Across Iceland in between Glaciers
Kjölur trail - towards the South
Dates 2020
Upon request
Only for private groups of min 6 riders
This tour can also me tailor-made upon group´s wishes
Upon request
Only for private groups of min 6 riders
This tour can also me tailor-made upon group´s wishes
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Waterfalls, Glaciers, Geothermal baths, free running herd
Join us on a truly adventurous ride across Iceland on historical routes along huge glaciers and through lava fields! We travel with a small group in the traditional style with a large herd of free running horses and stay overnight in rustic mountain huts. Visit the Golden Waterfull Gullfoss, the breathtaking Brúarhlöð canyon and the hot springs of the Geysir Area. Enjoy fine views of the terrific Kerlingarfjöll mountain range and follow the footsteps of the ancient Icelanders at Thingvellir Parliament place and relax in the geothermal natural bath of the Secret Lagoon. During this tour you will cross several glacial rivers on horseback, ride along narrow trails through vast lava fields only accessible to horses and will feel the indiscribable freedom of the highlands! On this tour we ride with our wonderful warmhearted hosts Hjalti and Ása from Kjóastaðir farm who know this part of the highland better than anybody else. Look forward to home- made food with love and wonderful singing in the evening! The food provenance is mainly sourced from local family farms and the ultra fresh vegetables come from nearby Flúðir area where the greenhouses are heated with geothermal energy. This tour is only recommended for experienced riders that are capable and happy to ride for 6-7 hours/20 - 40 km a day. You should feel comfortable riding in all gaits over rough terrain and be willing to follow the speed of the free running herd. Please note: Before the actual tour starts you can add an optional two day tour to the highlights of the north, to Akureyri town, Goðafoss waterfall and Lake Mývatn with all its spectacular natural wonders |
Type: Multi -day tour with spare horses running along in a herd Duration: 7 days / 6 riding days Level of expertise required: Experienced riders only in good physical shape. Area: Across Iceland between the huge glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull Accommodation: Mainly in sleeping bag accommodation in rustic mountain huts Meals: Full board during the ride Guide: Upon group´s wishes Maximum Weight: 110 kg Price 2020: Depending on group size. Please ask us for a special price for your group! info@exploringiceland.is Please bring your own sleeping bag and a small pillow. Available for extra surcharge if booked in advance. |
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DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Day 1: Reykjavík – Skagafjörður – Lake Aðalmannsvatn - Galtará Mountain Hut Pick up at BSÍ bus terminal or your accommodation in Reykjavík at 8 am. If preferred we can arrange a pick up at your accommodation in the capital area between 7 and 8 am. We drive north along the ringroad passing the coastal towns of Borganes and Blönduós to Skagafjörður, our starting point to this tour. Please read about our optional pre-tour to Akureyri and Lake Mývatn below! In Skagafjörður you are welcomed by the Across Kjölur Team and while enjoying lunch your guide will give you an introduction to the Icelandic Horse, the route, tack and the special gait tölt. We start our ride at the farm and ride through the fertile green meadows of the valley before ascending to Lake Aðalmannsvatn with superb views in all directions! Our first night in the mountains we spend at Galtará mountain hut close to lake Blönduvatn. Riding distance: ca. 35 km. Accommodation Galtará: Luxurious big mountain hut with bunk beds in 2-4 bed rooms. Inside toilets and showers. Day 2: Galtará Mountain Hut – Strangakvísl Mountain Hut Today is going to be an easy riding day when we ride from Galtará to our next mountain home Strangakvísl across Eyvindarstaðaheiði plateau. We follow the historic riding routes used by Icelanders for the last centuries when they rode across Iceland. Clearly we can still see the the cairns, the ancient roadmarks or „vörður“ as they are called in Icelandic. They would be placed close enough together so that standing at one, the next was always within sight. The word „varða“ means „guardian“. So the „vörður“ would literally guard the traveler riding across the highlands, often in bad weather. They were also believed to protect people from ghosts, trolls, outlaws, the „huldufólk“ (hidden people) and evil spirits. Sometimes people would put little poems or verses into hollow bones and placed them in the cairns. Those cairns were usually known as „beinakerlingar“ or „bone hags“. Imagine yourself two centuries ago riding across Iceland towards the parliament at Thingvellir, which we are going to visit on the last day of this tour! Riding distance: ca. 20 km. Accommodation Strangakvísl: Luxurious big mountain hut with bunk beds in two rooms. Plenty of space to party! Inside toilets. Bunkbeds in two rooms. Day 3: Strangakvísl Mountain Hut – Hveravellir Mountain Hut Today we have some some river crossings on horseback ahead of us as we ride over the mountain plateau of Guðlaugstungur. We will cross the rivers Ströngukvísl, Svartákvísl and the glacial river Blanda before reaching the geothermal area of Hveravellir, situated right between the enormous glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull. Here we will take a step back in time when we follow the footsteps of Eyvindur the Outlaw who used to have his favorite hide out in this area. We go for a little walk to his cave and over the geothermal field with its little geysers and bubbling hot springs. At Hveravellir we have the opportunity to bath in the natural geothermal hot pool right next to our hut. Riding distance: ca. 20 km. Accommodation Hveravellir: Cozy mountain hut right beside a natural geothermal bathing pool! Inside toilet. Bunk beds in two rooms. Day 4: Hveravellir – Árbúðir Today is going to be a long riding day with breathtaking scenery when we ride from Hveravellir to Árbúðir at Svartá river. We start our ride with climbing up to Þröskuldur ridge and then descending into Þjófadalir valley – the most imageable romantic hide away in between steep mountains. Carefully our horses will step through the huge lavafield of Kjalhraun when we ride to Hrútsfell mountain where the glacier tongues of its beautiful Regnbúðajökull ice cap flow down the mountain slopes. During the later part of the summer this area is covered in purple River Beauty willowherb. Along the glacial river Fúlákvísl we ride to our next mountain home, the Árbúðir hut next to Svartá river. From Árbúðir hut we have a perfect view towards the surging icefields of Langjökull glacier and can feel the cold breeze coming from the huge ice cap. Riding distance: ca. 50 km. Accommodation Árbúðir: Cozy mountain hut with beautiful views towards Langjökull glacier. Toilets and shower on site. Bunkbeds in one big room. Day 5: Árbúðir – Svínárnes We continue our ride with beautiful views of Kerlingarfjöll mountain range to the east and Langjökull glacier to the west before crossing the river Jökulfall. Whereas the first part of the ride will be along soft trails through green meadows along the river Svartá we will ride through a fascinating desert like area during he afternoon towards Svínárnes hut. Truly a day of variations in landscape and topography! Riding distance: ca. 20 km. Accommodation Svínárnes: Simple and basic hut used by the farmers when they gather the sheep in autumn. Water flushing toilets outside in separate building. 4x2 bunkbeds downstairs and sleeping attic for 15 people upstairs. Day 6: Svínárnes – Tungufell – Secret Lagoon - Kjóastaðir Our last day of riding and it is going to be a long one! During the ride we have perfect views of the huge Bláfell mountain (1204m), a distinctive, flat-topped, steep-sided volcano formed when lava erupts through a glacier or ice sheet. These types of volcanoes are very rare, being confined to regions which were covered by glaciers and had active volcanism during the same period. The giant Bergþór used to live in Bláfell mountain, look forward to his lovely tale. By now the horses have started „smelling their stable“ so enjoy a fast tölt through the beautiful birch forest of Tungufellsdalur and along the Brúarhlöð canyon. At Kjóastaðir, the home of our lovely hosts Ása and Hjalti, you can expect a true feast after the relaxing bath in the Secret Lagoon, a natural hot spring. We are sure you are going to appreciate the made-up beds in the lovely guesthouse after „roughening it“ in the mountains for a week! Riding distance: ca. 45 km. Accommodation Kjóastaðir: made up beds in 2-4 bed rooms w/shared facilities. Day 7: Kjóastaðir – Gullfoss – Geysir - Thingvellir Nationalpark – Reykjavík. After a plentiful breakfast we fix our lunch from the buffet and have to say goodbye to our lovely hosts before heading off to a sightseeing tour to the natural wonders of the South. We start by visiting the Golden Waterfall Gullfoss and continue to Geysir geothermal field with its numerous hot springs and the erupting geysir Strokkur. At Thingvellir Nationalpark, situated right on top of the midatlantic ridge, we find a heaven for everybody interested in geology and history. We can clearly see the landrop caused by the plates drifting apart. At Thingvellir, the ancient parliament, was founded and our guide will take you to all the major points of interest and tell you about the amazing judical system of the past. Return to Reykjavík in the afternoon and drop off at either your accommodation in Reykjavík or at BSÍ bus terminal to catch the flybus to Keflavík International Airport. Exploring Iceland reserves the right to alter routes, itineraries or timetables should the necessity arise. The estimated duration of tours as indicated by km or timing can change according to road or weather conditions. |
Included:
- Transfer from Reykjavik to farm on first day and transfer to Reykjavík on 7th day.
- 1 night in Kjóastaðir guesthouse in 2-4 bed rooms w/shared facilities in made up beds.
- 5 nights in sleeping bag accommodation in mountain huts and farm house during the tour.
- Full pension during the tour starting with lunch on the first day and ending with breakfast on the last day.
- 6x riding days according to program
- 1x visit to Secret Lagoon & Hveravellir Pool.
- English speaking guide.
ADD-ON PACKAGE in North Iceland
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Akureyri – Mývatn optional pre tour before the actual trail ride:
Tour itinerary: Reykjavik - Akureyri - Lake Mývatn Fly from Reykjavík at noon or earlier and take on a slow journey through the mystical landscapes of Lake Mývatn and surroundings. Your guide will take you to all of the natural highlights of the area such as Dimmuborgir, Goðafoss waterfall, Víti explosion crater, Skútustaðir pseudo craters and the geothermal field of Námaskarð. Around dinner time you visit a local countryside restaurant for a hearty meal. We end the evening on a visit to Mývatn Nature Baths where you relax with the Midnight Sun hovering on the horizon. Overnight in Akureyri Akureyri - Skagafjörður Free time explore the beautiful town of Akureyri until noon before going by bus to Skagafjörður, your starting point of the riding tour. Included:
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Additional service:
