: approx. 25km.

    NB: Next three days we ride on Löngufjörur beach where timings depend on the tide. In some cases, we need to start the ride very early in the morning or in the afternoon.

  3. Day 3. Kolviðarnes – Traðir

    After rejoining the horses, we start our beach ride on Löngufjörur, the famous horse trail on the seashorses of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. View majestic Snæfellsjökull Glacier ahead of you and feel the horses excitement and take part in the joy on this extraordinary trail released by the tide.  Over night at Hraunholt.

    Riding distance: approx. 35km.

  4. Day 4. Traðir – Kolviðarnes

    Another days ride on the yellow-colored, sandy beach, the same directions as the day before a unique experience for everyone with lava-fields and mountains on one side of the trail and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. We leave the horses at Traðir Farm and we spend the night at Hraunholt Farm.

    Riding distance: approx. 35 km

  5. Day 5. Kolviðarnes – Hausthúsahringur – Kolviðarnes

    We leave the herd at Kolviðarnes and go out and play, enjoying another brisk ride on the beach with fantastic views of the ocean, the mountains and the majestic Snæfellsnes Glacier. The horses stay at Kolviðarnes and we drive back to Hraunholt.

    Riding distance: approx. 18 km.

  6. Day 6. Kolviðarnes – Hraunholt

    We take all the horses with us and ride into the mountains and lava, on our way back to Hraunholt. We ride through fertile farmlands and along good riding tracks over the river Haffjarðará and travel through an area well known as the hideout of Iceland‘s most famous outlaw, Grettir. Overnight at Hraunholt.

    Riding distance: approx. 25 km.

  7. Day 7. Hraunholt – Rauðamelslaug – Hraunholt

    On the last day, we choose our best horses and continue riding in an amazing landscape surrounded by lava, mountains, rivers, and lakes. We ride to Rauðamelslaug where we can have a bath in the warm natural pool Rauðamelslaug. We will then ride our last part of the tour before we enjoy the farewell dinner at Hraunholt.

    Riding distance: approx. 22 km.

  8. Day 8. Hraunholt – Reykjavík
    Transfer back to BSÍ bus station in Reykjavík. Approx. Arrival 11:30

    – 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.

Hraunholt farm

A cozy farmhouse in the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

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.

Terms & conditions:
Íslandshestar requests 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 6 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% discount 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]

Reviews

I really wish I would have done this trip sooner, this is truly a life changing experience and one you can´t describe until you try it your self! The horses, nature, hosts, and helpers were amazing. I 100% recommend all riders to ride with them!

L.E. Germany.

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