Iceland - Highland Trails
Snæfellsnes (7 nights/6 days riding) The Snæfellsnes peninsula, recently designated a National Park, is often called “Iceland in a nutshell” because of its extreme diversity of landscape. This ride takes you through lava fields, green valleys, wide-open stretches of pale sandy beach, and the multi-coloured mountains of Hítardalur valley. This exciting ride along the Snæfellsnes beaches will leave you breathless.
The glacier covered cone volcano Snæfellsjökull, after which the peninsula is named, is one of the most recognised sights in Iceland. Its mystic atmosphere has been described in words and written language and became famous through Jules Verne’s novel “A journey to the centre of the Earth.”
Golden Circle (6 nights/6 riding days) There is no better way to visit the hot springs area of Geysir and the Golden Waterfall of Gullfoss than by riding through the lovely countryside of southern Iceland. On some days your guides lead spare horses, whilst other days are more challenging as the spare horses will travel with you as a loose herd as you cross the highland moor of Hrunaheði.
Geysir-Gullfoss Special (5 nights/4 riding days) For those who have less time, a short break is also available in southern Iceland. On the Geysir-Gullfoss Special you join the first four days of the Golden Circle tour, returning to Reykjavik on the Thursday morning, whilst the rest of the group continue on the Golden Circle Tour.
Northern Lights Ride (3 nights/3 riding days) Autumn in Iceland means a colourful countryside and Northern Lights dancing in the black night sky. Enjoy visiting the best known sights in Iceland, riding the Icelandic horse along fine bridle paths and hopefully viewing dazzling Northern Lights after a good day in the saddle.
Northern Lights Comfort Tour (2 nights/2 riding days) These rides take place in the south of Iceland and are a great introduction to the Icelandic horse and an opportunity to search the skies for the Northern Lights. There is a separate itinerary for non-riders, and you stay in hotel accommodation with private facilities.
Snæfellsnes For these trails you need to be a strong, confident rider able to adapt to different riding styles. General fitness is as important as riding experience due to the long hours in the saddle and the fast pace of the ride.
On the trail you change horses once or twice a day and as you ride, the herd of fifty or more loose horses travels with you.
Golden Circle, Geysir-Gullfoss Special, Northern Lights Ride, Northern Lights Comfort Tour These trails are suitable for intermediate riders and above, and are ideal for families or groups of mixed abilities. General fitness is important due to the sometimes long hours in the saddle and fast pace of the ride.
On all trails riders are expected to care for their horse (grooming and tacking up) but help is always on hand should you need it.
The riding style is English.
Hard hats are mandatory.
Snæfellsnes You stay in farmhouse accommodation at Hraunholt Farm in two to three person rooms, with made up beds. Bathrooms are shared; there are three toilets and three showers. WiFi is available.
Golden Circle, Geysir-Gullfoss Special You stay in two different farmhouse accommodations.
At Blesastaðir guesthouse you stay in two to four person rooms, with made up beds. Bathrooms are shared; there are three showers and three toilets. There is a hot tub at this guesthouse and WiFi is available.
Myrkholt is located just between Gullfoss waterfall and the hot spring Geysir. There are 32 beds split between eight rooms. Bathrooms are shared; there are eight showers and four toilets. WiFi is available.
Northern Lights Ride Accommodation is at Blesastaðir guesthouse. The accommodation is shared in two to four person rooms with made up beds. Bathrooms are shared (three showers and three toilets). Single rooms (with shared facilities) may be available on certain dates at a supplement. There is a hot tub at this guesthouse and WiFi is available.
Northern Lights Comfort Ride Accommodation is at Fosshotel Hekla, close to Mt. Hekla, with Eyjafjallajökull and Fimmvörðuháls volcanoes close by. The accommodation is double/twin ensuite rooms. Single accommodation is available at a supplement. There is a restaurant, bar and on site hot tub.
On all trail rides, a support vehicle goes ahead carrying personal gear.
If you do not see availability for your preferred dates please do contact us. There might have been a cancellation or we might have a slightly different ride in Iceland which would appeal to you.
These rides have set arrival and departures.
Depending on your flight times you may need a night in Reykjavik before and after the ride.
| Holiday | Experience LevelExp Lvl | Arrive - DepartArr - Dep | Price | Itinerary | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Lights Ride | 29 Jan 2020 - 1 Feb 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 19 Feb 2020 - 22 Feb 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 26 Feb 2020 - 29 Feb 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 4 Mar 2020 - 7 Mar 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 11 Mar 2020 - 14 Mar 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 18 Mar 2020 - 21 Mar 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Comfort Tour | 26 Mar 2020 - 28 Mar 2020 | 2 nights 2 ngts | $1,732.65 |
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| Northern Lights Comfort Tour | 2 Apr 2020 - 4 Apr 2020 | 2 nights 2 ngts | $1,732.65 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 8 Apr 2020 - 11 Apr 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Golden Circle | 30 May 2020 - 5 Jun 2020 | 6 nights 6 ngts | $2,422.24 |
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| Geysir - Gullfoss Special | 30 May 2020 - 4 Jun 2020 | 5 nights 5 ngts | $1,726.86 |
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| Golden Circle | 6 Jun 2020 - 12 Jun 2020 | 6 nights 6 ngts | $2,422.24 |
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| Geysir - Gullfoss Special | 6 Jun 2020 - 11 Jun 2020 | 5 nights 5 ngts | $1,726.86 |
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| Snæfellsnes | 6 Jun 2020 - 13 Jun 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $2,548.57 |
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| Golden Circle | 13 Jun 2020 - 19 Jun 2020 | 6 nights 6 ngts | $2,422.24 |
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| Geysir - Gullfoss Special | 13 Jun 2020 - 18 Jun 2020 | 5 nights 5 ngts | $1,726.86 |
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| Snæfellsnes | 20 Jun 2020 - 27 Jun 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $2,548.57 |
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| Golden Circle | 11 Jul 2020 - 17 Jul 2020 | 6 nights 6 ngts | $2,654.03 |
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| Geysir - Gullfoss Special | 11 Jul 2020 - 16 Jul 2020 | 5 nights 5 ngts | $1,853.19 |
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| Golden Circle | 18 Jul 2020 - 24 Jul 2020 | 6 nights 6 ngts | $2,654.03 |
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| Geysir - Gullfoss Special | 18 Jul 2020 - 23 Jul 2020 | 5 nights 5 ngts | $1,853.19 |
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| Between The Rivers | 20 Jul 2020 - 23 Jul 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,505.50 |
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| Golden Circle | 25 Jul 2020 - 31 Jul 2020 | 6 nights 6 ngts | $2,654.03 |
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| Geysir - Gullfoss Special | 25 Jul 2020 - 30 Jul 2020 | 5 nights 5 ngts | $1,853.19 |
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| Golden Circle | 1 Aug 2020 - 7 Aug 2020 | 6 nights 6 ngts | $2,654.03 |
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| Geysir - Gullfoss Special | 1 Aug 2020 - 6 Aug 2020 | 5 nights 5 ngts | $1,853.19 |
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| Golden Circle | 8 Aug 2020 - 14 Aug 2020 | 6 nights 6 ngts | $2,654.03 |
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| Geysir - Gullfoss Special | 8 Aug 2020 - 13 Aug 2020 | 5 nights 5 ngts | $1,853.19 |
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| Golden Circle | 29 Aug 2020 - 4 Sep 2020 | 6 nights 6 ngts | $2,422.24 |
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Book | |
| Geysir - Gullfoss Special | 29 Aug 2020 - 3 Sep 2020 | 5 nights 5 ngts | $1,726.86 |
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| Snæfellsnes | 29 Aug 2020 - 5 Sep 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $2,548.57 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 16 Sep 2020 - 19 Sep 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 30 Sep 2020 - 3 Oct 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 7 Oct 2020 - 10 Oct 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Comfort Tour | 15 Oct 2020 - 17 Oct 2020 | 2 nights 2 ngts | $1,732.65 |
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| Northern Lights Comfort Tour | 22 Oct 2020 - 24 Oct 2020 | 2 nights 2 ngts | $1,732.65 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 28 Oct 2020 - 31 Oct 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 4 Nov 2020 - 7 Nov 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 18 Nov 2020 - 21 Nov 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 25 Nov 2020 - 28 Nov 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 9 Dec 2020 - 12 Dec 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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| Northern Lights Ride | 16 Dec 2020 - 19 Dec 2020 | 3 nights 3 ngts | $1,157.81 |
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Book |
INCLUDES Shared farmhouse accommodation; meals on the ride; riding; transfers during the ride; heavy duty waterproof jacket and trousers.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Snæfellsnes: Single/double/twin rooms are not available on the ride and you should be prepared to share.
Golden Circle: $463.59 to guarantee a single room.
Geysir-Gullfoss Special: $386.34 to guarantee a single room.
Northern Lights Ride $231.79 to guarantee a single room.
Northern Lights Comfort Ride $206.04 to guarantee a single room.
Please note, single rooms are not always available on these rides. There is no single supplement if you are willing to share.
PAYABLE LOCALLY Drinks; tips; airport transfers.
NEAREST AIRPORT Keflavik.
TRANSFERS Included from Reykjavik city at set times.
Return transfers are included from Reykjavik BSI central bus station at 18:00 on the first day of the ride, dropping off on the last day at about 11:30.
There is a regular Flybus service (http://www.re.is/flybus) between Keflavik airport and Reykjavik BSI central bus station. To allow sufficient time to transfer by Flybus, we recommend your flights arrive before 16:00 on the first day and depart Keflavik after 15:30 on the last day.
Depending on the time of your return flight, you may need to make your own accommodation arrangements in Reykjavik for the night after the ride. Please check with us if you are unsure of the timings.
It is possible to arrange drop off for some hotels in Reykjavik, except those in the very centre. For these hotels you will be dropped off at the nearest designated bus stop. You will find a map of the bus stop locations and further information at www.busstop.is.
Return transfers are included from Reykjavik city at set times on the first and last day of the ride.
You will need to make your own accommodation arrangements in Reykjavik for the night before the ride. Depending on the time of your return flight, you may also need accommodation at the end of the ride.
For collections in the afternoon/evening, transfers will depart from Reykjavik BSI bus station. It is possible to arrange drop offs and morning collections for some hotels in Reykjavik, except those in the very centre. For these hotels you will be collected from the nearest designated bus stop.
Return transfers are included from Reykjavik BSI central bus station at 16:00 on the first day of the ride, dropping off on the last day at about 17:30.
There is a regular Flybus service (http://www.re.is/flybus) between Keflavik airport and Reykjavik BSI central bus station. To allow sufficient time to transfer by Flybus, we recommend your flights arrive before 14:00 on the first day and depart Keflavik after 21:30 on the last day.
Depending on the time of your flights, you may need to make your own accommodation arrangements in Reykjavik for the nights before and after the ride. Please check with us if you are unsure of the timings.
It is possible to arrange drop off on the last day for some hotels in Reykjavik, except those in the very centre. For these hotels you will be dropped off at the nearest designated bus stop. You will find a map of the bus stop locations and further information at www.busstop.is.
Return transfers are included from Reykjavik BSI central bus station at 17:00 on the first day of the ride, dropping off in Reykjavik city on the last day at about 18:00.
There is a regular Flybus service (http://www.re.is/flybus) between Keflavik airport and Reykjavik BSI central bus station. To allow sufficient time to transfer by Flybus, we recommend your flights arrive before 15:00 on the first day and depart Keflavik after 22:00 on the last day.
Depending on the time of your flights, you may need to make your own accommodation arrangements in Reykjavik for the nights before and after the ride. Please check with us if you are unsure of the timings.
It is possible to arrange drop off on the last day for some hotels in Reykjavik, except those in the very centre. For these hotels you will be dropped off at the nearest designated bus stop. You will find a map of the bus stop locations and further information at www.busstop.is.
Return transfers are included from Reykjavik BSI central bus station at 18:00 on the first day of the ride, dropping off on the last day at about 11:30.
There is a regular Flybus service (http://www.re.is/flybus) between Keflavik airport and Reykjavik BSI central bus station. To allow sufficient time to transfer by Flybus, we recommend your flights arrive before 16:00 on the first day and depart Keflavik after 15:30 on the last day.
Depending on the time of your return flight, you may need to make your own accommodation arrangements in Reykjavik for the night after the ride. Please check with us if you are unsure of the timings.
It is possible to arrange drop off on the last day for some hotels in Reykjavik, except those in the very centre. For these hotels you will be dropped off at the nearest designated bus stop. You will find a map of the bus stop locations and further information at www.busstop.is.
Return transfers are included from Reykjavik BSI central bus station at 18:00 on the first day of the ride, dropping off on the last day at about 20:00.
There is a regular Flybus service (http://www.re.is/flybus) between Keflavik airport and Reykjavik BSI central bus station. To allow sufficient time to transfer by Flybus, we recommend your flights arrive before 16:00 on the first day.
You will need to make your own accommodation arrangements in Reykjavik for the night after the ride. Please check with us if you are unsure of the timings.
It is possible to arrange drop off on the last day for some hotels in Reykjavik, except those in the very centre. For these hotels you will be dropped off at the nearest designated bus stop. You will find a map of the bus stop locations and further information at www.busstop.is.
The Snæfellsnes ride is on the beaches and through the mountains of the Snæfellsnes peninsular in western Iceland, whilst the Golden Circle, Geysir-Gullfoss Special and Northern Lights Rides are in central and southern Iceland.
The climate in Iceland is milder than its name and latitude suggests. However, the weather can change very quickly, especially in the mountains, going from warm and sunny to freezing cold in a few hours, and it is often very windy. Therefore, you must be prepared for all types of weather. In the summer months of June and July there are 24 hours of daylight.
Riding was exciting but safe. What more could you want. This was a well-organised wonderful holiday that exceeded my expectations. I was a bit worried about coping with the riding at my advanced age but it was fine. I would encourage anyone who is reasonably fit and can ride ok to enjoy this experience.
Philippa ,Hampshire
Overall rating: 5/5Expect the unexpected! A relaxed attitude is a must for the rides in Iceland as things definitely run on "horse time" and not to a strict timetable.
Chris says
The Snæfellsnes ride will take your breath away! Fast fabulous tölting along wide open beaches with a herd of loose horses.