Great Horse Adventure in Iceland

110km about 3h. 

You start off by taking the bus from the BSI central bus station in Reykjavik. There are two departures a day in the summertime: one at 8:00 and one at 17:00. The bus will take you to Hella, a little village where we will come to pick you up for transfer.

Dinner and overnight in the Austvathsholt farmhouse. 

5 h on horseback. 

After breakfast on the farm, it’s time to equip the horses and go through the basic procedures. Once this is done, you will ride off through the verdant countryside in the direction of Rjupnavellir. You’ll ride through prairies often occupied by lone sheep. Following the river Ranga, you will come to the historic lava fields of Landrettir. Spend the night in a guesthouse nestled in this abundant nature, close to the river, at the edge of the vast interior deserts.

6 h on horseback. 

Just after Rjupnavellir, you journey into an ashen desert and discover the lava fields of Solvahraun. You are at the feet of Hekla, the volcano whose 1492 meters dominate Iceland’s southern coast. One of Iceland’s most active volcanoes and in older times said to be the entrance to the gates of hell! The appearance of the land betrays the eruptions in its recent history. By the end of the day, in a stunning change of setting, you reach the fertile green region of Landmannahellir, a favourite gathering spot of Icelandic sheep.

Spend the night in a mountain hut in Landmannahellir

3-4 h on horseback.

In the morning, you’ll trot through Domadal valley where lava flows give way to more prairies. Going around Frostastadarvatn Lake, you’ll begin to be able to make out multicoloured mountains to the south, symptoms of the regions acidic volcanic activity. Lunch in Landmanalaugar. Relaxing afternoon in the nearby hot spring or walk one of the area’s short hikes.

Return to Landmannahellir by car for the night. 

7h on horseback. 

Brief transfer by car back to Landmanalaugar to rejoin the horses before taking up the ancient « Fjallabak trail » the trail of the mountains. River crossings, ascent and descent of hills, you’ll bypass old inactive volcanoes covered in many colored mosses, and reach Eldgja by the end of the day. It is the largest volcanic canyon in the world that Icelanders call the “fire fissure,” a deep scar that cuts through Iceland’s entire south.

Overnight in a mountain hut in Holaskjol

7-8h on horseback. 

Head off due south with the gigantic icecap of the Myrdalsjökull glacier on the horizon. Ford the river Skafta to reach the black ash desert of Maelifellssandur. Black and white as far as the eye can see as well as a few patches of green atop the cones of volcanoes, the landscape is utterly otherworldly. Passing Alftavatn, or “swan lake,” you’ll reach the mountain hut of Hvanngil which will seem like an oasis

4-5h on horseback. 

A shorter leg of the trip during which you will pass through peaceful landscapes of green hills with grazing sheep before arriving at Einhyrningur mountain. The mountain is surrounded by three glaciers and the setting becomes much more alien as rivers have dug deep canyons into the black stone.

Spending the night in a farmer’s mountain hut in Bólstadur. 

6h on horseback.

You take a trail along the powerful Markarfljot river into the Fljotshlid region. Towards the south, two titanic glaciers bar the horizon, Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull (that violently awoke in 2010). You’ll slowly see the landscape turn back into the peaceful green Iceland you remember from the beginning of your trip.

Overnight in the farmhouse of Smáratún. 

6-7h on horseback. 

Now you only have to go around Hekla’s eastern edge along the Vatnsdal valley and cross the Ranga river to get back to the pastures of Austvadsholt farm by midday where you will leave the horses to rest. You’ve just completed one of the most beautiful horseback rides in all of Iceland! You will dine and stay the night at the farm. If your plane leaves early the next day, you can take a bus back to Reykjavík on day 9. However, the night in Reykjavík is not included in our price.

110km about 3h. 

Transfer to the bus stop in Hella and then to Reykjavík