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The North of Iceland is known for great
natural sights and varied landscape. This
tour leads from Saltvík Farm near Húsavík to
the Lake Mývatn area, known for its
countless numbers of breeding ducks,
volcanic features and stunning landscapes.
An optional whale watching tour concludes
the circle of natural highlights on and off
shore. Our hosts on this tour take special
interest in geology so you can expect to see
and hear a lot of interesting facts about
the Icelandic nature! A visit to picturesque
Goðafoss waterfall is just one of the
highlights on your first day in the North.
Ride along soft riding tracks ideal for tölt,
the special gait of the Icelandic horse.
From fertile farm land you turn towards the
Gæsafjöll Mountains and spend a night in a
mountain cabin at Theistareykir, a high
temperature area with bubbling hot water and
white clouds from steam vents rising to the
sky.
Through an area covered with cracks and
fissures from earthquakes and volcanic
activity the route leads towards Lake Mývatn.
Past sheltered lakes and across mountains
you reach the Lake Mývatn area where boiling
mud pools and eerie lava formations remind
you of the volcanic energy hidden beneath.
Relax in hot geothermal water in Jarðböð, a
new outdoor bathing facility. From the black
sand deserts of Hólssandur to forested hill
sides at Vatnshlíðarskógur, the next riding
days surprise with ever changing scenery.
Your last riding day over Hvammsheiði heath
towards the shore offers a terrific view of
Skjálfandi Bay before you reach Saltvík Farm
again. Two outdoor hot tubs with a great
view over to the ocean and the Kinnafjöll
Mountain Range offer relaxation after this
amazing tour in an ever changing landscape.
Accommodation on this tour is in sleeping
bags. One night in a remote mountain cabin
is an adventure, while the other nights are
spent at holiday farms or guesthouses with
an outdoor hot tub near by. Two nights in a
Reykjavík guesthouse with shared facilities
are included.
Day 1 Sunday:
Arrival in Iceland - Keflavik Airport -
Reykjavík
Transfer from Keflavik Airport to a
guesthouse in Reykjavík. You are invited to
join a Welcome Meeting where you will
receive details of your tour and meet your
fellow riders, traditional Icelandic soup is
served.
Day 2 Monday:
Reykjavík - Akureyri - Goðafoss -
Hvammsheiði - Saltvík Holiday Farm
Domestic flight in the morning to Akureyri
and transfer to Saltvík Farm. On the way we
stop at majestic Goðafoss waterfall. At
Saltvík, we start our ride after a short
introduction to the Icelandic horse and its
special gaits. We cross the mountain plateau
Hvammsheiði towards the Reykjahverfi area
with its white steaming hot springs. Surely
you will enjoy a relaxing bath in a warm
outdoor tub before dinner at Saltvík Farm
and overnight stay. (20 km)
Day 3 Tuesday:
Heiðabær - Theistareykir Mountain Cabin
Through the Geldingadalur valley and over
the plateau Reykjaheiði heath our trail
leads us to the geothermal area of
Theistareykir. At one point we will
practically cross over from one continental
plate to another as we ride over the
midatlantic ridge! It is a fascinating area
with deep earthquake fissures,
multi-coloured mountains and geothermal
energy. With all this volcanic activity
going on here, it is easy to understand that
Iceland is still under “natural
construction”! (40 km)
Day 4 Wednesday:
Theistareykir – Grímsstaðir – Jarðböð –
Hraunbrún Guesthouse
Enjoy today's ride from the Theistareykir
area past the mountains Gæsafjöll and
Hrafnabjörg. We follow good riding tracks
through the mountains, past lakes and
through bushy vegetation. At Grímsstaðir
Farm we leave the horses behind and take a
nice hot bath in Jarðböð, an outdoor pool
with geothermal water. We continue to
Hraunbrún Guesthouse where we stay over
night. (40 km)
Day 5 Thursday:
Skjólbrekka – Laxárdalur – Saltvík Holiday
Farm
We start the day with an exciting
sightseeing tour around Lake Mývatn by bus.
Visit Dimmuborgir, fantastic black lava
formations with rich vegetation. Our next
highlight is the geothermal area of
Hverarönd with boiling mud pools and steam
vents. We saddle up again and head out of
the Mývatn area. Through a black sand desert
we ride into colourful Laxárdalur valley
with glittering salmon River Laxá in the
middle. A true day of contrasts in the ever
changing Icelandic nature. Overnight at
Saltvík Farm for the last two nights. (30
km)
Day 6 Friday:
Breiðamýri – Saltvík Holiday Farm
Enjoy excellent riding paths in the lovely
birch wood area of Vatnshlíðarskógur and the
great views on the shores of Lake
Vestmannsvatn. We cross Laxá River on our
way to Hraunsréttir, a place used by the
farmers for their annual sheep round-up
every autumn Over Hvammsheiði Heath we ride
back to Saltvík Farm where the warm outdoor
tub is waiting. (40 km)
Optional Tour paid locally: Whale
Watching
At Húsavík harbour a boat is waiting to go
out on a whale watching cruise. There is no
better way to end a great tour than by
sailing into the evening sun with,
hopefully, whales swimming alongside. Price
per person approximately $65
Day 7 Saturday:
Saltvík - Akureyri - Reykjavík
In the morning return to Akureyri by bus and
flight back to Reykjavík Domestic Airport
with arrival at approximately 1330. Last
night in a guesthouse in Reykjavík.
Day 8: Sunday:
Departure from Iceland - Reykjavík -
Keflavik Airport
Transfer by bus to Keflavik Airport in time
for the flight back home.
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