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Golden Highlights of The South

Overview

This 215 km ride takes you to the most popular attractions in South Iceland. Follow paths between lava and volcanic hills to the Valley of the Horses and continue through soft grass to beautiful Lake Thingvallavatn. After a visit to the ancient site Thingvellir, you will ride across heathland t…

Highlights

  • Ride with herds of free running horses
  • Visit the ancient site Thingvellir
  • See the spectacular giant waterfall Gullfoss
  • Ride on soft sand alongside the volcano Hekla
  • Visit Lake Thingvallavatn

Essential Facts

  • 1 itinerary available
  • Max 18 riders per group
  • Average of 5 - 6 hours riding per day
  • Weight limit: 120kg / 264lb / 18st

Description

This 215 km ride takes you to the most popular attractions in South Iceland. Follow paths between lava and volcanic hills to the Valley of the Horses and continue through soft grass to beautiful Lake Thingvallavatn.

After a visit to the ancient site Thingvellir, you will ride across heathland to the hot springs at Geysir. Ride to the giant waterfall Gullfoss with Langjökull Glacier in the background, cross lava fields to Thjórsár River and ride through a forest. The tour ends with a ride on soft sand alongside the volcano Hekla.

Some say the highlight of this tour is riding amongst a herd of free running horses, an experience never to be forgotten.

Horses & Riding

Tack

Saddles used in Iceland are similar to dressage saddles with a flat seat and are very comfortable for the long hours in the saddle and help English style riders master the tolt. The Icelandic riding style is similar to English, but stirrups are worn long. The bridles are simple snaffles, and the bridles have a detachable nose band and clip on reins.

Horses

Your hosts breed all their Icelandic horses and are proud to produce well-behaved and well-gaited riding horses for their guests. Your hosts have up to 350 horses at their farm in the summer and 60-100 in the winter. Icelandic horses arrived with the first settlers from Scandinavia in the 9th century and have played a vital role in Icelandic history and culture for centuries. This breed can master five gaits rather than just the usual three and is best known for the tölt, a special gait which is very smooth and comfortable for the rider. Its lively temperament and friendly personality are amazing, and it is incredibly strong and sure-footed, allowing riders to feel safe and experience the soft tölt.

Please note: Icelandic horses are not vaccinated and are therefore susceptible to infectious agents from abroad! Used riding clothes and boots should be washed in a washing machine or dry cleaned prior to entering the country. Clothes, boots and
helmets that can't be placed in a washing machine or dry cleaned should be washed and disinfected. Importing of used riding equipment and riding gloves is strictly prohibited.

Riding

There is 1 itinerary:

  • Golden Highlights Southern Wilderness is a trail ride

Ages

Minimum aged 15 years (please enquire if you are an experienced rider under 15 years old).

Health

Good physical condition.

Weight

120kg / 264lb / 18st

Food & Accommodation

Food

For your first night you will eat in the hotel restaurant which offers a cozy and inviting atmosphere where meals focus on Icelandic cuisine. Your hosts always try their best to serve meals made from locally grown produce, much of it coming from the town of Hveragerði, less than 2 km away from the stables. Meat and fish are provided by local farmers and fishermen.

During your trail all food is included starting with dinner on arrival day and ending with lunch on the last riding day. Dinner is traditional Icelandic. In summer, lunch is either packed in saddle bags or the cook meets the group. Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available on request – please book in advance. Please note that dinner on the last evening is not included.

Accommodation

Accommodation during the trail is at farms, guesthouses, community centres and simple mountain huts (dormitory style). The first night you will stay at Guesthouse Eldhestar which is located in the grounds of Hotel Eldhestar and is owned by your ride hosts. On the other nights of your trail your accommodation will be simple and in shared rooms and you will need to bring your own sleeping bag. Some mountain huts in the highlands only have cold water and no showers.

The guesthouse in which you will stay on your first night has a cosy living room, shared bathroom facilities, tea and coffee making facilities and a small refrigerator. You will be in shared rooms (3-4 beds per room) and while you are staying in the guesthouse meals will be taken in the hotel restaurant. There is a door directly to the garden, allowing you to step outside and observe the northern lights, when the conditions allow.

The location is perfect for exploring Iceland’s most popular attractions, which are all within driving distance. Even better, there is a geothermal area right at the doorstep, providing endless options for outdoor activities that cater to every interest and age group.

This unique and enchanting setting gives you plenty of opportunity to relax and unwind, perhaps in the soothing hot tub, overlooking the stunning Icelandic landscape. Imagine soaking away your worries under the stars, surrounded by nature’s serenity.

Itineraries

Golden Highlights Southern Wilderness Basic accommodation.

Other Activities

The location is perfect for exploring Iceland’s most popular attractions, which are all within driving distance. Even better, there is a geothermal area right at the doorstep, providing endless options for outdoor activities that cater to every interest and age group.

Travel

Guests should fly to Reykjavik for this tour. The meeting point is the BSI Bus Station in Reykjavík on day one at between 17:30 & 18:00.

International flights to Iceland will land at Keflavik international airport (roughly 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik city). There is a regular bus service between the airport and the city centre.

On departure day, your hosts will transfer you back to the city of Reykjavik (not the airport) late afternoon. However, please note that this transfer can often be delayed for any number of reasons. To be safe and avoid missing your flight, we would advise planning to spend this final night in the city and fly the next day.

Itinerary & Pricing

Day 1 - Arrival

Riding: No riding.

The meeting point for this ride is between 17:30- 18:00 at the BSÍ bus stataion in Reykjavík or at your hotel. If you arrive in Iceland the same day you should take the “Flybus” from the airport to BSÍ final bus stop in Reykjavík (not included).

Your hosts will then drive you to their farm Vellir near Hveragerði where you will spend your first night in their guesthouse. You will meet your fellow riders and get to know each other during the dinner at Hotel Eldhestar. The day will end with a detailed description of what you can expect on your ride.

Day 2 - Hveragerdi – Kolvidarhóll

Riding: 4 hours

You will start the day by getting to know the horses in the paddock on the farm. After lunch, you follow the old route from Hveragerdi to Hellisheidi and when you reach the moor, continue to the Hengill volcano along the Kristnitökuhraun lava field. This lava came from the eruption of Hengill in the year 1000, the same year Iceland officially became Christian. The old folktales say that the eruption was the revenge of the old gods Thór, Ódinn and Freyr.

You then continue on the track between lava and hills (“milli hrauns og hlidar”), down to Kolvidarhóll, where people have stopped to rest for hundreds of years. The night will be spent at the farm.

Riding distance: 21 kms

Day 3 - Kolvidarhóll – Heiðarbær

Riding: 6 - 7 hours

Today you continue North below the Húsmúli and Hengill mountains. You will need to dismount and lead the horses through the narrow cleft to Marardalur (Valley of Horses) then ride through Dyrfjöll (Door mountains) and alongside Sköflungur. Once you reach the mountaintop, the view over Lake Thingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland is spectacular.

After arriving near Heiðarbær, you will end the day with the sights seeing at the old Althing (Icelandic Parliament). From here, it is not far to Skógarhólar, where you spend the night in a mountain hut. Iceland’s national horse competition Landsmot was held at Skógarhólar until 1978.

Riding distance: 38 kms

Day 4 - Skógarhólar – Geysir/Myrkholt

Riding: 6 - 7 hours

After breakfast you will ride towards the Thingvellir National Park. From Gjábakki you will have an exceptional view over the park, lake Thingvallavatn and the stunning volcanic landscape around it. This is the area where the North American and European continental plates meet. The plates are drifting apart about 2 cm per year on average, which has created a beautiful valley.

The ride then crosses Lyngdalsheidi Moor, and stops at the Laugarvatnshellir lava caves before you finish the day’s ride outside the village of Laugarvatn, named after the nearby lake. The lake is heated by underwater hot springs.

The bus will take you to Guesthouse Myrkholt and then on a sightseeing tour to the famous “golden waterfall” Gullfoss, and to the Geysir hot spring area in Haukadalur.

Riding distance: 35 kms

Day 5 - Geysir/Myrkholt – Helgaskáli

Riding: 6 - 7 hours

From Myrkholt you continue up towards the Icelandic highlands, leaving the inhabited farmlands. On your way into the desert-like landscape you will have a magnificent view over the glacial river Hvítá (“white river”), and see how the river, over hundreds of years, has shaped the mountain, flowing deeper and deeper into it.

You will spend the night in a mountain hut called Helgaskáli beside the Litla-Laxá River.

Riding distance: 35 kms

Day 6 - Helgaskáli – Hólaskógar

Riding: 4 hours

This morning you will continue riding through the fascinating, wide landscape in the highlands where you can actually listen to the silence until reaching Háifoss, which is with its 122 meters the second highest waterfall in Iceland.

Your destination for the night is the Hólaskógar hut, which is located in a very special and varied environment.

Riding distance: 20 kms

Day 7 - Hólaskógur – Fellsmúli

Riding: 8 hours

The ride continues along Iceland’s longest river Thjórsá and passes the Mt. Búrfell, which, in the old days, was the home of trolls, and Tröllkonuhlaup (the place where a troll woman jumped over the river).

After some kilometres along the river, you get a magnificent view over Thjófafoss (the Waterfall of the Thieves), about which many stories are told. You will leave the horses at the Fellsmúli Farm and from here will be able to see the Mount Hekla Volcano.

You will spend the night at the old community center Brúarlundur.

Riding distance: 45 kms

Day 8 - Fellsmúli – Fellsmúli

Riding: 4 hours

For your final ride you will take the path along Eystri-Rangá River and enjoy riding on soft grass. The whole day you will have the Hekla volcano in view, Iceland’s most active volcano which was once called the entrance to hell. You will ride back to Fellsmúli and then leave the horses here.

Around 15:30 the bus will collect you and takes you first to Eldhestar for some refreshments and later to Reykjavik, where the tour ends.

Riding distance: 24 kms

Accommodation

For the first night you will stay at Guesthouse Eldhestar (2 to 4 riders per room with shared facilities). An upgrade to Hotel Eldhestar is possible for an extra charge (subject to availability - please enquire).

While you are on the trail you will stay at farms, guesthouses, community centres and simple mountain huts. These will be dormitory style (bring your own sleeping bag) and simple but very welcoming. Some mountain huts in the highlands only have cold water and no showers.

Experience Intermediate / Experienced

This ride is suitable for intermediate and experienced riders. You need to be comfortable with long hours in the saddle and comfortable in all paces in open spaces.

Minimum group size 2
Maximum group size 18
Departure windows

June 3, 2025 - June 10, 2025

July 2, 2025 - July 9, 2025

Aug. 15, 2025 - Aug. 22, 2025

Pricing

2025
Rider, Sharing
£2310 $2990 €2740
Included 7 nights guesthouse accommodation (2-4 beds per shared room with shared facilities) and in sleeping-bag accommodation (cottages and simple mountain huts with bunk beds shared rooms). 7 days riding. Full board (traditional Icelandic home cooking). Dinner on the last day is not included. English speaking guide, riding and safety equipment and transfer from/to Reykjavik at set times.
Not included Flights, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks, tips & other personal expenses.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.