Mountains and Beaches 
​of Snæfellsnes peninsula 

Dates 2023
June 17 - 23  
July 1 - 7 & 15 - 21 & 29 - 4 August 
August ​12-18  & 26 - 1 September 

Golden beaches and black lava 
This tour takes you onto the beautiful wild peninsula Snæfellsnes in West Iceland. This areas has been claimed to be one of the most diverse landscapes of Iceland as you will experience glaciers, volcanoes, rocky coastlines, lava fields, high mountains and lucious green meadows in just one area. The peninsula also boasts an amazing wildlife especially when it comes to sea birds and seals. The tour will take you into the mountains to the famous Hítardalur valley and along the golden beaches of Löngufjörur – in fact you will be experiencing the best of two worlds!
This ride is a very comfortable ride, the daily rides cover 25-35 km per day and you will stay every night at the farm guesthouse – so no packing required. Accommodation is provided in double or twin rooms with shared facilities in a lovely farm guesthouse that also features a hot tub on the porch with beautiful views into the mountain side.

Shorter version of this trail: If 6 riding days are too much for you please note that you can also book a part of this tour with either 2 or 4 riding days. Please contact us for prices and more information: 

​Type:   Multi - day tour with free running herd of spare horses 
Operated: By a trusted partner of Exploring Iceland ​
Duration:  7 days / 6 nights/ 6 riding days
Group size: Min. 6 guests /Max. 18 guests
Level of expertise required: Intermediate and experienced riders in good physical shape
Area:  West Iceland
Accommodation: Double/twin rooms with shared facilities in farm guesthouse.  Accommodation in Reykjavik not included but can be arranged. ​
Meals: Full board starting with dinner on the first day and ending with breakfast on the last day.   
Guide: English speaking.
Maximum Weight: 110 kg 

Price 2023:  Please contact us for prices!  and more information if needed! 

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​Day by day itinerary:  

​Day 1: Transfer to the farm – tour preparations
Pick up in the afternoon at BSÍ bus terminal in Reykjavík. If arriving on the same day, please make sure that your arrival time is no later than 2:30 pm/14:30 as you will have to transfer from Keflavík airport to Reykjavík. A flybus or taxi transfer can be arranged but is not included. The short drive from Reykjavík along the coastline takes you via Borgarnes town to our farm on the south side of Snæfellsnes. At the welcome dinner at the farm you will have the opportunity to get to know your fellow riders and your guide for the tour. The route will be discussed and first preparations for the first ride tomorrow are made. You also may want to check out the hot tub on the porch!
 
Day 2:  Towards Grímsstaðir Mountains  
After breakfast we meet the horses and after an introduction into the Icelandic tack and the special gaits of the Icelandic horse we set out towards Grímsstaðir mountains. The first part takes us through green farmland on remote country lanes – ideal to practise the tölt! Enjoy lovely mountain views and the sight and sounds of the free running herd in front of you! (Riding distance ca. 25 km)  
 
Day 3:  Across the lavafield Staðahraun
Today´s ride will take you across the wide and dark lavafield Staðahraun. Multi coloured mountains and pristine salmon rivers accompany us for this ride. We ride across a mountain pass and enjoy excellent views in all directions. Although today is not a long day in km, we will spend up to 7 hours in the saddle as the lavafield needs to be crossed in a rather slow pace. This will give us an excellent opportunity to celebrate the views of the almost moonlike landscape! (Riding distance ca. 28 km).
 
Day 4: Volcanic valleys and ocean views
In the morning we set off for the longest riding day on this tour! We will take the herd from the wild mountain setting we have been enjoying to completely new vistas – the Atlantic ocean! As we approach the coastline through different types of marshland we get a view of mighty glacier Snæfellsnesjökull with its beautiful snow cap. If you have read Jule Verne´s novel „Journey to the center of the earth“ you will remember this beautiful glacier covered volcano as the entrance he used! We leave the horses at Kolviðarnes farm and drive back to our lovely farm guesthouse. (Riding distance ca. 35 km)
 
Day 5 & 6   Löngufjörur Golden Beach
The next days will bring us straight to the beach for exhilerating rides with the ocean on our side! Please note that we depend for the next three riding days on the timing of the tide, meaning that in some cases we need to start the ride either early in the morning or later in the afternoon. We will tölt on Löngufjörur Golden beach towards Snæfellsjökull on day 5 and back on day 6. Two wonderful days on the Golden Beach!
 
Day 7:  Black sands and Eldborg Crater Lava field - Reykjavik
The last riding day takes us again along the beach but now the colour of the sand turns darker as we ride along a rough coastline along a lava field belonging to Eldborg crater, a beautiful spatter cone crater which is said to be at least 5000 years old. After the ride we enjoy an early dinner and head back to Reykjavík. Arrival in Reykjavík in the evening.  Please note the accommodation in Reykjavík is not included but can be arranged. 

 
Make sure you also read our Useful information
 
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.

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Included:

• Transfer from Reykjavík to the farm and back
• All transfers during the tour
• 6 riding days as described in the program
• 6 nights in double/twin rooms with shared facilities
• Full board starting with dinner on day 1 and ending with breakfast on day 8
• English speaking guide
• Free use of the hot tub on the porch