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Icelandic Horse Round Ups

Overview

Enjoy the amazing autumn colours and adventure of joining Icelanders gathering their wild horses from the mountains! In September Iceland changes costumes from the green summer dress to the multicolour outfit of autumn! It’s an amazing season to travel around on horseback watching nature slow do…

Highlights

  • Ride with hundreds of free-running horses and foals
  • Help farmers to sort the horses and return them home
  • Experience the stark beauty of northern Iceland
  • Enjoy challenging riding across varied terrain
  • Enjoy the autumn colours of the landscapes

Essential Facts

  • 2 itineraries available
  • Max 15 riders per group (20 in camp)
  • Average of 5 - 6 hours riding per day
  • Weight limit: 90 kg / 14 stone 2 lbs

Description

Enjoy the amazing autumn colours and adventure of joining Icelanders gathering their wild horses from the mountains!

In September Iceland changes costumes from the green summer dress to the multicolour outfit of autumn! It’s an amazing season to travel around on horseback watching nature slow down for the upcoming arctic winter. This is also the time when farmers gather their sheep and horses down from the wilderness where they have spent the summer roaming around free in the mountains. This 6 day tour are a combination of a 5-day riding tour where you will enjoy the autumn colours and ever changing landscape of the north, and visit to the horse roundup of Skrapatungurétt, where you will join the farmers when they drive a herd of 500 young Icelandic horses from the mountains and separate them in the roundups.

Horses & Riding

Tack

The tack used for Icelandic horses is slightly different than the tack ordinarily used for other breeds.The saddle is similar to a dressage saddle and has a relatively flat seat. Saddles come with plain or quilted seats. On longer rides a crupper helps keeping the saddle in place. Riding style used on Icelandic horses is close to English riding style, but stirrups are worn long.

Bits used are mostly simple snaffles. Bridles have a detachable noseband and clip on reins.

Horses

Icelandic

Riding

There are 2 itineraries:

  • Miðfjarðarrétt Horse and Sheep Round Up is a based ride
  • Horse Round Up in Skrapatungurétt is a based ride

Ages

12 years and over

Health

Fit and Healthy

Weight

90 kg / 14 stone 2 lbs

Food & Accommodation

Food

During the ride full board is provided. The usual menu consists of a large breakfast and traditional Icelandic meals (fish or lamb). Vegetarian meals are available if requested when booking. All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table.

Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price and are hard to get in the highlands. They can be bought at a reasonable price in the Duty-Free Store at Keflavik Airport upon arrival.

Accommodation

The roundups are in the west part of Iceland and the accommodation is based in the small village of Laugarbakki, at a friendly community centre. This is the base for riders during all roundup tours, with shared rooms and facilities.

Itineraries

Miðfjarðarrétt Horse and Sheep Round Up Basic accommodation.

Horse Round Up in Skrapatungurétt Basic accommodation.

Other Activities

This ride is not suitable for non-riders.

Travel

Guests should fly to Reykjavik for this tour. The meeting point is the BSI Bus Station at 8am. For this reason, we recommend that guests plan to arrive in Iceland at least the night before their trail in order to meet the transfer to the farm in the north of the country.

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, the team predicts that you will be back in the city of Reykjavik (not the airport) at around 2 pm. 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 or take a flight much later in the evening (8 pm or after).

Testimonials

Jessica H., Oct. 8, 2021

Incredible! It was nothing like I expected it to be but was so much better. Definitely one for more experienced riders, it’s a real get on and keep up sort of ride. So much fun! Couldn’t have asked for better horses. I rode four on this trip and they were all well mannered, responsive and fun! I had a couple who were super speedy but I never felt out of control. Incredibly sure footed which really fills you with confidence.


Itinerary & Pricing

Day 1 - Day 1: Reykjavík – Reynhólar – Litli Hvammur 15-20 km 3-4 hours ride

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

In the morning you will meet up with the group at BSI Busstation in Reykjavík. 
You will then drive to Reynhólar farm (approx 3 hours drive). There you will saddle up and ride along the river Miðfjarðará on soft riverbanks to the farm Litli Hvammur where you‘ll leave the horses and drive to your guesthouse for the night.

Day 2 - Day 2: Litli Hvammur – Arnarvatnsheiði – Miðfjarðarrétt. Approx 20 – 25 km 5-6 hours

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

After breakfast, you will return to the horses and tack up for a full day in the saddle, riding into the hills to Arnarvatnsheiði to meet up with the farmers. By then they‘ll already have spent several days riding around in the highlands collecting horses and sheep and will be waiting for you to join them driving the big herds the last part to the roundups (Around 400 horses and 2000 sheep).

Day 3 - Day 3: Sheep roundup. Miðfjarðarrétt- Reynhólar. Approx 25 km 5-6 hours.

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

Today the farmers will round up the sheep. You will start spending some time watching the sheep roundups and then saddle up for a nice day riding in the valley. You will follow the riverbanks of Miðfjarðará again and spend the afternoon with your four-legged friend riding up to the hillsides of Reynhólar.

Day 4 - Day 4: Horse roundups. Approx. 15 km ride ( 2-3 hours )

Riding: 2 - 3 hours

Early in the morning the farmers will begin rounding up the horses. After all the horses have been allocated to the correct owners you will join the neighbour farmer of Reynhólar and help him taking his horses home.

Day 5 - Day 5: Drive back to Reykjavík

Riding: No riding.

After a hearty breakfast you will depart back to Reykjavik BSI Bus station.

Accommodation

The roundups are in the west part of Iceland and the accommodation is based in the small village of Laugarbakki, at a friendly community centre. This is the base for riders during all roundup tours, with shared rooms and facilities.
Experience Experienced

Experienced, fit riders. Typically the riding with the herd goes at a faster pace than riding without the herd. This means that you should be able to ride at speed (tölt) mainly, with often very little walk in between.
Minimum group size 10
Maximum group size 15
Departure windows

Sept. 4, 2025 - Sept. 8, 2025

Pricing

2025
Per person, sharing		 £1730 $2185 €2090
Included 4 nights accommodation in shared rooms, all meals from lunch on arrival day until breakfast on departure day, soft drinks with meals, 4 days of riding, return transfers from Reykjavik bus terminal.
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.

Day 1

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

You will be collected from pick up point at 8am in the morning. Please be ready at the earliest pick up time and be ready in your riding clothes. You will then take a bus up north where the tour starts at Reynhólar Farm (3 hours drive)
At Reynhólar guests will meet up with guides and horses and, after a short introduction, saddle up and ride along the river Miðfjarðará towards Gauksmýri farm where the horses stay overnight. Overnight at Sæberg hostel with hot pool aside (20 km).

Day 2

Riding: 6 - 8 hours

We ride in to Víðidalur valley along River Víðidalsá to Stóra Ásgeirsá farm crossing rivers and breathing in the clean air of the surrounding wilderness. Get to know the characteristics of the Icelandic horses as you journey across their land.
Overnight at Blönduós guesthouse /cottages with hot pools for guests. (25km)

Day 3

Riding: 6 - 8 hours

Today we follow great trails along the riverbanks of Víðidalsá and at the shores of lake Hóp which is one of the biggest lakes in Iceland where the spectacular sands of Thingeyrar divide the lake from the ocean before eventually reaching Sveinsstaðir, and your farm stay for the night. (30km)

Day 4

Riding: 5 - 6 hours

In the morning you will saddle up at Sveinsstaðir farm and ride towards Lake Húnavatn which you will cross with your horse at a passage about 100 meters wide! You will then head on towards Blönduós village and leave the horses at a nearby farm before heading back to your base at Blönduós. (20km).

Day 5

Riding: 4 - 7 hours

Today is the big day and the highlight of the tour when you will gather with farmers and other riders and journey up to the Laxárdalur valley where young horses from farmers in the area stay free all summer in the highlands. You will watch as the big herd of free horses is expertly driven down the valley and enjoy the company of locals and other visitors who gather this day to experience the thrill of a huge herd of horses running wild and free in nature. The ride ends at the coral Skrapatungurétt where all the young horses will be separated and taken back to their homes.

Day 6

Riding: No riding.

In the morning you will visit the roundups and watch when the farmers separate the herd and then drive back to Reykjavík where the tour ends at BSI bus station around 16.00

Accommodation

The roundups are in the west part of Iceland and the accommodation is based in the small village of Laugarbakki, at a friendly community centre. This is the base for riders during all roundup tours, with shared rooms and facilities.
Experience Experienced

For this trip you need to be a competent rider who rides regularly and is capable of handling horses in an open country. You must not be afraid of riding up and downhill at speed and over rough terrain.
Minimum group size 10
Maximum group size 15
Accommodation for up to 20.
Departure windows

Sept. 9, 2025 - Sept. 14, 2025  (Skrapatungurétt - please enquire for itinerary)

Pricing

2025
Skrapatungurétt Round Up		 £1975 $2500 €2390
5 night itinerary
Included 5 nights accommodation in shared rooms, all meals from lunch on arrival day until breakfast on departure day, soft drinks with meals, 5 days of riding, return transfers from Reykjavik bus terminal.
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.