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Duration: 12 days – 11 nights – 9 riding days – 365 km
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Dates 2009: Saturday – Wednesday
July: 31- August 11, - August: 11-22 (revers. Wednesday - Sunday)
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Accommodation: Dbl. rooms in Reykjavík. Sleeping bag accommodation in shared rooms during the ride.
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Group size: Max. 20 guests
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Meeting place: Keflavík International Airport
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Notes: This tour is only recommended for experienced riders with the necessary stamina for long riding days of 40 - 50 km during 7 - 9 hrs.
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Price: EUR 2.912
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Reservation code: IH - 10B
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This tour is done in cooperation with Íshestar Travel
Íshestar presents a special tour covering parts of all three traditional highland routes: Sprengisandur, Kjölur and Arnarvatnsheiði. During this tour we will ride past nine glaciers and cross numerous rivers. Our hosts are Bjarni Páll, Elsa and Sævar, known from the popular Northern Exposure and Diamond Circle tours.
We start our ride in the North and on the 2nd day we enter the mysterious Sprengisandur Trail. Legends, ghost stories and songs describe this highland trail. The huge glaciers of Vatnajökull and Hofsjökull, surrounded by sand and lava fields and mighty glacier fed rivers characterize this remote wilderness. We turn towards the beautiful Skagafjörður Fjord, well known for the many horse breeding farms located in this area. Through the mountains we reach Húnavatnssýsla and continue over the beautiful Arnarvatnsheiði area towards Borgarfjörður Fjord.
Travelling from north to south-west or vice versa right across the heart of Iceland you will find yourself in remote desert-like areas surrounded by huge glaciers, and yet again in vast green meadows where only young horses and sheep roam free during summer. Accommodation on this ride is in rustic mountain cabins in the middle of Iceland’s untamed nature.
This tour has been our dream for many years or ever since we did in 1993, our well known Dream Tour a 30 day tour across Iceland from West to East! It takes a lot of planning and organization to offer a tour like this, which makes it expensive. We will not offer it every year, so do not miss out – book early!
- We reserve the right to alter the itinerary if necessary.
Tour Photos in Album here to the left !
Day-by-Day Itinerary:
Saturday: Arrival in Iceland – Keflavík Airport – Reykjavík
Transfer from Keflavík Airport to a guesthouse in Reykjavík. At approx. 19:00 we invite you to a welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant. Receive details of your tour and meet your fellow riders.
Sunday: Reykjavík – Akrar – Guesthouse Kiðagil
Domestic flight in the morning to Akureyri and transfer to Akrar Farm. Here we meet horses and staff members and start our ride. We stop at majestic Goðafoss Waterfall before continuing our ride alongside the mighty river Skjálfandafljót in the friendly valley Bárðardalur. We enjoy excellent riding paths and stay overnight at the cozy guesthouse Kiðagil. (40 km)
Monday: Kiðagil – Mosar Mt. Cabin
We ride further through the valley Bárðardalur past the farm Mýri, and Lake Íshólsvatn into Mjóidalur valley to Mosar, a small cabin in beautiful surroundings where we stay overnight. (40 km)
Tuesday: Mosar – Laugafell Mt. Cabin
We ride past the famous canyon Kiðagil (well known from our song “Ríðum, ríðum”). Using the ancient Sprengisandur trail, we continue through a desert of sand and stones to the hut at Laugafell for an overnight stay. Enjoy a dip in the natural hot pool there. (40 km)
Wednesday: Laugafell – Thorljótsstaðir – Gilhagi Farm
Today we reach the Skagafjörður area and ride down Vesturdalur valley. Mighty glacier fed rivers have shaped the landscape, originating from Hofsjökull Glacier. The landscape turns into green meadows as we get closer to the inhabited areas. The horses stay behind at Thorljótsstaðir farm and we drive to our accommodation for the next two nights at Gilhagi farmhouse. (45 km)
Thursday: Thorljótsstaðir – Gilhagi Farm
A relaxed riding day in the beautiful Skagafjörður area. Enjoy the view towards the sea while riding down from the mountains. You will see horses grazing in the meadows as you get closer to the farm lands. Another night at Gilhagi farmhouse. (25 km)
Friday: Gilhagi – Galtará Mt. Cabin
We leave the Skagafjörður area behind and ride through Gilhagadalur valley up into the highlands again. See how the vegetation changes on your way to Galtará Mt. Cabin. Once on the highland plateau you see the great Glaciers ahead of you. Galtará Mt. Cabin is situated close to mighty Blöndulón Lake. This mountain cabin offers warm showers, a real luxury in the highland wilderness. (30 km)
Saturday: Galtará – Öldumóðuskáli Mt. Cabin
Today we cross the huge dam that created Blöndulón Lake. Now we reach the highland heath of Húnavatnssýsla district. We follow Grímstunguheiði heath all the way to Öldumóðuskáli Mt. Cabin where we spend the night. (40 km)
Sunday: Öldumóðuskáli – Stóri-Sandur – Álftakrókar Mt. Cabin
Another famous highland heath lies ahead of us, but first we have to cross the notorious area Stóri-Sandur. Coming onto Arnarvatnsheiði heath with numerous lakes and green pastures we follow excellent riding tracks. On our way to the hut at Álftakrókar we stop for a while between the lakes Arnarvatn and Réttarvatn to sing the traditional song “Efst á Arnarvatnshæðum”. (50 km)
Monday: Álftakrókar – Fljótstunga Farm
This is our last day of riding and after having crossed the glacial river Norðlingafljót, we reach the huge lava field Hallmundarhraun. Here we stop at Surtshellir, Iceland’s biggest cave. From Surtshellir we enjoy good riding in breathtaking nature to Fljótstunga Farm where stay for this night. (30 km)
Tuesday: Fljótstunga – Reykjavík
Transfer back to Reykjavík for an overnight stay. Approx. arrival in Reykjavík at 11:30.
Wednesday: Dep. from Iceland – Reykjavík – Keflavík Airport
Transfer by bus to Keflavík Airport in time for the flight back home.
- We reserve the right to alter the itinerary if necessary. |
Riding Tours 
